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                 Report: World Freedom in Decline for 10th Year

   by Smita Nordwall

   More aggressive tactics by authoritarian regimes, an upsurge in
   terrorist attacks and a global economic downturn have contributed to a
   disturbing decline in global freedom in 2015, according to a U.S.-based
   international human rights group.

   In its newly released annual report, Freedom House found an overall
   drop in freedom for the 10th consecutive year.

   The 2015 Freedom House report says 72 countries showed a decline in
   freedom for the year, the largest number since the downturn began.

   The human rights group says of the 195 countries assessed, 50 were
   rated "Not Free" and 59 deemed "Partly Free."

   Among worst offenders

   The report says Syria, the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China, Somalia,
   North Korea, Uzbekistan and Eritrea were among the worst offenders.

   ''Turkmenistan, Western Sahara, Central African Republic, Sudan,
   Equatorial Guinea and Saudi Arabia also made the list of the worst.

   The Middle East and North Africa were listed as the worst regions in
   the world in 2015, followed closely by Eurasia.

   The report indicates people in those places suffered significant
   setbacks, as authoritarian leaders cracked down on rights activists and
   other critics.

   Freedom House said democratic countries, especially in Europe, also
   clamped down on civil liberties, as they came under pressure from
   terrorist attacks and the strain of unprecedented numbers of asylum
   seekers from Syria and other conflict zones.

   It said rising populism across the European Union cast doubt on the
   bloc's ability to maintain high democratic standards among both current
   and aspiring member states.

   Global economic downturn

   According to Freedom House, the global economic downturn and fear of
   social unrest led authoritarian regimes in Russia, China and other
   countries to crack down harder on dissent.

   ''In Russia, it said, President Vladimir Putin maintained his policies
   of repression, including persecution of LGBT activists and independent
   journalists, and he pursued military intervention abroad.

   It also cited Putin for his continued support for rebels in eastern
   Ukraine, and the airstrikes in Syria aimed at shoring up the government
   of President Bashar al-Assad.

   Freedom House said China's communist government in 2015 intensified its
   persecution of human rights lawyers, journalists and minority rights
   advocates, and singled out new targets for abuse, including labor
   activists, public health advocates and women's rights defenders.

   It said modest reforms such as the institution of a two-child policy
   could not offset the abuses by the government.

   Conflicts, disasters

   As the world's attention was diverted to new conflicts and disasters,
   the report said, the dramatic setbacks for freedom in Thailand, Egypt,
   Crimea and South Sudan that marked 2014 continued to fester.

   Leaders in several countries moved to extend their terms in office
   during 2015, Freedom House noted, most prominently in Burundi, Bolivia,
   Ecuador, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo and
   Rwanda.

   The report did find that 61 nations recorded progress in efforts to
   establish greater freedoms, and it cited Latin America for praise.

   It cited Iran and Myanmar among the countries to watch in 2016.

   The report said once the newly elected legislature of Myanmar is seated
   and a government is formed, the National League for Democracy will be
   under pressure to deliver on its promises.

   In Iran, moderate reformists are preparing for next month's critical
   elections to the parliament and the Assembly of Experts, the body that
   appoints the country's supreme leader.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/report-world-freedom-in-decline-for-t
   enth-year/3164435.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/report-world-freedom-in-decline-for-tenth-year/3164435.html