Freedom in Question: One-third of the global population still under chains

         Marking 2015 as the 10^th successive year facing severe decline in freedom in the global scenario, the yearly Freedom House report has made it out. Freedom House, according to their website, is an independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom and democracy around the world. They release Freedom Reports annually, which showcase statistical and descriptive data of the freedom, or lack of it, experienced by the world’s citizens.

According to the latest data released by Freedom House, one-third of the total population on Earth experiences oppression in some way or the other, even in the 21^st century. Syria, Tibet, and Somalia represent the worst statistics. Massive levels of migration, racial discrimination, terror attacks, economic instability etc. are a few of the major causes that lead to the oppression of the masses.

The statistics of migration has increased beyond limits causing the Swedish government to be forced to extradite the millions of Syrian refugees from the country. 

the ripple effects of economic downfall among various nations influence the rate of freedom and security experienced by the people worldwide.

Freedom in the World report- 2016 draws the picture of a world battered by several international crises such as the Syrian war, terror attacks in France, murders and batteries based on racial discrimination in various countries, etc.

The democracies of Europe and the Americas have struggled to come to terms with the Syrian civil unrest which has caused massive numbers of refugees to seek asylum. All of these developments have affected the citizens of these countries to naturally feel threatened and frightened by the possibility of war being declared upon them. Along with that, insurgent groups have quietly taken form in many parts of the world, some who support terrorism and some who are against them.

Since most terrorist attacks are inadvertently linked to Islam religion, those who belong to the religious beliefs and in no connection with the insurgent groups are also under attack from 

their own societies who generalize Islamic believers as terrorists causing even more unrest across the globe. Social networks are also now a new-age medium to shower hatred.

The latest Freedom Report emphasizes that the number of countries exhibiting a severe decline in freedom for the year 2016 is the highest- 72, whereas only 43 countries showed any gains. The report highlights the EU’s failure in providing asylum for the Syrian refugees as well.

Over a decade, a total of 105 countries have seen a net decline in the freedom provided to their citizens and only 61 countries have shown any net improvement even on a small scale. The Middle East and North African countries showed the worst ratings in the 2015 statistics.

While in 86 countries, human rights, political rights and freedom of the citizen are all exercised to a certain extent, 50 countries worldwide, have no liberty to do the same.