On 1 March, the World Bank Group released their “Women, Business and Law” report for the year 2022, which measured women’s economic opportunities in 190 economies around the globe. The report examines eight indicators structured around women’s interactions with the law as they progress through their lives and careers: Mobility, Workplace, Pay, Marriage, Parenthood, Entrepreneurship, Assets, and Pension. Armenia had a total score of 87.5, Azerbaijan 78.8, and Georgia 88.1 in this edition of the report.

The report emphasised that on a global scale, differences between men’s and women’s total expected lifetime earnings is $172.3 trillion, which is the equivalent to twice the world gross domestic product (GDP). The global average Women, Business, and the Law score for the year 2022 was 76.5 out of 100, indicating that a typical woman has just three-quarters of the rights of men in the areas measured. While the average score is half a point higher than in 2020, it was noted that nearly 2.4 billion women of working age worldwide still were not afforded equal economic opportunities.

Armenia’s position had improved in comparison to the previous report due to the introduction of paternal leave for fathers.  The country had the highest score of 100 points in 5 out of 8 areas – mobility, marriage, parenthood, assets, and pensions. Its score in wages and entrepreneurial activity was 75 points, and 50 in workplace equality.

Azerbaijan’s score remained unchanged in comparison to the previous report. The country had the highest score of 100 points in 5 out of 8 areas, namely mobility, workplace equality, marriage, entrepreneurship, and assets. Its score in pensions was 50, parenthood 80 and in payment 0 points.

Georgia’s score in comparison to the previous report also had improved due to the introduction of the paid parental leave in the country. The report also highlighted that Georgia offered mandatory requirements on continuous training for teachers in public and private childcare centres in comparison to the two other South Caucasus countries. It was also highlighted as a childcare pilot economy and as a country which provides preferential tax treatment for childcare centres amongst the economies of Europe and Central Asia. Georgia had the highest score in 5 out of 8 areas- mobility, workplace, marriage, entrepreneurship, and assists. Its score in parenthood was 80, payment 75 and in pensions 50.

Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and Sweden had the maximum score of 100 in this years report. Russia’s score was 73.1, Turkey’s 82.5 and Iran’s was 31.3.