India Worst Country for Women, Canada the Best

Bangalore: India might be one of the fast growing economies of the world but when it comes to gender issues the women in India have to face many inequalities and hardships. The recent survey conducted on the best place to be women among the G20 nations listed India first from the bottom. The survey conducted by TrustLaw, a legal news service of the Thomson Reuters Foundation figures this global position of G20 countries in gender concerns.

 A combination of infanticide, child marriage, dowry deaths etc are the reasons for listing India as a worst country for women. Canada’s gender equality shines as the country finds the first place in the list.

The survey was based on the perceptions of 370 gender equity specialists around the world, including aid workers, policy-makers and journalists. The participants were asked to tell their perceptions on the treatment of G20 countries’ women residing within their borders. The European Union was not included in the survey since it is officially listed as a single G20 nation.

It was surprising that India found to be the worst country for women when Saudi Arabia, where women are still not allowed to drive and only gained the vote in 2011 ranked second worst country for women. Indonesia, South Africa and Mexico rounded the bottom 5 positions after Saudi Arabia and India.

The survey assessments of gender equality in the G20 countries were based on quality of health, freedom from violence, participation in politics, workplace opportunities, access to resources and freedom from trafficking and slavery.

The survey participants had glowing perceptions of Canada. They pointed Canada’s priority on education, universally affordable health care and laws that forbid acts such as child marriage.