In its fifth edition of the Civility Report, Peace Worldwide Organization declares that we are moving slowly, but surely towards a more free and peaceful world. The report evaluates each country within the United Nations providing scores in human rights, democracy, and peace. These scores are all integrated into a composite civility score. The scores are based on reviews of over a dozen international organizations, including the United Nations, Freedom House, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, World Bank, Vision of Humanity, and Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
The highest civility scores are primarily located in countries of Western Europe. They went to Norway, followed by Japan and Sweden. Nevertheless, opportunities still exist for all countries to improve their records. Western Europe and North America could improve their scores by treating minorities better, addressing their immigrant worker issues, and avoiding initiating problems in less developed countries. The rest of the world could improve their scores by respecting human rights and welcoming freedom of expression, association, and assembly. Powerful nations could resort to negotiation and refrain from the military ventures or threating other nations under the pretense of protecting national interest.
In 2015, the United States restored normal relations with Cuba after 50 years, which encouraged Cuba to allow expression of religious rights. Numerous countries showed improvement in civility as well when they also provided more domestic freedoms to their citizens; most notably, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Mali, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. Nigeria conducted an election that led to new political leaders; however, its progress was offset by its armed forces raiding the home of Ibrahim Zakzaky and massacring hundredths of his unarmed followers.
Unfortunately, violence threatened freedom in Central America, specifically El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. The civil war in South Sudan continued, causing a large number of killings, rapes, and displacement of civilians. The situations in the Middle East deteriorated. In Iraq and Syria, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) continued killing innocent people of the non-Wahhabi sect and destroying historical monuments. The terrorists also attacked some European targets, causing Islamophobia across Europe. The lack of support by most Europeans caused many refugees to lose their lives at sea in their desperate attempts to reach Europe. The European intolerance towards the Muslims brought question to whether Europe is truly an open society.
Saudi Arabia waged air-war against Yemenis to install a puppet government. Amnesty International (AI) accused Saudi-led coalition of committing war crimes against Yemenis. AI pleaded with the United States and United Kingdom to stop sales of arms to Saudi Arabia, but their calls fell on deaf ears. In Saudi Arabia, the Wahhabi clergy was left alone to issue contradictory edicts instigating international terrorism so long as it supported the Saudi government.
In the Middle East, an international agreement was reached between Iran and P5+1 (United States, Russia, China, France, and United Kingdom, —plus Germany) on Iran’s nuclear program. Despite the strong opposition by the hardliners in the United States and Iran, it is likely that the agreement will pave the way for promoting peace in the region. Iran is on the path of developing an Islamic democracy opposing Wahhabi extremism promulgating from Saudi Arabia.
The report’s analyses and scores provide a great tool for the governments to prioritize their reform policies in order to improve their international standings. They can also assist governments, international companies, and other entities in assessing the risks of conducting business in other countries.
It is hoped that the ideas put forth in the Civility Report will stimulate the readers to think of ways for humanity to cooperate in solving common global problems, engage in dissolving disputes, respect the sanctity of life, and live together peacefully.
Dr. Mehdi Alavi, President
Peace Worldwide Organization
Peace Worldwide Organization
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