Kuwait ranks sixth in liberties
The Daily Star, Saturday, November 19, 2005
LONDON: Kuwait came in sixth position for political and civil liberties in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the Friday issue of British magazine 'The Economist'.
The magazine puts Israel in the leading position and Lebanon in the second. Morocco and Iraq come in the third and fourth places consecutively, while Palestine in the fifth position before Kuwait.
The magazine published its prediction on where and how democracy will spread in the Middle East and Africa next year.
The international weekly news and business magazine's Index of Political Freedom ranked 20 countries on 15 indicators of political and civil liberties for its annual preview of the year ahead.
It found a wide range of democratization now exists across the region. The following list shows the countries and areas in descending order of perceived political freedom, with 10 indicating a perfect score.
1. Israel 8.20
2. Lebanon 6.55
3. Morocco 5.20
4. Iraq 5.05
5. Palestine 5.05
6. Kuwait 4.90
7. Tunisia 4.60
8. Jordan 4.45
9. Qatar 4.45
10. Egypt 4.30
11. Sudan 4.30
12. Yemen 4.30
13. Algeria 4.15
14. Oman 4.00
15. Bahrain 3.85
16. Iran 3.85
17. UAE 3.70
18. Saudi Arabia 2.80
19. Syria 2.80
20. Libya 2.05
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP)'s Human Development Program (HDR) report said that out of a total of 177 countries, the report ranks Kuwait 44 (up by two places from 2003). The best performers among Arab states are Qatar, ranked at 40, UAE at 41, Bahrain at 43, and Oman at 71.
The gender-related development index (GDI) for Kuwait ranks 39th, with a value of 0.843. It gets a thumbs-up when looking at building the capabilities of women; Kuwait emerges as the best performer among Arab countries.
The study finds that child mortality rates underline one of the central lessons of human development: the links between income and social progress are not automatic.
On average, the UNDP records fall in mortality rates as incomes rise.
However, countries at similar levels of income display large variations. For example, Honduras and Vietnam have far lower levels of neonatal mortality than India and Pakistan. As such facts suggest, economic growth is not a guaranteed route to faster progress in cutting child deaths.
Two-thirds of all child deaths occur in 13 countries. Of these, only two -
Bangladesh and Indonesia - are on track for the MDG target. Another four - China, India, Niger and Pakistan – will achieve the goal between 2015 and 2040.
The remainder - a group that includes Afghanistan, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda — are either more than a generation off track or going backwards.
Similarly, gender inequalities continue to limit girls' education. Even with the narrowing of gender gaps on average, girls can expect to receive one year less of education than boys in African and Arab states, and two years less in South Asia.
The report focuses on three pillars of cooperation, each in urgent need of renovation in development assistance, international trade and security. - AFP
The Daily Star, Saturday, November 19, 2005
LONDON: Kuwait came in sixth position for political and civil liberties in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the Friday issue of British magazine 'The Economist'.
The magazine puts Israel in the leading position and Lebanon in the second. Morocco and Iraq come in the third and fourth places consecutively, while Palestine in the fifth position before Kuwait.
The magazine published its prediction on where and how democracy will spread in the Middle East and Africa next year.
The international weekly news and business magazine's Index of Political Freedom ranked 20 countries on 15 indicators of political and civil liberties for its annual preview of the year ahead.
It found a wide range of democratization now exists across the region. The following list shows the countries and areas in descending order of perceived political freedom, with 10 indicating a perfect score.
1. Israel 8.20
2. Lebanon 6.55
3. Morocco 5.20
4. Iraq 5.05
5. Palestine 5.05
6. Kuwait 4.90
7. Tunisia 4.60
8. Jordan 4.45
9. Qatar 4.45
10. Egypt 4.30
11. Sudan 4.30
12. Yemen 4.30
13. Algeria 4.15
14. Oman 4.00
15. Bahrain 3.85
16. Iran 3.85
17. UAE 3.70
18. Saudi Arabia 2.80
19. Syria 2.80
20. Libya 2.05
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP)'s Human Development Program (HDR) report said that out of a total of 177 countries, the report ranks Kuwait 44 (up by two places from 2003). The best performers among Arab states are Qatar, ranked at 40, UAE at 41, Bahrain at 43, and Oman at 71.
The gender-related development index (GDI) for Kuwait ranks 39th, with a value of 0.843. It gets a thumbs-up when looking at building the capabilities of women; Kuwait emerges as the best performer among Arab countries.
The study finds that child mortality rates underline one of the central lessons of human development: the links between income and social progress are not automatic.
On average, the UNDP records fall in mortality rates as incomes rise.
However, countries at similar levels of income display large variations. For example, Honduras and Vietnam have far lower levels of neonatal mortality than India and Pakistan. As such facts suggest, economic growth is not a guaranteed route to faster progress in cutting child deaths.
Two-thirds of all child deaths occur in 13 countries. Of these, only two -
Bangladesh and Indonesia - are on track for the MDG target. Another four - China, India, Niger and Pakistan – will achieve the goal between 2015 and 2040.
The remainder - a group that includes Afghanistan, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda — are either more than a generation off track or going backwards.
Similarly, gender inequalities continue to limit girls' education. Even with the narrowing of gender gaps on average, girls can expect to receive one year less of education than boys in African and Arab states, and two years less in South Asia.
The report focuses on three pillars of cooperation, each in urgent need of renovation in development assistance, international trade and security. - AFP
posted by Ben Rivard @ 3:33 AM
0 comments
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home