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UN develops gender score card for countries

Xinhua, April 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

The United Nations has developed a score card to help assess how gender equality is being adopted by countries.

The UN under Secretary General and UN Office at Nairobi Director General Sahle-Zewde Work said on Monday that the tool is also helping strengthening the work of partners in gender equality.

"The tool is to help ensure that gender equality commitments by governments are adhered to and they help promote women's leadership," Work said while launching the progress of the world's women report 2015-2016 in Nairobi.

She called for the strengthening of gender mainstreaming by repositioning the issues surrounding gender with the aim of eradicating negative biases against women.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 89 percent of women's jobs, according to the report, are informal, unprotected by labour laws and lack social protection compared to 83 percent for men -- proof that majority of women lack decent jobs.

"It is unfortunate that even though Africa's annual growth rate is 5 percent, which is above the global average of 3 percent, it is not generating employment or decent jobs for its population, least of all, for women," said Christine Musisi, Regional Director for UN Women, Eastern and Southern Africa.

She blamed this failure on government's unwillingness to bring women issues at the centre of development agenda. She also noted that now that the global consensus is growing stronger, governments must begin to translate the consensus to suit their economic and social dimensions.

"Issues of stereotypes and stigma must be addressed amicably by governments and the public be well informed since economies in Sub Saharan Africa are run by women," Musisi added.

She said the work that women need to be respected and valued and be allowed to work and live their lives free from violence and sexual harassment.

The report called for policymaking to help change the global policy agenda into transforming economies by making women's rights, and equality, a reality.

It called on governments to generate decent jobs for women, and ensure that the unpaid care work that goes into sustaining all economies is recognized and supported. It also added that well- designed social services and social protection measures can enhance women's income security. Endi