Global broker Aon has downgraded 37 countries’ ratings in its annual risk assessment of global terrorism and political violence.

Aon’s risk management business Aon Risk Solutions has urged companies to consider threats to business continuity in light of its 2012 Terrorism and Political Violence Map.

It says that after spending cuts across Europe, the resulting strikes, protests and riots led to 43% of its downgrades.

The UK, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain were all downgraded from low risk to medium risk.

Civil unrest, property damage and protests also continued in the Middle East and North Africa, the broker says. Many countries in this region are rated high or severe risk, including Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian Territories, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Terrorism still affects business security despite Osama bin Laden’s death last year, according to Aon.

But while South Asia and the Middle East are still key points for terrorist groups, the most dramatic shift in the terrorism threat in the past year was in Africa.

Aon downgraded the ratings of six African countries and gave Senegal a double downgrade from low to high risk.

Other African countries rated as severe risk include Mali, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Zimbabwe and Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In the Asia-Pacific, China has been downgraded to medium risk, Papua New Guinea has received a double downgrade to high risk and Australia’s risk has been upgraded to negligible.

“Businesses need to identify the threats they face and implement a comprehensive risk management program to protect themselves,” says Aon Risk Solutions’ Crisis Management Practice Head of Terrorism, Neil Henderson.

“As the insurance market for political violence is very mature and can cope with complex international risks, it should be considered as part of a sound risk management program.”