In another major report Wednesday on human-rights concerns, The Freedom House group said more aggressive tactics by authoritarian regimes, an upsurge in terrorist attacks and a global economic downturn have contributed to a disturbing decline in freedom worldwide. The U.S.-based international human rights group said freedom worldwide declined in 2015, for the 10th consecutive year.
The annual report by Freedom House says 72 countries showed a decline in freedom for the year, the largest number since the downturn began. The human rights group says of the 195 countries assessed, 50 were rated "Not Free" and 59 deemed "Partly Free." The report says Syria, the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China, Somalia, North Korea, Uzbekistan and Eritrea were among the worst offenders. Turkmenistan, Western Sahara, Central African Republic, Sudan, Equatorial Guinea and Saudi Arabia also made the list of the worst.(VOA)