Norway has topped another list, this time as the best country in the world for mothers. The list, compiled by the international humanitarian group Save the Children, cited such factors as the danger of dying during childbirth, the number of women using modern contraception and the number of births attended by educated health care personnel.
Norwegian mothers also enjoy lengthy, fully paid maternity leave, generous child care leave and subsidized day care, in addition to a high literacy rate and a large proportion of women in governmental positions, according to the most recent issue of the magazine for the Norwegian chapter of Save the Children, Redd Barna Magasinet.
Tove Wang, secretary general of Redd Barna, congratulated Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg “and our other politicians who have succeeded in making Norway a good place to live for mothers and therefore also for children.” She asked Stoltenberg’s Labour Party-led government to also continue “the good work internationally to help mothers get what they need to break out of poverty and improve the quality of life for themselves and their children.”
Norway was followed by Iceland, Sweden, New Zealand, Denmark, Finland, Australia, Belgium, Ireland and The Netherlands/England (tied for 10th place). The 10 worst countries for children were listed as Niger, Afghanistan, Yemen, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Eritrea, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Views and News staff
