Jordan's ranking drops in 2014 Global Gender Gap Index

AMMAN — Jordan ranked 134 among 142 countries in the 2014 Global Gender Gap Index, published last month by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

The 9th edition of the report shows that Jordan's annual overall ranking dropped systematically from 93rd in 2006 to 134th this year.

The Global Gender Gap Report, introduced by the WEF in 2006, provides a framework for capturing the magnitude and scope of gender-based disparities around the world. The index benchmarks national gender gaps on economic, political, education- and health-based criteria, and provides country rankings that allow for effective comparison across regions and income groups, and over time.

According to the report, Jordan ranked 140th in economic participation and opportunity among world countries, 74th in educational attainment, 127th in health and survival index and 119th in political participation.

These results are a source of concern and legislation should be revised to ensure the active participation of Jordanian women in the economy and politics, according to the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW).

In a statement sent to The Jordan Times on Thursday, JNCW said laws, policies and even practices that affect women’s political and economic participation should be revised to ensure their role in the development process.

The statement added that although the [2013-2014] national strategy for women tackled these aspects, including economic empowerment for women and their participation in public life, such goals cannot be achieved without adopting the supportive legislation.

Giuseppe Belsito, UN Women country representative agrees.

“We recommend creating an enabling environment especially in economic participation,” Belsito told The Jordan Times over the phone.

He added that UN Women also recommends putting in place legislative measures to expand women's economic participation.

The UN official also noted that Jordan is perceived as a modern country and improving its ranking requires adopting legislative measures and incentives to increase women’s economic participation.

According to the report, Denmark, Australia, Tanzania and Kenya rank at the top on the estimated earned income indicator, while Jordan, Iran and Algeria rank at the bottom.

"With no one country having closed its overall gender gap, Nordic nations remain the most gender-equal societies in the world. Last year’s leading four nations — Iceland (1), Finland (2), Norway (3) and Sweden (4) — are joined by Denmark, which climbs from eighth place to fifth," a WEF statement said.