Overview of Human Rights in Uruguay

The Oriental Republic of Uruguay is a constitutional republic.  Recent elections have been considered free and fair by international standards.  The government works to respect the human rights of its citizens. In recent years, only three main complaints were reported:  harsh prison conditions, trafficking in persons, and discrimination against the Afro-Uruguayan minority. The number of police brutality incidences dropped off significantly in recent years as well. A constitutional amendment was also passed which makes access to clean water a right not just the privilege of a few.  Overall, Uruguay enjoys a very good record of human rights.

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

43rd out of 177

Note: Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being of nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation. It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.