MENA Women in the EconomyRabat, December 8-9, 2005.ppt

MENA Women in the EconomyRabat, December 8-9, 2005 Nadereh Chamlou Senior Advisor to the Chief Economist Economic and Sector Work The Middle East and North Africa Region Definitions Millennium Development Goal #3: Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, measured by: Educational attainment Formal labor force participation Political representation Difference between Sex and Gender Gender Equality: Equal access to opportunity Equal voice Equal treatment under the law Why is Gender important? Low growth has led to low employment generation – particularly among the young Significant evidence that gender inequity and inequality impacts growth Gender inequality is the most pervasive type of inequality which cuts across all other categories of inequality – impacts development most deeply The MENA Paradox: Women’s formal labor force participation lowest among all regions Why? Differential Treatment under the Law Unequal rights and powers in the private sphere Unequal access to public sphere as interaction with state may be mediated through a male kin: Centrality of the family Concept of male breadwinner Concept of equity rather equality – defined roles Code of modesty - “Protection” of women’s honor Gender-based Legal Framework in MENA CEDAW (passed by all but Iran, albeit with reservations – mainly in areas relating to inheritance, family law) Constitution (guarantees equal rights for all citizens) However, ordinary legislation is discriminatory: Personal Status Code based on Sharia (marriage, divorce, custody, inheritance) Civil Status Code based on Western Legal Models (labor, nationality, pensions, etc) Example of Differential Treatment Labor laws and regulations: Limitations on hours and type of work so as to protect women Mobility laws restricting women’s travel within and outside the country Social benefits denominated in terms of number of female employees (such as on-sight child-care) Permission of husband to work or freedom of m