WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2022 | WBL.WORLDBANK.ORG 1 But globally, women have just ¾ the legal rights of men The global average Women, Business and the Law score is 76.5 out of 100. WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2022 | WBL.WORLDBANK.ORG 2 Despite the pandemic, 23 countries improved their laws in 2021 Indicator Examples of reforms adopted Mobility In Cyprus and Oman, passport application procedures are now equal for men and women. Workplace Angola and Lebanon both enacted laws protecting women from sexual harassment in employment, including criminal penalties for such conduct. Pay Bahrain and Burundi mandated equal remuneration for work of equal value. In Benin and Vietnam, women can now work in industrial jobs in the same way as men. Pakistan lifted restrictions on women’s ability to work at night. Marriage Egypt, Arab Rep., enacted legislation protecting women from domestic violence. Parenthood Armenia, Switzerland, and Ukraine introduced paid paternity leave. Colombia, Georgia, Greece, and Spain introduced paid parental leave. Entrepreneurship Egypt, Arab. Rep., Gabon, and Sierra Leone prohibited gender-based discrimination in financial services, making it easier for women to access credit. Assets Gabon granted spouses equal rights to immovable property and equal administrative authority over assets during marriage. Pension Cambodia and Ukraine equalized the ages at which men and women can retire with full pension benefits. WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2022 | WBL.WORLDBANK.ORG 3 Gabon took bold steps to strengthen gender equality WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2022 | WBL.WORLDBANK.ORG 4 Gender equality is smart economics Equal laws Thriving Better More jobs Higher wages businesses representation WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2022 | WBL.WORLDBANK.ORG 5 Toward available, affordable, and quality childcare services Financial support for consumers or providers of childcare services Expanding access to childcare through diverse types of provision Promoting uptake of childcare services, especially for low-income or vulnerable families Ensuring a safer environment for children, contributing to healthier nutrition and school readiness, and promoting uptake WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2022 | WBL.WORLDBANK.ORG 6 Measuring the law in practice Structural indicators measure the state of the law in relation to a specific right Country Expert opinion of implementation “We see more unregistered women entrepreneurs Brazil than men.” “Systemic barriers continue to exist, and women are Process indicators capture existence of policy Canada underrepresented in many fields.” instruments to support the implementation of the right “Gender discrimination and sexual harassment still Ethiopia exist widely.” “Domestic violence is very high, and most matters go India unreported.” Outcome indicators shed light on progress toward realizing a particular right “There is the issue of men still very much being South Africa regarded as the head of the household and women’s unpaid contributions not being valued.” WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2022 | WBL.WORLDBANK.ORG 7 There is more work left to be done WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2022 | WBL.WORLDBANK.ORG 8 Inclusive recovery starts with inclusive laws WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2022 | WBL.WORLDBANK.ORG 9 Learn more and take action at wbl.worldbank.org WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2022 | WBL.WORLDBANK.ORG 10 WBL.WORLDBANK.ORG WOMEN, BUSINESS AND THE LAW 2022 | WBL.WORLDBANK.ORG 11