South Africa has emerged at a ranking of 116 in the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2008, the index said on Tuesday.
”South Africa has moved down six places since 2007,” it said in a statement.
”This score makes the country less vulnerable to potential terrorist acts.”
The index is a ranking of 140 countries — from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe — listed according to their peacefulness. It is now in its second year and was compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu said on the outcome of the index: ”You ultimately can’t have business where you have conflict. So, it is in the nature of self-interest to promote the kind of circumstances and the kind of environment where you can carry out your business when there is peace.”
Iceland — making its first appearance in the index — tops the rankings, with countries in Scandinavia also emerging as the most peaceful countries on the planet.
Other nations, including Angola, Indonesia and India have also demonstrated the greatest improvements as compared with last year’s index.
”The index is constructed from 24 ‘indicators’ of external and internal measures of peace, including United Nation deployments overseas and levels of violent crime,” the statement said.
Steve Killelea, founder of the GPI, said: ”The world appears to be a marginally more peaceful place this year. This is encouraging, but it takes small steps by individual countries for the world to make greater strides on the road to peace.” — Sapa