The Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) 2019 Global Report was launched by the OECD) to mark International Women’s Day (March 8). “Despite gender equality reforms in many countries, with innovative rules and regulations in many countries, entrenched social and cultural norms continue to maintain discrimination against women and girls,” according to OECD. “Gender-based discrimination, including female genital mutilation, reproductive rights, pay gaps, and gender violence, were estimated to cost $6 trillion, or 7.5 percent of the global economy.”
The index ranks the countries/territories with Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, France, Portugal, Belgium, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, and Estonia being the top ten for women’s rights (see above table).
