AUSTRALIAN women continue to have the highest access and participation to education in the world, but the gender gap across three other key areas, particularly health and life outcomes is so poor the country does not even make the list of the top 20 most equitable countries.
Even in the Asia Pacific, Australia only manages a distant third, well behind New Zealand and the Philippines.
The major annual report from the World Economic Forum reveals that Australia comes 23rd in the world for gender equity.
The Global Gender Gap report measures performance against indicators in four keu pillars: economic participation and opportunity (18); educational attainment (1); health and survival (74) and political empowerment (38).
The report, which is in its sixth year, has found that 85 per cent of the 60 countries surveyed have improved their gender equality ratios, with several African and South American nations being the notable exception.
Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden top the list, with Ireland making up the top five.
"Gender gaps close when countries recognise the economic and social imperatives. With the right policies, change can happen very quickly, said co-author Laura Tyson, from the University of California, Berkeley.
The authors note that while there have been significant positive movement in closing the gap in education and health since the report began, around the world, economic and political participation continue to show the largest gaps.
The report notes that globally, women make up only 20 per cent of decision makers at a national level.
In Canberra this morning, foreign affairs minister Kevin Rudd released a second report 'Because I am a Girl: The State of the World's Girls 2011', the fifth report from aid agency Plan International.
News By:
Julie Hare
theaustralian.com.au
Even in the Asia Pacific, Australia only manages a distant third, well behind New Zealand and the Philippines.
The major annual report from the World Economic Forum reveals that Australia comes 23rd in the world for gender equity.
The Global Gender Gap report measures performance against indicators in four keu pillars: economic participation and opportunity (18); educational attainment (1); health and survival (74) and political empowerment (38).
The report, which is in its sixth year, has found that 85 per cent of the 60 countries surveyed have improved their gender equality ratios, with several African and South American nations being the notable exception.
Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden top the list, with Ireland making up the top five.
"Gender gaps close when countries recognise the economic and social imperatives. With the right policies, change can happen very quickly, said co-author Laura Tyson, from the University of California, Berkeley.
The authors note that while there have been significant positive movement in closing the gap in education and health since the report began, around the world, economic and political participation continue to show the largest gaps.
The report notes that globally, women make up only 20 per cent of decision makers at a national level.
In Canberra this morning, foreign affairs minister Kevin Rudd released a second report 'Because I am a Girl: The State of the World's Girls 2011', the fifth report from aid agency Plan International.
News By:
Julie Hare
theaustralian.com.au
0 comments:
Post a Comment