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Gaza - Westbank
Iraq
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Syria

Gaza-Westbank

Social Watch’s Gender Equity Index (GEI) [1]

There is no GEI data for the West Bank and Gaza for 2009. [2]
In 2008, the West Bank and Gaza had a value of 46, with the greatest gender inequalities by far being in the area of ‘economic activity’. This revealed a slight drop since 2007 when it had a value of 49.
In 2008, the West Bank and Gaza ranked 139 out of 157 countries.

Gender Equity Index Indicators

2008

Education

Literacy gap between men and women; male and female enrolment rates in primary, secondary and tertiary education

97.8

Economic activity

% of women and men in paid jobs, excluding agriculture; income ratio of men to women

7.5

Empowerment

% of women in professional, technical, managerial and administrative jobs; number of seats women have in parliament, and in decision-making ministerial posts

33.1

GEI value

Source: Social Watch http://www.socialwatch.org/node/9267

Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 3 [3]

Goal: Promote gender equality and empower women

Target: Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and in all levels of education no later than 2015

Indicators: Ü Ratios of girls to boys in primary, secondary and tertiary education

Ü Ratio of literate women to men, 15-24 years old

Ü Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector

Ü Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament

MDG 3 Indicators	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Gender parity index in primary level enrolment	1.0	1.01	1.0	1.0	1.0	0.99	1.0	1.0	1.0	---	---
Gender parity index in secondary level enrolment	1.06	1.08	1.06	1.06	1.05	1.05	1.06	1.06	1.07	---	---
Gender parity index in tertiary level enrolment	0.92	0.96	0.98	1.04	1.04	1.03	1.17	1.22	1.23	---	---
Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector (%)	13.5	15.9	17.0	16.8	17.9	16.1	17.1	17.0	17.9	---	---
Seats held by women in national parliament (%)	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Millennium Development Goals Indicators website: http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Data.aspx. Data last updated on 11 February 2011. [4]

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women [5]

· The West Bank and Gaza (or Occupied Territories) have not signed CEDAW or the Optional Protocol. As they are occupied by Israel, according to the CEDAW Committee, obligations to implement and report on the Convention fall to the State of Israel. Israel ratified CEDAW (with reservations) in October 1991.

· The CEDAW Committee most recently examined Israel at its 48^th session in 2011.[6] However, the report submitted by the State party does not mention the Occupied Territories.

· Israel’s previous CEDAW report (the third periodic report) was considered in 2005. [7]

· In these sessions, the CEDAW Committee criticised Israel for not considering the situation of women from the Occupied Territories (see summarised extract below). [8]

The State of Israel believes that the Convention does not apply beyond its own territory and, for that reason refuses to report on the status of implementation in the Occupied Territories and the Israeli delegation to CEDAW did not respond to questions by the Committee concerning the situation of women in the Occupied Territories.

The Israeli government’s view that the Convention is not applicable in the Occupied Territories is contrary to the views of the Committee and of other treaty bodies, including the Human Rights Committee, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Committee against Torture and also of the International Court of Justice. They note that obligations under international human rights conventions as well as humanitarian law apply to all persons brought under the jurisdiction or effective control of a State party and have stressed the Israeli government’s obligations under international human rights conventions to the Occupied Territories.

The Committee urged the State to reconsider its position and to give full effect to the implementation of its obligations under the Convention in regard to all persons under its jurisdiction, including women in the Occupied Territories, and to provide in its next periodic report detailed information on the enjoyment by all women, including if still relevant, women living in the Occupied Territories, of their rights under the Convention.

Download this information on a factsheet: Factsheets_Gaza Westbank.pdf

[1] The GEI measures the gap between women and men with regards to education, economic participation and 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 and 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] 2009 is the latest year for which GEI figures for the majority of countries are available.
[3] The MDGs are a set of eight goals, with 18 targets to be measured by 48 quantifiable social, economic and environmental indicators – to be achieved by 2015, reflecting the world’s main development challenges. Goal 3 focuses on gender equality and women’s empowerment. The MDGs have been viewed by some gender advocates as a distraction, and by others as a strategic entry point for promoting gender equality.
[4] Blank boxes in the MDG chart indicate an absence of statistics on the UNSD website
[5] 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.
[6] Reports for Israel considered by the CEDAW Committee in its 48^th session are available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws48.htm

[7] Reports for the 33^rd session (2005) are available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws33.htm
[8] CEDAW Committee Concluding comments on Israel’s third periodic report, available at: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/cedaw33/conclude/israel/0545042E.pdf

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Iraq

Social Wath’s Gender Equity Index (GEI) [1]

Iraq does not have a GEI value (as of 2009).

Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 3 [2]

Goal: Promote gender equality and empower women

Target: Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and in all levels of education no later than 2015

Indicators: Ü Ratios of girls to boys in primary, secondary and tertiary education

Ü Ratio of literate women to men, 15-24 years old

Ü Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector

Ü Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament

MDG 3 Indicators	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Gender parity index in primary level enrolment	0.83	0.83	0.85	0.85	0.84	0.84	---	---	---	---	---
Gender parity index in secondary level enrolment	0.62	0.61	0.61	0.72	0.67	0.67	---	---	---	---	---
Gender parity index in tertiary level enrolment	0.54	---	0.54	---	0.59	0.59	---	---	---	---	---
Share of women in wage employment in the non agricultural sector (%)	---	---	---	---	16.0	---	15.3	---	12.1	---	---
Seats held by women in national parliament (%)	6.4	7.6	7.6	7.6	---	---	25.5	25.5	25.5	25.5	25.5

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Millennium Development Goals Indicators website: http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Data.aspx. Data last updated on 13 March 2011. [3]

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women [4]

· Iraq acceded [5] to the Convention on 13 August 1986 with reservations. [6] It has not signed or ratified the Optional Protocol.

· The most recent CEDAW Committee examination of Iraq (combined second and third periodic reports) was at the 23^rd session on 14 June 2000. [7]

· The following periodic reports are due but have not yet been submitted: fourth (12 September 1999), fifth (12 September 2003) and sixth (12 September 2007). [8]

CEDAW Country Report

Key Improvements*

Key Challenges*

Education

- In 1988, girls accounted for 47% of kindergarten enrolment, which rose to 48.7% in 1997.

- 76% of elementary schools were coeducational in 1996/7.

- Iraqi State policy is to not discriminate against women wishing to enter institutions of higher learning or teaching careers.

- The government policy is to eliminate sex-based discrimination from school programmes and educational materials, and to promote the participation of women in the formulation of educational policies and programmes. School curricula highlight female participation in all fields.

- Iraq has compulsory education for children of both sexes up to the end of the primary level, after which point girls may drop out with parental or guardian approval.

- There are concerning levels of illiteracy among women, increasing drop out rates among girls in secondary and higher education, and low female participation in technical schools.

Economic activity

- Iraqi legislation provides all citizens with the right to work free from sex-based discrimination.

- Female workers have special rights, including regarding childbearing.

- Women are strongly represented in the financial and banking sector.

- Women’s participation in the labour market is low. Women comprise only 14% of commercial sector employees.

- Sanctions had a negative impact on women and children in areas such as health care (including high maternal mortality rates), nutrition, employment and other basic social services.

Empowerment

- The Constitution of 1970 provides for equality among all citizens before the law without discrimination, including sex-based.

- In June 1997, the National Committee for the Advancement of Iraqi Women was established, consisting of representatives of relevant ministries and the General Federation of Iraqi Women (aimed at implementing CEDAW).

- The National Strategy for the Advancement of Women (1997) incorporated the Beijing Platform for Action.

- Iraq implemented the Convention through the Personal Status Code, which granted a greater degree of gender equality; and the Penal Code, which provided greater protections to women.

- Only 17 members of the Iraqi Parliament were women.

- There are persistently low rates of female representation in public decision making positions.

- Iraq’s Constitution does not specifically prohibit discrimination that adversely affects women’s human rights.

- Iraq has failed to revoke legislative provisions that discriminate against women.

- Iraq expressed reservations to CEDAW based on its desire to apply the provisions of the Convention in a manner consistent with Islamic Sharia.

- The Government does not have a comprehensive approach to combating violence against women.

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_Iraq.pdf

[2] The MDGs are a set of eight goals, with 18 targets to be measured by 48 quantifiable social, economic and environmental indicators – to be achieved by 2015, reflecting the world’s main development challenges. Goal 3 focuses on gender equality and women’s empowerment. The MDGs have been viewed by some gender advocates as a distraction, and by others as a strategic entry point for promoting gender equality.

[3] Blank boxes in the MDG chart indicate an absence of statistics on the UNSD website.

[4] 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.

[5] 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

[6] Iraq’s reservations to CEDAW are found at: http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-8&chapter=4&lang=en

[7] Reports for Iraq considered by the CEDAW Committee’s 23^rd session are available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws23.htm.

[8] As of March 2011 these reports have not yet been submitted. Status of submission of reports by States parties as of the 48^th session in 2011: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/docs/CEDAW.C.2011.48.2.pdf

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Jordan

Social Watch’s Gender Equity Index (GEI) [1]

In 2009, [2] Jordan had a value of 47, with a far higher value in education, and greatest gender inequalities in the area of empowerment.
In 2009, Jordan ranked 133 out of 157 countries.
This shows no progression since 2008 and 2007, when Jordan also had a value of 47.

Gender Equity Index Indicators

2009

Education

Literacy gap between men and women; male and female enrolment rates in primary, secondary and tertiary education

98.8

Economic activity

% of women and men in paid jobs, excluding agriculture; income ratio of men to women

33.5

Empowerment

% of women in professional, technical, managerial and administrative jobs; number of seats women have in parliament, and in decision-making ministerial posts

9.4

GEI value

Source: Social Watch http://www.socialwatch.org/node/11760

Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 3 [3]

Goal: Promote gender equality and empower women

Target: Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and in all levels of education no later than 2015

Indicators: Ü Ratios of girls to boys in primary, secondary and tertiary education

Ü Ratio of literate women to men, 15-24 years old

Ü Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector

Ü Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament

MDG 3 Indicators	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011
Gender parity index in primary level enrolment	1.00	---	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.01	1.02	1.02	1.01	---	---	---
Gender parity index in secondary level enrolment	1.04	---	1.03	1.03	1.02	1.03	1.03	1.04	1.04	---	---	---
Gender parity index in tertiary level enrolment	1.16	---	1.04	1.12	1.13	1.08	1.13	1.11	1.11	---	---	---
Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector (%)	14.4	14.1	14.9	13.9	---	13.7	15.5	15.8	15.7	---	---	---
Seats held by women in national parliament (%)	0.0	0.0	1.3	1.3	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.5	6.4	6.4	6.4	10.8

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Millennium Development Goals Indicators website: http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Data.aspx. Data last updated on 12 July 2011. [4]

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women [5]

· Jordan ratified the Convention in 1992, declaring that it does not consider itself bound by the following provisions: article 9, paragraph 2; article 16, paragraph (1) (c), relating to the rights arising upon the dissolution of marriage with regard to maintenance and compensation; or article 16, paragraph (1) (d) and (g). Jordan has not signed or ratified the Optional Protocol.

· The most recent CEDAW Committee examination of Jordan, the combined third and fourth periodic report, was at the 39^th session in 2007.[6] The previous examination was in 2000, at which time Jordan’s initial and second periodic reports were considered. [7]

· In 2012, the 51^st CEDAW Committee session will examine Jordan’s fifth periodic report. [8]

CEDAW Country Report

Key Improvements**

Key Challenges*

Education

- Parity between girls and boys in primary and secondary education has been achieved.

- Women accounted for 51% of all students studying for their baccalaureate at Jordanian universities in 2004-2005.

- Illiteracy has declined in Jordan. In 2004, illiteracy rates were 5.6% for men and 15.1% for women.

- Families tend to be more willing to spend money on the education of boys than girls, especially at the academic secondary and vocational levels.

- In 2004-2005, women comprised only 35.3% of all MA level students in Jordanian universities, and 26.6% of the total at the Ph.D. level.

Economic activity

---

- The rate of economically active Jordanian women has declined.

- In 2003, the aggregate unemployment rate was 14.5%, and 20.8% for women 15 and over.

- The private sector is reluctant to employ women, particularly married women.

- In 2004, the average monthly remuneration earned by legislators, senior managers and directors was 811 dinars for men and 427 for women.

Empowerment

- Jordanian women’s political and judicial participation has increased. A 20% quota for female members in municipal councils has been established.

- Since 1997, women have been represented in nearly every government ministry.

- Women have a low level of representation in public and political life. They are generally excluded from decision making.

- Only 15.6% of legislators, senior managers and directors are women.

- The number of women in top level government agency posts is small.

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_Jordan.pdf

[2] 2009 is the latest year for which GEI figures are available.

[3] The MDGs are a set of eight goals, with 18 targets to be measured by 48 quantifiable social, economic and environmental indicators – to be achieved by 2015, reflecting the world’s main development challenges. Goal 3 focuses on gender equality and women’s empowerment. The MDGs have been viewed by some gender advocates as a distraction, and by others as a strategic entry point for promoting gender equality.
[4] Blank boxes in the MDG chart indicate an absence of statistics on the UNSD website.

[5] 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.

[6] Reports for Jordan considered by the CEDAW Committee at its 39^th session (2007) are available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws39.htm

[7] Reports for Jordan considered by the CEDAW Committee at its 22^nd session (2000) are available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws22.htm

[8] Reports for Jordan to be considered by the CEDAW Committee at its 51^st session (2012) are available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws51.htm

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Libanon

Social Watch’s Gender Equity Index (GEI) [1]

In 2009 [2], Lebanon had a value of 47, with the greatest gender inequalities by far being in the area of ‘empowerment’, but with near gender parity in education.
In 2009, Lebanon ranked 136 out of 157 countries.
This reveals little change since 2008, when Lebanon also had a value of 47, and the 2007 figure of 48.

Gender Equity Index Indicators

2009

Education

Literacy gap between men and women; male and female enrolment rates in primary, secondary and tertiary education

98.4

Economic activity

% of women and men in paid jobs, excluding agriculture; income ratio of men to women

36.2

Empowerment

% of women in professional, technical, managerial and administrative jobs; number of seats women have in parliament, and in decision-making ministerial posts

6.2

GEI value

Source: Social Watch http://www.socialwatch.org/node/11760

Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 3 [3]

Goal: Promote gender equality and empower women

Target: Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and in all levels of education no later than 2015

Indicators: Ü Ratios of girls to boys in primary, secondary and tertiary education

Ü Ratio of literate women to men, 15-24 years old

Ü Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector

Ü Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament

MDG 3 Indicators	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Gender parity index in primary level enrolment	0.95	0.96	0.96	0.96	0.96	0.97	0.97	0.97	0.97	0.98	---
Gender parity index in secondary level enrolment	1.08	1.09	1.09	1.08	1.09	1.10	1.10	1.12	1.11	1.11	---
Gender parity index in tertiary level enrolment	1.00	1.05	1.10	1.16	1.09	1.13	1.16	1.20	1.24	1.19	---
Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector (%)	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Seats held by women in national parliament (%)	2.3	2.3	2.3	2.3	2.3	2.3	4.7	4.7	4.7	4.7	3.1

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Millennium Development Goals Indicators website: http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Data.aspx. Data last updated on 8 February 2011. [4]

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women [5]

· Lebanon ratified CEDAW in 1997 with reservations [regarding article 9 (2), and article 16 (1)(c)(d)(f) and (g) which cover the right to choose a family name] and has not signed the Optional Protocol.

· The most recent CEDAW report (the third periodic report) was examined in 2008.[2] Prior to that, the second periodic report was considered in 2005.

CEDAW Country Report	Key Improvements*	Key Challenges*
Education	- Nationally, there is parity in enrolment in primary education. Girls exceed boys in secondary and intermediate levels as boys are more likely to drop out for work. Women exceed men in university education. Men exceed women in vocational and technical education. Female teachers form 70.2% of the total educational body although this drops as the educational level advances.	- Gender stereotypes are reflected in textbooks, curricula and in the education choices made by women and girls. - Girls from rural areas are less likely to attend school than their urban counterparts and girls are less likely than boys to be sent to private school. - Women over 34 have high levels of illiteracy.
Economic activity	- The government states that labour law does not discriminate against women and enshrines maternity rights. However, there is little support offered for working mothers. -The government plans to reform the 1946 Labor Law that currently excludes migrant domestic workers from its protection.	- Domestic workers and women agricultural workers face exploitation and abuse and are not covered by labour laws. -Married women do not receive the same tax allowance as married men nor have the same property rights. -The pay gap in certain sectors is between 14 and 20%, favouring men.
Empowerment	- The government has made efforts to involve and empower women in the rehabilitation process in villages affected by the 2006 conflict.	- Key areas of CEDAW (legal reform to promote equality, violence, opportunities in the labour market) have been insufficiently addressed. -Patriarchal attitudes and gender stereotypes limit women’s participation in political life. - The National Commission for Lebanese Women lacks power and resources. -Refugee women and women with disabilities are marginalised.

· 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_Lebanon.pdf

[2] 2009 is the latest year for which GEI figures are available.
[3] The MDGs are a set of eight goals, with 18 targets to be measured by 48 quantifiable social, economic and environmental indicators – to be achieved by 2015, reflecting the world’s main development challenges. Goal 3 focuses on gender equality and women’s empowerment. The MDGs have been viewed by some gender advocates as a distraction, and by others as a strategic entry point for promoting gender equality.
[4] Blank boxes in the MDG chart indicate an absence of statistics on the UNSD website.
[5] 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.
[6] Reports for Lebanon considered by the CEDAW Committee at its 40^th session (2008) are available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws40.htm.

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Morocco

Social Watch’s Gender Equity Index (GEI) [1]

In 2009, [2] Morocco had a value of 45, with its highest value being in education, and its greatest gender inequalities in the area of empowerment.
In 2009, Morocco ranked 145 out of 157 countries.
This shows a gradual progression since 2008 when Morocco had a value of 43, and 2007 when its value was 42.

Gender Equity Index Indicators

2009

Education

Literacy gap between men and women; male and female enrolment rates in primary, secondary and tertiary education

Economic activity

% of women and men in paid jobs, excluding agriculture; income ratio of men to women

29.2

Empowerment

% of women in professional, technical, managerial and administrative jobs; number of seats women have in parliament, and in decision-making ministerial posts

21.4

GEI value

Source: Social Watch http://www.socialwatch.org/node/11760

Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 3 [3]

Goal: Promote gender equality and empower women

Target: Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and in all levels of education no later than 2015

Indicators: Ü Ratios of girls to boys in primary, secondary and tertiary education

Ü Ratio of literate women to men, 15-24 years old

Ü Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector

Ü Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament

MDG 3 Indicators	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011
Gender parity index in primary level enrolment	0.84	0.87	0.89	0.90	0.90	0.89	0.89	0.90	0.91	0.92	---	---
Gender parity index in secondary level enrolment	0.79	0.79	0.80	0.81	0.82	0.83	0.84	---	0.86	---	---	---
Gender parity index in tertiary level enrolment	0.72	0.77	0.76	0.80	0.83	0.81	0.81	0.89	0.89	0.88	---	---
Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector (%)	---	---	22.1	23.2	22.9	22.8	21.0	20.7	20.8	---	---	---
Seats held by women in national parliament (%)	0.6	0.6	0.6	10.8	10.8	10.8	10.8	10.8	10.5	10.5	10.5	10.5

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Millennium Development Goals Indicators website: http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Data.aspx. Data last updated on 13 July 2011. [4]

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women [5]

· Morocco acceded to the Convention in 1993, declaring that it does not consider itself bound by the following provisions: article 2, which may prejudice its constitutional regulations regarding the succession to the throne of the Kingdom of Morocco, and conflict with the provisions of Islamic Shariah; article 15, paragraph 4, which is incompatible with articles 34 and 36 of the Moroccan Code of Personal Status; and article 29, paragraph 1. Morocco has not signed or ratified the Optional Protocol.

· The most recent CEDAW Committee examination of Morocco, the combined third and fourth periodic report, was at the 40^th session in 2008. [6] The previous examination was in 2003, at which time Morocco’s second periodic report was considered. [7]

CEDAW Country Report

Key Improvements*

Key Challenges*

Education

- Improvements have been made in the rate of girls’ enrolment in primary-level education.

- There has been a near doubling of female scholarships from 2000-2005.

- Morocco has consistently low literacy rates among women and girls in rural areas.

- Improving the retention of girls through all levels of schooling is a challenge.

- There is a need for greater investment in basic educational infrastructure, especially in rural areas.

Economic activity

- In 2002, female unemployment was down 5% on 1994 levels, at 24.2%.

- Female employment rates have stagnated since 2002. Women have a 13% lower employment rate than men.

- There is insufficient transport and infrastructure in rural areas to remedy low female economic activity.

Empowerment

- 1,235 girls were given practical vocational training through mobile literacy and training units in 2004/05.

- Greater awareness of education’s role in the empowerment of women and the impact of conflicting traditional attitudes is needed.

- Women are still predominantly employed in the informal sector with little job security.

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_Marocco.pdf

[2] 2009 is the latest year for which GEI figures are available.

[4] Blank boxes in the MDG chart indicate an absence of statistics on the UNSD website.

[6] Reports for Morocco considered by the CEDAW Committee at its 40^th session (2008) are available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws40.htm

[7] Reports for Morocco considered by the CEDAW Committee at its 29^th session (2003) are available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws29.htm

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Syria

Social Watch’s Gender Equity Index (GEI) [1]

In 2008, Syria had a value of 51, with the greatest gender inequalities being in the area of ‘empowerment’.
In 2008, Syria ranked 119 out of 157 countries.
This reveals a slight increase since 2007, when Syria had a value of 48.

Gender Equity Index Indicators

2008

Education

literacy gap between men & women; male & female enrolment rates in primary, secondary & tertiary education

84.4

Economic activity

% of women & men in paid jobs, excluding agriculture; income ratio of men to women

38.8

Empowerment

% of women in professional, technical, managerial & administrative jobs; number of seats women have in parliament, & in decision-making ministerial posts

29.0

GEI value

Source: Social Watch 2008, Social Watch 2007

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

Indicators: Ü Ratios of girls to boys in primary, secondary & tertiary education

Ü Ratio of literate women to men, 15-24 years old

Ü Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector

Ü Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament

MDG 3 Indicators	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Gender parity index in primary level enrolment	0.92	0.93	0.93	0.94	0.95	0.95	0.96	0.96	---	---
Gender parity index in secondary level enrolment	0.92	0.90	0.91	0.93	0.93	0.94	0.95	0.97	---	---
Gender parity index in tertiary level enrolment	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector (%)	---	16.1	15.9	16.1	---	---	---	---	---	---
Seats held by women in national parliament (%)	10.4	10.4	10.4	10.4	12.0	12.0	12.0	12.0	12.0	12.4

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Millennium Development Goals Indicators website
(Data last updated on 14 July 2009)

The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination agains Women [3]

· Syria ratified CEDAW in March 2003 with reservations and has not signed or ratified the Optional Protocol.

· Its first and only CEDAW report was examined in 2007 [4].

CEDAW Country Report	Key Improvements*	Key Challenges*
Education	- Syria has achieved gender parity in enrolment in secondary education. - More women graduate from certain higher institutions. But, less women graduate from university, scientific and technical faculties. - The government has revised school curricula to remove stereotyped images.	- The ratio of girls in primary education is lower than boys and even lower for girls from rural areas. - Illiteracy among women increased between 2002 and 2006. - Women’s technical education focuses on sewing, household economics and arts.
Economic activity	- The Employment Act enshrines non discrimination in the workplace, although women that work in the informal sector or from home are not protected. The Act also does not cover sexual harassment at work or maternity leave.	- Women and men are largely segregated in the labour market and there is a persistent gap in their wages. - Women are concentrated in the informal sector with no social security or other benefits.
Empowerment	- Sections on women’s empowerment are included in the government's Plans, including a goal of 30% women in decision-making levels, and the Rural Women Development Strategy has been adopted. - Some discriminatory provisions in the Personal Status Act, Penal Code and Nationality Act have been revised but the process of law reform is slow. - The government drafted a National Plan for the Protection of Women, yet it does not criminalize violence against women. - There are plans for more shelters and services for victims of violence.	- Women are not well represented in public and political life, particularly in municipal, town and village councils, due to the lack of measures adopted to ensure that quotas are filled. - Women hold 120 of the 863 leadership positions in the ruling party (2004). - The law still enshrines inequality of women and men in marriage, divorce, custody and inheritance and does not outlaw polygamy and child marriages. - The Penal Code does not include marital rape, exempts perpetrators of “honour crimes” and rapists if they marry their victims. - Victims of trafficking and exploitation are treated as criminals.

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 Syria

[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] The report was considered by the CEDAW Committee at its 38^th session in May/June 2007. It is available at: http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=CEDAW/C/SYR/1&Lang=E.

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