24 March 2010
NTS Bulletin (Mar 2010 – Issue 2)
Abstract
The Asia-Pacific region has witnessed remarkable economic progress and rapid development in recent decades, yet gender inequality remains entrenched even through this era of change. This is the observation of a new United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report Power, Voices and Rights: A Turning Point for Gender Equality in Asia and the Pacific. According to the report, discrimination and neglect are threatening women’s very survival in the Asia-Pacific region, where women suffer from some of the world’s lowest rates of political representation, employment and property ownership. Their lack of participation is also depressing economic growth. Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum in its report The Corporate Gender Gap Report 2010 shed light on economic participation and the opportunity gap between men and women. India, according to the report, has the lowest percentage of female employees (23%), followed by Japan (24%), Turkey (26%) and Austria (29%). On the other hand, the United States (52%), Spain (48%), Canada (46%), and Finland (44%) display the highest percentage of total female employees.
Abstract
The Asia-Pacific region has witnessed remarkable economic progress and rapid development in recent decades, yet gender inequality remains entrenched even through this era of change. This is the observation of a new United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report Power, Voices and Rights: A Turning Point for Gender Equality in Asia and the Pacific. According to the report, discrimination and neglect are threatening women’s very survival in the Asia-Pacific region, where women suffer from some of the world’s lowest rates of political representation, employment and property ownership. Their lack of participation is also depressing economic growth. Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum in its report The Corporate Gender Gap Report 2010 shed light on economic participation and the opportunity gap between men and women. India, according to the report, has the lowest percentage of female employees (23%), followed by Japan (24%), Turkey (26%) and Austria (29%). On the other hand, the United States (52%), Spain (48%), Canada (46%), and Finland (44%) display the highest percentage of total female employees.
