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: 2023-08-27
| Dataset type: | Time-Series |
| Dataset level: | Country |
(Mark et al., 2023)
(Cingranelli et al.,
2014)
It is an internationally recognized right of citizens to assemble freely and to associate with other persons in political parties, trade unions, cultural organizations, or other groups. This variable evaluates the extent to which the freedoms of assembly and association are subject to actual governmental limitations or restrictions (as opposed to strictly legal protections). 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 1) people have disappeared, 2) agents of the state are likely responsible, and 3) political motivation is likely. In most instances, disappearances occur because of a victim's political involvement or knowledge of information sensitive to authorities. Often, victimsare referred to by governments as “terrorists,” and labeled a threat to national security. Knowledgeof the whereabouts of the disappeared is, by definition, not public knowledge. However, it istypically known by whom they were taken and under what circumstances. Cases where people disappear for a period of time and then later reappear are also to be counted, so long as the initial disappearance occurs in the year you are scoring. 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. There are some cases of persons that are held under the circumstance of “clandestine detention.” These are prisoners that are known to be in custody but their whereabouts are not known. Since the whereabouts of clandestine detainees are not known, they should be counted among the disappeared. Scoring Scheme: Disappearances: (0) Have occurred frequently (1) Have occurred occasionally (2) Have not occurred / Unreported
More about this variableThe freedom to travel within one's country is a right. There are governments that do not allow citizens to travel within their own country of birth or that restrict the movement of certain groups for reasons based on political views or activities, religious beliefs, ethnicity, marital status, and gender. For example, some countries strictly curtail the freedom of movement of oppositional political leaders, ethnic minorities, religious leaders, human rights activists or monitors, and journalists. This may take many forms, including government-imposed internal exile and/or intentional bureaucratic/administrative delays to freedom of movement after a prison term has ended. Some countries strictly monitor all or nearly all citizens’ internal movements, and citizens are required to notify local officials of their whereabouts or must get their permission to move. In some countries, citizens must carry national identity cards, travel or work permits, or internal passports for any movement outside their immediate village, neighborhood, or province. Some countries use issuance of these cards to restrict movement within the country. Some governments use forced internal resettlement to relocate large numbers of citizens without their consent. Some governments also impose curfew laws and military checkpoints on domestic travel during times of military or civil conflict. 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. To what extent do citizens have freedom of political choice and have the legal right and ability in practice to change the laws and officials that govern them? 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 variableThe freedom to leave and return to one’s country is a right. There are countries that do not allow citizens to leave at all. Methods used by governments to restrict freedom of movement include: withholding and/or delaying the issuing of passports, “exit control” lists to prevent emigration, the requirement of an exit visa or special permits to leave the country, revocation of citizenship, and obstacles to the extension of passport’s validity. In addition, there are countries where even if one is allowed to leave, the duration of one’s stay abroad is restricted, and citizens can lose their property and other assets if they leave for a very long time. Some citizens have to get permission to leave. Others, when they leave, are not allowed to return or the government makes return very difficult. Also, some governments place restrictions on certain groups of people such as opposition political leaders, ethnic minorities, religious leaders, women, human rights activists or monitors, and journalists. Rights to emigration and repatriation without prejudice are also included in freedom of foreign movement and travel. 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, such as another branch of the government or the military. Important questions to consider include: - Are judges safe from removal by other government officials? - Can actions of other government branches be challenged in the courts? - Are court hearings public? - Are judicial officials generally free from corruption and intimidation? - Are case outcomes protected from governmental interference? Scoring Scheme: As an institution, the judiciary is: (0) Not Independent (1) Partially Independent (2) Generally Independent
More about this variableExtrajudicial killings are killings by government officials without due process of law. They include murders by private groups if instigated by a government. These killings may result from the deliberate, illegal, and excessive use of lethal force by the police, security forces, or other agents of the state whether against criminal suspects, detainees, prisoners, or others. Deaths resulting from torture should be counted, as these deaths occurred while the prisoners were in the custody of the government or its agents. Deaths from military hazing also count. In most cases, the USSD reports indicate cases of political killings by explicitly referring to these killings as “political.” A victim of a politically motivated killing is someone who was killed by a government or its agents as a result of his or her involvement in political activities or for supporting (implicitly or explicitly) the political actions of opposition movements against the existing government. 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. NOTE: Beginning in 2001, the USSD replaced “Political and Other Extrajudicial Killings” with “Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life” as the title of this section in their Human Rights Reports (released March 2002). Scoring Scheme: Political or Extrajudicial Killings are: (0) Practiced frequently (1) Practiced occasionally (2) Have not occurred / unreported (Original variable name: Political and other extrajudicial killings/arbitrary or unlawful deprivation of life)
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. Sometimes reports refer to “prisoners of conscience”; someone who was imprisoned because of his or her beliefs. Prisoners of conscience include those who are imprisoned due to their political and/or religious beliefs or practices. Reports sometimes make distinctions between political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, but for our purposes they are the same. Be aware that in many instances political prisoners are classified as terrorists and threats to national security by governments, which routinely apply the label "terrorist" to all opposition movements. 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 variableThis variable indicates the extent to which the freedom of citizens to exercise and practice their religious beliefs is subject to actual government 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. Citizens should be able to freely practice their religion and proselytize (attempt to convert) other citizens to their religion as long as such attempts are done in a non-coercive, peaceful manner. Members of the clergy should be able to advocate partisan political views freely, oppose government laws, support political candidates, and otherwise freely participate in politics without fear of government prosecution. Some important questions to consider include: Does the government respect rights to religious expression, including the freedom to publish religious documents in foreign languages? Does religious belief affect membership in a ruling party or a career in government? Does the government prohibit promotion of one religion over another, or discriminate on the grounds of religion or belief? Does the government restrict the teaching or practice of any faith? Does the government discriminate against minority religious groups? 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. Expression may also be in the form of the arts or music. Censorship denies citizens freedom of speech and limits or prevents the media (print, online, or broadcast) from expressing views challenging the policies of the existing government. 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. Torture can be anything from simple beatings to other practices such as waterboarding, rape, or administering shock or electrocution as a means of getting information or a forced confession. Torture also takes into account intentional mental abuse of those in custody. Military hazing also counts as torture. 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 a number of internationally recognized rights. These rights include: - The right to vote - The right to run for political office - The right to hold elected and appointed government positions - The right to join political parties - The right 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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