Progress Amid Resistance

INTRODUCTION TO COUNTRY REPORTSThe 2010 edition of Women’s Rights in the Middle East and North Africacontains reports on 17 countries and one territory. Each report begins witha section containing basic data in the following categories: population andgross national income (GNI) per capita. The figures for population wereobtained from the Population Reference Bureau and reflect mid-2009 estimates.Data on GNI were taken from the United Nations World StatisticsPocketbook and reflect the Atlas-method GNI for 2007.In addition, numerical ratings are provided for the five thematic categoriesreviewed in the survey including: Nondiscrimination and Access toJustice; Autonomy, Security, and Freedom of the Person; Economic Rightsand Equal Opportunity; Political Rights and Civic Voice; and Social andCultural Rights. A rating of 1 represents the lowest level and 5 the highestlevel of freedom women have to exercise their rights. For a full descriptionof the methods used to determine the survey’s ratings, please see the chapterson “Survey Methodology” and “Ratings and Scoring System.” TheIran chapter was not included in the first edition and represents an increasein the scope of the project.Following the header information, each country report is divided intosix parts. An introductory overview is provided at the outset that discussesthe current status of women, often highlighting the historical growth of thewomen’s rights movement. This section of the report also provides a basicunderstanding of the major improvements or setbacks made to women’srights since 2004, when the coverage of the 2005 edition ended. Each ofthe five thematic sections contains a set of recommendations highlightingthe specific areas of most immediate need for reform.27