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A.
Sweden is not correct.
Sweden
has long been a leader when it comes to equality for women,
whether in politics, in business or in society more generally.
But in the Inter-Parliamentary Union's June 2011 worldwide
survey — which ranks countries according to the share of women
serving in their nation's lower or single house of parliament
— Sweden does not rank first.
The
country ranks third, with 45% female representation. Fellow
Nordic states Iceland (42.9%), Finland (42.5%), Norway (39.6%)
and Denmark (38%) are not far behind.
B.
United States is not correct.
Although
many have long pointed to the United States as a leader in
terms of historic achievements for women's rights, it lags
in electing women to political office.
Seventy-two
of the 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives are
women. With a share of 16.7%, the United States is only in
70th place globally. The United States thus ranks behind countries
such as Bangladesh (18.6%) and Kazakhstan (17.8%) — and just
ahead of Albania (16.4%) and Azerbaijan (16%).
In
comparison, the Iraqi parliament has a 25.2% share of female
representation, ranking 36th in the world — and Afghanistan
has a 27.7% share, placing 30th. Both countries have established
a quota system reserving about one quarter of their legislatures'
seats for women.
C.
Cuba is not correct.
In
the latest survey, Cuba came in fifth, with a 43.2% share
of women in its national parliament. Among fellow communist
nations, China places 51st, with a 21.3% share, while Vietnam
ranks 39th, with 24.4% of its parliament comprised of women.
Among
other key Asian countries, India has a 10.8% share (ranking
98th), compared with 11.3% for Japan (96th), 18% for Indonesia
(64th), 22.1% for the Philippines (47th) and 22.2% for Pakistan
and Singapore (tied at 46th).
D.
Rwanda is correct.
Rwanda
tops the list for the highest proportion of female members
of parliament — with a share of 56.3%. Of the 80 seats in
the lower house, 45 are held by women. Other African countries
with a high percentage of female members of parliament include
South Africa (44.5%) in fourth place — and Mozambique (39.2%)
in tenth place.
With its September 2008 elections, Rwanda's parliament became
the world's first in which women hold the majority. Today,
it is joined only by the tiny European principality of Andorra,
where women hold a 53.6% share.
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