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Angola
Burundi
Chad
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Mozambique
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Angola

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

In 2009, [2] Angola had a value of 60 with the greatest gender inequalities by far being in the area of ‘empowerment’.
Angola ranked 91 out of 157 countries.
This reveals some positive change since 2008 when Angola had a value of 53, and 2007 when it was 52.

Gender Equity Index Indicators

2009

Education

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

75.3

Economic activity

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

71.3

Empowerment

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

32.8

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	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	0.81	---	---
Gender parity index in secondary level enrolment	0.82	0.78	0.83	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Gender parity index in tertiary level enrolment	---	---	0.65	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector (%)	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Seats held by women in national parliament (%)	15.5	15.5	15.5	15.5	15.5	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0	37.3	38.6

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. [4]

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

· Angola acceded [6] to the Convention (17 September 1986) and the Optional Protocol (1 November 2007) without reservations.

· The CEDAW Committee considered reports (the combined initial, second and third periodic report and combined fourth and fifth periodic report) for Angola at its 36^th session in 2004. [7]

· Angola’s sixth periodic report was due on 17 October 2007. [8]

CEDAW Country Report

Key Improvements*

Key Challenges*

Education

- The Angolan Constitution guarantees equal access to education.

- The absence of policies to support education, insufficient number of schools and teachers, underfunding and low teacher salaries beleaguer the sector.

- There are high rates of illiteracy among both sexes.

- Overall, there are low female and male enrolment rates and high drop out rates at primary, secondary, vocational and higher levels.

Economic activity

- Women’s participation in the economic and social life of Angola is growing.

- In recent years, women have organised occupational and economic-based associations.

- The National Microcredit Program helps women and men in poverty.

- The majority of the population live in extreme poverty.

- Nearly 30 years of civil war in Angola has resulted in socio-economic infrastructure destruction, over four million internally displaced persons and refugees, and a significant increase in female-headed households.

- Women comprise the majority of informal market labourers.

Empowerment

- In 1991, the State secretariat for the promotion and development of women was created. In 1997, it became the Ministry of Family and Promotion of Women, the mandate of which is to define and implement the national policy for the promotion of women’s rights in both public and private spheres.

- Gender focal points have been established in all ministries and departments, at both central and local levels.

- Angola has enacted the following laws and strategic plans to implement the provisions of the Convention: the Family Code (providing equal rights between men and women), the 2004 HIV/AIDS law and the strategic plan on HIV/AIDS; the General Labour Law of 2000; the strategic plan on sexual and reproductive health (2003-2008); and the national plan for education for all by the year 2015.

- In 2001, the Cabinet approved a gender equality strategy and strategic framework following the special session of the General Assembly, ‘Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century’ (Beijing + 5)’,

- Only 16% of Angola’s Parliament is female.

- It is not clear if the Convention is enforceable in Angolan courts.

- The Angola Constitution does not define gender equality in line with Article One of the CEDAW Convention.

- Women’s human rights are not protected in the Civil, Commercial or Penal Codes. There is also a lack of specific laws regarding violence against women, including domestic violence.

- In rural areas, customary law is used to resolve conflicts.

- Women have a low life expectancy, high fertility rates, and experience high maternal mortality and morbidity rates.

- There are insufficient and inadequate family planning services and sex education programmes; and low rates of contraceptive use.

- HIV/AIDS infection rates are at epidemic levels. Although retroviral treatment for pregnant women was approved by the Council of Ministers, it is not to be effected soon.

* 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_Angola.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 those 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 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 chart indicate an absence of statistics on the UNSD website.
[5] 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.
[6] 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
[7] Angola reports for 31^st CEDAW Committee session available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws31.htm.
[8] As of March 2011, this report had 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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Burundi

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

In 2008, Burundi had a value of 62, with the greatest gender inequalities by far being in the area of ‘empowerment’ but relative equality in ‘economic activity’.
In 2008, Burundi ranked 81 out of 157 countries.
This reveals little change since 2007, when Burundi had a value of 63.

Gender Equity Index Indicators	2008
Education literacy gap between men & women; male & female enrolment rates in primary, secondary & tertiary education	68.7
Economic activity % of women & men in paid jobs, excluding agriculture; income ratio of men to women	88.1
Empowerment % of women in professional, technical, managerial & administrative jobs; number of seats women have in parliament, & in decision-making ministerial posts	27.9
GEI value	62

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: Ratios of girls to boys in primary, secondary & tertiary education; Ratio of literate women to men, 15-24 years old; Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector; 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	0.80	0.80	0.79	0.81	0.83	0.86	0.91	0.93	---	---
Gender parity index in secondary level enrolment	---	---	---	0.77	0.75	0.74	0.74	0.72	---	---
Gender parity index in tertiary level enrolment	0.35	0.36	0.42	0.46	0.38	0.38	0.43	0.46	---	---
Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector (%)		---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Seats held by women in national parliament (%)	6.0	14.4	19.5	18.4	18.4	18.4	30.5	30.5	30.5	30.5

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]

Burundi ratified the Convention without reservation in January 1992 and signed the Optional Protocol in November 2001.
The State incorporated the Convention into its Constitution in 2005.
The most recent CEDAW report (the second, third and fourth periodic report) was examined in January and February 2008[4]. Prior to that, the first periodic report was submitted in January and February 2001.
Burundi’s protracted civil war since 1993 has had a devastating impact on social, economic and political conditions and the realisation of women’s rights.

CEDAW Country Report	Key Improvements*	Key Challenges*
Education	- The Government’s policy of reducing gender disparities at all levels of education has resulted in an increase in girls’ enrolment ratios, including in secondary and higher education. - The provision of free primary education should further increase girls’ enrolment ratios.	- There remains a significant gender disparity in education, particularly in secondary and higher education.
Economic activity	- The Constitution of Burundi states: “All equally qualified persons have the right, without discrimination of any kind, to equal pay for equal work”.	- Women are under-represented in formal employment, in spite of their Constitutional rights. - There is widespread poverty among women, particularly rural and older women and they lack access to decision-making processes, social security services, education, clean water, electricity, land and credit facilities.
Empowerment	- The National Gender Policy was adopted by the Council of Ministers in December 2003 to combat gender discrimination, although monitoring mechanisms are not in place. - The Constitution of Burundi outlines quotas for women’s participation in the government and women now occupy a number of high profile positions, including Vice-President of the Republic, President of Parliament, two Vice-Presidents of the Senate and a significant number of deputies, senators and ministers.	- Customary law is still recognised and negative cultural practices and traditional attitudes persist which perpetuates women’s subordination in the family, society and politics, particularly in rural areas. - The justice system is not informed about the Convention and women’s rights. - A high number of women and girls are victims of rape, trafficking, incest and domestic violence. Perpetrators often enjoy impunity, victims have little support and domestic violence is not prohibited by law.

* 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_Burundi.pdf

[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 40^th Session in January and February 2008. It is available at: http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N07/265/08/PDF/N0726508.pdf?OpenElement.

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Chad

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

In 2009, [2] Chad had a low GEI value – scoring 43. Particularly significant gender inequalities were evidenced in the areas of education and empowerment.
In 2009, Chad ranked a poor 150 out of 157 countries.
This reveals little change since 2008 and 2007 when Chad had a value of 41.

Gender Equity Index Indicators

2009

Education

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

46.2

Economic activity

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

74.9

Empowerment

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

9.2

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	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Gender parity index in primary level enrolment	0.64	0.65	0.66	0.66	0.68	0.68	0.70	0.70	---	---
Gender parity index in secondary level enrolment	0.28	0.33	0.32	0.33	0.33	0.36	0.45	---	---	---
Gender parity index in tertiary level enrolment	0.18	---	0.11	0.14	0.14	---	---	0.15	---	---
Share of Women in the wage employment in the non-agricultural sector (%)	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Seats held by women in national parliament (%)	2.4	2.4	5.8	5.8	6.5	6.5	6.5	5.2	5.2	5.2

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Millennium Development Goals Indicators website: http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Data.aspx. Data last updated on 6 February 2011. [4]

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

· Chad acceded to the Convention on 9^th June 1995. [6]

· It has not signed the Optional Protocol. [7]

· The CEDAW Committee will examine Chad for the first time in October 2011. [8]

* Information regarding CEDAW, 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_Chad.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] A list of signatories, with the status of ratifications, accessions & successions to the Convention can be found at: http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-8&chapter=4&lang=en
[7] Ratifications of the Optional Protocol can be found at: http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-8-b&chapter=4&lang=en
[8] Reports for the Chad to be considered at the CEDAW committee’s 50^th session are available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws50.htm

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Democratique Republic of Congo (DRC)

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

In 2008, the DRC had a value of 43, with the greatest gender inequalities by far being in the area of ‘empowerment’.
In 2008, the DRC ranked 145 out of 157 countries.
The country has experienced a decrease of 9.7 since 2004.

Gender Equity Index Indicators	2008
Education literacy gap between men & women; male & female enrolment rates in primary, secondary & tertiary education	59.3
Economic activity % of women & men in paid jobs, excluding agriculture; income ratio of men to women	57.4
Empowerment % of women in professional, technical, managerial & administrative jobs; number of seats women have in parliament, & in decision-making ministerial posts	12.6
GEI value	43

Source: Social Watch 2008, Social Watch 2007

Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 3 [2]

MDG 3 Indicators	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Gender parity index in primary level enrolment	0.92	0.93	0.94	0.93	0.93	0.92	0.90	0.93	---	---
Gender parity index in secondary level enrolment	0.69	---	0.73	0.68	0.85	---	---	---	---	---
Gender parity index in tertiary level enrolment	0.31	0.13	0.19	0.19	---	---	---	---	---	---
Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector (%)	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Seats held by women in national parliament (%)	12.0	12.0	12.0	9.3	8.5	8.5	8.5	8.5	7.3	7.3

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]

The DRC was one of the first countries to ratify the Convention in July 1982.
It signed the Optional Protocol in September 2008 but has not ratified it.
The most recent CEDAW report (the combined fourth and fifth periodic reports) was examined in August 2006 [4]. Prior to that, a combined initial, second and third periodic report was submitted in 2003.
The Country has experienced many years of armed conflict, which has resulted in the destruction of the socio-economic infrastructure and widespread poverty.

CEDAW Country Report	Key Improvements*	Key Challenges*
Education	- In 2003 the Government launched a campaign to promote education for girls. However, people still believe that boys’ education is more important than girls’.	- The net enrolment rate for children aged 6 to 11 years has declined in some years and girls have been hit harder. - Girls also experience low enrolment rates in higher education, high illiteracy rates, (19% of men and 44% of women in 2001) and high dropout rates, due to issues such as pregnancy and early and forced marriage.
Economic activity	- The government has supported thematic networks of women’s groups. However, they are not doing enough to nurture these groups. - The UNFP supports the training of rural women in appropriate technologies. - More and more NGOs are investing in the area of microcredit. Some of them are specifically aimed at women.	- As women work mainly in the informal sector (agriculture, small animal raising and trade) they have almost no access to credit. - only 5 per cent of businesses in the formal sector are run by women,
Empowerment	- Efforts undertaken by the government to eliminate discrimination against women include the adoption of the new Constitution (2002), the national programme for the promotion of Congolese women (1999) and the gender mainstreaming document (2004).	- In the post-war transition period the promotion of women’s human rights is not seen as a priority. - Discriminatory laws persist and an absence of legislation to implement gender inequality provisions. - Women occupy few leadership positions in decision-making bodies and public life. - Rape of women is common and victims are given little support.

* 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_DRC.pdf

[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 36^th session in 2006. It is available at: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/36sess.htm

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Mozambique

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

In 2009, [2] Mozambique had a value of 64, scoring particularly highly on the economic activity indicators. Compared to other countries, Mozambique scored poorly in education.
In 2009, Mozambique ranked 73 out of 157 countries.
This reveals little change since 2008 when Mozambique also had a value of 64, and 2007 when the value was 65.

Gender Equity Index Indicators

2009

Education

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

67.6

Economic activity

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

91.5

Empowerment

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

34.2

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	0.75	0.77	0.79	---	0.83	0.84	0.86	0.87	0.88	---	---
Gender parity index in secondary level enrolment	0.63	0.64	0.66	---	0.70	0.69	0.72	0.73	0.75	---	---
Gender parity index in tertiary level enrolment	---	---	---	0.47	0.46	0.49	---	---	---	---	---
Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector (%)	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Seats held by women in national parliament (%)	---	30.0	30.0	30.0	30.0	34.8	34.8	34.8	34.8	34.8	39.2

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]

· Mozambique [6] acceded to the Convention in April 1997 without reservations, and acceded to the Optional Protocol in November 2008.

· The most recent CEDAW report (the combined initial and second periodic reports) was examined in 2007. [7]

· The next report (the combined third and fourth periodic report) was due in 2010. [8]

CEDAW Country Report	Key Improvements*	Key Challenges*
Education	-There have been improvements in girls’ access to education, especially at primary level.	-Girls’ participation in schooling at the secondary and tertiary levels remains low, and failure and drop-out rates are high. At all levels, girls’ access to education is impeded by poverty, girls’ domestic responsibilities, early marriage and early pregnancy.
Economic activity	-Legal reforms have included the Land Law of 1997 which explicitly sets out equal land rights, and the Commercial Code of 2005 which enshrines equal rights for women in any commercial activity.	-Women are discriminated against in the formal labour market. This is reflected in their overrepresentation in the lower ranks of the private and public sectors and at the administrative level, and by the gender wage gap. There is weak enforcement of existing equality provisions in labour laws. -High numbers of women work in the informal sector where they lack job security and social security benefits. -Rural women often lack access to the ownership of land, despite the existence of legal provisions providing access.
Empowerment	-Progress has been made in women’s access to decision-making posts in the political sphere, especially with the appointment of a woman as Prime Minister and the appointment of a number of women ministers. The proportion of women parliamentarians in Mozambique is among the highest in the world. Strong institutional machinery for achieving gender equality is in place.	-There is inadequate knowledge about the rights of women under the Convention in Mozambican society, including among the judiciary, and in particular at the level of community courts. Women themselves are often not aware of their rights. -Discriminatory provisions exist in the Penal Code and in the laws governing inheritance rights. In some areas harmful traditional practices such as early or forced marriage and polygamy persist, despite the new Family Law. -There is a high prevalence of violence against women. -HIV/AIDS is spreading rapidly among 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_Mozambique.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 those 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 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] 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
[7] The report was considered by the CEDAW Committee at its 38^th session in May-June 2007. It is available at: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/38sess.htm
[8] This report may have been submitted as Mozambique does not appear on the February 2011 list of State parties whose reports are due but have not yet been submitted to the Committee: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/docs/CEDAW.C.2011.48.2.pdf

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Rwanda

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

In 2008, Rwanda had a value of 80, with the greatest gender inequalities being in the area of ‘empowerment’. However, Rwanda has a relatively high rate of parity in political representation compared to other very low income African countries.
In 2008, Rwanda ranked fifth out of 157 countries, an incredible achievement in a short time.
This reveals a slight drop since 2007, when Rwanda had a value of 84, but an increase of 11.9 since 2004.

Gender Equity Index Indicators

2008

Education

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

79.7

Economic activity

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

84.5

Empowerment

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

75.4

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	0.97	0.98	0.99	1.00	1.02	1.04	1.04	1.02	---	---
Gender parity index in secondary level enrolment	0.94	0.96	---	0.89	0.89	0.90	---	0.89	---	---
Gender parity index in tertiary level enrolment	0.44	0.45	0.47	0.54	0.61	0.62	---	---	---	---
Share of Women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector (%)	33.0	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Seats held by women in national parliament (%)	17.1	25.7	25.7	25.7	48.8	48.8	48.8	48.8	48.8	56.3 [3]

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 Discimination Against Women [4]

· Rwanda was one of the first countries to ratify the Convention in March 1981.

· Accession [5] to the Optional Protocol was achieved in December 2008.

· The most recent CEDAW report (the fourth, fifth and sixth periodic report) was examined in January and February 2009 [6]. Prior to that, a third periodic report was submitted in 1993.

CEDAW Country Report	Key Improvements*	Key Challenges*
Education	- Progress has been made in reducing female illiteracy, achieving parity in primary education, and introducing free and compulsory nine year public school education.	- Rwanda has a low enrolment rate of girls in secondary and higher education and a high dropout rate of girls due to traditional attitudes and early pregnancies. Those wishing to resume their studies after giving birth do not get support. - There is a low number of female teachers in secondary and higher education and in leadership positions.
Economic activity	- Employment legislation gives women the right to equal pay, to paid leave including maternity leave, and the right to Social Security services. - The government has supported a number of schemes to promote women’s access to income-generating activities and microcredit, especially in rural areas.	- Women experience higher unemployment and underemployment in both the private and public sector, and are concentrated in low paid, informal sector jobs, particularly in agriculture. As a result they are excluded from formal social security programmes. - 60 per cent of the newly created jobs in small businesses have been taken by men.
Empowerment	- The Constitution of 2003 reserves a specific quota (one third) of positions for women in Parliament and in decision-making bodies.. - Rwanda has the highest representation of women in Parliament worldwide. The Constitution enshrines the principle of gender equality and non-discrimination. It triggered extensive legal reforms aimed at removing discriminatory provisions.	- There are still discriminatory provisions in Rwandan law. - There is a general lack of awareness of the Convention and the Optional Protocol in society, including among the judiciary and other law enforcement officials. - Women living in refugee camps are particularly vulnerable to violence.

* 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 Rwanda

[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 ]The dramatic increase in the number of seats occupied by women in the national parliament is due to the introduction of quotas in 2003.

[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 (UNIFEM CEDAW Glossary: http://unifem-eseasia.org/projects/Cedaw/cedawglossary.html).

[6] The report was considered by the CEDAW Committee at its 43^rd session in 2009. It is available at: http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N07/663/98/PDF/N0766398.pdf?OpenElement.

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South Africa

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

In 2009, [2] South Africa had a value of 75, with the greatest gender inequalities being in the area of ‘economic activity’. South Africa has, however, achieved near gender parity in education.
In 2009, South Africa ranked 20 out of 157 countries.
This reveals a progression since 2008 and 2007, when South Africa had a value of 70.

Gender Equity Index Indicators

2009

Education

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

98.9

Economic activity

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

51.4

Empowerment

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

73.8

GEI value

75

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

0.97

0.96

0.96

0.96

0.96

0.96

---

---

---

Gender parity index in secondary level enrolment

1.10

1.10

1.07

1.07

1.07

1.06

1.06

1.05

---

---

---

Gender parity index in tertiary level enrolment

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector (%)
41.1

42.0

40.7

41.6

40.8

41.4

41.3

42.0

44.0

---

---

Seats held by women in national parliament (%)

30.0

29.8

29.8

29.8

29.8

32.8

32.8

32.8

33.0

33.0

44.5

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Millennium Development Goals Indicators website: http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Data.aspx. Data last updated on 15 February 2011. [4]

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

·         South Africa ratified CEDAW in December 1995 and the Optional Protocol in March 2005, both without reservations.

·         The CEDAW Committee most recently examined South Africa (the second, third and fourth periodic reports) in 2011. [6]

·         South Africa’s previous (and first) examination was in 1998. [7]

CEDAW Country Report

Key Improvements*

Key Challenges*

Education

- There is almost universal access to, and achievement of the MDG on, education and girls drop out from school at a lower rate than boys.

- The Girls Education Movement (GEM) and Boys Education Movement (BEM) combat sex role stereotyping.

- New guidelines for the prevention and management of sexual violence and harassment in public schools have been developed.

- Women’s sporting and physical education activities in schools received increased funding.

- Schools are increasingly incorporating family planning and reproductive health education.

- Teenage pregnancy is the most common reason for girls to drop out of school.

- There are high numbers of girls who suffer sexual abuse and harassment in schools (by teachers and classmates), and sexual violence on their way to school.

- Women remain under-represented in engineering sciences and technology fields.

Economic activity

- Women comprised 6 in 10 of new labour force members between 1995 and 2005.

- The Employment Equality Act (1998) and the Employment Conditions Commission regulate the right to equal remuneration for women and women.

- Specific measures have been taken to address gendered income differentials, including with regard to domestic work.

- There are legal prohibitions on workplace sexual harassment.

- There is a high rate of unemployment among women: 30%.

- There is a wide gender wage gap and occupational segregation.

- Women typically have less secure employment.

- There are no provisions in domestic legislation for remunerated maternity leave.

- Workplace sexual harassment remains a problem.

- The unemployment of black women remains a particular challenge.

Empowerment

- Women currently represent 54% of all people employed in public service.

- Women comprise 44% of parliamentarians and 43% of members of the Cabinet.

- The Ministry for Women, Children and People with Disabilities now has a women’s empowerment and gender equality branch, there is a national gender policy and a national plan of action to end gender violence.

- The Children’s Act of 2005 seeks to ensure the gender responsive treatment of girls in conflict with the law.

- The Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (Equality Act) was approved in 2000.

- There are remaining barriers to women’s access to justice and equality of treatment before the law.

- Women remain unable to equally participate with men in public and professional life and decision-making.

- The Ministry for Women, Children and People with Disabilities has weak institutional capacity.

- Patriarchal attitudes and deep-rooted stereotypes continue to perpetuate discrimination against women.

- There are persistent, harmful cultural practices, such as forced marriage, polygamy and ‘witch’ killings.

- There are high rates of domestic violence and sexual violence against women and girls and grave offences are committed against women due to their sexual orientation.

- Rural women face particular challenges, including unequal customs of land and property ownership.

·          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_South Africa.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 those 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 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] CEDAW Committee reports for South Africa for the 48^th session (2011) are available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws48.htm.
[7] CEDAW Committee reports for South Africa for the 19^th session (1998) are available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws19.htm.

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Sudan

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

In 2009, [2] Sudan had a GEI value of 43, with high levels of gender inequality in the ‘empowerment’ and ‘economic activity’ categories.
In 2009, Sudan ranked 153 out of 157 countries.
This indicates little change since 2008 when Sudan had a GEI value of 41, and ranked 149 out of 157 countries (it did not have a value in 2007).

Gender Equity Index Indicators

2009

Education

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

86.4

Economic activity

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

29.1

Empowerment

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

12.4

GEI value

Source: Social Watch http://www.socialwatch.org/node/11760(2009)

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	0.85	0.85	0.85	0.86	0.87	0.87	0.87	0.86	0.88	0.90	---
Gender parity index in secondary level enrolment	---	0.96	0.94	0.92	0.92	0.94	0.96	0.93	0.91	0.88	---
Gender parity index in tertiary level enrolment	0.92	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector (%)	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Seats held by women in national parliament (%)	---	---	9.7	9.7	9.7	9.7	14.7	17.8	18.1	18.1	18.9

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Millennium Development Goals Indicators website: http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Data.aspx. Data last updated on 18 February 2011. [4]

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

· Sudan has not signed the CEDAW Convention (as of February 2011 [6] ).

Download this information on a factsheet: Factsheet_Sudan.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 those 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 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] http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-8&chapter=4&lang=en

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Tanzania

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

In 2009, [2] Tanzania had a value of 72, with the greatest gender inequalities being in the area of ‘empowerment’.
In 2009 Tanzania ranked 35 out of 157 countries.
This reveals a marked improvement since 2008 when Tanzania had a value of 58 (although in 2007 Tanzania also had a value of 72).

Gender Equity Index Indicators

2009

Education

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

80.5

Economic activity

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

83.9

Empowerment

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

51.3

GEI value

72

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

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Gender parity index in primary level enrolment

0.98

0.97

0.96

0.96

0.96

0.97

0.98

0.99

---

---

Gender parity index in secondary level enrolment

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Gender parity index in tertiary level enrolment

0.15

0.31

0.44

0.41

0.48

---

0.48

---

---

---

Share of Women in wage employment in the non-agrucultural sector (%)
29.3

---

---

---

---

30.5

---

---

---

---

Seats held by women in national parliament (%)

---

22.3

22.3

21.4

21.4

30.4

30.4

30.4

30.4

30.7

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]

Tanzania ratified the Convention in August 1985 and it acceded [6] to the Optional Protocol in 2006.

The most recent CEDAW report (the combined fourth, fifth and sixth periodic reports) was examined in 2008. [7]

The next report (the combined seventh and eighth report) is due to be submitted in 2014.

CEDAW Country Report

Key Improvements*

Key Challenges*

Education

-There were notable efforts in the area of education, including a significant number of education programmes, as well as the achievement of gender parity in primary school enrolment. Programmes include the adoption of the Education Sector Development Programme (2000-2015), which commits to providing education to all women and men by 2015.

-There are marked differences in the quality of and access to education between urban and rural areas, a lack of disaggregated information on literacy rates, lower transition rates for girls from primary to secondary school as compared with that of boys, and disparity in enrolment rates between young women and men in public universities as well as vocational and technical education.

Economic activity

-There are more women in small business, food processing and handicrafts.

-Although women constitute an estimated 43% of all entrepreneurs, they still predominate in low-growth areas earning lower financial returns than their male counterparts. They face socio cultural obstacles as well as legal, regulatory and administrative barriers.

Empowerment

-There are new gender development policies for 2000-2025

-There is a 30% quota for women at the national Parliament and an increase of women in decision-making positions in the judiciary

-There have been legal reforms aimed at the elimination of discrimination against women, including giving women the right to acquire, own and use land equally with men.

-Although the government has undertaken efforts to strengthen its national gender machinery, institutional capacity remains weak in terms of adequate human and financial resources.

-The prevalence of violence against women and girls remains high. Cases of violence are underreported and those that are reported are settled out of court.

-The practice of FGM remains prevalent in some regions of the country.

The maternal mortality rate remains high, and the life expectancy age for women has decreased.

* 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.

[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 those 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 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] 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
[7] The report was considered by the CEDAW Committee at its 41^st session in June-July 2008. It is available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws41.htm.

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Zimbabwe

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

In 2009,[2] Zimbabwe had a value of 58, with its highest value being in education, and its greatest gender inequalities in the area of empowerment.
In 2009, Zimbabwe ranked 99 out of 157 countries.
This shows a gradual progression since 2008 when Zimbabwe had a value of 57, and 2007 when its value was 56.

Gender Equity Index Indicators

2009

Education

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

88.1

Economic activity

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

67.0

Empowerment

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

17.6

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	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Gender parity index in secondary level enrolment	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Gender parity index in tertiary level enrolment	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector (%)	20.4	21.5	21.9	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Seats held by women in national parliament (%)	14.0	9.3	10.0	10.0	10.0	10.0	16.0	16.7	15.2	15.0	15.0	15.0

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

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

· Zimbabwe acceded to the Convention in 1991, and has not signed or ratified the Optional Protocol.

· The first and most recent CEDAW Committee examination of Zimbabwe was at the 18^th session in 1998. On this occasion there was no written evidence submitted by the state or other interested parties. Only a Committee report was produced. [6]

· In 2012, the 51^st CEDAW Committee session will examine Zimbabwe’s combined second, third, fourth and fifth periodic report. [7]

CEDAW Country Report	Key Improvements*	Key Challenges*
Education	- Affirmative action measures have been introduced in the education sector.	- Structural adjustment programmes have had a particularly negative impact in the area of education. - Support systems are needed for pregnant teenagers to continue their schooling. - Considering the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the government needs to ensure that appropriate sexual and reproductive health education is provided to all women, particularly adolescents.
Economic activity	- Affirmative action measures have been introduced in the economic sector.	- Structural adjustment programmes have had a particularly negative impact in the area of employment. - Socioeconomic programmes are needed to assist women living by prostitution. Poor, migrant and marginalised women are often prostitutes.
Empowerment	- The constitution and other legal instruments, including the Sex Discrimination Removal Act, prohibit discrimination based on sex. - Zimbabwe has a national machinery for the Advancement of Women, an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Human Rights, and gender focal points in all ministries. - Affirmative action measures have been introduced to promote women’s political participation and decision-making.	- Zimbabwean women have a low level of participation at the decision-making level. - The advancement of women is inhibited by negative attitudes reflecting sex role stereotypes, as well as discriminatory customary laws and practices (such as lobola, polygamy and female genital mutilation). Prevailing negative attitudes and discriminatory traditional practices particularly impact women in rural areas. - Violence against women is a pronounced problem, which is not recognised by law.

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_Zimbabwe.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 Zimbabwe considered by the CEDAW Committee at its 18^th session (1998) are available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws18.htm.

[7] Reports for Zimbabwe 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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