POSITIVE CORNER #19: Human Rights Worldwide
- Bernd Lorscheider
- Jul 10
- 2 min read
The data from the Human Rights Index show that, despite setbacks, the protection of fundamental human rights worldwide has improved significantly in recent decades – an encouraging finding for all those working towards humane forms of coexistence and governance.
A worthwhile look at 50 years of progress
Those who only follow the daily headlines could easily overlook how much the living conditions of many people have improved since the mid-1970s. Global data on health, education, poverty reduction, and political rights demonstrate that significantly more people are now protected from arbitrary violence, have access to basic services, and can make their voices heard in society. Particularly in the field of human rights, the long-term trend is crucial: individual crises and setbacks are visible, but the progress measured over decades is clear and consistent.
The Human Rights Index is compiled by the Varieties of Democracy project (V-Dem) and processed by Our World in Data. It measures the extent to which people are free from institutional violence and forced labor, enjoy property rights, and can exercise freedoms of movement, religion, expression, and association; the index ranges from 0 (few rights) to 1 (strong rights). It is based on assessments by approximately 3,500 country experts, who combine physical integrity, private civil rights, and political freedoms.
The latest data shows that in all regions of the world, the figures are significantly higher today than they were around 50 years ago, and the even longer-term trend since the beginning of the 20th century is also extremely positive. Even if not all regions are catching up at the same rate and parts of Africa and Asia still have lower figures, the global trend is clearly upward – an indication that improvements in human rights are possible and are already being successfully implemented.
Looking at the Human Rights Index makes it clear that people worldwide not only live under better conditions, but have actively sought and shaped these conditions through their institutions.
The ω dimension of leadership is not primarily focused on efficiency, growth, or technological progress, but rather on the ability to ensure and further develop humane conditions everywhere . The task is to stabilize improvements achieved, actively limit setbacks, and leverage the potential of global cooperation. ω-leadership recognizes, utilizes, and develops universal, humane standards as arguably the only truly sustainable foundation for people living and working together worldwide.
Comments