Women's rights around the world in 8 maps

BarcelonaMarch 8 is a good time to take the temperature on parity. In Europe, despite the pressures and the increase in power of the reactionary far right, it can be said that on paper the laws defend equality, although in the rest of the world, women are prohibited from marrying whoever they want, deciding about their own body or dressing as they want. The eight maps shown here show that women's rights still have a long way to go.

The members of the Geneva Consensus

In this wave of regression of women's rights, the Geneva Consensus on Promoting Women's Health and Strengthening the Family, a declaration that basically denies women's right to decide about their own bodies. The document was born in 2020 under the impetus of the governments of Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro, which attracted up to 39 conservative states. Later, with the electoral changes, Brazil of Lula da Silva and Colombia of Gustavo Petro withdrew, as well as the United States of Joe Biden. One of Trump's first measures in the second stage in the White House is the return to the group, which rejects abortion.

Women's right to vote

There is only one state in the world that legally denies women the right to vote, and that is the Vatican. In other authoritarian countries, when women cannot exercise their right, it is because men are also denied the right.

Parliamentary representation of women

Quota policies (as in Spain) and the incorporation of women into politics increase their presence, but this is not synonymous with egalitarian policies.

Female presidents and prime ministers

The glass ceiling of political power is one of the great challenges facing women, and along the way, figures such as Angela Merkel, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Jacinda Ardern have been lost in the elections.

Legislation against gender-based violence

The influence of groups and parties that deny gender-based violence is attracting more and more young people throughinfluencers and social media, disregarding egalitarian policies.

The laws that regulate the right to abortion

Women's right to decide professionals warn that the global agenda of ultra-right movements is focused on restricting access to abortion or contraceptives.

Legislation that guarantees equal pay for work of equal value

A fact: it would take 134 years to achieve parity between men and women in the world, that is, five generations. Women occupy more precarious jobs and are penalized for motherhood and care.

Countries with paid maternity leave

While some form of paid maternity leave is guaranteed in virtually the entire world (only Papua New Guinea and some US states do not have it, as it is not a federal law but depends on each state), its duration is very uneven and varies depending on the country. In Spain it is 16 weeks for both parents, but has been demanding for years that maternity leave, that has not moved for thirty years, cover at least the 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding recommended by the WHO.