Gender mainstreaming in practice:

Transcription

1 Gender mainstreaming in practice: Gender impact assessments Ann Boman Sweden My presentation on Gender impact assessment 1. What is Gender impact assessment (GIA) 2. A brief picture of the use of GIA in EU countries 3. Some points of confusion 4. How do we use GIAs in Sweden at central level at regional and local level My experiences of Gender Mainstreaming Heading a Swedish Government Commission on developing methods and training for GM/GRB Swedish Government Ministries Swedish state agencies Swedish regional and local authorities International advisor and trainer in Governments, Parliaments and at local level What is gender impact assessment (GIA) European Commission: Compare the current situation with the expected situation as a result of a proposal from a gender equality perspective. Estimate the effects (positive, negative or neutral) on gender equality EIGE An assessment of a proposal that, in a preventive way, makes it possible to identify any negative consequences for gender equality What is gender impact assessment (GIA) Results from a comparative analysis The Swedish definition: The consequences of a proposals for women and men respectively must be presented. An analysis of how the proposal can contribute to achieve the policy for gender equality must be performed (Strategy for GM in government offices ) Report on Gender Impact Assessment Effectiveness by Yellow Window Yellow Window: Do GIAs aim at preventing negative impact? Do GIAs aim at strengthening gender equality through better designed, transformative legislation and policies? 1

2 Gender impact assessment (GIA) GIA in the EU28: main findings from earlier research The majority of the countries have developed legal or policy provisions for the implementation of GIAs Guidelines and other support materials (e.g. checklists) have been developed to assist with putting GIA into practice The practice of gender impact assessments is used mainly in relation to the preparation of legislation Countries actually deploying GIA at national level: AT, DK, ES, FI, FR and SE In several countries, GIA implementation appears rather formalistic, and resembles a tick-the-box exercise that does not entail real analysis: CY, CZ, LU, PT and SK. Describe the EC s approach and model of GIA Describe national and regional approaches and models of GIA in 1. Austria 2. Denmark 3. Finland 4. Sweden 5. Lower-Saxony (DE) 6. Catalonia (ES) Some effects of GIAs performed: Impact on legal and policy measures: very limited (except for Sweden) Impact on strengthening the gender mainstreaming strategy: weak (except for Sweden) The simple fact of implementing this method is contributing to strengthening the gender mainstreaming strategy Impact on raising awareness: important because of its learning potential Evolution and trends in GIA implementation GIAs focus mainly on legal documents GIAs integrated in a broader impact assessment exercise (except Sweden) Tendency to focus on the analysis of the present situation Tendency to not reflect on how the proposals will affect the situation in the future Main actors responsible for conducting GIAs: civil servants from the policy field (except Catalonia) Efforts to develop tools, such as guidelines and checklists Lack of transparency and monitoring mechanisms Main findings and conclusions GIA implementation is often grounded in basic understanding of gender Tendency to have lighter and easier practices of GIA GIA has low impact on the design and planning of legislative and policy measures GIA can serve as a real eye-opener to those involved in it and can have significant awareness-raising effects Two cases with highest proven record of GIA implementation: Catalonia: where GIA is fully legislated and where a centralised model applies 2012: 203 GIAs performed by gender experts Sweden: where GIAs have not been regulated and are being carried out with different methodologies and at all levels 2

3 Some interesting dualities from the study Diagnoses of gender inequality vs. prognoses in the form of alternative scenarios = Gender analysis vs. Gender impact assessment Quality of assessments Complexity vs. simplicity Who should perform GIA: Gender experts vs. main actors Strategy for Gender Mainstreaming in the Government Offices (extract) All individually based tables and graphs in the Budget Bill are to be presented, commented on or analysed from a gender perspective. In each Government Bill to Parliament the consequences of its proposals for women and men respectively must be presented. An analysis of how the proposal can contribute to achieve the policy for gender equality must be performed. Terms of reference to Government Committees describe how a gender perspective should be integrated in the investigation All Government Committee proposals are to be assessed by gender Documents GIA in Swedish Government Offices 2012 Number (relevant) Meets the request Framework: 1994 Decision on gender mainstreaming (GM) 1996 Project in 10 municipalities on GM Tables and graphs in the % Budget Bill Government Bills 42 76% Terms of reference to Gov. committees Proposals from Government committees 35 57% 72 93% Monitored each year by Statistics Sweden. Public 1996 Ministry of Social affairs implements GM 1997 The first method for GM: 3R method 1997 Government appoints a workgroup for developing methods 2001 The first manual for GM is published 2001 A steering group for GM in Government Offices is established 2004 The Government adopts a Plan of action for GM in Government Offices : 400 people in training and supervision on how to: Carry out gender equality analysis Produce gender equality objectives in their own policy area What was achieved? 120 gender equality analyses in 48 policy areas 50 new policy objectives (engendered) A number of indicators and instructions to State Agencies 60 reporting requirements in the agencies appropriation directions Starting point 1: National gender equality policy How can our operations contribute to achieving the GE objectives 3

4 Starting point 2: Keep the entire chain in mind GM must take part at every level of society: spending resources allocated from public taxation and providing public services : Development work in Government Offices : Development work at local and regional level SALAR program: 70 organisations spending public resources At local and regional level: Many analyses but not very complex GEA are used as a method for development work Municipal departments, schools, hospitals, etc. receive assignments to perform analyses After reporting: immediate change in the performance to more gender sensitive operations Some municipalities require GIAs attached to proposals presented to political bodies Far more GEAs than GIAs at all levels Surveys and mappings GEA gives important information on present situation GEA can be a useful introduction in assessing proposals and predicting their impact on gender equality Government committee of Inquiry on Participation in the labour market for immigrants 1. Terms of reference to the committee includes directions on gender p.a. Integration 2. The Committee performs several GAs and GIAs 3. The Committee proposes changes in the construction of parental leave p.a. Social Insurance 4. The Government adopts the proposals and presents a Bill to Parliament 5. The GIAs have contributed to development of 3 policy areas: Integration, Social Insurances, Gender Equality Local level GEAs leading to immediate change: Youth centers: 70% boys 30% girls Re-modelling activities and use of building Statistics and customer research: women avoid buses at night time Night stops closer to home 4

5 How to make gender present in the entire chain: from central policy making to local practice Make the chain sustainable Create connections between the levels Develop gender equality objectives in all important policy areas Prerequisites that support the work: Clear gender equality objectives Clear strategy for implementing gender mainstreaming Monitoring and follow-up each year Training and support Next: Gender equality objectives in all policy areas in the future? 1. Starting- point: National gender equality objectives 2. Government level: Gender equality analysis of each policy area 3. Government level: Gender equality objectives in each policy area 4. Government level: GIA in Bills and proposals 5. Local and regional levels: Guided by national objectives of each policy area including gender 6. Services provided to citizens are gender sensitive Contact information Ann Boman Management Consultant and Gender Expert (Ann Boman Development Ltd.)