CIVIL RIGHTS
Does the state respect citizens' civil rights, and protect against discrimination?
Civil rights scores are weighted composites. Two qualitative policy assessments [ 
] each contribute one-half of this weighting.
Scores and methodology
] each contribute one-half of this weighting. Scores and methodology
Civil rightsKey findings: Civil rights
Each 
represents an individual country and is positioned on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 10 (best). Position cursor over to see scores for individual countries.
Click country name in list or text for details.
represents an individual country and is positioned on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 10 (best). Position cursor over to see scores for individual countries.Click country name in list or text for details.
Score distribution
The top-performing countries have strong constitutional and other mechanisms protecting civil rights and preventing discrimination. However, minor cases of discrimination have been reported in all.
Canada, Finland and Iceland are among the world's leaders in protecting a wide variety of minority groups from discrimination. Finland and New Zealand take particular care in protecting the rights of ethnic or national minorities.
Norway's strong concern with civil rights extends to protecting asylum seekers against extradition requests deemed life-threatening. Ireland and the Netherlands each have strengthened civil rights or anti-discrimination campaigns following events of some concern.
Canada, Finland and Iceland are among the world's leaders in protecting a wide variety of minority groups from discrimination. Finland and New Zealand take particular care in protecting the rights of ethnic or national minorities.
Norway's strong concern with civil rights extends to protecting asylum seekers against extradition requests deemed life-threatening. Ireland and the Netherlands each have strengthened civil rights or anti-discrimination campaigns following events of some concern.
8.6
8
8.6
8.6
8.1
11
8.1
7.9
13
7.9
7.3
15
7.3
7.2
17
7.2
7.2
7.2
Countries in this middle group often have persistent, though rarely major problems with discrimination. Some have recently seen an abridgement of civil rights, sometimes in response to terrorism fears.
Racism in Belgium has been coupled with issues related to its linguistic divide, while the efficacy of anti-discrimination or civil rights institutions in a number of countries has been questioned (Germany, Sweden, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland).
Overloaded justice systems are problems in Luxembourg and France. Civil rights watchdogs have expressed concern over the treatment of asylum seekers, prisoners or terror suspects in Belgium, Germany, the United States, Spain and Portugal.
Austria and Denmark have been criticized for restrictive immigration policies.
Racism in Belgium has been coupled with issues related to its linguistic divide, while the efficacy of anti-discrimination or civil rights institutions in a number of countries has been questioned (Germany, Sweden, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland).
Overloaded justice systems are problems in Luxembourg and France. Civil rights watchdogs have expressed concern over the treatment of asylum seekers, prisoners or terror suspects in Belgium, Germany, the United States, Spain and Portugal.
Austria and Denmark have been criticized for restrictive immigration policies.
6.6
21
6.5
22
5.8
23
5.8
5.8
5.8
4.4
27
3.8
28
3.1
29
1.0
30
In these countries, individual minority groups often face considerable discrimination or societal disadvantages. In some cases, civil rights infringements are severe.
In many cases, gender inequality is very pronounced (Italy, Greece, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Turkey). All European countries in this group discriminate against the Roma population.
Civil rights for specific religious, ethnic or gender groups are sometimes actively infringed (Italy, Greece, Mexico, Turkey), or discriminatory speeches are made openly by government members (Poland).
Slow courts or relatively weak civil rights institutions are a concern for other nations (Hungary, Czech Republic, Japan, Slovakia, South Korea).
In many cases, gender inequality is very pronounced (Italy, Greece, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Turkey). All European countries in this group discriminate against the Roma population.
Civil rights for specific religious, ethnic or gender groups are sometimes actively infringed (Italy, Greece, Mexico, Turkey), or discriminatory speeches are made openly by government members (Poland).
Slow courts or relatively weak civil rights institutions are a concern for other nations (Hungary, Czech Republic, Japan, Slovakia, South Korea).
Rationale
Civil rights protection refers to the protection of personal liberty, including the right to life and security of person; access to justice; equal treatment before the law and due process under the rule of law; freedom of movement; freedom of religion; and the freedom to own property.
In many countries, the parameters of civil rights were changed in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, with a tendency to emphasize basic security more than traditional civil liberties.
The non-discrimination indicator evaluates state policies aimed at preventing discrimination, examining measures taken as well as their actual impact. The extent of observable discrimination may be used as a measure of anti-discrimination policies' efficacy. Though most countries have enacted legislation against discrimination, it persists to different extents against ethnic minorities (especially indigenous people or Roma), women, homosexuals and religious minorities.
Performance comparison
Use drop-down menus for selections. In all cases, higher scores reflect better performance.
