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SIGI 2019 Regional Report EURASIA Highlights The Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Measuring and addressing gender-based discrimination in social institutions

SIGI measures how discriminatory laws, social norms and practices affect the lives of women and girls by restricting their rights and empowerment opportunities in 180 countries, including 12 Eurasian countries: , , , Georgia, , , , Republic of , Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and .

The SIGI covers four dimensions, spanning major socio-economic areas that affect the life course of women and girls: discrimination in the family, restricted physical integrity, restricted access to productive and financial resources, and restricted civil liberties.

DISCRIMINATION RESTRICTED RESTRICTED ACCESS RESTRICTED IN THE FAMILY PHYSICAL INTEGRITY TO PRODUCTIVE AND CIVIL LIBERTIES FINANCIAL RESOURCES

Child Secure access ID Citizenship Violence Name marriage against women to land assets XSurname rights

Secure access Household Female genital to non-land Political responsibilities mutilation assets voice

Secure access Missing Divorce to formal Freedom women financial services of movement

$ X Reproductive Workplace Access Inheritance $$ autonomy $ rights to justice

The SIGI is comprised of four main components: 1. Country profiles containing comprehensive qualitative information on legal framework and action plans to protect women’s rights and promote gender equality (for 180 countries). 2. The Gender, Institutions and Development Database (GID-DB) comprising indicators on the level of discrimination in laws (categorical variable), social norms (attitudinal data) and practices (prevalence rates) for 180 countries. 3. A cross-country ranking classifying 120 countries according to their level of discrimination in social institutions. 4. A policy simulator allowing policy makers to scope out reform options and assess their likely effects on gender equality in social institutions.

2 3. 2. 1. bring aboutgenderequalityandwomen’s empowermentby: The SocialInstitutionsandGenderIndex(SIGI)helpscountriesaround theworldtoachieveSDG5and

SIGI’s approach legal frameworkspromote, enforce andmonitorequalitynon-discrimination. The UnitedNationsusestheSIGIasanofficial datasource tomonitorSDGindicator5.1.1.onwhether Monitoring progress towards genderequalityandtheefficient implementationoflegal reforms. equality fortheirdevelopmentstrategies. Providing analysisand policyrecommendations tomaximisethemultiplebenefitsofgender gender-based discriminationinlaws,socialnormsandpractices. Informing policymakersanddevelopmentpractitioners Donors Media Teachers and communityleaders Index Gender Institutions & Social Index Gender Institutions & Social discrimination Religious in thefamily, to resources restricted Men access women’s empowerment through act asbarriersto civil liberties or restricted restricted integrity, physical Women positive andnegativeinfluencessothat womenandmenhavethesameopportunities. The SIGIgivespolicymakersthefacts and analysistheyneedtounderstandactonthese are negative,andwomenendupbeing treateddifferentlyandoftenlessthanmen. Sometimes,these influencesarepositive andenhancegenderequality;butmoreoftenthey communities expectfromthem,bothprivatelyandpublicly. them –theirfamilies,communities,societies.Nothingismoreimportant than whattheir day,Every howwomenandmenbelievebehaveareinfluencedbywhatisaround positive andnegativeinfluencessothat womenandmenhavethesameopportunities. The SIGIgivespolicymakersthefactsand analysistheyneedtounderstandandactonthese are negative,andwomenendupbeing treateddifferentlyandoftenworsethanmen. Sometimes, theseinfluencesarepositive andenhancegenderequality;butmoreoftenthey communities expectfromthem,bothprivately andpublicly. them –theirfamilies,communities,societies. Nothingismoreimportantthanwhattheir Every day,women’sandmen’sbeliefsbehavioursareinfluencedbywhat isaround Legal frameworksandsocialnorms SIGI’s approach can either of change Actors Private sector of socialtransformation drive processes sustainable andinclusive onprogress andchallengesregarding Policy makers and accelerate development Intergovernmental agencies professionals Health Parents / Family Justice / police CSOs 3 OVERVIEW

SIGI results for Eurasia

Eurasia performs relatively well on gender equality in social institutions SIGI results indicate that the regional level of discrimination in social institutions is 24%, compared to 29% at the global level. All but one Eurasian countries ranked in the SIGI 2019 exhibit low levels of discrimination, while Tajikistan has medium levels (Figure 1). Discrimination levels are lower in Western (12%), (15%), (18%), in (18%) and East (22%), but Eurasia performs better as a than and the (25%), (35%), (40%), (41%) and (48%).

Figure 1. Levels of discrimination in social institutions in Eurasian countries

[0-20%]

[20-30%]

[30-40%]

[40-50%]

[50-100%]

Missing data

Note: Higher SIGI values indicate higher inequality: the SIGI ranges from 0% for no discrimination to 100% for absolute discrimination. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Moldova and Ukraine have a low level of discrimination (20-30%). Tajikistan has a medium level of discrimination (30-40%). Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are not ranked due to missing data. Source: OECD (2019), Gender, Institutions and Development Database, https://oe.cd/ds/GIDDB2019. Legal reforms and the ensuing shift in social norms explain the relatively good performance of the region Since the Soviet era and despite increasing inequalities during the transition period, Eurasia has a successful track record of removing legal barriers and fostering social norms favourable to gender equality. It is one of the ’s where the legal framework stipulates equal inheritance and divorce rights and where women’s reproductive autonomy rights are best protected. Additionally, the social acceptance of domestic violence in the region has decreased from 27% in 2014 to 21% in 2018. Yet, discriminatory social norms and practices, especially those governing family matters, still hamper women’s empowerment opportunities and gender equality The pervasive view of women’s role as caregivers restricts their access to economic opportunities. At the regional level, 16% of the population thinks it is not acceptable for a in their family to work outside the home for pay and 56% of the population considers that men make better business executives than women. In some countries, customary laws still deny women’s equal inheritance rights.

4 OVERVIEW

SIGI policy recommendations for Eurasia

1. Start with legal reforms and gender-responsive policies

• Eradicate remaining discriminatory laws and legal loopholes, particularly regarding women’s working rights, child marriage and violence against women. • Ensure statutory rights take precedence over customary laws to guarantee the enforcement of legal equality commitments for all women and girls, for instance for inheritance rights. • Apply a social norm lens to all policies and programmes to improve their gender- responsiveness and foster social transformation. • Adopt a multi-sectoral and integrated approach within the Eurasian national gender strategies to create a more enabling environment for women’s empowerment.

2. Foster social transformation through community empowerment and mobilisation

• Challenge negative gender stereotypes and reshape gender roles to foster women’s political and economic leadership, and to tackle the unequal distribution of household responsibilities. • Engage men and all development actors to enhance gender equality efforts and redefine masculinities. • Support women’s rights movements and the amplification through community engagement.

3. Step up data collection to better monitor progress

• Collect more evidence and data to better monitor progress and understand the drivers of gender equality. • Invest in analytical capacity at the national level to better inform and hold accountable decision makers and public policy.

5 IN DEPTH

Costs of discrimination and gains of gender equality in Eurasia

Further focusing on gender norms makes economic sense for Eurasian countries. Gender discrimination is not only costly for women who are denied full access to an economic, political and social life, but it also has a cost for their families and communities as well as their national economies. Formal and informal laws as well as social norms and practices restrict women’s economic empowerment and thus induce an income loss of up to USD 39 billion or 7.5% of the Eurasian income, which amounts on average to USD 888 per capita (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Income loss per capita associated with discrimination in social institutions by country

Kazakhstan Belarus Turkmenistan Azerbaijan Mongolia Georgia Armenia Ukraine Uzbekistan Moldova Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan

0 500 1 000 1 500 2 000 2 500 USD Note: Income losses at the national level in terms of GDP per capita. Source: OECD (2019), Gender, Institutions and Development Database, oe.cd/ds/GIDDB2019 and World Bank (n.d.), World Development Indicators, https://datacatalog.worldbank.org/dataset/world-development-indicators.

This loss amounts to USD 5 billion in the (USD 944 per capita); USD 13 billion in (USD 830 per capita); and USD 21 billion in Central Asian economies (USD 890 per capita). This is due to:

• Discriminatory social institutions such as child marriage or son preference lowering women’s capital by 16%. • Discriminatory workplace legislations, norms and practices reducing women’s labour-force participation by 12%. • Restricted women’s access to entrepreneurship, financial resources and investment opportunities reducing physical capital accumulation by 8%.

Gradual reduction of these gender-based discriminatory social institutions through appropriate policy measures by 2030 could increase the regional annual GDP growth rate by 0.4 percentage points over the next 11 years.

6 IN DEPTH

SIGI results by sub-region

Despite common trends in Eurasia, there are also varying levels and forms of discrimination within sub-regions, with the SIGI ranging from 21% for Eastern Europe to 27% in the Caucasus. Indeed, while the main concern for Eastern Europe and is discrimination in the family, the Caucasus’ biggest challenge is women’s restricted physical integrity particularly due to the phenomenon of missing women (Figure 3).

Figure 3. SIGI sub-regional results in its four dimensions

Discrimination in the family Eastern Europe Central Asia Caucasus World average

Restricted civil liberties 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% Restricted physical integrity

Restricted access to productive and financial resources

Note: Sub-regional averages in the four SIGI dimensions, with world averages. Source: OECD (2019), Gender, Institutions and Development Database, https://oe.cd/ds/GIDDB2019.

CAUCASUS: Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia

KEY PROGRESS: Women’s access to justice has improved: 46% of those who declare lack MAIN CHALLENGE: Missing women remains of confidence in the system are women. It is an alarming issue: an estimated 170 000 young the only sub-region where women have more women are missing. confidence in the justice system than men.

CENTRAL ASIA: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

MAIN CHALLENGE: Gender roles within the KEY PROGRESS: Barriers to women’s abortion household are still embedded in the male- rights have been removed: since 2015, in four breadwinner model: 46% of the population think countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan that it is problematic if a woman earns more and Uzbekistan) women do not require the money than her husband. In addition, 36% of the approval of anyone to seek abortion. population believes that children will suffer if their mother works for pay.

EASTERN EUROPE: Belarus, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine

MAIN CHALLENGE: Social expectations on KEY PROGRESS: Women’s reproductive women’s role create a double burden: despite a autonomy has improved: the percentage of high level of female labour participation (48%), women with unmet needs for family planning women spend on average 5 hours a day on has reduced from 13% in 2014 to 6% in 2019, unpaid care and domestic work, compared to the lowest rate in Eurasia. 2.5 hours spent by men.

7 KEY THEMATIC MESSAGES

DISCRIMINATION IN THE FAMILY

Progress Challenges Policy Good to date ahead recommendation practice

Child Child marriage All countries but one Eliminate legal Turkmenistan raised marriage is prohibited in (Turkmenistan) still allow exceptions that allow the minimum age of 7 countries.1 marriage under girl child marriage, marriage to 18 years age 18 with certain such as judicial and for both sexes without exceptions. Despite parental consent and exceptions. being below stipulate legal sanctions the global average for individuals facilitating (16%), 8% of girls the marriage of an have married before the individual who is under age of 18. the minimum age.

Household All countries accord More than 1 in 3 Encourage equal Awareness- responsibilities wives and husbands Eurasians think children sharing of caring raising campaigns with equal parental with working mothers and domestic encourage men to authority and with will suffer. Women responsibilities take paternity/parental the same rights and allocate 5 hours a day within the household leaves and promote responsibilities with to unpaid care work by reshaping gender equal distribution regard to their children. compared to 2 hours roles. of chores within the Parental leave schemes for men. Uptake of paid household in Ukraine. are guaranteed in parental/paternity leave 10 countries.2 entitlement remains low.

Divorce All countries in 7 countries have Remove customary Legal aid for women the region but one customary laws that and/or traditional laws undergoing divorce (Tajikistan) provide restrict women’s and practices that in Azerbaijan to women with the right to initiate encourage conciliation overcome judicial same rights and divorce on an equal and mediation at all barriers and social requirements as footing with men.3 stages of legal divorce stigma. men to initiate and proceedings and deem finalise divorce. divorce as socially undesirable.

Inheritance All countries guarantee 6 countries have Eliminate Training for officials daughters and widows customary laws discriminatory and civil society $ have the same providing daughters customary laws organisations on X inheritance rights and widows with and practices that women’s inheritance as men. a lower share of undermine women’s rights in Kyrgyzstan inheritance than rights to inherit. to eliminate customary sons and widowers.4 practices that deprive women of their 1 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan. right to inherit. 2 Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 3 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan. 4 Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan. 8 KEY THEMATIC MESSAGES

RESTRICTED PHYSICAL INTEGRITY

Progress Challenges Policy Good to date ahead recommendation practice

Violence 3 countries have further No country has a Criminalise all Campaigns with against women improved their comprehensive legal forms of violence male advocates raising legal response to framework on VAW, against women awareness of violence violence against women while domestic violence including domestic against women and since 2017.1 is widely prevalent violence, , marital challenging “toxic” and accepted (21% rape and sexual masculinities in of women declare that harassment in schools, Tajikistan. can be tolerated and public spaces and on 17% women have line; and tackle social suffered it in their acceptance of these lifetimes). practices by engaging men and redefining masculinities.

Female genital Female genital No data collection Collect data to Criminalisation of mutilation mutilation is virtually on the prevalence monitor the prevalence female genital mutilation not a concern in the of female genital of female genital once the practice region. mutilation to ensure mutilation and was discovered in that is not an issue. criminalise the minority communities in practice when cases Georgia and monitor are unveiled. through data collection.

Missing 9 countries have 3 countries have Develop a whole of Awareness- women balanced sex ratios abnormal sex ratio at society approach raising campaigns at birth.2 birth due to families’ to shifting social and legislative son preference with an norms that can fuel a measures to estimated 170 000 preference for sons re-balance the sex young women over daughters. ratio in Armenia. missing.3

Reproductive Abortion on demand 11% of women have Engage men to Communication autonomy is legal in all unmet needs for family improve not only strategies and a 12 countries. planning and 10% women’s but also men’s national approach rely on traditional knowledge of modern to promote modern contraceptive contraceptive methods contraceptive use methods. and women’s rights in Ukraine. in this regard.

1 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan. 2 Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 1 Moldova, Mongolia and Ukraine. 3 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan. 2 Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan. 4 Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan. 3 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia. 9 KEY THEMATIC MESSAGES

RESTRICTED ACCESS TO PRODUCTIVE AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES

Progress Challenges Policy Good to date ahead recommendation practice

Secure access All countries grant Patrilineal inheritance Design awareness- Training for to land assets women and men with systems in the region raising campaigns officials and equal rights to land still favour men’s access about women’s land civil society assets and 6 countries to land assets and rights to tackle organisations on have mandatory joint 27% of all agricultural discriminatory women’s inheritance titling for married landholders in the region patrilineal and land rights in couples.1 are women. inheritance Kyrgyzstan. traditions and practices.

Secure access All countries Only 2 countries Conduct holistic Gender to non-land assets explicitly recognise have public measures awareness-raising mainstreaming women’s rights to to protect women’s campaigns at the in housing and non-land assets on property rights.2 community level development equal terms with men. to ensure better programmes to understanding of improve women’s the legal framework access to property in regarding women’s Uzbekistan. property rights.

Secure access All countries have Female entrepreneurs Adopt an integrated Programmes to to formal financial removed legal barriers face more obstacles and multi-entry provide women-led services to women’s access to access credit: only points approach, SMEs with access to bank accounts and 5% of women reported and mainstream to credit in Eastern credit and 50% of all having borrowed for gender and women’s Europe and Central account holders are business purposes. financial inclusion Asia. women. into national policy agendas.

Workplace 11 countries mandate 10 countries prohibit Remove Campaigns and rights equal remuneration for women from entering discriminatory trainings to increase work of equal value.3 certain professions and legal provisions women’s presence 16% of the population and challenge social in male-dominated

$$ think it is not perfectly norms that limit industries $ acceptable for a women’s employment in Kyrgyzstan. woman to work outside opportunities. the home for a pay.4

1 Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan. 2 Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. 3 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. 4 Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. 10 KEY THEMATIC MESSAGES

RESTRICTED CIVIL LIBERTIES

Progress Challenges Policy Good to date ahead recommendation practice

Citizenship All countries provide Low birth Continue efforts Government-led rights women and men with registration to register all campaigns to equal rights to acquire, in Tajikistan and citizens, address statelessness change and retain high rates of at birth and at later in Turkmenistan. ID Name Surname their nationality and statelessness in stages of life. X confer it on their 3 countries1 have foreign spouses critical consequences and children. for women.

Political 4 countries 62% of the Implement measures The prohibition of voice have introduced population believes to overcome sexist advertising or strengthened that men make better discriminatory in political campaigns measures to promote political leaders than perceptions of and fines for non- gender-balanced women do. women’s ability compliance in politics since 2014.2 to be as competent Moldova. as men as political leaders.

Freedom All countries grant 69% of people Organise Multi-media of movement women and men who do not feel safe awareness-raising campaign to raise the same rights to walking alone at night and information awareness freedom of movement, are women. campaigns around on sexual identity and travel gender-based harassment and documents. violence, to encourage women harassment to come forward in and harmful Georgia. stereotypes hindering women’s freedom of movement.

Access All countries provide 59% of people Promote awareness Legal advisory to justice women and men the who do not trust of women’s rights service centres same rights to benefit the national justice among the population established to inform from justice systems. system are women and ensure women women about their as they face de facto know how to exercise rights in Azerbaijan. discrimination. their rights.

1 Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan 2 Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. 11 To learn more about the SIGI

Social Institutions and Gender Index www.genderindex.org

Gender, Institutions and Development Database oe.cd/ds/GIDDB2019

SIGI Policy Simulator oe.cd/sigiSIM

Contact information OECD Development Centre 2, rue André Pascal 75775 Paris Cedex 16 France

[email protected]

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Read the SIGI 2019 Regional Report for Eurasia here:

https://doi.org/10.1787/f6dfa21d-en