The foreign population crossed 800 crore last year. About 391 crore of them are women. There are about 65 crore women in India alone. Women constitute about 48 percent of India’s total population.
Almost half of the world’s population and India’s population are women. However, gender-based violence is more prevalent against women. Women are facing many problems in the society like domestic violence, sexual violence, illegal trafficking, gang slavery, child marriage, female infanticide, acid attack, unequal pay, dowry. Apart from this, the prevailing discriminatory environment in the society is also a big challenge for women.
If we want to protect women from such problems, it is necessary to enact appropriate laws and implement them properly. Women can contribute equally to economic development as men only if laws to protect rights are properly enforced.
The contribution of women in the economic development of the country is very important. Integrated development is not possible without the due contribution of women, who constitute a fair proportion of the population. Women’s participation is necessary in all areas like poverty alleviation, control of population growth, economic progress.
But it is evident that not only in India but in many countries, women are not given the same legal rights as men. Out of about 200 countries in the world, only 14 countries give women the same legal rights as men. The details given at the end of the study conducted by the World Bank in this regard are:
Rights for women
Free transportation
Equal pay for equal work
Safe working environment
Rights related to marriage
Work rights after motherhood
Entrepreneurial environment
Property rights
Pension
Countries that give equal legal rights to women
(100 Marks on World Bank Paper)
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
France
Jomani
Greece
Iceland
Ireland
Latvia
Luxembourg
Netherland
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Countries with more than 90 points
Estonia 97.5
Finland 97.5
Italy 97.5
New Zealand 97.5
Britain 97.5
Australia 96.9
Austria 96.9
Hungary 96.9
Norway 96.9
Slovenia 96.9
Capon 95
Peru 95
Cyprus 94.4
Paraguay 94.4
Croatia 93.8
Lithuania 93.8
Poland 93.8
Sofia 93.8
Hong Kong 91.9
Kosovo 91.9
Albania 91.3
Malta 91.3
Taiwan 91.3
USA 91.3
Bulgaria 90.6
Mongolia 90.6
Romania 90.6
India’s position is 74.4 points
The international average was 71.7 points
Status of neighboring countries
Nepal 80.6 points
China 78.1 points
Bhutan 75 points
Maldives 73.8 points
Sri Lanka 65.6 points
Myanmar 58.8 points
Pakistan 58.8 points
Bangladesh 49.4 points
Afghanistan 31.9 points
Countries at the bottom of the list
Yemen 26.9 points
Sudan 29.4 points
Qatar 29.4 points
Iran 31.3 points
Afghanistan 31.9 points
Kuwait 35 points
Oman 38.8 points
Syria 40 points
Guinea 42.5 points
Points by region
Region Average Minimum Maximum
East Asia-Pacific 72.6 29.4 95
Europe-Central Asia 84.4 70.6 94.4
Latin America 80.9 61.3 95
Middle East-North Africa 53.2 26.3 91.3
High income countries 95.3 78.8 100
South Asia 63.7 31.9 80.6
Sub-Saharan Africa 72.6 29.4 95
Region-wise number of reforms to provide equal legal rights to women
Region 1970-79 1980-89 2000-09 2010-19 2020-22
East Asia-Pacific 23 20 40 50 80 15
Europe-Central Asia 18 10 50 110 40 10
Latin America 65 70 110 80 50 12
Middle East-North Africa 10 10 20 70 30
High Income Countries 105 75 100 140 60 10
South Asia 5 3 8 20 35 5
Sub-Saharan Africa 55 70 105 170 130 40
Compiler: Surend Ravi