World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index 2014: Sri Lanka top in South Asia

Wednesday, 6 August 2014 01:33 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka ranks first among South Asian countries in the latest Rule of Law Index compiled by the World Justice Project’s (WJP) research team. “Sri Lanka ranks 48th globally and outperforms its regional peers in most dimensions of the rule of law,” the Index said. The country also outpaces most lower-middle income countries in several areas, ranking second in delivering effective criminal justice. Control of corruption is relatively effective (ranking 39th globally and first in the region) and rights violations related to the legacy of a protracted civil conflict remains problematic, it added. The Index observed that order and security is improving worldwide while criminal justice is declining.Out of the eight factors that are reported on in the Index, four improved on average and four deteriorated. The factors that improved were “absence of corruption,” “open government,” “order and security”, and “regulatory enforcement.” Those that deteriorated were “constraints on government powers”, “fundamental rights”, “civil justice”, and “criminal justice”. The WJP is an independent, multi-disciplinary organisation working to advance the rule of law around the world. Its Index is the world’s most comprehensive data set of its kind. The World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index looks at 47 outcomes (or sub-factors) organised around nine dimensions (or factors): constraints on government powers; absence of corruption; open government; fundamental rights; order and security; regulatory enforcement; civil justice; criminal justice; and informal justice. The World Justice Project has the support of outstanding leaders representing a range of disciplines around the world. Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former US President Jimmy Carter, former Ireland President Mary Robinson and South African social rights activist Bishop Desmond Tutu are among the Honorary Chairs of the World Justice Project. Read the full report at: http://worldjusticeproject.org/sites/default/files/files/wjp_rule_of_law_index_2014_report.pdf.

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