The NGO Save the Children publishes every year a list of the best countries to be a mother. This year, and to the surprise of many, Spain has been in seventh place. I say surprise because a few days ago UNICEF commented that it is not good business to be a child in our country in a comparison with other developed countries.
The most striking thing is that the delegation of Save the Children in Spain, instead of confirming data arriving from the United States, contradicts them, recalling that in Spain the number of families has increased below the poverty line to 22% of households and explaining what are the reasons that can lead to deception To think that Spain is really one of the best places to be a mother.
Apparently, in order to make the 176 valued countries enter the classification, Some of the indicators that made Spain fall into the rankings have been eliminated. Before, between 10 and 12 indicators were taken into account and this year only five have been looked at: the risk of maternal mortality, infant mortality in children under five, the number of seats held by women in parliament, the expected years of education formal and GDP per capita.
I guess you'll agree with me that more things are needed to be able to say that this is a good place to be a mother. Maternal and infant mortality has long been low in developed countries and the number of seats held by women in parliament does not seem to me to be something that has an exaggerated impact on the welfare of mothers and children. GDP per capita yes, of course (Spain is in position 24), but things like maternity leave are missing, which were previously taken into account and not now, which as we all know are 16 weeks (52 weeks in Denmark or Kingdom United), the proportion of income of women against men ($ 0.52 for every dollar a man earns, according to data from last year), lack of financial aid for having children or lack of reconciliation between Family and work.
Finland, the first
The Nordic countries, as is often the case, are the ones leading the classification. The first are Finland, followed by Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Holland and Denmark. Then comes Spain, followed by Belgium, Germany and Australia. I guess you'll agree with me that it seems like a joke. I doubt that this classification really reflects the situation of mothers and children here compared to countries like Germany or Australia. The reason ?, the commented one, they have left the majority of indicators that would cause that Spain sank in the classification.
More aid and reconciliation policies
As we said a few days ago when talking about UNICEF, Save the Children underlines that the Government should increase public assistance to families with children, maternity and paternity leave and try to make working hours more flexible. Also, remember that child poverty has increased by 10% and that they are already 2,200,000 the number of children living in households below the poverty line.
He seventh best country to be a mother? Come on man, if last year we were in the sixteenth place, go tell that story to another, that here years ago we stopped sucking our finger.
