...according to Freedom House, a think tank which says that the world has seen new limitations on freedom across the globe in 2009. These declines have outweighed advances in liberty for the fourth year in a row.

Some of this year's major failures to promote freedom include unjust detention and torture in Iran, coups in Africa and Central America, and attacks on journalists in several countries like Pakistan, Somalia, and Mexico.

According to the author of Freedom House's report, democratic elections are nonetheless on the rise.  "Governments are more likely to permit relatively honest elections than to allow an uncensored press, a robust civil society, and an independent judiciary," he said.

Freedom House is a self described nonproft organization that supports any form of democratic change, monitors freedom around the globe, and advocates for human rights and democracy.