África Occidental
Países:
Benín
Burkina Faso
Malí
Níger
Benín
Social Watch’s Gender Equity Index (GEI) [1]
- In 2008, Benin had an overall value of 41 – one of the lowest scores of any of the countries included in the GEI. Benin scored notably poorly in the area of education, as compared to other countries.
- In 2008, Benin ranked a poor 151 out of 157 countries.
- This reveals no change since 2007, when Benin also had a value of 41.
|
Gender Equity Index Indicators
|
2008
|
|
Education
literacy gap between men & women; male & female enrolment rates in primary, secondary & tertiary education
|
51.1
|
|
Economic activity
% of women & men in paid jobs, excluding agriculture; income ratio of men to women
|
54.7
|
|
Empowerment
% of women in professional, technical, managerial & administrative jobs; number of seats women have in parliament, & in decision-making ministerial posts
|
16.3
|
|
GEI value
|
41
|
Source: Social Watch
Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 3 [2]
Goal: Promote gender equality & empower women
Target: Eliminate gender disparity in primary & secondary education, preferably by 2005, & in all levels of education no later than 2015
|
MDG 3 Indicators
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
|
Gender parity index in primary level enrolment
|
0.69
|
0.71
|
0.73
|
0.74
|
0.77
|
0.80
|
0.83
|
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
Gender parity index in secondary level enrolment
|
0.46
|
0.48
|
0.48
|
0.47
|
0.48
|
0.57
|
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
Gender parity index in tertiary level enrolment
|
0.25
|
0.25
|
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
MDG 3 Indicators
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
|
Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector (%)
|
--- |
--- |
24.3
|
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
Seats held by women in national parliament (%)
|
6.0
|
6.0
|
6.0
|
6.0
|
7.2
|
7.2
|
7.2
|
7.2
|
10.8
|
10.8
|
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Millennium Development Goals Indicators (Data last updated on 14 July 2009)
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) [3]
- Benin ratified the Convention in March 1992 without reservations.
- It ratified the Optional Protocol in December 2004.
- The most recent (& first) CEDAW report (the combined initial, second & third periodic reports) was examined in 2005 [4].
- The next report (the combined fourth & fifth report) was due to be submitted in April 2009.
|
CEDAW Country Report
|
Key Improvements *
|
Key Challenges *
|
|
Education
|
--- |
The poor educational infrastructure & insufficient number of schools & teachers create particular obstacles for girls’ education. Girls’ enrolment in schools is low due to the preference towardseducating boys, as well as pregnancy & early & forced marriage. Illiteracy among women & girls is extremely high, at 81% between the ages of 15 & 49.
|
|
Economic activity
|
--- |
There remains an absence of policies, programmes & legislation to address the economic exploitation & ill-treatment of girls employed as domestic servants.
|
|
Empowerment
|
Recent legislative reforms have included the Personal & Family Code which, for example, established equal inheritance rights for children regardless of gender & abolished polygamy, as well as the adoption of a law prohibiting female genital mutilation.
|
There is a low level of representation of women in political life & a lack of measures to address this. Violence against women is seen by State representatives as a private matter. Women are reluctant to report incidences of violence against them & there is a paucity of statistics on VAW.
|
* These lists are exemplary; information about other issues relevant for the SDC-country portfolio can be downloaded from the CEDAW-site, according to the needs of the respective user.
Download thisinformation on a factsheet: Factsheet Benin
[1] The GEI measures the gap between women & men with regards to education, economic participation & empowerment, based on internationally available comparable data. By comparing the most recent statistics with that of five years ago, the GEI is able to highlight recent trends in bridging these gender gaps & track progress towards gender equality. The GEI value is an average of the values obtained in the three dimensions. It ranges from 0 to 100, with lower values indicating greater gender inequality. A value of 100 would indicate no gender gap at all in each of the three dimensions.
[2] The MDGs are a set of eight goals, with 18 targets to be measured by 48 quantifiable social, economic & environmental indicators – to be achieved by 2015, reflecting the world’s main development challenges. Goal 3 focuses on gender equality & women’s empowerment. The MDGs have been viewed by some gender advocates as a distraction, & by others as a strategic entry point for promoting gender equality.
[3] Countries that have ratified or acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women are legally bound to put its provisions into practice. They are also committed to submit national reports, at least every four years, on measures they have taken to comply with their treaty obligations.
[4] The report was considered by the CEDAW Committee at its 33rd session in July 2005. It is available at: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/33sess.htm .
Hacia arriba
Burkina Faso
Social Watch’s Gender Equity Index (GEI) [1]
- In 2008, Burkina Faso had a value of 52. While the greatest gender inequalities are in the area of empowerment, there has been some notable progress with regards to the percentage of seats held by women in the national parliament (see the MDG table below).
- In 2008, Burkina Faso ranked 112 out of 157 countries.
- This reveals little change since 2007 when Burkina Faso had a value of 50.
|
Gender Equity Index Indicators
|
2008
|
|
Education
literacy gap between men & women; male & female enrolment rates in primary, secondary & tertiary education
|
62.2
|
|
Economic activity
% of women & men in paid jobs, excluding agriculture; income ratio of men to women
|
76.6
|
|
Empowerment
% of women in professional, technical, managerial & administrative jobs; number of seats women have in parliament, & in decision-making ministerial posts
|
17.7
|
|
GEI value
|
52
|
Source: Social Watch
Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 3 [2]
Goal: Promote gender equality & empower women
Target: Eliminate gender disparity in primary & secondary education, preferably by 2005, & in all levels of education no later than 2015
|
MDG 3 Indicators
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
|
Gender parity index in primary level enrolment
|
0.71
|
0.73
|
0.74
|
0.75
|
0.79
|
0.80
|
0.82
|
0.84
|
---
|
---
|
|
Gender parity index in secondary level enrolment
|
0.66
|
0.66
|
0.66
|
0.68
|
0.69
|
0.71
|
0.72
|
0.73
|
---
|
---
|
|
Gender parity index in tertiary level enrolment
|
0.30
|
0.35
|
0.35
|
0.30
|
0.30
|
0.46
|
0.46
|
0.46
|
---
|
---
|
|
MDG 3 Indicators
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
|
Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector (%)
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
|
Seats held by women in national parliament (%)
|
8.1
|
8.1
|
8.1
|
8.1
|
11.7
|
11.7
|
11.7
|
11.7
|
15.3
|
15.3
|
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Millennium Development Goals Indicators (Data last updated on 14 July 2009)
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women [3]
- Burkina Faso acceded [4]to the Convention on October 1987; it ratified the Optional Protocol in October 2005.
- The most recent CEDAW report (the combined fourth & fifth periodic reports) was examined in 2004 [5].
- The next report was due in November 2008.
|
CEDAW Country Report
|
Key Improvements *
|
Key Challenges *
|
|
Education
|
Measures have been introduced to increase girls’ access to primary education, such as the adoption in 1999 of the Ten-year Basic Education Development Plan, & the launch of promotional campaigns.
|
Fewer girls than boys are enrolled in school due to customary & religious practices, the overburdening of girls with housework, & the lack of financial resources.
|
|
Economic activity
|
Recent legislative reforms led to an amendment to the Labour Code to prohibit sexual harassment. Measures have also been taken to promote women’s participation in the labour market, such as the establishment of training centres.
|
Rural women face particular obstacles with regards to accessing income-generating opportunities; more statistical information is needed on the situation of rural women.
|
|
Empowerment
|
-There has been a notable increase in the number of women in the National Assembly from 3 in 2000 to 13 in 2005.
-A state campaign against female genital mutilation has led to a significant decrease in the practice.
|
There is a low level of representation of women in public life & an absence of measures to address this.
There is a lack of specific legislation to eliminate violence against women, & a paucity of information on the incidence of this violence.
High rates of fertility, maternal mortality & death due to clandestine abortions, inadequate family planning services & low rates of contraceptive use.
|
* These lists are exemplary; information about other issues relevant for the SDC-country portfolio can be downloaded from the CEDAW-site, according to the needs of the respective user.
Download this information on a factsheet: Factsheet Burkina Faso
[1] The GEI measures the gap between women & men with regards to education, economic participation & empowerment, based on internationally available comparable data. By comparing the most recent statistics with that of five years ago, the GEI is able to highlight recent trends in bridging these gender gaps & track progress towards gender equality. The GEI value is an average of the values obtained in the three dimensions. It ranges from 0 to 100, with lower values indicating greater gender inequality. A value of 100 would indicate no gender gap at all in each of the three dimensions.
[2] The MDGs are a set of eight goals, with 18 targets to be measured by 48 quantifiable social, economic & environmental indicators – to be achieved by 2015, reflecting the world’s main development challenges. Goal 3 focuses on gender equality & women’s empowerment. The MDGs have been viewed by some gender advocates as a distraction, & by others as a strategic entry point for promoting gender equality.
[3] Countries that have ratified or acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women are legally bound to put its provisions into practice. They are also committed to submit national reports, at least every four years, on measures they have taken to comply with their treaty obligations.
[4] Accession has the same legal effect as ratification. It is the act by which a state accepts the offer or the opportunity to become party to a treaty, after the treaty has entered into force - http://unifem-eseasia.org/projects/Cedaw/cedawglossary.html
[5] It was considered by the CEDAW Committee at its 33rd session in July 2005. It is available at: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/33sess.htm
Hacia arriba
Mali
Social Watch’s Gender Equity Index (GEI) [1]
- In 2008, Mali had a value of 50 - scoring relatively highly in relation to the economic activity indicators, but relatively poorly on education compared to other countries (although marked improvements have been made in this regard - see the CEDAW table below).
- In 2008, Mali ranked 120 out of 157 countries.
- This reveals little change since 2007 when Mali had a value of 52.
|
Gender Equity Index Indicators
|
2008
|
|
Education
literacy gap between men & women; male & female enrolment rates in primary, secondary & tertiary education
|
55.7
|
|
Economic activity
% of women & men in paid jobs, excluding agriculture; income ratio of men to women
|
77.3
|
|
Empowerment
% of women in professional, technical, managerial & administrative jobs; number of seats women have in parliament, & in decision-making ministerial posts
|
17.0
|
|
GEI value
|
50
|
Source: Social Watch
Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 3 [2]
Goal: Promote gender equality & empower women
Target: Eliminate gender disparity in primary & secondary education, preferably by 2005, & in all levels of education no later than 2015
|
MDG 3 Indicators
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
|
Gender parity index in primary level enrolment
|
0.73
|
0.72
|
0.74
|
0.75
|
0.76
|
0.77
|
0.79
|
0.80
|
---
|
---
|
|
Gender parity index in secondary level enrolment
|
0.54
|
---
|
---
|
0.53
|
0.58
|
0.60
|
0.60
|
0.64
|
---
|
---
|
|
Gender parity index in tertiary level enrolment
|
0.46
|
0.49
|
0.49
|
0.51
|
0.52
|
0.52
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
|
MDG 3 Indicators
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
|
Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector (%)
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
34.6
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
|
Seats held by women in national parliament (%)
|
12.2
|
12.2
|
12.2
|
10.2
|
10.2
|
10.2
|
10.2
|
10.2
|
10.2
|
10.2
|
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Millennium Development Goals Indicators (Data last updated on 14 July 2009)
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women [3]
- Mali ratified the Convention in September 1985 & acceded [4]to the Optional Protocol in December 2000.
- The most recent CEDAW report (the combined second, third, fourth & fifth periodic reports) was examined in 2006 [5].
- The next report (the combined sixth & seventh reports) is due to be submitted in 2010.
|
CEDAW Country Report
|
Key Improvements *
|
Key Challenges *
|
|
Education
|
There has been a significant increase in the enrolment of girls in primary schools, from 19% in 1990 to 59.9% in 2004.
|
The success rate for girls is lower than for boys, & girls are more likely to drop out of school due to early pregnancies.
|
|
Economic activity
|
---
|
Women face discrimination in employment - reflected in the gender wage gap & occupational segregation. Women are heavily concentrated in the informal sector. Young girls who migrate as domestic workers to urban areas are often subject to sexual abuse, as well as low wages or non-payment of wages for their work.
|
|
Empowerment
|
The Political Parties Act promotes the participation of women in public life by earmarking a percentage of tax receipts for the public funding of political parties in proportion to the number of women deputies & women councillors elected.
In 2002, a national programme was established to eradicate the practice of excision & other measures, including the prohibition of female genital mutilation from being carried out at health facilities, the training of personnel in the harmful effects of FGM, & the retraining of women who perform excisions (but there is still no legislation aimed at eradicating the practice).
|
Discriminatory legislation denies women equal rights with men concerning transmission of nationality, marriage & family relations, & access to land. Women’s ability to bring cases of discrimination before the courts is limited by legal costs, lack of information on their rights & lack of assistance in pursuing their rights.
Few women are represented in the National Assembly, in Government & at high levels of the administration. Even fewer women are mayors & municipal counsellors.
Violence against women is prevalent; there is a lack of specific legislation on domestic violence, including marital rape.
|
* These lists are exemplary; information about other issues relevant for the SDC-country portfolio can be downloaded from the CEDAW-site, according to the needs of the respective user.
Download this information on a factsheet: Factsheet Mali
[1] The GEI measures the gap between women & men with regards to education, economic participation & empowerment, based on internationally available comparable data. By comparing the most recent statistics with that of five years ago, the GEI is able to highlight recent trends in bridging these gender gaps & track progress towards gender equality. The GEI value is an average of the values obtained in the three dimensions. It ranges from 0 to 100, with lower values indicating greater gender inequality. A value of 100 would indicate no gender gap at all in each of the three dimensions.
[2] The MDGs are a set of eight goals, with 18 targets to be measured by 48 quantifiable social, economic & environmental indicators – to be achieved by 2015, reflecting the world’s main development challenges. Goal 3 focuses on gender equality & women’s empowerment. The MDGs have been viewed by some gender advocates as a distraction, & by others as a strategic entry point for promoting gender equality.
[3] Countries that have ratified or acceded to the Convention are legally bound to put its provisions into practice. They are also committed to submit national reports, at least every four years, on measures they have taken to comply with their treaty obligations.
[4] Accession has the same legal effect as ratification. It is the act by which a state accepts the offer or the opportunity to become party to a treaty, after the treaty has entered into force - http://unifem-eseasia.org/projects/Cedaw/cedawglossary.html
[5] The report was considered by the CEDAW Committee at its 34th session in January to February 2006. It is available at: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/34sess.htm
Hacia arriba
Níger
Social Watch’s Gender Equity Index (GEI) [1]
- In 2008, Niger had a value of 47, with the greatest gender inequalities being in the area of empowerment. Niger also scored poorly in the area of education.
- In 2008, Niger ranked 136 out of 157 countries.
- This reveals little change since 2007, when Niger also had a value of 47.
|
Gender Equity Index Indicators
|
2008
|
|
Education
literacy gap between men & women; male & female enrolment rates in primary, secondary & tertiary education
|
52.0
|
|
Economic activity
% of women & men in paid jobs, excluding agriculture; income ratio of men to women
|
65.8
|
|
Empowerment
% of women in professional, technical, managerial & administrative jobs; number of seats women have in parliament, & in decision-making ministerial posts
|
22.1
|
|
GEI value
|
47
|
Source: Social Watch
Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 3 [2]
Goal: Promote gender equality & empower women
Target: Eliminate gender disparity in primary & secondary education, preferably by 2005, & in all levels of education no later than 2015
|
MDG 3 Indicators
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
|
Gender parity index in primary level enrolment
|
0.69
|
0.70
|
0.70
|
0.71
|
0.72
|
0.73
|
0.74
|
0.75
|
---
|
---
|
|
Gender parity index in secondary level enrolment
|
0.61
|
0.61
|
0.60
|
0.62
|
0.61
|
0.64
|
0.63
|
0.61
|
---
|
---
|
|
Gender parity index in tertiary level enrolment
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
0.30
|
0.31
|
0.34
|
0.29
|
0.33
|
---
|
---
|
|
MDG 3 Indicators
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
|
Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector (%)
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
|
Seats held by women in national parliament (%)
|
1.2
|
1.2
|
1.2
|
1.2
|
1.2
|
12.4
|
12.4
|
12.4
|
12.4
|
12.4
|
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Millennium Development Goals Indicators (Data last updated on 14 July 2009)
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women [3]
- Niger acceded [4]to the Convention in October 1999, with several reservations.
- It acceded to the Optional Protocol in September 2004.
- The most recent (& first) CEDAW report (the combined initial & second periodic reports) was examined in 2007 [5].
- The next report (the combined third & fourth report) is due to be submitted in 2012.
|
CEDAW Country Report
|
Key Improvements *
|
Key Challenges *
|
|
Education
|
---
|
Low school enrolment rates for girls, particularly in higher education; high illiteracy rates among women; persistent gender stereotypes in school curricula.
|
|
Economic activity
|
---
|
Some of the State party’s labour laws, which are overly protective of women as mothers & restrict women’s participation in the public sphere, create obstacles to women’s participation in the labour market. There is a lack of data on women’s participation in the labour force & in the informal sector.
|
|
Empowerment
|
Positive legal & policy reforms include: the national policy for the advancement of women; reforms to the Penal Code in 2004, including provisions prohibiting female genital mutilation & slavery; & the Reproductive Health Act (2006).
A quota system for positions reserved for women in decision-making bodies has been established, resulting in an increase in the representation of women in the National Assembly & in high-level government positions.
The Ministry for the Advancement of Women & Protection of Children has been established, as well as the creation of the National Institute for Monitoring the Advancement of Women.
|
Awareness of the Convention & Optional Protocol is poor, including among judges, lawyers & prosecutors, & by women themselves. Women’s ability to bring cases of discrimination before the courts is limited by poverty, illiteracy, lack of information about their rights & lack of assistance in pursuing their rights.
Continuing legal provisions & regulations discriminate against women, including the law on nationality. Discriminatory customary laws & practices persist in areas of divorce, custody & inheritance.
Lack of access by women & girls to adequate health-care services, including family planning, particularly in rural areas; high rates of teenage pregnancy & fistula problems; high maternal & infant mortality; low rates of contraceptive use; high prevalence of violence against women, including forced & early marriage, sexual abuse of women & female genital mutilation.
|
* These lists are exemplary; information about other issues relevant for the SDC-country portfolio can be downloaded from the CEDAW-site, according to the needs of the respective user.
Download this information on a factsheet: Factsheet Niger
[1] The GEI measures the gap between women & men with regards to education, economic participation & empowerment, based on internationally available comparable data. By comparing the most recent statistics with that of five years ago, the GEI is able to highlight recent trends in bridging these gender gaps & track progress towards gender equality. The GEI value is an average of the values obtained in the three dimensions. It ranges from 0 to 100, with lower values indicating greater gender inequality. A value of 100 would indicate no gender gap at all in each of the three dimensions.
[2] The MDGs are a set of eight goals, with 18 targets to be measured by 48 quantifiable social, economic & environmental indicators – to be achieved by 2015, reflecting the world’s main development challenges. Goal 3 focuses on gender equality & women’s empowerment. The MDGs have been viewed by some gender advocates as a distraction, & by others as a strategic entry point for promoting gender equality.
[3] Countries that have ratified or acceded to the Convention are legally bound to put its provisions into practice. They are also committed to submit national reports, at least every four years, on measures they have taken to comply with their treaty obligations.
[4] Accession has the same legal effect as ratification. It is the act by which a state accepts the offer or the opportunity to become party to a treaty, after the treaty has entered into force - http://unifem-eseasia.org/projects/Cedaw/cedawglossary.html
[5] The report was considered by the CEDAW Committee at its 38th session in May - June 2007. It is available at: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/38sess.htm
