African women discussing the progress of their community, Author Mailabari (CC BY-SA 4.0 International)
The following is excerpted from an article in The Hill titled, “Only 10 countries consider women equal – that must change” [1]:
“Discriminatory laws affect every aspect of a woman’s life – from where she lives and works, to when and whom she marries, to whether she can open a bank account, inherit property or apply for a passport [not to mention access the courts, in the event of domestic abuse].
In Senegal the decision of where a married couple lives legally rests with the husband. In Jordan only men can be the legal head of a household and in Mali a woman legally owes obedience to her husband…
[I]t is also true that important legal reforms have been made…
In the last year alone, Vietnam removed all job restrictions for women, Madagascar toughened domestic violence penalties, Suriname introduced paid leave for new parents and New Zealand enhanced laws mandating equal pay for work of equal value…The United Arab Emirates removed some travel and movement restrictions and became the first and only country in the region to offer paid parental leave.”
ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 