New Zealand ranks first in East Asia and the Pacific in rule of law, new global study finds

Washington, DC–New Zealand places in the top five in seven of eight categories of the rule of law and ranks first in the East Asia and Pacific region in six of them, according to the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index TM 2011, a new tool designed to measure the rule of law around the world. Delays in civil cases were  identified as an area in need of attention.

Released this week in Washington, DC, the 2011 report introduces new data regarding a variety of dimensions of the rule of law—such as whether government officials are accountable, and whether legal institutions protect fundamental rights and allow ordinary people access to justice.

“The rule of law is essential to the work of all parts of society. It is the key to the promotion of political stability, economic opportunity, social progress and fundamental fairness and equity”, said World Justice Project founder William H Neukom, “without the rule of law, women and children suffer atrocities, corrupt governments divert public resources needed for public works and economic growth is stifled.”
According to the report, New Zealand stands out as the best performer in the region. The country ranks first in absence of corruption and is positioned in the top five in the world in seven of the eight categories of the Index. Government agencies and courts in the country are efficient, transparent, and free of corruption.

Fundamental rights are strongly protected. The judicial system is accessible, independent, free of corruption and effective. However, it is also perceived to be slow relative to other high income countries, ranking 18th in this area.

New Zealand leads the East Asia and Pacific region in most dimensions of the rule of law, followed by Japan.

A new tool for measuring justice

“The Index measures how laws are implemented and enforced in practice and affect people’s lives,” said Juan Botero, Director of the WJP Rule of Law Index. “Comparable, reliable and comprehensive data on these issues are not sufficiently available today; the Rule of Law Index intends to fill this void.”

The Index’s rankings and scores are the product of a rigorous data collection and aggregation process. Data comes from a global poll of the general public and detailed questionnaires administered to local legal experts.

To date, over 66,000 regular citizens and 2000 experts from around the world have participated. Path forward The Index currently covers 66 countries around the world and is set to expand to 100 countries in 2012.

“Achieving the rule of law is a constant challenge and a work in progress in all countries. The WJP’s Rule of Law Index is not designed to shame or blame, but to provide useful reference points for countries in the same regions, with comparable legal cultures and similar income levels,” said Hongxia Liu, the Executive Director of the World Justice Project.


About the World Justice Project

The World Justice Project (WJP) is an independent, non-profit organization working to advance the rule of law for the development of communities of opportunity and equity worldwide. Its work is carried out through three complementary and mutually reinforcing programs: Mainstreaming the rule of law including the convening of the World Justice Forum; the Rule of Law Index; and Scholarship. The WJP’s multinational, multidisciplinary efforts are dedicated to stimulating government reforms that enhance the rule of law, developing practical programs in support of the rule of law at the community level, and increasing public awareness about the concept and practice of the rule of law. For more information on the Project’s outstanding and multidisciplinary Honorary Co-chairs, cosponsoring organizations, funders, and its founder, William H. Neukom, please visit www.worldjusticeproject.org.

About the WJP Rule of Law Index
The WJP Rule of Law Index is a new, quantitative assessment tool designed by the World Justice Project to annually measure countries’ adherence to the rule of law and track changes across time. The Index was made possible by funding from a number of foundations and corporations, including the Neukom Family Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and LexisNexis. A statistical sensitivity analysis of the Index is being conducted by the Econometrics Unit of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre.

The full report is available at www.worldjusticeproject.org/index2011