Source:
Social Watch
Social Watch Report 2005:
ROARS AND WHISPERS
GENDER AND POVERTY: PROMISES VS. ACTION
See full report
The Social Watch Report 2005 presents two new indexes to measure social development, and concludes that the targets set for 2015 as part of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will not be met. The new study shows that the international community has largely failed to live up to the commitments it adopted five years ago to eradicate poverty and promote development, a fact that has been highlighted with increasing urgency by civil society.
Despite the promises made by governments, spending on social services is decreasing throughout the world while inequality has grown since 1990, according to the report, which was compiled by a research team based in Montevideo using statistical data from each country evaluated. In addition to country reports from the more than 50 countries that make up the Social Watch international citizens’ network, the report includes a global study based on two new indexes designed to measure social development, the Basic Capabilities Index and the Gender Equity Index, which complement the human development indexes most commonly used until now in various aspects.
The Social Watch report is being released on the eve of the United Nations General Assembly’s 2005 World Summit, taking place 14 to 16 September, which will address, among other themes, the progress made so far in fulfilling the MDGs. - The Social Map: Population, poverty and inequalities
This social world map sizes countries accordin to their population and colours them according to their rank in the Basic Capabilities Index. Countries in blue provide their inhabitants with a minimum level of social services, while at the other extreme, countries in red face critical situations of deprivation. The colour scale of the circles shows degrees of progress towards gender equitiy. The goverments of the world have agreed to achieve a set of basic standars known as the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Once these goals are met, all countries should be coloured green or blue. Yet, at the present rates of progress 70 countries will miss the goals ten years from now and at least 25 will still be red. Pdf.
- The Social Watch 2005 scorecard
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
The table shows the situation of each thematic area selected by Social Watch.The four categories are calculated based on the average of the present situation for the indicators in each thematic area.(For a description of categories see the methodology section in Social Watch Report 2005). The countries are ranked according to their position on the Basic Capabilities Index (BCI). The first countries on the list are those that face the most critical situations with regard to the degree of satisfaction of a set of capabilities essential for development and human security.The BCI merges three indicators:under 5 mortality rate,children reaching 5th grade in primary school and births attended by skilled personnel. This index is highly correlated with the ranking Social Watch has traditionally published from the average of the indicators in each thematic area.The BCI,based on capabilities,is a sensitive measure of critical situations relating to welfare and poverty.However,it is not sensitive enough to identify subtle differences between countries placed higher up on the ranking.This index allows us not only to rank countries according to their present situation,but also to monitor their evolution.In the table,the shading represents the categories in which countries are grouped by BCI values: critical, very low,low, medium, high.
GENDER EQUITY
The Gender Equity Index (GEI) is calculated by Social Watch combining three dimensions:empowerment,education and economic activity.Each dimension is,in turn,the result of combining different equity indicators,as explained in the methodology section of the Social Watch Report 2005.The GEI is the result of adding the performance values of each country in each of these three areas.Countries with the same GEI value (shown on the table with the same background shade)are listed alphabetically.
PROGRESS OR REGRESSION
These columns show the average rate of progress or regression for each thematic area.In the case of the social dimensions of the Millennium Goals the period goes from 1990 to 2004 (or the latest year for which data are available).For gender equity indicators the period goes from 1995 (date of the Beijing Conference on Women)to 2004 (or the latest year for which data are available).The direction and size of the arrows are calculated from the rates of change of the indicators for which information is available for any given country.
SOURCES
Index calculation,sorting and graphic representation by the Social Watch Research Team,based on data from international sources listed in the methodology section of the Social Watch Report 2005.
Millennium +5 Summit
In September 2005, the United Nations will host the Millennium +5 Summit to review the progress so far in the implementation of the UN Millenium Declaration, adopted by 150 Heads-of-State in September 2000. |
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In-depth
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reports on key issues. |
Poverty
Although there is a wide array of perspectives on poverty at world level, no agreement has been reached about its character. In spite of having a common basis, there are multiple definitions and concepts on this issue.
Millennium Development Goals - MDGs
A comprehensive list of resources from the United Nations and civil society organizations.
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