Statistical compendium on women in Asia and the Pacific

Abstract

In response to growing demands from government and non-governmental organizations and experts working on women&rsquo;s issues for information including statistics and data on women in Asia and Pacific, ESCAP launched a project titled Women&rsquo;s Information Network for Asia and the Pacific in 1986.<br> <br>Within the framework of WINAP project, ESCAP started in mid-1993 to collect indicators and statistical data on the status of women in this region and compiled it as a statistical database on the subject. The compilation found its immediate use as a reference for the background papers written in preparation for the Second Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference to be held at Jakarta from 7 to 14 June 1994. The Ministerial Conference will prepare for the Fourth World Conference on Women to be held at Beijing from 4 to 15 September 1995. <br>The Statistical Compendium on Women in Asia and the Pacific is the outcome of this endeavour. The main sources of the data were international statistics compiled by various United Nations bodies and specialized agencies. Available statistics are published in this compendium for the following ESCAP members and associate members. <br>The Compendium contains 45 tables covering six major areas: demography; education; health; employment; politics; and international conventions. While tables in first five categories provide numerical data, tables in the last category illustrate the situation of ESCAP member and associate member Governments in respect to the ratification of international conventions referring to women. The data in most cases are presented in five-year intervals starting from 1975 or 1980.