By W.G. Dunlop
DUBAI, Oct 12, 2010 (AFP) - The Arabian Peninsula fared poorly in a World Economic Forum report on gender gaps released Tuesday, with all of the region's countries ranking in the bottom quarter, and Yemen in last place at 134.
The United Arab Emirates was the peninsula's best-placed nation, but it only ranked 103 out of the 134 countries listed in the WEF annual gender gap index.
Kuwait was next at 105th, followed by Bahrain at 110th, Qatar at 117th, Oman at 122nd, and Saudi Arabia at 129th, while Yemen finished last at 134th.
The WEF index assesses disparities between genders in terms of economic opportunities, educational attainment, health and survival and political empowerment.
Though overall rankings for countries in the region were low, the report highlighted progress that has been made.
The United Arab Emirates, it said, "gains nine places to attain first position among the Arab countries."
It noted the labour force participation rate for women improved in the UAE federation, the wage gap between men and women narrowed, and the proportion of women in ministerial posts rose.
"New data show that literacy rates for women are now higher than those of men" in the Emirates, it said.
Kuwait and Bahrain both have "higher-than-average performances on educational attainment," the report says. Kuwait's overall rank, however, remained the same as last year, while Bahrain gained six places.
"Bahrains improvements are mainly driven by significant improvements in the proportion of women legislators, senior officials and managers and the proportion of women holding ministerial-level positions," the report said.
"Qatars strength," the report said, "lies in education, although gains in labour force participation and wage equality have boosted Qatars overall ranking by eight places."
Oman gained one place compared to its 2009 ranking.
The report said Saudi Arabia has made gains in terms of the labour force participation rate for women, the perception of wage gaps for similar work, literacy, and educational enrolment.
The kingdom's ranking rose one spot compared with 2009.
However, Saudi Arabia "remains the lowest-ranking country in the (Middle East and North Africa) region on political empowerment, with the lowest possible score of zero," it said.
Yemen, meanwhile, "continues to occupy the last place... in the overall rankings of 134 countries."
"It remains the only country in the world to have closed less than 50 percent of its gender gap, and it deteriorates further this year relative to its own performance in 2008," the report said.
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Copyright AFP 2010.
