Example 1: Strengthening accountability for gender mainstreaming

Communication from the EU-Commission on incorporating equal opportunities for Women and Men into all Community Policies and Activities

The Communication recommends six lines of action: Employment and labour mark, Women entrepreneurs and assisting spouses, Education/Training for women, People´s rights, Development cooperation and Staff policy.

The communication addresses all member states and says that all EU community policies and actions should systematically consider a gender perspective beginning with the planning stage. Furthermore it takes into account that both – women and men – need to be committed to the idea of gender mainstreaming and that gender equality is not only about institutional mechanisms but also individual and cultural attitude and behaviour.

Questions and answers

High level Inter-ministerial Working Group on Gender Mainstreaming in Austria

The Inter-ministerial Working Group on gender mainstreaming in Austria was implemented in 2000 by the council of ministries. The tasks of the working group are:

  • to support and consult on the gender mainstreaming implementation process in all of the Federal ministries as well as on all administrative levels.
  • Exchange of information and of best practice (national and international);
  • Development of criteria for the implementation of gender mainstreaming as a strategy ;
  • Monitoring and evaluation of projects, measures and law in regard to objectives set within the implementation of gender mainstreaming

Questions and answers

System-Wide Action Plan on Gender Equality within the United Nations

The “UN system-wide Action Plan for Implementation of the CEB United nations system-wide Policy on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women” (UN SWAP) is based on a policy statement of the UN Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB). The SWAP has the character of a framework for a gender mainstreaming working plan to be applied to many UN organisations. It includes indicators and timetables, allocates responsibilities, and defines accountability mechanisms and resources.

Questions and answers

Resources

Statement by the Chief Executives Board for Coordination (2006):

Read more on un.org

Brochure on SWAP by UN Women (2014):

Read more on UN Women