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Gender equality, health and survival indicators:
Sri Lanka among top
Surpasses even some developed countries:
Sri Lanka is among the top 20 in the world for gender equality
according to the Global Gender Gap Report 2010 compiled by the World
Economic Forum.
Ranking at 16th place, it is above all South Asian nations and second
only to Philippines from the Asian region. Sri Lanka stands above
developed countries such as United States, Netherlands, Canada,
Australia and many other European countries.
Sri Lanka is ranked first in the world in the Health and Survival
indicator, and sixth in the Political Empowerment indicator beating
European countries such as UK, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium
as well as the entire Asian region.
In the sub category of regions, Sri Lanka is distinctive for being
the only South Asian country in the top 20 for the fourth consecutive
year, the report states. Sri Lanka is ranked third in the Asia Pacific
region with New Zealand at the top, Philippines at two and Australia at
four.
“Sri Lanka’s performance remains steady as it maintains the same rank
as 2009. In addition to higher-than-average performance in education and
health, Sri Lanka continues to hold a privileged position regarding
political empowerment,” the report said.
The Global Gender Gap Index introduced by the World Economic Forum in
2006, is a framework for capturing the magnitude and scope of
gender-based disparities and tracking their progress. The Index
benchmarks national gender gaps on economic, political, education- and
health based criteria, and provides country rankings that allow for
effective comparisons across regions and income groups, and over time,
the report said.
“It’s very encouraging that more countries are becoming aware of why
it’s important to reduce the gender gap and are starting to explore
policies that may be needed,” the Forum’s Women Leaders and Gender
Parity program Head Saadia Zahidi said.
The report assesses life expectancy, salaries, access to high-skilled
jobs, access to basic and higher level education, and whether women were
represented in government and decision- making structures. The review,
begun in 2006, looks at how countries divide resources and opportunities
for men and women, regardless of the level of resources available. The
report was the result of collaboration between Zahidi; Harvard
University Centre for International Development Director Ricardo
Hausmann, and California University Business administration and Economic
Professor Laura Tyson.
Courtesy news.lk |
