Learning to use gender glasses

Transcription

1 Learning to use gender glasses Developing capacities in GM in Finnish ministries

2 1. What is gender mainstreaming 2. The Finnish commitments and what we have done 3. Gender glasses 4. Lessons learnt

3 What is gender mainstreaming? The (re)organisation, improvement, development and evaluation of policy processes, so that a gender equality perspective is incorporated in all policies at all levels and at all stages, by the actors normally involved in policy-making

4 Gender mainstreaming as a goal The goal is to overcome gender-neutral, sometimes even gender-blind, practices and procedures The administration as a whole is committed to promoting gender equality Each public official understand the gender relevance of their work and promote gender equality where necessary

5 Gender mainstreaming as a strategy Reorganisation, development and assessment of political and administrative processes The gender equality objective is integrated into all policies and actions by the actors that normally carry out them Administrative strategy for changing practices so that the gender perspective will be automatically and systematically taken into account

6 Government commitment Act on Equality between Women and Men Government programmes have stated government s support to GM: The government is committed to promoting gender equality in all its decisionmaking. Government Action Plan for Gender Equality : Especially drafting of legislation, preparation budget and other activities with major implications for gender equality

7 What has been done in Finland? Planning and pilot projects since late 90 s Gender mainstreaming in the Government programmes since 1999 Gender impact assessments of legislation since 2000 Creating guidelines and providing training since 2002 (in the central governmental level) Developing statistical data since 2002 Gender budgeting first time in the budget for 2007 Gender glasses -projects in

8 Gender mainstreaming training Common training for all the ministries on gender impact assessment of legislation, on statistical data disaggregated by sex and gender budgeting Briefing for (new) Ministers and senior management Special effort on capacity building for experts in the line ministries during the Gender Glasses projects (EU-financing)

9 Provisions and guidelines Guidelines on gender impact assessment (2003) Helpful questions and background material for assessment Bill Drafting Instructions (MJ 2004, 2007) Government proposals must explain the gender impact of proposed provisions The general directives for formulating the Budget (MF 2006) Ministries budget proposals must present the operations that have a significant gender impact

10 Provisions and guidelines (continues) Gender Glasses in Use A handbook to support gender equality work at Finnish ministries (MSAH 2009) Gender perspective in administration and institutes - Obligation to enhance gender equality will be included in the guiding handbook for ministries result management (MF 2013?)

11 There is good will, some knowledge and obligations from above, but how do we really make GM happen? Need for training to support the implementation of the bills, regulations and directives

12 Introducing Gender Glasses! Gender Glasses in Use Good results with Gender Glasses Training in each ministry (management, staff) Training for experts responsible for mainstreaming on how to implement gender mainstreaming in the key processes of the ministries (seminars, counselling) Website containing a compilation of basic tools Brochure bearing the name of the project, wall poster Handbook for gender mainstreaming Target groups: the management and other government officials in the central government (With the support of EU Programme PROGRESS)

13 How to incorporate the gender perspective in your own work? (example of a checklist) Step 1: Put on your gender glasses Step 2: Assess gender impact Step 3: Take note of the results Gender glasses - Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

14 Experiences: Coordination and organisation of work Crucial role of Gender equality unit expertise and strategic planning Interministerial steering group at the senior level coordination structure between the ministries Operational working groups in line ministries coordination structure within the ministries (context oriented knowledge, HR)

15 Experiences: Good Practices Learning the language of different government processes (e.g. budgeting) and key policy areas Know the target groups (ministries are not similar) Showing by concrete examples the significance of gender perspective (gender mainstreaming = good governance) Creating simple and practical tools e.g. lists of key questions, check-lists Setting up operational working groups in the ministries with expertise on every key area: legislation, budget, statistics, training, policies and programmes etc.

16 Experiences: Lessons learned Gender perspective must be present in the guiding/strategic documents as well as in the background material If it is implemented already at the preparatory stage it can have influence on the final output (case: law on occupational health and safety) Processes not the individual persons should be the guard dogs Ministers and senior management are in a key position if they ask for gender perspective the officials will do it. There is always demand for basic training and knowledge but also more sophisticated knowledge is needed

17 Thank you for your attention!