Human rights declined in 3 out of 4 countries since the global rule of law recession began in 2016 and the rule of law continued to erode in a majority of countries last year, according to the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2023.

Since authoritarian trends pushed the world into a rule of law recession, the global downturn has affected 78% of countries. More than 6 billion people live in a country where the rule of law weakened between 2022 and 2023, the report said.

Although authoritarian trends continued in 2023, nonetheless they are slowing down, with fewer countries declining in 2022 and 2023 than in earlier years. On the other hand, declines in the functioning of justice systems were spreading, as more countries struggled to provide people with timely, affordable, and accessible justice.

The global access to justice map in 2023. Red means decline, blue - improvement. 

According to the index, the rule of law factor declined last year in 82 countries, but improved in 58. The civil justice systems weakened in 66% of surveyed countries, but got better in 34% of countries. In 77% of countries, the rule of law factor to decline most between 2016 and 2023 is Fundamental Human Rights – which cover the freedom of assembly and association, freedom of opinion and expression, and freedom of religion.