Latest news with #GenderInequalityIndex
Business Recorder
14-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Falling behind: Pakistan's HDI crisis
Pakistan's ranking in the Human Development Index (HDI) 2025 stands at a sobering 168 out of 193 countries, with a value of 0.544, categorizing it among nations with Low Human Development. This marks a significant fall of 19 positions from its previous standing—one of the steepest declines globally—highlighting a sharp reversal in developmental momentum. The core indicators reveal a troubling picture: life expectancy is 67.6 years; expected years of schooling are just 7.9; mean years of schooling are a mere 4.3; Gross National Income per capita stands at $5,501; the inequality-adjusted HDI drops further to 0.392; and the Gender Inequality Index is at a concerning 0.536. These statistics point to long-standing patterns of underinvestment in key sectors such as education and health, persistent income inequality, and a structural economic fragility that remains unaddressed. Pakistan fares poorly even within its own region. Among South Asian peers—India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka—Pakistan consistently ranks lowest across nearly every human development metric, from income and life expectancy to gender equity and educational attainment. The broader South Asian region also faces development challenges, with high inequality contributing to an average 30 percent loss in human development potential. Pakistan's loss is even more severe. Gender disparities remain pronounced, as evidenced by one of the region's worst GII scores, and its education system lags far behind, with school expectancy rates at the bottom of the regional scale. Healthcare performance too shows stagnation, with only marginal gains in life expectancy despite a growing population and evolving health demands. The 2025 Human Development Report underscores that development progress is fundamentally a function of policy choices, not inevitability. Countries that have advanced on the HDI ladder have done so through consistent, strategic investments. For instance, Sri Lanka, despite economic instability, has ensured near-universal access to education and healthcare. Other nations such as Vietnam has embraced digital tools to extend public services, empowered marginalized populations, and built inclusive welfare systems to spur HDI growth. These examples show the power of deliberate, equity-focused policy decisions in driving transformative development. Pakistan can draw valuable lessons from these global and regional success stories. It must reorient its national development strategy toward people-centred outcomes rather than GDP growth alone. That begins with prioritizing foundational investments in education and healthcare, particularly in underserved areas. It also requires confronting inequality directly by enacting fiscal reforms that ensure wealth redistribution and equitable access to services. Addressing gender disparity must be a core priority, supported by policies that promote female participation in education, work, and governance. Moreover, strengthening institutional capacity through better governance, digital innovation, and transparent service delivery will be key to sustained progress. Pakistan's low HDI performance is not a reflection of its potential but rather the consequence of critical decisions delayed or ignored. The global experience, including from within South Asia, shows that when people—not just productivity or profit—are at the centre of policy, development follows. As the 2025 Human Development Report makes clear, technology may be the enabler, but human agency is the true driver of progress. For Pakistan to move forward meaningfully on the HDI scale, it must make the choice to put human development at the heart of its national agenda.
The National
25-04-2025
- Business
- The National
Economic empowerment of women is a national priority, says President of UAE Gender Balance Council
Gender balance is a priority for the UAE, said Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council. Sheikha Manal made her comments at the Brics Women's Affairs Ministerial Meeting in Brazil, the Dubai Government Media Office reported on Friday evening. Equal pay, parental leave and the full economic participation of women are at the forefront of the UAE's strategies, Sheikha Manal told the Brics meeting. "Economic empowerment is not only a basic right for women; it is a national priority and a driver of sustainable growth and innovation," said Sheikha Manal, who said empowerment for women is a strategic priority that drives innovation and resilience. She pointed to the leadership role of women in the UAE in sectors such as in sustainability, solar energy and agriculture as proof of the Emirates' commitment to ensuring there is gender balance. Last year, the UAE has ranked seventh on a global list of nations for efforts to promote gender equality. The nation also ranked first in the region on the Gender Inequality Index, which is part of a UN human development report. The meeting in Brazil also heard about the steps taken to prevent violence against women in the UAE. 'We've enacted strong laws to combat cyber harassment, hate speech and misinformation," said Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council. "But we must go further and work together internationally to create safer, more inclusive digital spaces.' The impact of Emirati women on the country's economy was also highlighted by Ms Al Marri. 'Emirati women have made a lasting impact on our national economy,' she said. 'Today, they represent 18 per cent of all entrepreneurs, and over 77 per cent are under 40. These achievements result from decades of progressive policies and leadership support.'
Egypt Today
07-03-2025
- Business
- Egypt Today
Egypt advances women's empowerment
First Lady Entissar El Sisi attends the celebration of the 2023 Women's Day and Ideal Mothers' Day- Press photo CAIRO – 7 March 2025: Egypt is actively working to enhance the role of women as essential partners in societal development and progress. Over the past decade, the government has adopted a comprehensive approach to empower women in various sectors, focusing on principles of justice and equal opportunities. The state has prioritized political empowerment by boosting women's representation in decision-making roles, ensuring their active involvement in policy-making, and enabling them to serve in the judiciary, reflecting the country's belief in women's ability to contribute to justice and rule of law. Furthermore, Egypt continues to support women's economic empowerment by creating an environment conducive to entrepreneurship and increasing their participation in the labor market, contributing to comprehensive national development. On the social front, the government has implemented policies and programs aimed at preparing women for a more active role in society while ensuring access to adequate healthcare, thus promoting a dignified life. These efforts are reinforced by a legislative and institutional framework that guarantees women's rights and strengthens their role across various fields. These actions have positively impacted Egypt's international standing concerning its efforts to empower women. In celebration of International Women's Day, the Egyptian Cabinet's Media Center released an infographic detailing the continuous efforts and measurable actions the state has taken to empower women. The report highlighted Egypt's significant progress in global gender equality rankings. Egypt has advanced 38 places in the United Nations Development Programme's Gender Inequality Index, reaching 93rd place in 2022, compared to 131st in 2014. Egypt also moved up 44 places in the World Economic Forum's Political Empowerment Index, ranking 90th in 2024, up from 134th in 2014. Additionally, Egypt improved its position by 25 points in the World Bank's Entrepreneurial Laws Index for women, scoring 100 points in 2024 (for the third consecutive year), compared to 75 points in 2014. Ambassador Christian Berger, Head of the EU Delegation in Egypt, expressed his appreciation for the Egyptian government, particularly the female leaders in the Cabinet, for their dedication to empowering women. He noted the increasing number of Egyptian women holding leadership roles, excelling in positions once dominated by men. The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) commended Egypt for its numerous accomplishments in combating violence against women. These include the adoption of a constitutional provision to protect women from violence, amendments to the Penal Code to address sexual harassment and female genital mutilation, and the implementation of the national strategy to combat violence against women. The report emphasized Egypt's efforts to politically empower women, showcasing their growing representation in the legislative bodies. By 2025, the number of women in the House of Representatives will reach 163 seats, up from 9 seats in 2012. Additionally, women's representation in the Senate will increase to 41 seats by 2025, compared to just 12 seats in 2012. In terms of decision-making positions, the number of female ministers will rise to 4, with 9 women serving as deputy governors and 5 as deputy ministers in 2025. The judiciary and diplomatic corps have also seen substantial progress, with 3,918 women in the judiciary and 323 women in diplomatic roles by 2025. The report also highlighted significant strides in women's economic empowerment. Female unemployment rates have decreased by 8.2 percentage points, falling to 16.6% in the fourth quarter of 2024 from 24.8% in 2014. Additionally, the number of women with financial accounts has surged by 294.9%, reaching 23.3 million women in 2024, compared to 5.9 million in 2016. As part of the Egyptian government's economic empowerment initiatives, 30,300 projects have been financed through the Nasser Social Bank's 'Mastoura' initiative, benefiting women with a total investment of 730 million EGP since June 2014. Furthermore, the government has directed 76,400 small and micro projects to women as part of the national 'Mashrouak' initiative, accounting for 35% of total projects by February 2025. Additionally, 908,200 small and micro projects worth 17.4 billion EGP have been allocated to women by the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Agency, representing 45% of all projects until December 2024. Over 20,000 women have benefited from the Local Development Fund's initiatives, representing 64.9% of all beneficiaries, while 2.3 million women have accessed services and activities aimed at family and women's empowerment under the 'Bidaya' presidential initiative by December 2024. The report also highlighted Egypt's progress in empowering women socially through education and healthcare initiatives. The rate of female school dropouts in the primary phase decreased to 0.19% in the 2023/2024 school year, compared to 0.45% in 2013/2014. Meanwhile, female enrollment in higher education increased to 54.8% in 2023/2024, up from 45.4% in 2013/2014. In terms of healthcare, the number of women benefiting from the President's Health Initiative for Women reached 57.1 million by February 2025. Additionally, 3.1 million women have been screened under the President's Mother and Child Health Initiative since its inception. The report also emphasized the Egyptian government's efforts to provide social protection for women. The number of women benefiting from the 'Takaful and Karama' program has reached 3.5 million, representing 75% of the total beneficiaries. The state allocates 5.2 billion EGP annually to support women heads of households, benefiting 673,000 women. Additionally, 4.2 billion EGP is dedicated to supporting women with disabilities, benefiting 496,000 women. Moreover, the report highlighted that 7.8 billion EGP have been allocated from the Family Insurance Fund to cover alimony payments for 409,000 beneficiaries, including wives, divorced women, children, and parents. Approximately 6.8 million women receive pension benefits, and 3.2 million women are insured. In terms of protecting women from violence, the report highlighted the creation of a National Committee to eliminate female genital mutilation in 2019 and the establishment of a consolidated unit under the Cabinet to protect women from violence. Additionally, 42 units dedicated to combating violence against women have been set up across universities. These continuous efforts demonstrate Egypt's commitment to empowering women, enhancing their position in society, and addressing challenges related to gender equality and women's rights.
