Dramatic declines in freedom have been observed in the world - Freedom House

In 2016, the world countries have continued general trends of restrictione of freedom, while promoting the growth of populism and autocracy. The international human rights organization Freedom House stated it in its press-release of the annual report "Freedom in the World 2017", Ukrinform reports.

"In 2016, populist and nationalist political forces made astonishing gains in democratic states, while authoritarian powers engaged in brazen acts of aggression," - press-release states.

Of the 195 countries assessed, 87 (45 percent) were rated Free, 59 (30 percent) Partly Free, and 49 (25 percent) Not Free.

"We see individual leaders and nations pursue their own narrow interests without meaningful constraints, and without regard for the shared benefits of global peace, freedom, and prosperity." - the Senior Vice President for Research at Freedom House, Arch Puddington said.

 "A total of 67 countries suffered net declines in political rights and civil liberties in 2016, compared with 36 that registered gains. This marked the 11th consecutive year in which declines outnumbered improvements." - report notices.

Among the reasons that influenced this year's decline of freedom in the world, the authors pointed out Britain’s vote to leave the European Union, a series of antidemocratic moves by the new government in Poland, gains by xenophobic nationalist parties elsewhere in Europe and the presidential victory of Donald Trump in the United States.

As IMI reported earlier, the International human rights organization Freedom House included Ukraine to partly free countries, according to the report of the organization for 2016 .