The WJP Rule of Law Index is a new quantitative assessment tool designed by The World Justice Project to offer a detailed and comprehensive picture of the extent to which countries adhere to the rule of law in practice. The Index consists of 10 factors and 49 sub-factors, organized under the following set of four principles, or bands, which constitute the WJP definition of the rule of law: 1. The government and its officials and agents are accountable under the law; 2. The laws are clear, publicized, stable and fair, and protect fundamental rights, including the security of persons and property; 3. The process by which the laws are enacted, administered and enforced is accessible, fair and efficient; 4. Access to justice is provided by competent, independent, and ethical adjudicators, attorneys or representatives, and judicial officers who are of sufficient number, have adequate resources, and reflect the makeup of the communities they serve. These principles are derived from a wide array of international sources, including the United Nations' Declaration of Human Rights, that enjoy broad acceptance across countries with vastly differing social, cultural, economic, and political systems. It has also been vetted in WJP meetings on five continents. While other indices cover certain |