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Watch Report 2005" in one
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Table
of contents |
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Preface.
Whispers are not enough |
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THEMATIC REPORTS
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Overview.
Unkept promises |
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Poverty
and globalization |
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Recommendations.
A civil society Benchmark for the 5-year Review of the Millennium
Declaration |
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Water
needs the protection of international law |
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The
use of international financial markets to fulfil the MDGs: part of
the problem or possible solution? |
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After
the tsunami: Rebuilding for tourists |
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MDGs
in the Arab region: a tool and a challenge |
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In
search of a common future: The European Union’s lost
opportunities as a global actor |
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MEASURING PROGRESS
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Gender
and poverty: a case of entwined inequalities |
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What
the social development indicators say |
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Basic
Capabilities Index. Poverty dimensions: Resposibilities to be
undertaken by governments |
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No
country treats its women the same as its men. The Gender Equity
Index - a new perspective |
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The
present situation of poverty in the world |
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Food
security |
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Education |
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Health |
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Children’s
immunization |
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Environment |
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Gender
equity |
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Women’s
reproductive health |
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Information,
science and technology |
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Public
expenditure |
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Trends
in Official Development Assistance |
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Status
of ratifications of fundamental ILO Conventions |
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Status
of ratifications of the main International Human Rights Treaties |
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Status
of ratifications of International Treaties mentioned in the
Millennium Declaration |
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Status
of official countries’ reports to the UN Human Rights Treaty
Bodies |
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Reports
to be submitted to the UN Treaty Bodies during 2005 - 2006 |
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25
years of the CEDAW. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women in the world |
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25
years of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women in the world: how the countries are
performing… |
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Methodology |
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Glossary |
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Compilation
of articles on human rights mentioned in the statistics tables |
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NATIONAL REPORTS
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ALBANIA |
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ARGENTINA
The economic growth registered since early 2003 and the increased spending on social policies
have not managed to reverse the rise in poverty and extreme poverty, failing to return to 2001 precrisis
levels. Nor were there any changes in the approach to state programmes, which appear to be
aimed at appeasing social conflict rather than at equitable development. |
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BAHRAIN |
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BENIN |
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BOLIVIA |
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BRAZIL
Social policies are still subject to economic logic, and although President Lula’s government has
encouraged civil society to participate in their construction, the big question is how to overcome
inequality without making significant changes in the dominant neoliberal system. The priority given
to fiscal adjustment practically obliterates even the intention of creating equity in Brazil. |
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BULGARIA |
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BURMA
(MYANMAR) |
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CANADA
Canada’s political agenda is increasingly marked by regional differences. The focus on
decentralization and tightly controlled growth in government spending has resulted in more
privatization of public goods, intensification of inequality, and heightened federal-provincial rancour.
Genuine progress on poverty reduction or gender equality requires committed federal-provincial
unity of purpose. The new dynamic unleashed by a minority federal government could lead to
either greater inter-governmental cooperation or further balkanization. |
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CHILE
Government policies for gender equity are proceeding slowly, and women are still poorly represented
in the labour market and in public and decision-making positions. At the same time, inequality in
income distribution generates social segmentation and frustration even though poverty has decreased. |
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COLOMBIA |
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COSTA
RICA |
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ECUADOR |
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EGYPT |
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EL
SALVADOR |
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GERMANY
The fact that Germany is one of the most industrialized countries in the world has not stopped it
from experiencing uninterrupted growth in the number of people living at risk of poverty, a reduction
in the purchasing power of its workers and greater inequalities in income distribution. Women
continue to receive salaries 20% below those of men for equal work and development aid was
stalled at 0.28% of gross national income in 2004. |
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GHANA
The Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy, initiated as part of economic reforms undertaken to
control debt, has failed to improve the conditions of Ghana’s poor. Women are particularly
vulnerable to poverty because they are precariously employed and most have only a basic level
of schooling. Gender disparity in education and health is most pronounced among the poorest,
where 81% of women compared to 63% of men have no formal education. |
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GUATEMALA |
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INDIA
Discrimination against women from or even before birth guarantees them a marginal role in Indian
society, and ensures that they are poorer, less educated, and facing more unemployment and health
risks than men. The cumulative effects of these inequalities worsen deprivation but the opposite is
also true and by addressing inequality a positive multiplier effect can reduce poverty. |
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INDONESIA |
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ITALY
Ten years after the World Summit for Social Development and the Fourth World Conference on
Women and five after the Millenium Declaration, Italy has done little towards the implementation
of international commitments on human development. The population’s relative poverty situation,
quality of life and access to the labour market have worsened as have welfare policies. Today some
basic rights are no longer guaranteed and among European countries, Italy is in last position for its
gender, social protection and immigration policies. |
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JORDAN |
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KAZAKHSTAN |
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KENYA
Although the policy mechanisms are in place to meet the Millennium Development Goals, at present
Kenya must spend a disproportionate share of its revenues on debt servicing, leaving little behind
for poverty alleviation, education and health. Kenya calls on industrialized nations to meet their
donor targets and listen to developing country’s trade interests - two actions which would help
provide funding for basic social services. |
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KOREA,
Republic of
The proportion of female-headed households living in extreme poverty doubled from 8.4% to 16.9%
beginning with the 1997 foreign currency crisis, and women comprise 60% of the elderly who are
poor. The feminization of poverty is reinforced by a labour market that keeps a category of high
wages and stable employment exclusively for men. The unpaid family work that women do should
be cash-compensated through a progressive pension system. |
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LEBANON |
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MALAYSIA
Women’s empowerment efforts in Malaysia have been unequal. Plantation workers who sustain the
nation’s palm oil and rubber production are still the poorest and most vulnerable. They receive
very poor wages, endure sexual harassment, and are the victims of agro-chemical poisoning. |
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MALTA |
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MEXICO
The greatest development challenge facing Mexico is to bridge the inequality gap. The Government’s
report on the Millennium Development Goals recognizes that the goals achieved so far are not
equitable when analyzing the population from a geographical, gender or ethnic group perspective.
Nevertheless the federal authorities do not approach the fight against poverty from a human rights
perspective and they have not incorporated the substantial contributions of citizen organizations. |
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MOROCCO |
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MOZAMBIQUE |
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NEPAL |
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NETHERLANDS |
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NICARAGUA |
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NIGERIA |
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PAKISTAN |
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PALESTINE |
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PANAMA |
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PARAGUAY |
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PERU |
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PHILIPPINES |
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PORTUGAL |
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ROMANIA |
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SPAIN
In 2004 there was a big change in Spanish foreign policy and commitments to international
cooperation, but the challenge remains to increase aid to the levels that have been set internationally,
and to adopt a multi-disciplinary perspective for development. It is equally important to modify the
system whereby foreign aid is conditional upon the acquisition of Spanish goods and services, and
to cancel the foreign debts of the poorest countries. |
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SYRIAN
ARAB REPUBLIC |
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TANZANIA |
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THAILAND |
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UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA
A planned federal budget cut of USD 143 billion to social development programs to offset a deficit
that still may grow due to an increase in military spending of almost USD 200 billion jeopardizes
social safety net programs such as food stamps, student loans, and state-provided medical services.
For many people employment is not enough to escape poverty and sexual and racial discrimination
continue to suppress women’s earnings. |
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URUGUAY |
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VENEZUELA
The programmes designed to strengthen the so called “endogenous development model” and to
fight poverty continue to give priority to the cooperative organization of work, distribution of
subsidized food, literacy programmes, housing credits and agricultural conversion based on reclaiming
land for rural inhabitants and members of cooperatives. As regards gender equity, the Women’s
Development Bank stand out, offering small credits with the aim of encouraging women to take a
leading role in society. |
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ZAMBIA |
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POSTER
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THE
SOCIAL MAP: Population, poverty and inequalities |
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THE
SOCIAL WATCH 2005 SCORECARD |
