The CIRIGHTS Data project contains standards-based quantitative information on government respect for 195 countries, annually from 1981-2021.
The goal of the CIRIGHTS data project is to create numerical measures for every internationally recognized human right for all countries of the world. Human rights scores are necessary for understanding why national governments choose to violate human rights, why they choose to violate some rights more than others, and the consequences of human rights violations for other phenomena such as conflict and development. Numerical scores also are necessary for monitoring government performance, for evaluating the human rights consequences of policy interventions such as transitional justice programs, and for determining whether government protection of various rights is improving or declining.
Last updated by source: 2023-11-06
| Dataset type: | Time-Series |
| Dataset level: | Country |
(Mark et al., 2023)
(Cingranelli et al.,
2014)
The right to freedom of assembly and association is the right of citizens to assemble freely and to associate with other persons in political parties, trade unions, cultural organizations, or other groups without governmental limitations and restrictions. This includes prohibiting the existence of political associations or parties, compelling citizens to join government-backed organizations or official political parties, and harassment by government agents in retaliation for exercising this right. Scoring Scheme: Citizens’ rights to freedom of assembly and association are: (0) Severely restricted or denied completely to all citizens. (1) Limited for all citizens or severely restricted or denied for select groups. (2) Virtually unrestricted and freely enjoyed by practically all citizens.
More about this variableDisappearances are cases in which people have disappeared, governments are responsible, and political motivation is present. Disappearances occur because of a victim’s political involvement or knowledge of information that should be classified to the government. In many instances, victims are taken under false pretense, such as having been taken away for questioning due to suspicion of some political action that is in opposition to the government. Scoring Scheme: Disappearances: (0) Have occurred frequently (1) Have occurred occasionally (2) Have not occurred / Unreported
More about this variableFreedom of domestic movement is the freedom to travel within one’s country, regardless of political views or activities, religious beliefs, ethnicity, marital status, and/or gender. Some countries strictly monitor all or nearly all citizens’ internal movements, require citizens to notify local officials of their whereabouts or must get their permission to move, or require citizens to carry paperwork such as national ID cards to move within the country. Scoring Scheme: Domestic travel is: (0) Severely Restricted (1) Somewhat Restricted (2) Unrestricted
More about this variableThe right of citizens to freely determine their own political system and leadership is known as the right to self-determination. Enjoyment of this right means that citizens have both the legal right and the ability in practice to change the laws and officials that govern them through periodic, free, and fair elections held on the basis of universal adult suffrage. Scoring Scheme: The right of citizens to change their government through free and fair elections is: (0) Not respected (neither free nor fair elections) (1) Limited (moderately free and fair elections) (2) Generally respected (very free and fair elections)
More about this variableFreedom of foreign movement is the freedom to leave and return to one’s country. There are countries that do not allow citizens to leave at all, or if they do leave, may risk losing their property or other assets. Some citizens, once they have left their country, and not allowed to return. Some governments place restrictions of foreign movement only on certain groups of people such as opposition political leaders, ethnic minorities, religious leaders, women, human rights activists or monitors, and journalists. Scoring Scheme: Foreign movement and travel is: (0) Severely Restricted (1) Somewhat Restricted (2) Unrestricted
More about this variableIndependence of the judiciary indicates the extent to which the judiciary is independent of control from other sources, and includes whether or not judges are safe from removal by other governmental branches or if their actions can be challenged in the courts. Scoring Scheme: As an institution, the judiciary is: (0) Not Independent (1) Partially Independent (2) Generally Independent
More about this variableExtrajudicial killings are killings committed by government officials without due process of law, including murders by private groups if instigated by the government. This may include: deaths resulting from torture, military hazing, and killings explicitly referred to as “political” in US State Department reports. Killings that take place outside of immediate defense or due process of law, even if the victims are labeled as terrorists or insurgents, still count as extrajudicial killings. While they may be the result of different motives, both extrajudicial killings and political killings are to be treated identically for the purposes of scoring. Exceptions include combat deaths and deaths as a result of legally sanctioned capital punishment such as the death penalty. Scoring Scheme: Political or Extrajudicial Killings are: (0) Practiced frequently (1) Practiced occasionally (2) Have not occurred / unreported
More about this variablePhysical Integrity Rights is an additive index of the following variables: Disappearance + Extrajudicial Killing + Political Imprisonment + Torture. The index ranges from 0-8. Higher values indicate greater levels of human rights respect
More about this variablePolitical imprisonment refers to the incarceration of people by government officials because of their speech; their non-violent opposition to government policies or leaders; their religious beliefs; their non-violent religious practices including proselytizing; or their membership in a group, including an ethnic or racial group. Scoring Scheme: Are people imprisoned because of their political, religious, or other beliefs? (0) Yes, and many (1) Yes, but few (2) None / None Reported
More about this variableFreedom of religion is the extent to which citizens are able to exercise and practice their religious beliefs without being subject to governmental restrictions. Citizens of whatever religious belief should be able to worship free from government interference. Additionally, citizens should be able to hold no religion at all. Some examples of restrictions to freedom of religion include: prohibiting proselytizing, forced conversions, restrictions on access to places of worship, and restrictions on types of religious education offered in public schools. Scoring Scheme: Government restrictions on religious practices are: (0) Severe and Widespread (1) Moderate (2) Practically Absent
More about this variableThis variable indicates the extent to which freedoms of speech and press are affected by government censorship, including ownership of media outlets. Censorship is any form of restriction that is placed on freedom of the press, speech or expression. In many instances where this right is being violated, the government owns and operates all forms of press and media. Scoring Scheme: Government censorship and/or ownership of the media (including radio, TV, Internet, and/or domestic news agencies) is: (0) Complete (1) Some (2) None
More about this variableTorture refers to the purposeful inflicting of extreme pain–whether mental or physical–by government officials, or by private individuals at the instigation of government officials. This includes the use of physical and other force by police and prison guards – including rape and beatings – as well as deaths in custody due to tangible negligence by government officials. Scoring Scheme: Torture is: (0) Practiced frequently (1) Practiced occasionally (2) Not practiced / Unreported
More about this variableWomen’s economic rights include a number of internationally recognized rights. These rights include: - Equal pay for equal work - The right to free choice of gainful employment or profession without the need to obtain a husband or male relative's consent - Equality in hiring and promotion practices - Job security (maternity leave, unemployment benefits, no arbitrary firing or layoffs, etc.) - Non-discrimination by employers - The right to be free from sexual harassment in the workplace - The right to work at night - The right to work in occupations classified as dangerous, including the military and police force. In measuring women’s economic rights the authors are primarily interested in two things: 1) the extensiveness of laws pertaining to women’s economic rights; 2) government practices towards women or how effectively the government enforces the laws. Scoring Scheme: Regarding the economic equality of women: (0) There are no economic rights for women under law and systematic discrimination based on sex may be built into the law. The government tolerates a high level of discrimination against women. (1) There are some economic rights for women under law; however, in practice, the government does not enforce the laws effectively or enforcement of laws is weak. The government tolerates a moderate level of discrimination against women. (2) There are some economic rights for women under law. In practice, the government does enforce these laws effectively. However, the government still tolerates a low level of discrimination against women. (3) All or nearly all of women's economic rights are guaranteed by law. In practice, the government fully and vigorously enforces these laws. The government tolerates no or almost no discrimination against women.
More about this variableWomen’s political rights include the rights to: vote; run for political office; hold elected and appointed government positions; to join political parties; and, to petition government officials. A score of 0 indicates that women's political rights were not guaranteed by law during a given year. A score of 1 indicates that women's political rights were guaranteed in law, but severely prohibited in practice. A score of 2 indicates that women's political rights were guaranteed in law, but were still moderately prohibited in practice. Finally, a score of 3 indicates that women's political rights were guaranteed in both law and practice.
More about this variableWorker Rights Laws is an additive index of the following variables: (1) rights to form worker union, (2) right to bargain collectively, (3) reasonable limitations on working hours, (4) right to be free from forced or compulsory labor, (5) children's rights (6) right to a minimum wage, and (7) right to occupational safety and health The index ranges from 0 to 14. Higher values indicate greater levels of human rights respect.
More about this variableWorker Rights Practices is an additive index of the following variables: (1) practice of rights to form worker union, (2) practice of right to bargain collectively, (3) practice of reasonable limitations on working hours, (4) practice of right to be free from forced or compulsory labor, (5) practice of children's rights (6) practice of right to a minimum wage, and (7) practice of right to occupational safety and health. The index ranges from 0 to 14. Higher values indicate greater levels of human rights respect
More about this variableWomen’s social rights include a number of internationally recognized rights. These rights include the following criteria: - The right to equal inheritance - The right to enter into marriage on a basis of equality with men - The right to travel abroad - The right to obtain a passport - The right to confer citizenship to children or a spouse - The right to initiate a divorce - The right to own, acquire, manage, and retain property brought into marriage - The right to participate in social, cultural, and community activities - The right to an education - The freedom to choose a residence/domicile - Freedom from female genital mutilation (FGM) of children/adults without their consent - Freedom from forced sterilization - Freedom from child marriage (where the laws differ between boys and girls) - Right to raise and make decisions regarding children with equal authority to men or husbands Scoring Scheme: Regarding the country’s legal recognition of women’s social rights: (0) There are no social rights for women under law and systematic discrimination based on sex may be built into the law and/or if 5 or more of the above criteria are not adequately met. (1) There are some social rights for women by law. (2) Nearly all social rights for women are guaranteed by law (3) All women’s social rights are guaranteed by law and/or all of the above criteria are met or are not mentioned
More about this variableWomen’s social rights include a number of internationally recognized rights. These rights include the following criteria: - The right to equal inheritance - The right to enter into marriage on a basis of equality with men - The right to travel abroad - The right to obtain a passport - The right to confer citizenship to children or a spouse - The right to initiate a divorce - The right to own, acquire, manage, and retain property brought into marriage - The right to participate in social, cultural, and community activities - The right to an education - The freedom to choose a residence/domicile - Freedom from female genital mutilation (FGM) of children/adults without their consent - Freedom from forced sterilization - Freedom from child marriage (where the laws differ between boys and girls) - Right to raise and make decisions regarding children with equal authority to men or husbands Scoring Scheme: Regarding the country’s recognition of women’s social rights in practice: (0) The government tolerates a high level of discrimination against women. (1) In practice, the government does not enforce laws effectively or enforcement of laws is weak. The government tolerates a moderate level of discrimination against women. (2) In practice, the government does enforce these laws effectively; however, the government still tolerates a low level of discrimination against women. (3) In practice, the government fully and vigorously enforces these laws. The government tolerates none or almost no discrimination against women.
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