Human Rights and Freedom in Ukraine

https://www.humantruth.info/ukraine_human_rights_and_freedom.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2019

#human_rights #ukraine #ukraine_human_rights

Ukraine [Country Profile Page]
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	59th best
Location	Europe
Population	44.2m₁
Life Expectancy	71.62yrs (2017)₂

Ukraine does relatively well in ensuring human rights and freedom, compared to many other countries. Ukraine does better than average when it comes to its nominal commitment to Human Rights₃, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₄ (but bad for Europe), commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₅ (but low for Europe), freethought₆, opposing gender inequality₇ (but bad for Europe), supporting press freedom₈ (but low for Europe) and in LGBT equality in the 2020s₉. But, things could still be better. Ukraine does worse than average in terms of its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₁₀, its average Freedom in the World rating and in supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₁₁ (one of the highest in Europe). And finally, it falls into the worst 20 when it comes to combatting modern slavery₁₂.

1. Ukraine's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #russia #tolerance #ukraine

Compared to Europe (2025)₁₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₃
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
35	Serbia	67.5
36	Bulgaria	67.8
37	Romania	75.0
38	Ukraine	75.3
39	Macedonia	77.4
40	Georgia	81.4
41	Moldova	83.7
42	Albania	86.0
43	Bosnia & Herzegovina	88.0
	Europe Avg	47.37
q=49.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₁₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₃
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
59	Barbados	73.2
60	Mauritius	74.9
61	Romania	75.0
62	Ukraine	75.3
63	Panama	75.3
64	Ecuador	75.4
65	Suriname	75.5
66	Guatemala	77.1
	World Avg	89.80
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, The Netherlands and Denmark₁₄. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia₁₄.

31 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting modern slavery, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₁₄, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia₁₄.

For more, see:

" Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Amnesty International's 2023-23 summary on human rights in Ukraine stated:

“Russia�€�s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February was a violation of the UN Charter and an act of aggression, a crime under international law. Russian forces conducted indiscriminate attacks resulting in thousands of civilian casualties, amid mounting evidence of other crimes including torture, sexual violence and unlawful killings. Attacks on civilian infrastructure also led to violations of the rights to housing, health and education. A new law on the media granted excessive powers for the Ukrainian state media regulator. Promised new legislation on civil partnerships appeared to include same-sex relationships. The war exacerbated existing inequalities for women, amid a reported increase in gender-based violence.”
"The State of the World's Human Rights 2022/23" by Amnesty International (2023)₁₅

“The armed conflict in eastern Ukraine between the Ukrainian government and separatist armed groups supported by Russia entered its fourth year. Throughout 2017, all sides... endangered civilians and civilian infrastructure as they continued hostilities. [...] In late January and early February, all sides to the conflict engaged in massive shelling of populated areas. [...] Total impunity for conflict-related torture and arbitrary, unacknowledged detention persisted on both sides. [...]
In the self-proclaimed Donetsk People´s Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People´s Republic (LPR) Russia-backed de facto authorities continued to carry out arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances, holding civilians for weeks without any contact with lawyers, families, or the outside world. Local security services operated without checks and balances. The overall absence of the rule of law in separatist-controlled areas leaves detainees extremely vulnerable to abuse.”
"World Report 2018" by Human Rights Watch (2018)₁₆

In Crimea, which has been invaded and occupied by Russia, persecution of (peaceful) pro-Ukraine activists continues₁₆ as well as the persistence of a "human rights crisis"₁₆.

2. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets

2.1. Press Freedom

#democracy #freedom #Freedom_of_Speech #Good_Governance #mass_media #politics #UK

Press Freedom Higher is better₈
Pos.		2025₈
1	Norway	92.31
2	Estonia	89.46
3	Netherlands	88.64
	...
58	Uruguay	65.18
59	Croatia	64.20
60	S. Korea	64.06
61	Ukraine	63.93
62	Brazil	63.80
63	Ivory Coast	63.69
64	Andorra	63.30
65	Japan	63.14
	Europe Avg	70.63
	World Avg	54.65
q=179.

Ukraine is 61st in the world with regard to supporting press freedom.

The freedom to investigate, publish information, and have access to others' opinion is a fundamental part of today's information-driven world, and is linked with Freedom of Speech and Good Governance. Scores on the Press Freedom Index are calculated according to indicators including pluralism - the degree to which opinions are represented in the media, media independence of authorities, self-censorship, legislation, transparency and the infrastructure that supports news and information, and, the level of violence against journalists which includes lengths of imprisonments. The index "does not take direct account of the kind of political system but it is clear that democracies provide better protection for the freedom to produce and circulate accurate news and information than countries where human rights are flouted". The rankings are used as one of the datasets of the Social and Moral Development Index₁₇

It must be noted that press freedom is not an indicator of press quality and the press itself can be abusive; the UK suffers in particular from a popular brand of nasty reporting that infuses several of its newspapers who are particularly prone to running destructive and often untrue campaigns against victims. The Press Freedom Index notes that "the index should in no way be taken as an indicator of the quality of the media in the countries concerned".

For more, see:

"Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2019).

“The government took several steps to restrict freedom of expression and media freedom, justifying them by the need to counter Russia´s military aggression in eastern Ukraine and anti-Ukraine propaganda.”
"World Report 2018" by Human Rights Watch (2018)₁₆

Averages by decade for Ukraine (for the ranks, lower is better):

Press Freedom	2000s Average	2010s Average
Ukraine:	32.25	65.35
World Rank:	120th	⇡ 113th
World Avg:	27.44	65.91

2.2. Slavery in the 2020s

#burundi #eritrea #human_rights #indonesia #slavery

Slavery in the 2020s Lower is better₁₂
Pos.		Total Per 1000₁₂
1=	Switzerland	0.50
1=	Norway	0.50
3=	Germany	0.60
	...
147	Turkmenistan	11.90
148	Myanmar	12.10
149	Macedonia	12.60
150	Ukraine	12.80
151=	Russia	13.00
151=	Afghanistan	13.00
151=	Kuwait	13.00
154	UAE	13.40
	Europe Avg	5.64
	World Avg	7.15
q=160.

Regarding combatting modern slavery, Ukraine ranks 11th-worst in the world.

Modern slavery includes forced labour (often of the under-age), debt bondage (especially generational), sexual slavery, chattel slavery and other forms of abuse, some of which can be surprisingly difficult to detect, but often target those fleeing from warzones, and the poverty-stricken vulnerable.₁₈. Some industries (diamond, clothing, coal) from some countries (Burundi₁₉, Eritrea₁₉, Indonesia₂₀) are a particular concern. The Walk Free Foundation, say in their 2023 report, that 50 million people are living in modern slavery₁₉, and, nearly two-thirds of those in forced labour are employed at the end of supply chains working for large multinationals that creating products consumed by rich countries₂₁.

For more, see:

"The Historical Slave Trade and Modern Slavery" by Vexen Crabtree (2018).

Averages by decade for Ukraine (for the ranks, lower is better):

Slavery	2010s Average	2020s Average
Ukraine:	6.40	12.80
World Rank:	118th	⇣ 150th
World Avg:	6.54	7.15

2.3. Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom

#freedom #politics

Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom Lower is better₁₁
Pos.		2014 Rank₁₁
1	Hong Kong	1
2	Switzerland	2
3	New Zealand	3
	...
108	Lebanon	108
109	Laos	109
110	Ivory Coast	110
111=	Ukraine	111
111=	Senegal	111
111=	Colombia	111
111=	Kuwait	111
115=	Malaysia	115
	Europe Avg	33.9
	World Avg	79.7
q=159.

Ukraine comes 111th in the world when it comes to supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms (one of the highest in Europe).

The Human Freedom Index published by the Fraser Institute is...

“... a broad measure of human freedom, understood as the absence of coercive constraint. It uses 79 distinct indicators of personal and economic freedom in the following areas: Rule of Law, Security and Safety, Movement, Religion, Association, Assembly, and Civil Society, Expression, Relationships, Size of Government, Legal System and Property Rights, Access to Sound Money, Freedom to Trade Internationally, Regulation of Credit, Labor, and Business. [...]
The highest levels of freedom are in Western Europe, Northern Europe, and North America (Canada and the United States. The lowest levels are in the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. [...]
Countries in the top quartile of freedom enjoy a significant higher per capita income ($37,147) [compared with] the least-free quartile [at] $8,700). The HFI finds a strong correlation between human freedom and democracy.”
"The Human Freedom Index" by The Fraser Institute (2016)₂₂

For more, see:

"Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2019).

2.4. Freedom in the World

#freedom #human_rights #hungary #politics #USA

Freedom in the World Lower is better
Pos.		2024 Score
1=	Norway	1.0
1=	Canada	1.0
1=	Cape Verde	1.0
	...
119=	Singapore	4.0
119=	Madagascar	4.0
119=	Malaysia	4.0
119=	Ukraine	4.0
123=	El Salvador	4.5
123=	Comoros	4.5
123=	Nigeria	4.5
123=	Togo	4.5
	Europe Avg	2.2
	World Avg	3.7
q=205.

Ukraine comes 110th in the world with regard to its average Freedom in the World rating.

Freedom House's long-standing annual report has been running since the 1970s, collecting data on political rights (PR) and civil liberties (CL). Their reports rate countries as "Free", "Partially Free" or "Not Free", however the results here are based on their numerical values. Many countries score the best combination of scores (1 and 1), which is why the table of results show many places equally placed in 1st place. In the past two decades, some well-established democracies like the USA and Hungary have been falling. Whilst most of the world in general is improving rights and freedoms over time, the 2020s has seen some regression.

For more, see:

" Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Averages by decade for Ukraine (for the ranks, lower is better):

Freedom in the World	1990s Average	2000s Average	2010s Average
Ukraine:	3.4	3.2	3.2
World Rank:	98th	⇣ 102nd	⇣ 105th
World Avg:	3.6	3.4	3.4

2.5. Human Rights Watch Comments

#human_rights

Human Rights Watch Comments Higher is better₅
Pos.		2017 Score₅
1=	UK	9
1=	France	9
1=	Germany	9
	...
37=	Costa Rica	1
37=	Norway	1
37=	Panama	1
40=	Ukraine	0
40=	Nepal	0
40=	S. Korea	0
43=	Guatemala	-1
43=	Armenia	-1
	Europe Avg	3.5
	World Avg	-1.9
q=123.

Ukraine comes 40th in the world when it comes to commentary in Human Rights Watch reports.

Human Rights Watch comments concentrate mostly on negative issues, however, they also make positive comments for those countries that engage in human rights defence around the world, or who make improvements at home. By adding up positive and negative comments (including double-points for negatives that involve large scales and crimes against humanity), the Social and Moral Index turns HRW commentary into quantified values. Some countries may be unfairly penalized because HRW have not examined them, and, some countries "get away" with abuses if they manage to hide it, or if it goes unnoticed - a negative point has been given for those countries in which HRW specifically state that access to investigators has been barred. The points were limited to a minimum of -10 because there are some points at which things are so bad, with abuses affecting so many, it is difficult to be more specific about the depths of the issues.

For more, see:

"Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2019).

2.6. Nominal Commitment to HR

#human_rights

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better₃
Pos.		2009 Treaties₃
1	Argentina	24
2=	Chile	23
2=	Costa Rica	23
	...
32=	Albania	20
32=	Cyprus	20
32=	Namibia	20
32=	Ukraine	20
32=	Macedonia	20
32=	Slovakia	20
32=	Honduras	20
32=	S. Africa	20
	Europe Avg	19.5
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

With respect to its nominal commitment to Human Rights, Ukraine comes 29th in the world.

There are many international agreements on human rights, and, many mechanisms by which countries can be brought to account for their actions. Together, these have been the biggest historical movement in the fight against oppression and inhumanity. Or, putting it another way: these are rejected mostly by those who wish to oppress inhumanely. None of them are perfect and many people object to various components and wordings, but, no-one has come up with, and enforced, better methods of controlling the occasional desires that states and peoples have of causing angst for other states and peoples in a violent, unjust or inhumane way. Points are awarded for the number of human rights agreements ratified by the country, plus the acceptance of the petition mechanisms for disputes. The maximum possible score in 2009 was 24.

For more, see:

"Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2019).

2.7. HR Treaties Lag

#human_rights #international_law #micronesia #politics #small_islands

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better₂₃
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty₂₃
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
	...
14	Spain	4.60
15	Peru	4.64
16	Sweden	4.88
17	Ukraine	4.94
18	Mali	4.97
19	Norway	5.05
20	Denmark	5.06
21	S. Sudan	5.41
	Europe Avg	9.09
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

Ukraine is positioned 17th-best in the world regarding speed of uptake of HR treaties.

Human Rights (HR) Treaties Lag is a count of how long it took each country to sign each of 11 key HR treaties. From the date of the first signatory of each treaty, all other countries have one point added to their score for each day they delayed in signing. Results are presented as average time in years to sign each one. The lower a country's score, the more enthusiastically it has taken on international Human Rights Treaties - which are, of course, minimal standards of good governance. The slowest are the countries of Micronesia, Melanesia, Australasia and Polynesia all lagged by over 12 years per treaty. The best regions are The Americas, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean.

For more, see:

" Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

3. Gender Equality Datasets

Ukraine is on the way towards ending gender inequality and has been striving towards this end for quite some time.

See:

"Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree (2007)

3.1. Gender Inequality

#gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #women

Gender Inequality Lower is better₇
Pos.		2022₇
1	Denmark	0.01
2	Norway	0.01
3	Switzerland	0.02
	...
44	Russia	0.18
45	USA	0.18
46	China	0.19
47	Ukraine	0.19
48	Bahrain	0.19
49	Qatar	0.20
50	Malaysia	0.20
51	Chile	0.20
	Europe Avg	0.12
	World Avg	0.34
q=166.

Regarding opposing gender inequality, Ukraine ranks 47th in the world.

The UN Human Development Reports include statistics on gender equality which take into account things like maternal mortality, access to political power (seats in parliament) and differences between male and female education rates. Gender inequality is not a necessary part of early human development. Although a separation of roles is almost universal due to different strengths between the genders, this does not have to mean that women are subdued, and, such patriarchalism is not universal in ancient history. Those cultures and peoples who shed, or never developed, the idea that mankind ought to dominate womankind, are better cultures and peoples than those who, even today, cling violently to those mores.

For more, see:

"Gender Equality" by Vexen Crabtree (2023).

Averages by decade for Ukraine (for the ranks, lower is better):

Gender Inequality	1990s Average	2000s Average	2010s Average
Ukraine:	0.43	0.33	0.24
World Rank:	49th	⇣ 51st	51st
World Avg:	0.44	0.41	0.37

3.2. Gender Biases

#gender #gender_equality #prejudice #women

Gender Biases Lower is better₄
Pos.		2022 %₄
1	Sweden	31.8₂₄
2	New Zealand	34.4₂₅
3	Australia	37.0₂₅
	...
27	Hong Kong	80.8₂₅
28	Poland	81.4₂₄
29	Cyprus	81.8₂₅
30	Ukraine	86.1₂₅
31	Brazil	86.3₂₅
32	Romania	86.6₂₅
33	Trinidad & Tobago	87.4₂₄
34	Peru	89.1₂₅
	Europe Avg	69.08
	World Avg	83.93
q=88.

Ukraine is positioned 30th in the world regarding the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators).

The Gender Social Norms Index (GSNI) looks at gender biases across seven criteria; the % given here is for the total people who are biased across any of those criteria. By subtracting the value from 100%, you can see that those who do well on this index, you are seeing a count of those who do not appear to be biased against women in any of the criteria, and so, doing well on this index is a very positive sign for any country.

The data was included in UN (2022) with full results in Annex table AS6.7.1; their data stems for ranges between 2005 and 2022, depending on the country in question.

3.3. Year Women Can Vote

#christianity #gender_equality #human_rights #politics #women

Year Women Can Vote Lower is better
Pos.		Total Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
	...
13=	Belarus	1919
13=	Germany	1919
13=	Netherlands	1919
13=	Ukraine	1919
13=	Luxembourg	1919
13=	Czechia	1919
13=	Poland	1919
20=	Canada	1920
	Europe Avg	1895
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

Ukraine comes 11th-best in the world regarding the year from which women could participate in democracy.

Women now have equal rights in the vast majority of countries across the world. Although academic literature oftens talks of when a country "grants women the right to vote", this enforces a backwards way of thinking. Women always had the right to vote, however, they were frequently denied that right. The opposition to women's ability to vote in equality with man was most consistently and powerfully opposed by the Catholic Church, other Christian organisations, Islamic authorities and some other religious and secular traditionalists.

For more, see:

"Gender Equality" by Vexen Crabtree (2023).

4. Prejudice Datasets

4.1. Anti-Semite Opinions

#antisemitism #christianity #germany #indonesia #jordan #judaism #laos #morocco #netherlands #pakistan #philippines #religion #religious_violence #saudi_arabia #spain #sweden #turkey #UK #vietnam

Anti-Semite Opinions Lower is better₁₀
Pos.		2014 %₁₀
1	Laos	0
2	Philippines	3
3	Sweden	4
	...
64=	France	37
64=	Chile	37
64=	Azerbaijan	37
67=	Ukraine	38
67=	S. Africa	38
67=	Belarus	38
67=	Peru	38
71=	Colombia	41
	Europe Avg	29.9
	World Avg	36.8
q=101.

Ukraine is 68th in the world regarding its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice.

Anti-Semitism is the word given to irrational racism against Jews. It's not the same as anti-Judaism (arguments against the religion) nor the same as anti-Zionism (arguments against Israel). In history, influential Christian theologians concocted the arguments against Jews that led, very early on, to widespread Christian action against Jews₂₆_,₂₇_,₂₈_,₂₉. As Christianity rose to power in the West and presided over the Dark Ages, there were repeated violent outbursts against Jews of the most horrible kind. Entire Crusades were aimed at them and the feared Spanish Inquisition paid Jews particular attention. The horror of the holocaust instigated by German Nazis in the 1940s was followed (finally) by the era of European human rights and a movement against racism in general.

The places that are the least anti-Semitical are a few countries of south-east Asia (Laos, the Philippines and Vietnam) and some of the secular liberal democracies of Europe (Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK). The worst countries for antisemitism are Islamic states of the Middle East₃₀, which are undergoing their own Dark Age. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco, Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkey see the most oppressive and violent actions towards Jews₃₁_,₃₂. Jews in Muslim countries face a host of restrictions and "ceaseless humiliation and regular pogroms"₃₃. In 2004 the European Union Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia reported on violent anti-Jew crimes in the EU and found that that largest group of perpetrators were young Muslim males₃₄.

For more, see:

"Anti-Semitism" by Vexen Crabtree (2017).

4.2. LGBT Equality in the 2020s

#equality #homosexuality #human_rights #ICCPR #intolerance #sexuality #tolerance

“Ukraine has taken several significant steps to improve the protection and inclusion of the country´s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. [...] Law enforcement ensured the safety of participants in Marches for Equality in June and July 2017 in Kyiv and Odesa, but everyday homophobia and transphobia remains widespread.
In May 2017, around 30 young men assaulted several LGBT activists at a small rally in Kharkiv, burned their rainbow flag, and injured one activist and two police officers. Four of the attackers were detained.”
"World Report 2018" by Human Rights Watch (2018)₁₆

LGBT Equality in the 2020s Higher is better₉
Pos.		Total Score₉
1=	Germany	4.88
1=	Spain	4.88
3	Portugal	4.81
	...
62	Nepal	1.25
63	San Marino	1.19
64=	Poland	1.09
64=	Ukraine	1.09
66	Bermuda	1.08
67	Kosovo	1.03
68	Serbia	1.01
69	Latvia	0.99
	Europe Avg	1.77
	World Avg	-1.21
q=215.

Ukraine ranks 64th in the world in terms of LGBT equality in the 2020s.

Discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) folk is rife across the world. Legal restrictions co-exist alongside social stigmatisation and physical violence₃₅. LGBT tolerance and equal rights have been fought for country-by-country against tightly entrenched cultural and religious opposition. Adult consensual sexual activity is a Human Right and protected by privacy laws₃₆. Despite this, it is illegal to be homosexual in over 60 countries (as of 2025)₃₇. The Vexen LGBT Equality Index as part of the Social and Moral Development Index grants points to each country depending on its LGBT stance since the 1970s₃₈_,₃₉. Europe is by far the least prejudiced region, but in the Middle East and Africa cultural prejudice goes hand-in-hand with state intolerance, all too often including physical violence.

For more, see:

" LGBT Rights Across the World: Which are the Best and Worst Countries?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

In Ukraine, homosexuality has been legal since 1991, when the country gained independence and repealed Soviet-era sodomy laws (it was illegal to be homosexual under Article 121 of the Soviet Penal Code). The age of consent is equal at 16, LGBT people can serve openly in the military, and there are employment anti-discrimination protections (since 2015), as confirmed by ILGA researchers in 2017. However, same-sex marriage and adoption remain banned, though civil union legislation is under discussion as part of Ukraine�€�s EU accession roadmap.

Actions taken at the United Nations:

⇡ Supported the 2006 Norway Joint Statement on sexual orientation and gender identity at the UN.
⇡ Voted in favour of the 2011 Resolution at the UN Human Rights Council posted by South Africa, requesting a report on discrimination and violence against LGBTQ folk.
⇡ In 2025, signed the UN Human Rights Council Joint statement on ending acts of violence and human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
⇡ In 2019, voted to renew the UN Human Rights Council Independent Expert on discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
⇡ In 2022, voted to renew the UN Human Rights Council Independent Expert on discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Averages by decade for Ukraine (for the ranks, lower is better):

LGBT Equality	1970s Average	1980s Average	1990s Average	2000s Average	2010s Average	2020s Average
Ukraine:	-5.00	-5.00	-0.20	1.00	3.00	1.09
World Rank:	136th	⇣ 138th	⇡ 66th	⇡ 61st	⇡ 43rd	⇣ 64th
World Avg:	-2.98	-2.87	-2.60	-2.15	-1.10	-1.21

4.3. Freedom of Thought

#europe #freedom_of_belief #freethought #human_rights #netherlands #religion #religious_tolerance #secularism #the_enlightenment

Freedom of Thought Lower is better₆
Pos.		2021₆
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
	...
53=	Tonga	2.5
53=	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.5
53=	Bulgaria	2.5
53=	Ukraine	2.5
53=	Bahamas	2.5
53=	Central African Rep.	2.5
53=	Chile	2.5
53=	Colombia	2.5
	Europe Avg	2.6
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

Ukraine is 44th in the world when it comes to freethought.

Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Belief are upheld in Article 18 the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights₄₀. It affirms that it is a basic human right that all people are free to change their beliefs and religion as they wish₄₁. No countries voted against this (although eight abstained). This right was first recognized clearly in the policies of religious toleration of the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe in the post-enlightenment era₄₂ of the 19th century. In democratic countries, freedom of belief and religion is now taken for granted₄₃. In 2016 a study found that over 180 countries in the world had come to guarantee freedom of religion and belief₄₄. The best countries at doing so are Belgium, The Netherlands and Taiwan₆_,₄₅ and the worst: Afghanistan, N. Korea, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia₆_,₄₆.

Long-term studies have shown that religious violence and persecution both decrease in cultures where religious freedom is guaranteed₄₇. Despite this, there still are many who are strongly against freedom of belief₄₁, including entire cultures and many individual communities of religious believers. Their alternative is that you are not free to believe what you want and they often state that you cannot change religion without being punished (often including the death penalty): this is bemoaned as one of the most dangerous elements of religion₄₈ and "the denial of religious freedoms is inevitably intertwined with the denial of other freedoms"₄₉ and the solution is, everywhere, to allow religious freedom and the freedom of belief.

For more, see:

"Freethought - Freedom of Belief and Freedom of Religion" by Vexen Crabtree (2022).