The World Bank (WB) has published its Women, Business and the Law 2022 report, in which  Armenia has significantly improved its index compared to the previous year – earning 87,5 points (82,5 in 2021), by introducing paid paternity leave.

The 2022 reports measures laws and regulations across 190 countries in eight areas impacting women’s economic participation – mobility, workplace, pay, marriage, parenthood, entrepreneurship, assets, and pensions.

It notes that the Europe and Central Asia region is the second highest scoring region, with an average score of 84.1. Four economies reformed last year. Armenia and Ukraine introduced paid paternity leave, and Georgia introduced paid parental leave. Ukraine also equalized the ages at which women and men can retire with full pension benefits. Cyprus allowed women to apply for a passport in the same way as men.

According to the report, important challenges remain in the areas of Pay and Pension which have the lowest average scores in this region. Almost half of the economies in the Europe and Central Asia region do not mandate equal remuneration for work of equal value, and the ages for full pension benefits are still unequal in 17 economies.