报告称全球自由度连续第四年下降 (Report: Global Freedom Declines for 4th Year)
总部设在美国的人权观察组织"自由之家"表示，去年全球的自由度连续第四年下降。这是自由之家年度报告近40年历史中持续时间最长的下降。
自由之家的研究部主任普丁顿表示，自由度下降在全世界几乎每个地方都很明显，特别是非洲，拉丁美洲，前苏联地区和中东。自由之家引用伊朗镇压示威者，中国关押政治活动人士，俄罗斯新闻记者和提倡人权者被杀害的例子来说明镇压越来越严重。自由之家还说，亚洲在自由度方面有显著改善，而非洲则大大倒退，中东依然是全世界最压制自由的地区。
The U.S.-based human rights monitoring group, Freedom House, says global freedom declined last year for the fourth year in a row.The slump represents the longest continuous decline in the report's nearly 40-year history.
The group's research director, Arch Puddington, said the declines were notable in almost every part of the world, particularly in Africa, Latin America, the former Soviet Union and the Middle East.Freedom House cited the crackdown on demonstrators in Iran, the detention of activists in China and the killing of journalists and human rights advocates in Russia as examples of the intensified repression.Freedom House says Asia saw the most significant improvements in freedom, while Africa saw the most significant declines.The group says the Middle East remains the most repressive region in the world.