LAHORE: A Women, Peace and Security Index report has ranked Pakistan at the bottom 150 out of 153 countries which measures women’s well-being by assessing factors such as inclusion, justice and security.
This index was prepared and launched by Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security. In terms of inclusion, the country was ranked at 5 in women’s mean years of schooling with Iran attaining the highest position of 8 in this section. In women financial inclusion section, Pakistan’s position was a lowly 3rd in comparison to a group high of 87 for Iran. And the country attained a position of 33rd on the median of women cellphone usage, compared to a group high of 87 for Iran. In terms of women employment, Pakistan attained 24th position, compared to a group high of 81 for Nepal and Iran was ranked the lowest at 13th.
In justice category, the country received 31st position in “Legal Discrimination Against Women” with Maldives being ranked lowest at 18 and Iran attaining group high position of 46th. In “Discriminatory Norms” section, Pakistan obtained 73rd position, a group high in comparison to Nepal being positioned at a low of 18th.
In security category, Pakistan was ranked at 51pc in “Women’s perception of community safety” section with Bangladesh attaining a group high position of 81st and Afghanistan being the lowest ranked at 36th. And in “Lifetime Intimate Partner Violence” Pakistan was ranked at 27th compared to a group high of 67th for Bangladesh and group low of 20th for Maldives.
The report marks Pakistan among the worst ranked countries in the index where domestic violence is widespread and where thousands of women/girls are murdered in “honor killings” every year.
