![]()
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines remained as the top Asian country in
ensuring that men and women have equal access to rights and privileges,
including economic opportunities, a report released Wednesday by the World
Economic Forum showed.
The country remained at the 8th spot of the World Economic Forum's Global
Gender Gap Index 2012, which ranks countries based on their ability to close the
gender gap in healthcare, education, political participation and economic
equality.
"The Philippines remains the highest-ranking country from Asia in the Index.
It ranks 1st on both education and health and is also among the top 20 on
economic participation and political empowerment. The Philippines is the only
country in Asia this year to have closed the gender gap in both education and
health," the report said.
It added that the country also performs in the top 10 of indicators that
include legislators, senior officials and managers, literacy rate, enrolment in
secondary education and years with female head of state.
The Philippines has already elected two women presidents which include
Corazon Aquino and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In August, President Benigno S.
Aquino III appointed Maria Lourdes Sereno chief justice of the Supreme Court,
the first female to hold the position.
Ranked ahead of the Philippines are Iceland (1st), Finland (2nd), Norway
(3rd), Sweden (4th), Ireland(5), New Zealand (6th) and Denmark (7th), while
Nicaragua (9th) and Switzerland (10th) rounded out the top 10.
Among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Philippines is followed
by Singapore (55th), Thailand (65th), Vietnam (66th), Brunei Darussalam (75th),
Indonesia (97th), Malaysia (100th) and Cambodia (103rd). Myanmar and Laos are
not included in the list.
Among economic powerhouses, the United States is ranked 22nd, China is 69th
and Japan is 101st.
Stuck at the bottom of the list are Saudi Arabia (131st), Syria (132nd), Chad
(133rd), Pakistan (134th) and Yemen (135th).
The report said there is a strong correlation between countries at the top of
the index and the countries that are most economically competitive.
“The key for the future of any country and any institution is the capability
to attract the best talents,” said Klaus Schwab, WEF founder and executive
chairman.
“In the future, talent will be more important than capital or anything else.
To develop the gender dimension is not just a question of equality; it is the
entry card to succeed and prosper in an ever more competitive world,” he
added.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment