The new index, presented in the World Bank report "Women, Business and the Law 2019 : A Decade of Reforms", published end of February 2019, assesses the important stages of a woman's professional life, from the first job to the retirement benefits, as well as the legal protections associated with each of these steps. The data cover a period of ten years, and each of the 187 countries analyzed was scored according to eight indicators.

In this new index, Haiti obtains a general score of 58.17 out of 100 and ranks 157th in the world out of 187 countries and last in the Caribbean zone and Latin America, behind Dominica (score 62.5)

Compared Dominican our neighbor gets an overall score of 88.57 out of 100 and 43rd in the world and 5th out of 187 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America behind Saint Lucia (89.38) Ecuador (89.38), Paraguay and Peru 94.38 (95.00)

The world ranking is dominated by Belgium, Denmark, France, Latvia, Luxembourg and Sweden who score 100/100.

The 3 worst countries in the world are Sudan (186th 29.38), United Arab Emirates (186th with 29.28) and Saudi Arabia (187th with 25.63)

Results by indicator (higher score is less for women)

1) Travel: Indicator that examines traffic constraints

Haiti: 50/100 - Dominican Republic 100/100

2) Starting a job: Indicator impact of laws that influence women's decisions to want to work

Haiti: 50/100 - Dominican Republic 100/100

3) Remuneration: Indicator that analyzes legislative and regulatory measures concerning women's wages

Haiti: 75/100 - Dominican Republic 75/100

4) Marriage: Indicator that assesses legal constraints related to marriage

Haiti: 40/100 - Dominican Republic 100/100

5) Children: Indicator that analyzes laws that affect women's work after having children

Haiti: 20/100 - Dominican Republic 60/100

6) Leading a business: An indicator that analyzes the constraints faced by women starting and running a business

Haiti: 75/100 - Dominican Republic 100/100

7) Asset Management: An indicator that analyzes gender differences in ownership and inheritance

Haiti: 80/100 - Dominican Republic 100/100

8) Pension / Retirement: Indicator that assesses laws that affect the size of a woman's pension

Haiti: 75/100 - Dominican Republic 75/100

The report highlights that women's right to work is progressing while recognizing that there are still many obstacles in different countries.

In addition, this Friday, March 8, celebration of the International Women's Day, the United Nations in Haiti reiterate their support for the efforts of the Government of Haiti to promote gender equality and the participation of women in public life, whether political, social or economic, as well as to eradicate any kind of violence against women, which affects at least one in four women in Haiti.

The Ministry for Women's Affairs and Women's Rights has adopted the national theme "Lapè ak prwogrè/devlopman se zafè fanm yo tou" (The peace and progress / development is also the case of women )

"The United Nations family in Haiti alongside Haitian and Haitian to accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals and the target of Haiti to become an emerging country by 2030, representing a commitment to Haiti with his children and grandchildren for a better future. Achieving these goals is only possible with a real gender equality and women's participation [...]," said Mamadou Diallo, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Coordinator of the 19 agencies, funds and United Nations programs in Haiti.

The United Nations family in Haiti supports the authorities and their partners in a series of awareness and training activities to be held from March 8 to April 3 National Day of the Movement of Haitian Women and invites on reflection on the role of women as key actors in sustainable development. According to studies by different UN agencies, countries investing in women's and girls' real participation in social, economic and political life are becoming more prosperous and resilient to cope with natural hazards and other crises.

SL/ HaitiLibre