• News
    • Latest news
    • News search
    • Health
    • Finance
    • Food
    • Career news
    • Content series
    • Try Devex Pro
  • Jobs
    • Job search
    • Post a job
    • Employer search
    • CV Writing
    • Upcoming career events
    • Try Career Account
  • Funding
    • Funding search
    • Funding news
  • Talent
    • Candidate search
    • Devex Talent Solutions
  • Events
    • Upcoming and past events
    • Partner on an event
  • Post a job
  • About
      • About us
      • Membership
      • Newsletters
      • Advertising partnerships
      • Devex Talent Solutions
      • Contact us
Join DevexSign in
Join DevexSign in

News

  • Latest news
  • News search
  • Health
  • Finance
  • Food
  • Career news
  • Content series
  • Try Devex Pro

Jobs

  • Job search
  • Post a job
  • Employer search
  • CV Writing
  • Upcoming career events
  • Try Career Account

Funding

  • Funding search
  • Funding news

Talent

  • Candidate search
  • Devex Talent Solutions

Events

  • Upcoming and past events
  • Partner on an event
Post a job

About

  • About us
  • Membership
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising partnerships
  • Devex Talent Solutions
  • Contact us
  • My Devex
  • Update my profile % complete
  • Account & privacy settings
  • My saved jobs
  • Manage newsletters
  • Support
  • Sign out
Latest newsNews searchHealthFinanceFoodCareer newsContent seriesTry Devex Pro
    • News
    • News: Human rights

    Human rights environment worst in Syria

    Nations mired in conflict, not surprisingly, topped the latest Human Rights Risk Atlas, which ranks 197 countries according to the threats to human security, restrictions on civil and political rights, discrimination, and widespread immunity, among other factors.

    By Aimee Rae Ocampo // 04 December 2013
    Syrian refugees cross the border into Jordan to escape conflict in their country. Syria tops the list of Maplecroft's Human Rights Risk Atlas report for 2014. Photo by: Jared J. Kohler / UNHCR

    The debate over whether donors should continue giving aid money to countries with poor human rights records has been going on for at least a decade, and the development community remains divided.

    While rights groups have been calling on donors to reduce or stop giving development money to abusive governments — or at least condition funding — others argue doing so could hamper development. It could also be seen as a hypocritical move, especially since many of these donors have a history of human rights abuse and maintain strong trading ties with countries that are deemed to have abusive governments as well.

    But is there a correlation between human rights abuses and the pace of development in countries?

    “Human rights violations impede access to basic services — such as education, health care and employment — especially for the poorest and most vulnerable social groups,” Liz Kebby-Jones, senior human rights analyst at Maplecroft, told Devex. “Failure to support inclusive socio-economic growth holds back a country’s ability to realize overall development goals.”

    In its Human Rights Risk Atlas 2014 report, global risk and strategic consulting firm Maplecroft ranked 197 countries according to the threats to human security, restrictions on civil and political rights, discrimination, and widespread immunity, among other factors.

    Not surprisingly, countries that have been mired in conflict ranked high in Maplecroft’s atlas. Syria, where civil war has been raging for nearly three years now, tops the list. In fact, the top 10 countries where the human rights environment is considered extremely at risk have all experienced sporadic or protracted conflict in recent years.

    Click the map to view in large size.

    The index also classifies some of the strongest performing economies in the developing world as “extreme risk” countries. These include India (18), the Philippines (27) and Indonesia (30).

    Because India, a low-cost sourcing hub for consumer goods, does not have strong legal and regulatory frameworks, working conditions are often appalling and do not meet health and safety standards. Deforestation and “a climate of impunity,” meanwhile, result in rampant land grabs in Indonesia.

    “Since 2008, global economic growth and investment has shifted to new markets prompting a demand for low-cost workers, water and land as well as other natural resources,” Lizabeth Campbell, Maplecroft’s head of societal risk and human rights, said, adding that human rights violations are worsening in many of these markets.

    Join the Devex community and gain access to more in-depth analysis, breaking news and business advice — and a host of other services — on international development, humanitarian aid and global health.

    • Democracy, Human Rights & Governance
    Printing articles to share with others is a breach of our terms and conditions and copyright policy. Please use the sharing options on the left side of the article. Devex Pro members may share up to 10 articles per month using the Pro share tool ( ).

    About the author

    • Aimee Rae Ocampo

      Aimee Rae Ocampo

      As former Devex editor for business insight, Aimee created and managed multimedia content and cutting-edge analysis for executives in international development.

    Search for articles

    Related Stories

    China AidThe US aid freeze has left a funding gap. What if China steps in?

    The US aid freeze has left a funding gap. What if China steps in?

    Devex NewswireDevex Newswire: State Dept. shake-up to cut jobs, rights offices, and refugee focus

    Devex Newswire: State Dept. shake-up to cut jobs, rights offices, and refugee focus

    Most Read

    • 1
      How low-emissions livestock are transforming dairy farming in Africa
    • 2
      Opinion: Mobile credit, savings, and insurance can drive financial health
    • 3
      Opinion: India’s bold leadership in turning the tide for TB
    • 4
      How AI-powered citizen science can be a catalyst for the SDGs
    • 5
      WHO names new directors in ongoing restructure
    • News
    • Jobs
    • Funding
    • Talent
    • Events

    Devex is the media platform for the global development community.

    A social enterprise, we connect and inform over 1.3 million development, health, humanitarian, and sustainability professionals through news, business intelligence, and funding & career opportunities so you can do more good for more people. We invite you to join us.

    • About us
    • Membership
    • Newsletters
    • Advertising partnerships
    • Devex Talent Solutions
    • Post a job
    • Careers at Devex
    • Contact us
    © Copyright 2000 - 2025 Devex|User Agreement|Privacy Statement