A new report released this week concludes that Venezuela is “the worst performer in the world in accountability and effective checks on the executive power.” The 2011 Rule of Law Index, which surveyed 200 experts from 66 countries, also found that Venezuela is one of the countries that least respect fundamental human rights, including freedoms of opinion and expression and the right to privacy. In addition, the Index states that the Venezuelan government offers very weak protections of property rights. In terms of crime prevention, the report says that often Venezuela does not prosecute or convict perpetrators of burglaries. Security is one of the top-of-mind concerns for most Venezuelans, who increasingly find themselves victims of crime.
Out of 66 countries studied, Venezuela ranked:
• 54th in corruption
• 64th in crime and violence
• Dead last (66th) in transparency of government institutions and strength of the criminal justice system, which is often influenced by politics
Among the 12 countries surveyed in Latin America, Venezuela received the lowest scores in the region, ranking either last or second to last in six of the variables.
The Rule of Law Index was developed by the World Justice Project – an organization partly funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The Index regularly reviews countries’ compliance with the rule of law and access to independent justice in the world. The full report can be found at: www.worldjusticeproject.org.