Freedom House is a European watchdog that every year publishes a wide-ranging report on the state of freedom around the world. Its latest installment shows its index has declined for 18th consecutive year, with political rights and civil liberties diminishing in 52 countries, in contrast with the 21 that made improvements.
Out of the countries which recorded a decline, nine were in Latin America. The trend, the report said, was driven by "crackdowns against the political opposition and escalating criminal violence, which continued to corrode democratic institutions."
