Rule of law index finds faults in China, Russia, US
(AFP) – http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ghls313wjJ8Jn4C2et8cfdikedtg?docId=CNG.5bbd5a6b7c0adee570dd76523236ff16.381
Sweden and Norway scored highest on the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index (AFP/File, Jonathan Nackstrand)
Police detain a demonstrator in Saint Petersburg. Russia fared the worst in the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index (AFP/InterPress, Petr Kovalev)
WASHINGTON — An annual survey of the rule of law around the world released Monday sees weak protections for fundamental rights in China, "serious deficiencies" in Russia, and problems with discrimination in the United States.
Sweden and Norway scored highest on the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, which ranks countries on such key areas as whether the government is held accountable, there is access to justice, rights are protected and crime and corruption is prevented.
"Achieving the rule of law is a constant challenge and a work in progress in all countries," said Hongsia Liu, the executive director of the project, which was funded by a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
He said the index was "not designed to shame or blame, but to provide useful reference points for countries in the same regions, with comparable legal cultures and similar income levels."
In the case of China, the report noted that the Asian giant had made "major improvements" in the quality, effectiveness and accountability of its legal institutions.
It came in second after Brazil among the so-called BRIC group of emerging powers -- Brazil, Russia, India and China.
But more progress was needed in the area of judicial independence, the report said.
"Indicators of fundamental rights are also weak, including labor rights (ranking 61st out of 66), freedom of assembly (ranking 66th), and freedom of speech (ranking 66th)," it said.
On India, the report found strong free speech protections, an independent judiciary, and a relatively open government with functioning checks and balances.
"However, the unsatisfactory performance of public administrative bodies keeps generating a negative impact on the rule of law," it said.
India's courts are congested, processing of cases is slow and law enforcement is deficient, with significant corruption and police discrimination and abuses "not unusual," it said.
Of the BRIC countries, Russia fared the worst in the rankings.
"The country shows serious deficiencies in checks and balances among the different branches of government (ranking 55th), leading to an institutional environment characterized by corruption, impunity, and political interference," it said.
"Violations against some fundamental rights, such as freedom of opinion, freedom of association, and arbitrary interference of privacy are areas of concern," it added.
The rule of law was also found wanting in countries like Iran, long at odds with the international community over its nuclear program and which ranked last in the world on protection of fundamental rights.
"As a state-dominated country, law enforcement in the country is relatively strong, but often used as an instrument to perpetrate abuses and favor the elites," the report said.
"Government accountability is weak (ranking 59th globally and last within the region), and corruption is prevalent. Courts, although fairly efficient, are subject to corruption and political interference."
In Latin America, Venezuela was rated "the worst performer in the world in accountability and effective checks on the executive power.
"Corruption appears to be widespread (ranking 54th), crime and violence are common (ranking 64th), government institutions are non-transparent, and the criminal justice system is ineffective and subject to political influence (ranking 66th).
"The country also displays serious flaws in guaranteeing respect for fundamental rights, in particular, freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to privacy," it said.
Western Europe was the top performing region of the world with most countries, except Italy, getting high marks in most categories.
法治評比 中排金磚第2俄墊底
(AFP) – http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jIWysuxi9f79P0iZPNg3g12Yn8Fg?docId=int0019.110613170504
（法新社華盛頓13日電） 根據今天公布的1份全世界法治程度調查報告，中國對於基本人權的保障薄弱、俄羅斯法治「嚴重不足」，而美國則存在歧視問題。
按照法治推行組織—「世界正義工程」（WorldJustice Project）所作之「世界法治指數」（Rule ofLaw Index）排名，瑞典和挪威高居榜首。此指數旨在評比各國的重要法治領域，例如政府是否負責、司法正義是否得以實現、權利保障以及犯罪貪腐預防等等。
世界正義工程表示：「對於所有國家來說，追求法治都是恆久的挑戰和持續進行中的工作。」世界正義工程是由比爾暨梅琳達蓋茲基金會（Bill and MelindaGates foundation）撥款贊助。
世界正義工程說，法治指數「不是為了指責國家、讓他們丟臉，而是提供有用的依據，給相同區域、法律文化相近、收入水平相似的國家作為參考」。
以中國來說，法治指數報告指出，在法律制度的品質、效率和負責程度上，身為亞洲巨人的中國已有「重大改善」。在由巴西、俄羅斯、印度和中國等新興國家組成的「金磚四國」中，中國僅次於巴西，排名第二，但是司法獨立則仍需加強。
報告指出：「基本權利指標，（中國）包括勞工權利（66國中排名第61）、集會自由（排名第66）以及言論自由（排名第66）等等，表現不佳。」
另一塊金磚印度，落後項目包括公共行政組織表現欠佳、法律案件處理緩慢壅塞，執行力也不足等等；而俄國則在所有金磚中排名墊底。
報告還表示，伊朗在基本權利保護上排名最差。西歐地區則是表現最佳的區域，大部分的國家都獲得高分，但是義大利除外。（譯者：中央社楊盈）1
全球法治評比 點名中國人權保障低 http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2011/new/jun/14/today-int7.htm
〔自由電子報國際新聞中心／綜合報導〕法治推行組織「世界正義工程」（World Justice Project）十三日公佈「世界法治指數」（Rule of Law Index）報告指出，中國對於基本人權的保障薄弱、俄羅斯法治「嚴重不足」，美國則存在歧視問題。
世界正義工程是由比爾暨梅琳達蓋茲基金會資助成立，每年都會針對政府是否負責、司法正義是否得以實現、權利保障以及犯罪貪腐預防等關鍵領域評比各國表現，發表「世界法治指數」調查報告，今年各項成績加總後，奪冠的是瑞典與挪威兩國。
世界正義工程表示，「對所有國家來說，追求法治都是恆久的挑戰和持續進行的工作」，法治指數「不是要讓人丟臉或是去怪罪，而是要提供有用的依據，給位於相同區域、法律文化相近、收入水平相似的國家參考」。
以中國來說，法治指數報告指出，在法律制度的品質、效率和負責程度上，身為亞洲巨人的中國已有「長足進步」，在由巴西、俄羅斯、印度和中國等新興國家組成的「金磚四國」中，中國僅次於巴西，排名第二，但是司法獨立則仍需加強，「基本權利指標也很弱，包括勞工權利（六十六國中排名六十一）、集會自由（排名六十六）以及言論自由（排名六十六）等表現不佳」。
印度在言論保護與司法獨立方面表現突出，政府相對開放，不過，公共行政組織表現欠佳、法律案件處理緩慢，執行力也不足；俄國則在所有金磚中排名墊底，有貪污等組織上的問題，部分基本人權，如言論自由也遭到侵犯。
報告還表示，西歐地區是表現最佳的區域，除義大利之外，大部分國家都獲高分。美國表現也相當不錯，在保障公民自由及司法系統獨立方面拿到高分，不過，美國窮人與富人在獲得司法正義方面有落差，警察與法院對外國人的待遇也不盡公平，顯然存在歧視問題。
美國‧《法治指數》報告點名‧中基本人權保障薄弱
Created 06/13/2011 - 18:34
（美國‧華盛頓13日訊）世界正義工程（World Justice Project）週一發佈最新《法治指數》排名年度報告，點出中國基本人權保障薄弱、俄羅斯司法制衡缺陷、美國司法歧視等問題。
報告是以政府當責、司法權與人權保障及犯罪與貪污指數等進行排名，其中瑞典和挪威在各組別得分最高。
世界正義工程由微軟主席蓋茨和太太梅琳達的基金會贊助，執行長劉鴻夏（譯音）表示，達致法治是所有國家持續不斷的挑戰和工作。
他表示，這項指數的目的並非羞辱或譴責，而是按照收入和地區，為同區域國家提供有用的參考指數。
報告指出，中國法律機構的品質、有效性和當責均取得重大進步，在“金磚四國”中排名僅次於巴西，惟需加強司法獨立性，基本人權也依舊薄弱，勞工權益在66個國家中排名61、集會和言論自由則墊底。
而印度政府的法治文化則相對開放，政府制衡有效、言論自由受保障及司法獨立，但公共行政機構效率低下，法院案件過多且處理緩慢、執法機構存有缺陷、貪污猖獗、警員歧視和濫權情況異常嚴重，持續對法治產生負面衝擊。
在金磚四國中，俄羅斯整體表現排名最後，不同時代政府當責僅排名55，形成貪污、執法不嚴和政治干預的環境；言論、結社自由和侵犯隱私的情形值得關注。
另外，伊朗的法治指數也備受詬病，在維護基本人權項目中包尾。
除了意大利外，大部份西歐國家在各組別均佔據最高排名，表現最為良好。
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Source URL: http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/208251
