Equal rights for men and women exist in only six countries at present, according to a report from the World Bank.
These findings, from World Bank’s "Women, Business and the Law 2019" report, mark an increase from ten years ago when the figure stood at zero, CNN reports. Yet that is a rate which would see full equality delayed until 2073. World Bank Group interim president, Kristalina Georgieva, believes there is more work to be done.
"If women have equal opportunities to reach their full potential, the world would not only be fairer, it would be more prosperous as well," World Bank Group Interim President Kristalina Georgieva said. "Change is happening, but not fast enough, and 2.7 billion women are still legally barred from having the same choice of jobs as men."
The organisation measures how countries perform at both economic and legal equality between the genders. Belgium, Denmark, France, Latvia, Luxembourg and Sweden had a perfect score of 100. France was highlighted for improving laws on domestic violence, penalising sexual harassment in the workplace and bringing in paid parental leave.
By contrast, countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and Sub-Saharan scored, on average, 47.37. The UK scored 97.5 and the US 83.75, putting it outside the top 50. The global average score is now 74.71. It has increased by over 4.5 points in ten years. In the average nation woman now receive three quarters of the rights of men.
Questions considered included, “Is there legislation specifically addressing domestic violence?” and “Can a woman travel outside her home in the same way as a man?” The report looked at these topics: managing assets, running a business, starting a job, getting paid, going places, getting married, having children and getting a pension.
OTHER STORIES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU
Tesco hit with £4 billion equal pay claim
Uber agrees to settle equal pay claim for $10m
Glasgow council boss expects equal pay claim to be settled by year end
Equal rights for men and women exist in only six countries at present, according to a report from the World Bank.
These findings, from World Bank’s "Women, Business and the Law 2019" report, mark an increase from ten years ago when the figure stood at zero, CNN reports. Yet that is a rate which would see full equality delayed until 2073. World Bank Group interim president, Kristalina Georgieva, believes there is more work to be done.
"If women have equal opportunities to reach their full potential, the world would not only be fairer, it would be more prosperous as well," World Bank Group Interim President Kristalina Georgieva said. "Change is happening, but not fast enough, and 2.7 billion women are still legally barred from having the same choice of jobs as men."
The organisation measures how countries perform at both economic and legal equality between the genders. Belgium, Denmark, France, Latvia, Luxembourg and Sweden had a perfect score of 100. France was highlighted for improving laws on domestic violence, penalising sexual harassment in the workplace and bringing in paid parental leave.
By contrast, countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and Sub-Saharan scored, on average, 47.37. The UK scored 97.5 and the US 83.75, putting it outside the top 50. The global average score is now 74.71. It has increased by over 4.5 points in ten years. In the average nation woman now receive three quarters of the rights of men.
Questions considered included, “Is there legislation specifically addressing domestic violence?” and “Can a woman travel outside her home in the same way as a man?” The report looked at these topics: managing assets, running a business, starting a job, getting paid, going places, getting married, having children and getting a pension.
OTHER STORIES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU
Tesco hit with £4 billion equal pay claim
Uber agrees to settle equal pay claim for $10m
Glasgow council boss expects equal pay claim to be settled by year end
