Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI)

Political commitments to eliminate gender inequality have progressed. Similarly, some social norms that are detrimental to equality have become less prominent. However, in many countries, political commitments, legal reforms and gender-sensitive programmes are still not being translated into real changes for women and girls. Going forward, gender-based discrimination remains a lifelong and heterogeneous challenge for women and girls.

The Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of Austria in its current capacity as President of the Council of the European Union, the Austrian Development Cooperation and the OECD Development Centre are pleased  launch of the 2019 Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) in Brussels today on December 7th.

The OECD Development Centre’s SIGI looks at the gaps that legislation, social norms and practices create between women and men in terms of rights and opportunities. The event will highlight 2019 SIGI key findings and inform policy debates on social norms and discrimination against women and girls across the globe. Speakers will share insights on how gender-transformative policies and innovative programmes can challenge gender norms and promote women’s rights, gender equality and sustainable development.

The latest SIGI includes:

• A new cross-country ranking classifying 120 countries according to their level of discrimination in social institutions;
• 180 individual country notes containing comprehensive qualitative information on legal frameworks and action plans to protect women’s rights and promote gender equality; and
• A new database summarising all discriminatory laws, social norms and practices worldwide.