Berlin – A study by civil society organizations reveals that merely 3.5 percent of the global population resides in nations that ensure full freedoms for their citizens.
The “Atlas of Civil Society,” published by the Protestant Relief Organization “Bread for the World” in Berlin, classifies 40 countries as providing such guarantees. Consequently, a significant portion of the population experiences varying degrees of rights restrictions.
Attacks on Democracy and Human Rights
The annual Atlas relies on data from the Civicus Network, gathering insights from civil society organizations around the world and covering 197 countries and territories. Dagmar Pruin, president of “Bread for the World,” noted that “Democracy and human rights are being attacked worldwide in a way we have not seen for decades. The rule of law, separation of powers, and protection against state arbitrariness are increasingly threatened or nonexistent in numerous countries.” A vibrant democracy can only thrive with a free civil society.
Freedom Rights in Germany Classified as “Impaired”
Countries are divided into five categories. The 40 countries classified as “open” guarantee all civil society freedoms, including Austria, Estonia, and the Scandinavian nations in Europe, along with global examples like New Zealand and Jamaica.
Less than half of EU member states—only twelve countries—are deemed “open.” This trend raises significant national and European concerns, as EU nations are required to uphold foundational values like the rule of law and democracy. Concurrently, countries such as Hungary and Slovakia face EU scrutiny for repeatedly breaching these principles.
Germany falls into the “impaired” category, which includes 42 countries and 11.1 percent of the global population. While the rights to assembly and expression are usually respected, violations do occur. Countries like Argentina, Slovakia, and the USA also find themselves in this classification. Germany’s downgrade, noted in the previous report, is attributed by “Bread for the World” to the harsh response to the climate protest group Last Generation and rising violence against journalists.
Not Everything is Rosy in Europe Either
The Atlas identifies 35 countries, representing 12.9 percent of the global population, as “restricted.” In these nations, civil society organizations face harassment, and police often resort to violence against gatherings. Notable European countries in this category include Greece, the United Kingdom, Hungary, and Ukraine.
Civil society is labeled as “repressed” in 51 countries, affecting 42.6 percent of the world’s population. Those regimes monitor, imprison, or kill critics, and censorship is prevalent. Countries like Algeria, Mexico, Turkey, and Thailand are among those listed in this report.
Almost 30 Percent Live with Harsh Restrictions
Russia and 28 other countries are categorized as “closed.” The report describes an “atmosphere of fear,” where regime criticism is severely punished. In total, 29.9 percent of people globally live under such conditions, including in Belarus, the Palestinian territories, the United Arab Emirates, North Korea, and Vietnam. The situation has deteriorated in nine countries, while it has improved in nine others.
This year’s report emphasizes assaults on the rule of law, highlighting how administrative arbitrariness and harassment of NGOs and media undermine these principles.
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