UN Release Comprehensive Stats On World’s Women

United Nations Releases Comprehensive Statistics On World’s Women

Progress in women’s schooling and economic participation, but much more is needed to close the gender gap

New York - The United Nations today released The World's Women 2010: Trends and Statistics, a one-of-a-kind compilation of the latest data documenting progress for women worldwide in eight key areas: population and families, health, education, work, power and decision-making, violence against women, environment and poverty.

In the book’s introduction, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon states that The World's Women 2010 “finds that progress in ensuring the equal status of women and men has been made in many areas, including school enrolment, health and economic participation. At the same time, it makes clear that much more needs to be done, in particular to close the gender gap in public life and to prevent the many forms of violence to which women are subjected.”

In the Pacific, women's representation in parliament is amongst the lowest in the world and eradicating violence against women remains a significant challenge. However, in 2009 and 2010 we have also witnessed new interest and initiatives emerging among the Pacific governments to address the gender gap in political participation and to end violence against women. UN agencies are contributing a range of technical and financial support to these important initiatives.

“Regular and reliable statistics on these issues are vital for government, civil society and the general public to know where urgent action is needed and where progress is being made,” said Ms Elizabeth Cox, head of the UNIFEM Pacific Office.

According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2010 index, the only Pacific Islands nation ranked out of the 137 countries is Fiji (108). In 2009, Fiji was ranked 103.

The World's Women 2010 is being released today, as part of World Statistics Day. Commemorated for the first time this year, World Statistics Day recognizes the vital role that official statistics play in monitoring economic progress, social trends and environmental changes.

The United Nations supports Pacific Island States in their efforts to strengthen their statistical capacity, particularly in relation to data on the economic and social differences between women and men, girls and boys.

For the full report: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/Worldswomen/WW2010pub.htm

ENDS

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