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Women’s prospects limited by law in 155 countries, World Bank study finds. Two decades after Beijing declaration on gender equality, women’s economic opportunities and working rights still widely subject to restrictive legislation.

by Liz Ford and Mark Anderson

About 155 countries have at least one law that limits women’s economic opportunities, while 100 states put restrictions on the types of jobs women can do and 18 allow husbands to dictate whether their wives can work at all, according to a World Bank report that paints a stark picture of the enduring obstacles women face in achieving economic empowerment.Access full report.