This year's report focuses on China. The persecution of the Uighur minority in Xinjiang Province and the strong reaction to the Hong Kong democracy protests are clear examples of the repression within their own country, according to human rights organization HRW.

China acts globally

But China is not just limiting the views of its own people - but is threatening human rights worldwide, the compilation claims.

"China sees the development of human rights as an existential threat to China, which is why China poses an existential threat to the entire system designed to protect human rights," says Måns Molander, from HRW Sweden, according to TT.

Campaign against Sweden

SVT News has previously reported research from the Swedish Foreign Policy Institute showing that China is conducting an intensive propaganda campaign aimed at Sweden. A UN conference on human rights at Fotografiska in Stockholm was canceled following pressures from China, an SVT review showed.

Human Rights Watch addresses China's actions against Sweden in connection with the distribution of PEN's Tucholsky Prize to Swedish-Chinese book publisher Gui Minhai, which led to threats of trade restrictions.

"Clearer here"

- It has been clearer here than in many other EU countries how active China is in responding to all types of human rights promotion. If we are not careful to react to the Chinese ambition to silence votes, we will come to a situation where the Chinese censorship is everywhere, says Måns Molander.

The organization's chief executive, Kenneth Roth, was barred from traveling to Hong Kong, where he wanted to present the annual report. HRW also voices criticism of EU migration policy which in many respects does not show respect for people's equal value.

Journalists are hindered

In the 95 states that the human rights organization has investigated, there are numerous examples of how journalists and regime critics are prevented from using their freedom of expression. Internet surveillance and restrictions are also used to prevent people from expressing their opinions.

You can read the full report here.