ROME, APRIL 10 – The #WEWORLD INDEX 2019 Report, edited by WeWorld GVC Onlus, was presented today in Rome, London, Paris, Madrid, Geneva, Stockholm, Berlin, Washington, New York, Bangkok, Johannesburg and Mexico City. The annual report measures the rate of inclusion in the world. This fifth edition has focused on an innovative concept of inclusion, which takes into account both economic and social factors. The Italian Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Emanuela del Re, opened the presentation in Rome, stressing that the Italian Cooperation and UNFPA are standing together for women and girls empowerment. The report has been published in Italy by AIDOS, UNFPA and Cattedra Unesco and marks the 50th anniversary of the United Nations fund for population.
The final ranking comes from an assessment of progress made in each country, looking at the living conditions of people who are at the highest risk of exclusion, by analyzing 17 areas (housing, environment, work, health, etc.) and 34 indicators, selected from the most significant parameters that are analyzed by international data banks (WHO, UNICEF, World Bank, etc.). More than four in 10 women in 51 countries surveyed, feel they have no choice but to agree to their partner’s sexual demands, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, said on Wednesday, noting that they are also unable to make basic decisions about getting pregnant and accessing health care for themselves.
Monica Ferro, Director of UNFPA Geneva, said the figures were “worrisome” and it was essential to raise the level of consent and access to vital health services, for millions of women around the world. “Don’t forget: each one of these numbers is a person”, she added. The findings, relating to women aged 15-49, are being published for the first time, as part of UNFPA’s State of World Population 2019 report. The report shows that an estimated 214 million women cannot easily access contraceptives because of cultural and economic obstacles – despite their increasing availability – while more than 800 women die every day from preventable causes during pregnancy and childbirth.
In his opening speech, Giorgio Marrapodi, Director General of Development Cooperation at the Farnesina, stressed that “education is the key to foster resilience, promote social cohesion and strengthen the antibodies that are required to prevent the recurrence of conflicts. In 2018, Italian Cooperation dedicated about 14% (about 20 million Euros) of available resources to humanitarian aid and education in emergency situations, in line with the minimum threshold that was recommended in the conclusions of the EU Council on “Education in Emergencies”. Some of the initiatives that are supported by Italy were mentioned, such as the projects for the distribution of school meals to counter malnutrition and reduce drop-outs through the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF’s “No Lost Generation” strategy to guarantee the right to education.
Finally, Director Marrapodi recalled the fundamental action of Italian Civil Society Organizations, that “provide our country with a comparative advantage due to the professionalism and skills they have developed over the years. Their presence – he said – is widespread in the various humanitarian crises and I am convinced that their added value lies in the expertise and skills – that are typically Italian – in building relationships with local authorities, communities and CSOs, as well as the ability to foster dialogue between large international CSOs and local CSOs. (@OnuItalia)
The full report is available by clicking on https://www.weworld.it/index2019/ or in PDF version at https://www.weworld.it/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/WeWorld-Index-2019.pdf
