Annex B. Methodology

Box A B.1. Selection of variables

Variables included in the SIGI 2019 were selected according to the following criteria:

Conceptual relevance

The variable should be closely related to the conceptual framework of discriminatory social institutions and measure what it is intended to capture.

Data quality, reliability and coverage

The variable should be based on high quality, reliable data. When micro-data were available, the data have been harmonised and standardised across countries/territories. The data included should have extensive coverage across countries/territories.

Distinction

Each variable should measure a distinct discriminatory institution and should add new information not measured by other variables.

Statistical association

Variables included in the same dimension should be statistically associated, and thereby capture similar areas of social institutions without being redundant.

The SIGI includes 27 variables combined into 16 indicators and 4 dimensions (sub-indices). The 27 variables include:

1. 14 categorical variables describing the level of discrimination in legal frameworks (for all SIGI indicators but two: missing women and FGM) – these variables are based on 144 questions out of the 312 used to draft the SIGI country profiles;
2. 3 attitudinal variables describing the level of discrimination in social norms; and
3. 10 variables on prevalence rates describing the level of discrimination in practices.

The SIGI and its dimensions are constructed according to the steps below.

Step 1. Building the Gender, Institutions and Development Database

Truncating quantitative data at the equality benchmark and inverting the scale.

First quantitative data are collected and harmonised to be comparable across countries/territories. Data sources vary according to the country/territory and variable. For example, prevalence of girl child marriage is collected through the UN World Marriage Database, while women’s share of MPs is based on the Inter-parliamentary Union database.

The SIGI and its sub-indices range from 0 for no discrimination to 1 for absolute discrimination.

For some variables, equality is reached at 0.5 instead of 1. Equality in political representation for example is achieved when 50% of MPs are women. According to the variables, the scale from no discrimination to absolute discrimination may be inverted to fit with the 0-1 scale. Moreover, quantitative variables are truncated at the equality benchmark. Therefore, countries/territories having 50% or more of female members of parliament have a score of 0.

Box A B.2. Country profiles

The SIGI country profiles contain fully referenced qualitative information relative to social institutions, organised by “dimensions” presented as sub-indices in this report. They were drafted following a standardised structure to ensure comparability across countries/territories in line with the following guidelines:

Conceptual relevance

Qualitative information should be relevant to the conceptual framework of discriminatory social institutions.

Sources

All information should be referenced and sourced from constitutions, legal frameworks, and primary publications, reports or studies, using the most recent data.

Data should be sourced from and cross-checked with reliable studies, reports and publications, including country reports to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, reports by international organisations and country sources.

Validation

Country profiles were developed through a multiple-stage internal draft and review process. Qualitative information was validated by external gender experts with knowledge of the policy and legal landscape for gender equality and women’s rights at a national level (see www.genderindex.org).

Assigning a score to qualitative variables

The qualitative information detailed in the SIGI country profiles are quantified using the following coding manual:

0: The legal framework provides women with the same rights as men, without legal exceptions for some groups of women. There are no customary, traditional or religious laws or practices that discriminate against women.

0.25: The legal framework provides women with the same rights as men, without legal exceptions for some groups of women. However, some customary, traditional or religious laws or practices do discriminate against women.

0.5: The legal framework provides women with the same rights as men. However, it does not apply to all groups of women.

0.75: The legal framework restricts some women’s rights.

1: The legal framework fully discriminates against women’s rights.

In cases where no, or where insufficient information exists, variables are not assigned a value. The legal indicators are assessed based on all applicable legal frameworks, including civil law, religious law, customary law and traditional law.

Step 2: Constructing indicators

Some indicators are based on one variable while others on several. In the latter case, the indicator is calculated only if all variables are assigned a value. For example:

Violence against women=ln(1/3 e^(Laws on violence against women)+1/3 e^(Attitude towards domestic violence)+1/3 e^(Prevalence of domestic violence))

Step 3: Aggregating indicators to build the sub-indices

The dimensions aim to provide a summary measure of each area of discrimination. The dimension is calculated only if all indicators are assigned a value. For example:

Discrimination in the family=ln(1/4 e^(Child marriage)+1/4 e^(Household responsibilities)+1/4 e^(Inheritance)+1/4 e^(Divorce))

Step 4: Computing the SIGI

The SIGI is a composite indicator built as an unweighted average of a non-linear of the dimensions. The SIGI is calculated only if all sub-indices are assigned a value.

SIGI=ln(1/4 e^(Discrimination in the family)+1/4 e^(Restricted physical integrity)+1/4 e^(Restricted access to productive and financial resources)+1/4 e^(Restricted civil liberties))

Box A B.3. Frequently asked questions

Why exponentiate each sub-index and indicator?

As SIGI is a multidimensional index, the use of this formulation helps investigate the trade-offs between the sub-indices/indicators/variables.
These trade-offs, however, are partial: an increase in inequality in one sub-index /indicator/variable can only be substituted partially by a decrease in inequality in another sub-index/indicator/variable.
The magnitude of the increase of inequality is largest in the sub-index/indicator/variable where the country already performs poorly.
While the SIGI 2014 used the “quadratic mean” formulation to compute the level of discrimination, the SIGI 2019 uses exponential and logarithmic functions. This allows more variability in the rates of substitution between low levels and high levels of discrimination.

Why are the sub-indices/indicators/variables equally weighted?

Each sub-index/indicator/variable of discriminatory social institutions has equal value.
No sub-index/indicator/variable is more important than another in terms of deprivation experienced by women.

How are the SIGI categories defined?

The SIGI classification clusters 120 countries/territories into five levels of institutional social and statutory discrimination: very low, low, medium, high and very high.

Definition of variables

Variable	Coding	Sources
Child marriage
*Laws on child marriage:** Whether the same legal minimum age of marriage applies to both women and men	0: The law guarantees the same minimum age of marriage above 18 years to women and men, without legal exceptions in either consent or for some groups of women. Customary, religious and traditional laws or practices do not encourage girl child marriage.	SIGI Country Profiles
	0.25: The minimum age of marriage might be different for men and women, but it is above 18 years, without legal exceptions in either consent or for some groups of women. Some customary, religious and traditional laws or practices encourage girl child marriage.
	0.5: The minimum age of marriage might be different for men and women, but it is above 18 years. However, legal exceptions exist concerning consent and/or some groups of women.
	0.75: The law allows child marriage for both women and men or there is no legal age of marriage for women nor men.
	1: The law allows child marriage for women but not for men.
*Prevalence of girl child marriage:** Percentage of girls aged 15-19 years who have been or are still married, divorced, widowed or in an informal union	0-100%	UN World Marriage Data (2017)
Prevalence of boy child marriage: Percentage of boys aged 15-19 years who have been or are still married, divorced, widowed or in an informal union	0-100%	UN World Marriage Data (2017)
Household responsibilities
*Laws governing household responsibilities:** Whether women and men have the same legal rights, decision-making abilities and responsibilities within the household	0: Women enjoy the same legal rights and decision-making freedoms and responsibilities within the household as men, without legal exceptions for any groups of women. Customary, religious and traditional laws or practices do not discriminate against women's legal rights.	SIGI Country Profiles
	0.25: Women enjoy the same legal rights and decision-making freedoms and responsibilities within the household as men, without legal exceptions for any groups of women. However, customary, religious and traditional laws or practices discriminate against women's legal rights.
	0.5: Either not all groups of women enjoy the same legal rights and decision-making freedoms and responsibilities within the household as men, or there is no law regulating household headship.
	0.75: Women do not enjoy the same legal rights as men to be recognised as the head of household or to have parental authority.
	1: Women do not enjoy the same legal rights as men to be recognised as the head of household and to have parental authority.
Attitude towards housewives: Percentage of population aged above 18 years thinking that “Being a housewife is just as fulfilling as working for pay”	0-100%	International Social Survey Programme World Values Survey
Attitude towards women’s earning money: Percentage of population aged above 18 years who agrees or agrees strongly that “If a woman earns more money than her husband, it’s almost certain to cause problems”	0-100%	International Social Survey Programme World Values Survey
Attitude towards working mothers: Percentage of population aged above 18 years who agrees or agrees strongly that “When a mother works for pay, the children suffer”	0-100%	International Social Survey Programme World Values Survey
Women and men’s share of unpaid care work responsibility: Female-to-male ratio of time spent on unpaid, domestic, care and volunteer work in a 24-hour period		Various sources¹
Women’s contribution to unpaid care work: Women’s average time spent (in hours) on unpaid domestic, care and voluntary work in a 24-hour period		Various sources¹
Men’s contribution to unpaid care work: Women’s average time spent (in hours) on unpaid domestic, care and voluntary work in a 24-hour period		Various sources¹
Inheritance
Laws on inheritance*: Whether women and men have the same legal rights to inherit land and non-land assets	0: Widows and daughters enjoy the same rights as widowers and sons to inherit land and non-land assets. This applies to all groups of women. Customary, religious and traditional laws or practices do not discriminate against women's inheritance rights.	SIGI Country Profiles
	0.25: Widows and daughters enjoy the same rights as widowers and sons to inherit land and non-land assets. This applies to all groups of women. However, there are some customary, religious or traditional laws that discriminate against women's inheritance rights.
	0.5: Widows and daughters enjoy the same rights as widowers and sons to inherit land and non-land assets. However, this does not apply to all groups of women.
	0.75: Either widows or daughters do not enjoy the same rights as widowers and sons to inherit land and/or non-land assets
	1: Neither widows nor daughters enjoy rights to inherit land and/or non-land assets
Divorce
Laws on divorce*: Whether women and men have the same legal rights to initiate divorce with the same grounds and evidential requirements for divorce or annulment	0: Women have both the same rights to initiate divorce and have the same requirements to finalise divorce or annulment as men, without negative repercussions on their parental authority. This applies to all groups of women. Customary, religious and traditional laws or practices do not discriminate against women regarding divorce or their parental authority after divorce.	SIGI Country Profiles
	0.25: Women have both the same rights to initiate divorce and the same requirements to finalise divorce or annulment as men, without negative repercussions on their parental authority. This applies to all groups of women. However, there are some customary, religious or traditional laws or practices that discriminate against women regarding divorce and/or their parental authority after divorce.
	0.5: Women have both the same rights to initiate divorce and the same requirements to finalise divorce or annulment as men, without negative repercussions on their parental authority. However, this does not apply to all groups of women.
	0.75: Women do not have the same rights over divorce as men: either their rights to initiate divorce and/or the requirements to finalise divorce or annulment are unequal, or their parental authority after divorce is restricted.
	1: Women do not have the same rights over divorce as men: their rights to initiate divorce and/or the requirements to finalise divorce or annulment are unequal, and their parental authority after divorce is restricted.
RESTRICTED PHYSICAL INTEGRITY
Violence against women
Laws on violence against women*: Whether the legal framework protects women from violence including intimate-partner violence, rape and sexual harassment, without legal exceptions and in a comprehensive approach	0: The legal framework protects women from violence including intimate-partner violence, rape and sexual harassment, without any legal exceptions and in a comprehensive approach.	SIGI Country Profiles
	0.25: The legal framework protects women from violence including intimate-partner violence, rape and sexual harassment, without any legal exceptions. However, the approach is not comprehensive.
	0.5: The legal framework protects women from violence including intimate-partner violence, rape and sexual harassment. However, some legal exceptions occur.
	0.75: The legal framework protects women from some forms of violence including intimate-partner violence, rape or sexual harassment but not all.
	1: The legal framework does not protect women from violence nor intimate-partner violence nor rape and sexual harassment.
Attitude towards domestic violence*: Percentage of women aged 15–49 years who consider a husband to be justified in hitting or beating his wife for at least one of the specified reasons: if his wife burns the food, argues with him, goes out without telling him, neglects the children or refuses sexual relations	0-100%	Pan American Health Organization (2014) UNICEF global databases (2017) World Health Organization World Values Survey (2005-2016)
Prevalence of domestic *violence in lifetime:** Percentage of women who suffered intimate-partner physical and/or sexual violence during their lifetime	0-100%	Various sources²
Prevalence of domestic violence in the last 12 months: Percentage of women who suffered intimate-partner physical and/or sexual violence in the previous 12 months	0-100%	Various sources²
Female genital mutilation (FGM)
*Attitude towards FGM:** Percentage of women aged 15-49 years who have heard about FGM and think the practice should continue	0-100%	UNICEF Global Databases (2017)
*Prevalence of FGM:** Percentage of women aged 15-49 years who have undergone FGM	0-100%	UNICEF Global Databases (2017)
Missing women
*Missing women:** Sex ratio among 0-4-year-olds (number of males per 100 females)	Rescaled to 0-100%	CIA World Factbook (2018) UNDP World Population Prospects (2017)
Reproductive autonomy
*Laws on reproductive autonomy:** Whether the legal framework protects women’s reproductive health and rights	0: The legal framework protects women’s reproductive health and rights in the case of unwanted pregnancy, without conditions.	SIGI Country Profiles
	0.25: The legal framework protects women’s reproductive health and rights in case of unwanted pregnancy but imposes conditions.
	0.5: The legal framework only protects women’s reproductive health and rights in case of unwanted pregnancy with some conditions.
	0.75: The legal framework only protects women’s reproductive health and rights in case of unwanted pregnancy under strict conditions.
	1: The legal framework does not protect women’s reproductive health and rights in case of unwanted pregnancy.
*Access to family planning:** Prevalence of unmet need for family planning – percentage of currently married or in-union women of reproductive age (15-49) who want to cease or delay childbearing but are not using any method of contraception	0-100%	United Nations Population Fund (2017) United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2018)
RESTRICTED ACCESS TO PRODUCTIVE AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES
Secure access to land assets
*Laws on access to land assets:** Whether women and men have the same legal rights and secure access to land assets	0: Women and men have the same legal rights and secure access to land assets, without legal exceptions for some groups of women. Customary, religious and traditional laws or practices do not discriminate against women exercising their legal rights.	SIGI Country Profiles
	0.25: Women and men have the same legal rights and secure access to land assets, without legal exceptions for some groups of women. However, some customary, religious or traditional practices or laws discriminate against women exercising their legal right.
	0.5: Women and men have the same legal rights and secure access to land assets. However, this does not apply to all groups of women.
	0.75: Women and men have the same legal rights to own land assets; but not to use, make decisions and/or use land assets as collateral.
	1: Women do not have the same legal rights as men to own land assets.
Access to land ownership: Percentage of men in the total number of agricultural holders	0-100%	Demographic and Health Surveys
Secure access to non-land assets
*Laws on access to non-land assets:** Whether women and men have the same legal rights and secure access to non-land assets	0: Women and men have the same legal rights and secure access to non-land assets, without legal exceptions for some groups of women. Customary, religious and traditional laws or practices do not discriminate against women exercising their legal rights	SIGI Country Profiles
	0.25: Women and men have the same legal rights and secure access to non-land assets, without legal exceptions for some groups of women. However, some customary, religious or traditional practices or laws discriminate against women exercising their legal right.
	0.5: Women and men have the same legal rights and secure access to non-land assets. However, this does not apply to all groups of women.
	0.75: Women and men have the same legal rights to own non-land assets; but not to use, make decisions and/or use non-land assets as collateral.
	1: Women do not have the same legal rights as men to own non-land assets.
Access to house ownership: Percentage of men in the total number of people who own a house alone	0-100%	Demographic and Health Surveys
Secure access to formal financial services
*Laws on access to formal financial services:** Whether women and men have the same legal rights to open a bank account and obtain credit in a formal financial institution	0: Women and men have the same rights to open a bank account and obtain credit at a formal financial institution, without legal exceptions for some groups of women. Customary, religious and traditional laws or practices do not discriminate against women exercising their legal rights.	SIGI Country Profiles
	0.25: Women and men have the same rights to open a bank account and obtain credit at a formal financial institution to women and men, without legal exceptions for some groups of women. However, some customary, religious or traditional practices or laws discriminate against women exercising their legal rights.
	0.5: Women and men have the same rights to open a bank account and obtain credit at a formal financial institution. However, this does not apply to all groups of women.
	0.75: Women and men have the same rights to open a bank account at a formal financial institution. However, women do not have the same rights as men to obtain credit.
	1: Women do not have the same rights as men to open a bank account at a formal financial institution.
*Access to bank account services:** Percentage of men in the total number of people aged 15 and above who have an account at a financial institution (by themselves or together with someone else)	Rescaled to 0-100%	Global Findex database
Access to financial loans: Percentage of women in the total number of people aged 15 and above who borrowed any money from a financial institution in the past 12 months	0-100%	Global Findex database
Access to credit card services: Percentage of women in the total number of people aged 15 and above who own a credit card	0-100%	Global Findex database
Workplace rights
Laws on workplace *rights:** Whether women and men have the same legal rights and opportunities in the workplace	0: The legal framework guarantees equality between women and men in the workplace. Parental leave is available to mothers and fathers and the law protects women’s rights during pregnancy and maternity/parental leave. Customary, religious and traditional laws or practices do not discriminate against women in their legal right to enter certain professions, choose a profession and register a business.	SIGI Country Profiles
	0.25: The legal framework guarantees equality between women and men in the workplace. Parental leave is available to mothers and fathers and the law protects women’s rights during pregnancy and maternity/parental leave. However, there is evidence of customary, religious or traditional practices or laws that discriminate against women who exercise their legal right to enter certain professions, choose a profession or register a business.
	0.5: The legal framework guarantees equality between women and men in the workplace. Parental leave is available to mothers and fathers and the law protects women’s rights during pregnancy and maternity/parental leave. However, this does not apply to all groups of women.
	0.75: The legal framework guarantees equality between women and men in the workplace. However, parental leave is not available to mothers and fathers and/or the law does not protect women’s rights during pregnancy and maternity/parental leave.
	1: The legal framework does not guarantee equality between women and men in the workplace.
Attitudes towards *working women:** Percentage of population who disagrees with “It is perfectly acceptable for any woman in your family to have a paid job outside the home if she wants one”	0-100%	International Labour Organization and Gallup Inc. (2017) Latinobarometer World Value Survey
*Representation in managerial positions:** Percentage of men in the total number of persons employed in management	0-100%	International Labour Organization
RESTRICTED CIVIL LIBERTIES
Citizenship rights
*Laws on citizenship rights:** Whether women and men have the same citizenship rights and ability to exercise their rights	0: Women and men have the same rights to acquire, change and retain their nationality and to confer their nationality to their spouse and children, without legal exceptions for some groups of women. Customary, religious and traditional laws or practices do not restrict these rights.	SIGI Country Profiles
	0.25: Women and men have the same rights to acquire, change and retain their nationality and to confer their nationality to their spouse and children, without legal exceptions for some groups of women. However, some discriminatory customary, traditional or religious practices or laws restrict these rights.
	0.5: Women have the same rights as men to acquire, change and retain their nationality and to confer their nationality to their spouse and children. However, this does not apply to all groups of women.
	0.75: Women and men have the same rights to acquire, change and retain their nationality. However, women face legal restrictions on their rights to confer their nationality to their husband and/or children.
	1: Women and men do not have the same rights to acquire, change or retain their nationality.
Freedom of movement
*Laws on freedom of movement:** Whether women and men have the same rights to apply for national identity cards (if applicable) and passports and travel outside the country	0: Women and men have the same rights to apply for national identity cards (if applicable) and passports and to travel outside the country, without legal exceptions for some groups of women. Customary, religious and traditional laws or practices do not discriminate against these rights.	SIGI Country Profiles
	0.25: Women and men have the same rights to apply for national identity cards (if applicable) and passports and to travel outside the country, without legal exceptions for some groups of women. However, some customary, traditional or religious practices or laws discriminate against women exercising these rights.
	0.5: Women and men have the same rights to apply for national identity cards (if applicable) and passports and to travel outside the country. However, this does not apply to all groups of women.
	0.75: Women do not have the same rights as men to apply for national identity cards (if applicable) or passports or to travel outside the country.
	1: Women do not have the same rights as men to apply for national identity cards (if applicable) or passports and to travel outside the country.
*Security feeling:** Percentage of women in the total number of persons declaring not feeling safe walking alone at night in the city or area where they live	Rescaled to 0-100%	Gallup World Poll (2017)
Political voice
*Laws on political voice:** Whether the legal framework promotes women’s equal political representation	0: Women and men have the same rights to vote and to hold public and political office in the legislature and executive. There are special measures to promote women’s political participation at the national or sub-national levels. Customary, religious and traditional laws or practices do not restrict these rights.	SIGI Country Profiles
	0.25: Women and men have the same rights to vote and to hold public and political office in the legislature and executive. There are special measures to promote women’s political participation at the national or sub-national levels. However, some discriminatory customary, traditional or religious practices or laws restrict these rights.
	0.5: Women and men have the same rights to vote and to hold public and political office in the legislature and executive. There are no legal quotas nor special measures or incentives for political parties to promote women’s political participation.
	0.75: Women and men have the same rights to vote. However, women face discrimination against their rights to hold public and political office in the legislature or executive.
	1: Women and men do not have the same rights to vote.
*Political representation:** Percentage of men in the total number of representatives of the lower or single House of the Parliament	Rescaled to 0-100%	Assembly of Kosovo (2017) Government of Chinese Taipei (2016) Inter-Parliamentary Union (2018) Legislative Council of the Hong Kong SAR of the People's Republic of China (2018) Palestinian Legislative Council (2006)
Attitude towards women’s political leadership: Percentage of the population who agrees with “On the whole, men make better political leaders than women do”	0-100%	World Values Survey
Access to justice
Laws on access to justice*: Whether women and men have the same rights to provide testimony in court, hold public or political office in the judiciary and sue	0: A woman’s testimony holds the same evidentiary weight as a man’s in all types of court cases and women have the same rights as men to sue and to hold public or political office in the judiciary. Customary, religious and traditional laws or practices do not discriminate against women’s legal right to sue, to provide testimony in court or to be a judge, advocate or other court officer.	SIGI Country Profiles
	0.25: A woman’s testimony holds the same evidentiary weight as a man’s in all types of court cases and women have the same rights as men to sue and to hold public or political office in the judiciary. Women’s testimony carries the same evidentiary weight in customary/religious courts/tribunals. However, some customary, traditional or religious practices or laws discriminate against women in their legal right to sue, to provide testimony in court or to be a judge, advocate or other court officer.
	0.5: A woman’s testimony holds the same evidentiary weight as a man’s in all types of court cases and women have the same rights as men to sue. However, women do not have the same right as men to hold public or political office in the judiciary.
	0.75: Women and men have the same rights to sue. However, a woman’s testimony does not hold the same evidentiary weight as a man’s in all types of court cases.
	1: Women and men do not have the same rights to sue.
Confidence in the *judicial system and courts:** Percentage of women in the total number of persons declaring not having confidence in the judicial system and courts of their country	Rescaled to 0-100%	Gallup World Poll (2017)
(*) Variables used to calculate the SIGI score

Notes

¹ ActionAID (2013)

Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (2013)

Cabo Verde National Institute of Statistics (2012)

ECLAC (2010)

ECLAC (2016)

General Statistics Office of Viet Nam (2014-15)

Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censos – Costa Rica

National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (2013-14)

National Statistics, Republic of China (Chinese Taipei) (2000)

OECD SIGI Burkina Faso country study (2018)

OXFAM (2017)

République de Guinée (2002-03)

Statistics Sierra Leone (2003-04)

Timor-Leste Ministry of Finance (2007)

Troisième enquête Camerounaise auprès des ménages

UNSD time use data portal (2016)

Zimbabwe 2014 LFS

² ActionAID (2013)

Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (2013)

Cabo Verde National Institute of Statistics (2012)

ECLAC (2010)

ECLAC (2016)

General Statistics Office of Viet Nam (2014-15)

Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censos – Costa Rica

National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (2013-14)

National Statistics, Republic of China (Chinese Taipei) (2000)

OECD SIGI Burkina Faso country study (2018)

OXFAM (2017)

République de Guinée (2002-03)

Statistics Sierra Leone (2003-04)

Timor-Leste Ministry of Finance (2007)

Troisième enquête Camerounaise auprès des ménages

UNSD time use data portal (2016)

Zimbabwe 2014 LFS

Questions used to calculate the SIGI scores

The SIGI country profiles are derived from a questionnaire on gender-related legal frameworks – both formal and traditional/cultural – in the countries and territories covered. The questionnaires are mainly divided into two groups – the legal framework (formal laws) and the de facto (customary, religious or traditional practices or laws). While most of the questions have “Yes” or “No” answers, there are two that have numeric values (i.e. the question on the legal age of marriage for women and men). The list of the questions is as follows.

DISCRIMINATION IN THE FAMILY
Child marriage
Legal framework
What is the legal age of marriage for women?
What is the legal age of marriage for men?
Is the legal age of marriage the same for women and men?
Are there legal exceptions to the legal age of marriage that allow women and men under the legal age of marriage to marry with the consent of:
a. Parent
b. Guardian
c. Judge
d. The court
e. Other authority. Please indicate which authority is concerned.
De facto
Are there customary, religious or traditional practices or laws that allow or encourage early marriage of girls?
Household responsibility
Legal framework
Does the law provide women with the same rights as men to be recognised as the head of household?
Does the law provide women with the same rights as men to be the legal guardians of their children during marriage?
Does the law provide women with the same rights as men to be legal guardians of their children in informal unions?
De facto
Are there customary, religious or traditional practices or laws that discriminate against women's legal rights to be recognised as the head of household?
Are there customary, religious or traditional practices or laws that discriminate against women's legal right to be the legal guardians of her children?
Are there customary, religious or traditional practices or laws that discriminate against women's legal right to choose where to live?
Divorce
Legal framework
Does the law provide women with the same rights as men to initiate divorce?
Do women have the same requirements as men to finalise a divorce or annulment?
Does the law provide women with the same rights as men to be the legal guardians of their children after divorce?
De facto
Are there customary, religious or traditional practices or laws that discriminate against women's legal rights to initiate divorce?
Are there customary, religious or traditional practices or laws that discriminate against women's legal rights to be the legal guardians of their children after divorce?
Inheritance
Legal framework
Does the law provide daughters with the same rights as sons to inherit land?
Does the law provide daughters with the same rights as sons to inherit non-land assets?
Does the law provide female surviving spouses with the same rights as male surviving spouses to inherit land?
Does the law provide female surviving spouses with the same rights as male surviving spouses to inherit non-land assets?
De facto
Are there customary, religious or traditional practices or laws that discriminate against daughters' legal rights to inherit?
Are there customary, religious or traditional practices or laws that discriminate against female surviving spouses' legal rights to inherit?
Legal framework (Exceptions)
Does the legal age of marriage apply to all groups of women?
Regarding women's legal rights to be recognised as the head of household, does the law apply to all groups of women?
Regarding divorce, does the law apply to all groups of women?
Regarding inheritance rights of daughters, does the law apply to all groups of women?
Regarding inheritance rights of female surviving spouses, does the law apply to all groups of women?
RESTRICTED PHYSICAL INTEGRITY
Violence against women
National legal framework on VAW
Does the law provide for a comprehensive approach to address violence against women with specific provisions for:
a. Investigation, prosecution and punishment of the perpetrator
b. protection and support services for victims/survivors
Has legislation provided for the removal of provisions which reduce penalties in case of so-called honour crimes?
Laws addressing domestic violence
Legal framework
Is domestic violence a criminal offence?
Does domestic violence legislation cover the following abuse:
c. physical?
d. sexual?
e. psychological?
f. economic?
De facto
Are there any exceptions included in the traditional, religious and customary laws or practices that reduce penalties for domestic violence?
Laws addressing rape
Legal framework
Is rape a criminal offence?
Does the legal definition of rape include marital rape?
Does the law repeal discriminatory practices such as reduced sentences or escaping punishment if the perpetrator marries the victim?
Laws addressing sexual harassment
Legal framework
Does the legal framework provide legal protection from sexual harassment?
Does the law on sexual harassment include criminal penalties?
Does the definition of sexual harassment cover:
a. the workplace?
b. educational establishments?
c. sporting establishments?
d. public places?
e. cyber harassment or cyber stalking?
Reproductive autonomy
Legal framework
Is abortion legal?
Are there any conditions on legal abortion?
a. No restrictions on reasons for abortion
b. To preserve the mental health of the woman?
c. Due to rape, statutory rape, or incest?
d. To preserve the physical health of the woman?
e. Due to foetal inviability?
f. To save the woman's life?
RESTRICTED ACCESS TO PRODUCTIVE AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES
Secure access to land assets
Legal Framework
Regarding land, does the law provide married women with the same rights as married men to:
a. own
b. use
c. make decisions
d. use as collateral
Regarding land, does the law provide unmarried women with the same rights as unmarried men to:
a. own
b. use
c. make decisions
d. use as collateral
Regarding land, does the law apply to all groups of women?
De facto
Are there customary, religious, or traditional practices or laws that discriminate against women's legal rights regarding land to own, use, make decisions and use as collateral?
Secure access to non-land assets
Regarding property and other non-land assets, does the law provide married women with the same rights as married men to:
a. own
b. use
c. make decisions
d. use as collateral
Regarding property and other non-land assets, does the law provide unmarried women with the same rights as unmarried men to:
a. own
b. use
c. make decisions
d. use as collateral
Regarding property and other non-land assets, does the law apply to all groups of women?
De facto
Are there customary, religious, or traditional practices or laws that discriminate against women's legal rights regarding non-land assets to own, use, make decisions and use as collateral?
Secure access to formal financial services
Legal framework
Does the law provide married women with the same rights as married men to open a bank account at a formal financial institution?
Does the law require married women to obtain the signature and authority of their husband/guardian to open a bank account at a formal financial institution?
Does the law provide married women with the same rights as married men to obtain credit?
Does the law provide unmarried women with the same rights as unmarried men to obtain credit?
Regarding access to formal financial services, does the law apply to all groups of women?
De facto
Are there customary, religious, or traditional practices or laws that discriminate against women's legal right to open a bank account?
Are there customary, religious, or traditional practices or laws that discriminate against women's legal rights to obtain credit?
Workplace rights
Legal framework
Does the law mandate non-discrimination on the basis of sex in employment?
Does the law mandate equal remuneration for work of equal value?
Does the law prohibit women from entering certain professions?
Does the law allow women to work the same night hours as men?
Does the law mandate paid maternity leave?
Does the law mandate paid paternity leave?
Does the law mandate parental leave?
Does the law require women to have permission from their husband or legal guardian to:
a. Choose a profession/occupation or work
b. Register a business
Regarding women's legal right to choose a profession/occupation or work and/or register a business, does the law apply to all groups of women?
De facto
Are there customary, religious, or traditional practices or laws that discriminate against women's legal right to enter certain professions?
Are there customary, religious, or traditional practices or laws that require women to have the permission from their husband or legal guardian to:
a. Choose a profession/occupation or work
b. Register a business
RESTRICTED CIVIL LIBERTIES
Citizenship rights
Legal framework
Does the law provide married women with the same rights as married men to acquire nationality?
Does the law provide unmarried women with the same rights as unmarried men to acquire nationality?
Does the law provide married women with the same rights as married men to change their nationality?
Does the law provide unmarried women with same rights as unmarried men to change their nationality?
Does the law provide married women with the same rights as married men to retain their nationality?
Does the law provide unmarried women with the same rights as unmarried men to retain their nationality?
Does the law provide married women with the same rights as married men to confer nationality to their spouse?
Does the law provide married women with the same rights as married men to confer nationality to their children?
Does the law provide unmarried women with the same rights as unmarried men to confer nationality to their children?
Regarding women's nationality rights, does the law apply to all groups of women?
De facto
Are there discriminatory customary, traditional, or religious practices or laws that discriminate against women's legal rights to acquire, change, or retain their nationality?
Are there discriminatory customary, traditional, or religious practices or laws that discriminate against women's legal rights confer nationality on their spouse and/or children?
Freedom of movement
Legal framework
Does the law provide married women with the same rights as married men to apply for identity cards?
Does the law provide unmarried women with the same rights as unmarried men to apply for identity cards?
Does the law provide married women with the same rights as married men to apply for passports?
Does the law provide unmarried women with the same rights as unmarried men to apply for passports?
Regarding identity cards and/or passports, does the law apply to all groups of women?
Does the law provide married women with the same rights as married men to travel outside the country?
Does the law provide unmarried women with the same rights as unmarried men to travel outside the country?
De facto
Are there customary, religious, or traditional practices or laws that discriminate against women's rights to apply for identity cards or passports?
Political voice
Legal framework
Does the law provide married women with the same rights as married men to vote?
Does the law provide unmarried women with the same rights as unmarried men to vote?
Does the law provide women with the same rights as men to hold public and political office in
a. Legislature?
b. Executive?
Enforce, monitor and promote
Do legal quotas exist to promote women’s political participation at the national level?
Do legal quotas exist to promote women’s political participation at the local level? For the respective country, please define local level.
Does the law provide for special measures other than quotas to promote women's political participation at the national level?
Does the law provide for special measures other than quotas to promote women's political participation at the local level? For the respective country, please define local level.
Are there incentives for political parties to include women on candidate lists for national elections?
Are there incentives for political parties to include women on candidate lists for local elections?
De facto
Are there customary, religious or traditional practices or laws that discriminate against women's legal right to vote?
Are there customary, religious or traditional practices or laws that discriminate against women's legal rights to hold public office?
Access to justice
Legal framework
Does the law provide women with the same rights as men to hold public and political office in the judiciary?
Does the law provide married women with the same rights as married men to sue?
Does the law provide unmarried women with the same rights as unmarried men to sue?
Does a married woman’s testimony carry the same evidentiary weight in court as a married man’s in all types of court cases such as:
a. Civil
b. Criminal
c. Family court
d. Tribunal
Does an unmarried woman’s testimony carry the same evidentiary weight in court as an unmarried man's in all types of court cases such as:
a. Civil
b. Criminal
c. Family court
d. Tribunal
De facto
Are there customary, religious or traditional practices or laws that discriminate against women's legal right to sue?
Does a woman’s testimony carry the same evidentiary weight in customary/religious courts/tribunals as a man's?
Are there customary, religious or traditional practices or laws that discriminate against women in terms of providing testimony in court?
Are there customary, religious or traditional practices or laws that discriminate against women's legal right to be judges, advocates or other court officers?

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