WJP Rule of Law Index 2014 – Sierra Leone ranks 84th out of 99 countries overall

NEW YORK – Sierra Leone ranks 84^th globally and 11^th among 18 Sub-Saharan African countries in overall rule of law performance, according to the World Justice Project’s WJP Rule of Law Index 2014.  Denmark (Western Europe and North America), Uruguay (Latin America and the Caribbean), Botswana (Sub-Saharan Africa), New Zealand (East Asia and Pacific), Georgia (Eastern Europe and Central Asia), Sri Lanka (South Asia), and the United Arab Emirates (Middle East and North Africa) led in their respective regions.

According to the report, “Sierra Leone is ranked 84^th overall and 11^th in the Sub-Saharan Africa region. The country ranks second among low-income countries and fifth in the region with respect to checks on government power. The judiciary and the legislature are relatively independent, and the press and civil society organizations are mostly free from government interference. The country, however, faces many challenges. Major problems include high crime rates, widespread corruption, ineffective regulatory enforcement, lack of official information, and severe deficiencies in the criminal justice system.”

The Index relies on over 100,000 household and expert surveys to measure how the rule of law is experienced in everyday life around the world. Performance is assessed through 44 indicators organized around 8 themes: constraints on government powers, absence of corruption, open government, fundamental rights, order and security, regulatory enforcement, civil justice, and criminal justice. More than 500 variables are computed to produce these indicators for every country.

“Effective rule of law helps reduce corruption, alleviate poverty, improve public health and education, and protect people from injustices and dangers large and small,” said William H. Neukom, WJP Founder and CEO. “Wherever we come from, the rule of law can always be strengthened.”

Key findings for the Sub-Saharan Africa region (includes Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe):

• Strengths: The Sub-Saharan African region’s best performances are in the areas of constraints on the government power and delivery of civil justice. In these two areas the region’s average rank is similar to most other regions in the world.
• Rule of law challenges: Sub-Saharan Africa faces multiple rule of law challenges. Crime and vigilante justice are widespread, corruption is prevalent in all branches of government and in the police and the military, and the legal system is not accessible to the ordinary citizen. Deficient protection of the rights to life and security of the person, and due process of law, are also areas of concern in this region.
• Best and worst performers: The best overall rule of law performers in the region are Botswana and Ghana, ranking 25th and 37th globally. The worst is Zimbabwe, ranking 97th among the 99 countries included in the Index.
• Trends to watch: Overall, the region did not experience a noticeable increase or decline during the past year in the level of adherence to the rule of law. Individually, Cameroon improved the most, while Madagascar saw the biggest deterioration. There was no significant improvement in reducing the levels of corruption throughout the entire region.

Sierra Leone rankings (1 is best):

OVERALL GLOBAL RANK:  84/99

OVERALL REGIONAL RANK:  11/18

 A copy of the full Index, including Sierra Leone’s full country profile and global key findings, can be downloaded at:  worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-index

About the World Justice Project

The World Justice Project (WJP) is an independent, multidisciplinary organization working to advance the rule of law around the globe. Establishing the rule of law is fundamental to achieving communities of opportunity and equity—communities that offer sustainable economic development, accountable government, and respect for fundamental rights.  Our work engages citizens and leaders worldwide and from all work disciplines to advance the rule of law. Through our mutually reinforcing programs of Research and Scholarship, the WJP Rule of Law Index, and Engagement, WJP seeks to stimulate government reforms, develop practical programs at the community level, and increase public awareness about the foundational importance of the rule of law. Learn more at www.worldjusticeproject.org.

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