Tunis — Tunisia ranks 44th out of 113 countries in women's economic opportunities, according to the July 2010 report, titled "Women's Economic Opportunity" published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) of The Economist magazine research department.

According to the recent ratings of EIU, the index of women's economic opportunities in Tunisia went up to 59.7 points out of 100, an appreciable level which places our country first in the Maghreb and Arab World.

It is specified, in this report, that this index aimed to measure up characteristics of business environment of women employees and heads of enterprise.

It is based on the 26 indicators which are gathered in five sub-indices gauging labour policies and practices, access to finance, education and training and women's legal and social status and general business environment.

[1]This honourable ranking that our country is credited with materialised the important progress accomplished during the last two decades by our country in terms of opening up real prospects before women to fully exercise their economic rights, and the scope of policies and reforms carried out to consecrate this strategic orientation.

While holding advanced positions compared with the European, Asian and Latin-American countries, this report highlights, with reference to some specific indices, economic opportunities offered for Tunisian women. This is shown in a palpable manner through indices pertaining to women's legal and social statues in Tunisia with 89.6 points (out of 100) and ranking 34th in the world, the labour policy and practice (26th in the world) and the ranking according to income where Tunisian women are on top in Africa.

By refining the analysis, the report goes further ranking Tunisian women at leading position in treatment of violence against women, free circulation, the right to ownership, first in the world with a 100-point score.

Finally, it is to be pointed out that Sweden ranks first, with an index of 88.2 points, followed by Belgium, Norway, Finland and Germany.