The information on this page was last updated in December 2023. The information was gathered during EIGE’s 2021 data collection on Institutional Mechanisms for the Promotion of Gender Equality and Gender Mainstreaming, under Area H of the Beijing Platform for Action. Data was collected using a revised methodological framework. No data is available for France (FR) and Ireland (IE) as no response was received from the relevant authorities. Data for other Member States, as well as data for France and Ireland from previous collections, is available in the Gender Statistics Database.
Governmental gender equality bodies
The purpose of a governmental gender equality body is to design, coordinate and implement government policies for gender equality. It is normally located in the government hierarchy. The existence and permanence of such a structure is a major indicator of governmental responsibility in promoting gender equality. The governmental gender equality body should be located at the highest possible level of government, and the responsibility for promoting gender equality policies should also be vested at the highest possible level (e.g. cabinet minister).
Each Member State has established a national body for gender equality to coordinate, implement, monitor and evaluate the gender equality policies defined at governmental and/or ministerial level. They may also be involved in other activities, including policy-making, providing expertise, advice and recommendations on policies and legal initiatives, undertaking studies that support policy-making, promoting awareness-raising initiatives, and cooperating with civil society.
Governmental gender equality bodies are typically under ministerial control. A Member State’s central gender equality structure may take the form of a department/division/unit within the ministry in charge of gender equality, or an independent/semi-independent body/agency/service, usually overseen by the ministry. The ministry in charge of the gender equality policy area may vary across the Member States.
Eighteen Member States (BE, BG, CZ, DK, DE, ES, HR, IT, LV, LT, LU, HU, MT, NL, PL, RO, SI, SK) have one designated governmental gender equality body, with others (EE, EL, CY, AT, PT, FI, SE) having two governmental gender equality bodies that share similar functions and support one another on activities related to gender equality.
In ten Member States, gender equality is part of the mandate of the ministries in charge of labour, employment, and social security/protection (BG, DK, EE, EL, HR, LV, LT, SI, SK, SE). Six Member States locate gender equality within the mandate of the ministry in charge of family affairs and other groups (BE, DE, IT, AT, PL, RO). In three Member States (CZ, HU, PT), gender equality falls within the remit of the Prime Minister’s Office, while four Member States place gender equality within the mandate of ministries dealing with specific policy areas, such as research and innovation (MT), education/science (NL), justice (CY), cooperation and equality (FI). Two Member States (ES, LU) have a ministry dedicated to gender equality.
Governmental bodies responsible for gender equality
Member State
Responsible government body/bodies
Belgium
Institute for Equality between Women and Men (IEWM)
Bulgaria
Policy for people with Disabilities, Equal Opportunities and Social Benefits Directorate
Czechia
Department for Gender Equality
Denmark
Division for Gender Equality [within the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth]
Germany
Division for Gender Equality [within the Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth]
Estonia
Department of Equality Policy [within the Ministry of Social Affairs]
Ireland
No data available
Greece
General Secretariat for Demographic and Family Policy and Gender Equality (GSDFPGE)
Research Centre for Gender Equality
Spain
Ministry of Equality
France
No data available
Croatia
Office for Gender Equality
Italy
Department for Equal Opportunities
Cyprus
Gender Equality Unit
Commissioner of Gender Equality
Latvia
Department of Social Policy Planning and Development
Lithuania
Department of Equal opportunities and equality between women and men
Luxemburg
Ministry of Equality between Women and Men
Hungary
Department of Adoption and Women’s Policy Women’s Policy Unit Prime Minister’s Office
Malta
Human Rights Directorate (HRD)
Netherlands
Directorate for gender equality and LGBTI equality [within the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science]
Austria
Division III: Women’s Affairs and Equality
Department III/C/9 within the Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, Civil Service and Sport on strategic performance management and administrative innovation
Poland
Government Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment
Portugal
Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality
Commission for Equality in Labour and Employment
Romania
National Agency for Equal Opportunities between Women and Men (NAEO)
Slovenia
Gender Equality Division [within the Ministry for Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities]
Slovakia
Department of Equality of Women and Men [within the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, and the Family]
Finland
Gender Equality Unit [within the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health]
Centre of Gender Equality Information
Sweden
Division for Gender Equality [within the Ministry of Labour]
The hierarchical position of governmental gender equality bodies (within central/federal government) has a direct impact on the strength and visibility of their actions and their power to promote gender equality within government. Their position varies between Member States. In some cases, they are entrusted with an important (if not the highest) level of governmental responsibility. These include: (1) governmental bodies taking the form of a ministry dedicated to gender equality (ES, LU); (2) governmental bodies overseen by a central department of the government, such as the Council of Ministers, the Office of the Government or the Prime Minister’s Office (CZ, IT, PL); or (3) governmental bodies set up in the form of a department or division within a ministry and led by a minister/federal minister (BG, DK, DE, EL, CY, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, AT, SI, SK, FI, SE). Four Member States (BE, HR, PT, RO) have devolved responsibility for gender equality issues to an autonomous body designated as a government agency. These bodies sit outside of ministerial structures.
Hierarchical location of governmental gender equality bodies in 2023
Responsibility for promoting and advancing gender equality generally lies with national/ federal governments across the Member States. According to the Beijing Platform for Action, the responsibility for promoting gender equality policies should be vested at the highest possible level of government. In twenty-one Member States (BG, CZ, DK, DE, EE, ES, HR, IT, CY, LV, LT, LU, HU, MT, NL, AT, PT, SI, SK, FI, SE), a senior minister (i.e. holding a seat in the cabinet) is responsible for promoting gender equality, while the remaining four (BE, EL, PL, RO) place that responsibility at the level of a junior minister.
Ministers responsible for gender equality
Member State
Minister responsible for gender equality
Level of responsibility
Exclusively gender equality
Spain
Minister of Equality
Senior Minister
Luxemburg
Minister of Equality between Women and Men
Senior Minister
Family and other groups
Belgium
Secretary of State for Gender Equality, Equal Opportunities and Diversity
Junior Minister
Germany
Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
Senior Minister
Ireland
No data available
n/a
Italy
Minister for Family and Equal Opportunities
Senior Minister
Austria
Federal Minister for Women, Integration, Media and Youth
Senior Minister
Poland
Deputy Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy
Junior Minister
Romania
Minister of Family, Youth and Equal Opportunities
Junior Minister
Labour, employment and social security/protection
Bulgaria
Minister of Labour and Social Policy
Senior Minister
Denmark
Minister for Gender Equality
Senior Minister
Estonia
Minister of Social Protection
Senior Minister
Greece
Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs
Junior Minister
Croatia
Minister of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy
Senior Minister
Latvia
Minister of Welfare
Senior Minister
Lithuania
Minister of Social Security and Labour
Senior Minister
Slovenia
Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
Senior Minister
Slovakia
Minister of Labour, Social Affairs, and the Family
Senior Minister
Sweden
Minister for Gender Equality and Labour
Senior Minister
Prime Minister's Office
Czechia
Prime Minister
Senior Minister
France
No data available
n/a
Hungary
Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office
Senior Minister
Portugal
Secretary of State for Citizenship and Equality (delegated responsibility from the Minister of State for the Presidency)
Senior Minister
Other
Cyprus
Minister of Justice and Public Order
Senior Minister
Malta
Minister for Equality, Research, and Innovation
Senior Minister
Netherlands
Minister of Education, Culture and Science
Senior Minister
Finland
Minister of Social Affairs and Health
Senior Minister
Sufficient personnel dedicated to gender equality is a precondition for effective institutional mechanisms and is a clear measure of the level of commitment to promoting gender equality. Nevertheless, governmental and independent bodies appear under-resourced in many cases, with only four Member States considered to dedicate adequate human resources (i.e. more than 100 employees) to those institutions (BE, EL, ES, SE).
The governmental bodies in four Member States (BG, LV, LT, SK) have particularly low levels of human resources (fewer than five people) dedicated to gender equality. By contrast, four others (DE, EL, ES, SE) are particularly well resourced (more than 100 governmental staff dedicated to gender equality). Human resources are even more limited for independent bodies, with seven Member States registering fewer than five staff members dedicated to gender equality issues (CZ, DK, EE, IT, CY, LU, PL), and only one (ES) having an independent body with more than 100 staff.
Human resources dedicated to gender equality are noticeably lower in governmental and independent bodies whose mandates are not solely focused on gender equality, but, rather, combined with other non-discrimination areas. Independent bodies working exclusively on gender equality have an average of 29.9 staff focusing on gender-related issues, compared to 13.7 for those with a wider equalities remit. Governmental bodies exclusively dedicated to gender equality have an average of 38.0 people focusing on gender equality issues, compared to 33.0 in bodies also dealing with other issues.
Legal framework for gender equality at national level
Equality and non-discrimination between women and men are founding values of the European Union (EU), as expressed in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union. EU legislation on gender equality is legally binding in all Member States.
Almost all Member States have legislation to foster gender equality, whether a comprehensive law focusing exclusively on gender equality, or a set of laws integrating the issue of gender equality and non-discrimination between women and men into different sectors.
Legal framework for gender equality
Country
National gender equality legislation
Belgium
Gender Act (2007)
General Anti-Discrimination Federal Act (2007)
Bulgaria
Law on Equality between Women and Men (2016)
Czechia
Anti-discrimination Act (2009)
Denmark
Act on Gender Equality (introduced in 2000, amended in 2006, 2009, 2013)
Germany
Article 3(2) of the Foundational Law (1949)
Federal Law on Pay Transparency
Estonia
Gender Equality Act (2004)
Equal Treatment Act (2009)
Ireland
No data available
Greece
Law on Substantive Gender Equality (2019)
Spain
Organic Law 3/2007 on effective equality between women and men (‘the Equality Law’)
France
No data available
Croatia
Gender Equality Act (introduced in 2008, amended in 2017)
Italy
National Code of Equal Opportunities between Women and Men
Cyprus
No overall national law on gender equality but sectoral laws on specific aspects of gender equality
Latvia
Social Protection and Labour Market Policy Guidelines 2021-2027
Lithuania
Law on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men (1998)
Law on Equal Treatment (2003)
Luxemburg
Paragraph 2 of Article 11 of the Constitution of Luxembourg, No overarching law on gender equality but sectoral laws on specific topics
Hungary
No targeted law on gender equality in Hungary, but gender is listed as one of several grounds on which negative discrimination is prohibited by Act CXXV of 2003 on Equal Treatment and the Promotion of Equality of Opportunities
Malta
Equality for Men and Women Act (2003)
Netherlands
Equal Pay Act (1975)
Equal Treatment Act for Men and Women (introduced in 1980, amended in 1989, 1994, 1998 and 2006)
Austria
Equal Treatment Act (1979)
Article 7 of the Federal Constitutional Law
Poland
Act of 3 December 2010 on the implementation of certain European Union regulations regarding equal treatment (the Act of 2010)
Portugal
No overarching law exclusively focused on gender equality but a range of laws that cover different aspects of gender equality and non-discrimination
Romania
Law 202/2002 on Equal Opportunities between Women and Men
Slovenia
Equal Opportunities for Women and Men Act (2002)
Slovakia
Act 365/2004, the 'Anti-Discrimination Act'
Finland
1995 Act
Sweden
Discrimination Act (2008)
Legal and policy framework for gender mainstreaming at the national level
Successful implementation of a gender mainstreaming strategy requires well-formulated objectives and targets, embedded in a supportive legal and political framework, as well as a clear implementation strategy/plan.
Thirteen Member States (BG, DK, DE, EE, EL, ES, HR, AT, PT, RO, SI, FI, SE) have a legal obligation to implement gender mainstreaming, but this obligation is not accompanied by enforcement or sanctions. Nine Member States have other types of commitment to gender mainstreaming, but the nature of those commitments (de facto binding commitment of the government (BE, CZ, IT, LV), other kinds of commitments at policy level (CY, LT, LU, MT, NL)) weaken their effectiveness. Two Member States (PL, SK) have no commitment to gender mainstreaming.
Legislation surrounding (on) gender mainstreaming in the EU
Country
Legislation
Commitment addressing gender mainstreaming
Belgium
Gender Mainstreaming Law (2007)
De facto binding decision of the government on gender mainstreaming
Bulgaria
Article 4(1) of the Law on Equality between Women and Men
[National Strategy and Action Plan for Promoting the Equality of Women and Men 2021-2030 include references to gender mainstreaming]
Legal obligation regarding the implementation of gender mainstreaming without provisions for enforcement or sanctions
Czechia
Government Resolution No. 456 (of 9 May 2001)
[Gender Equality Strategy 2021- 2030 includes references to gender mainstreaming]
De facto binding decision of the government on gender mainstreaming
Denmark
Legal obligation for gender mainstreaming contained in the Act on Gender Equality
Legal obligation regarding the implementation of gender mainstreaming without provisions for enforcement or sanctions
Germany
2000 Joint Rules of Procedure of the Federal Ministries
[Federal Gender Equality Strategy includes references to gender mainstreaming]
Legal obligation regarding the implementation of gender mainstreaming without provisions for enforcement or sanctions
Estonia
Legal obligation for gender mainstreaming contained in the Gender Equality Act
[National strategy for gender equality 2016-2023 and Gender Equality Programme 2021-2024 include references to gender mainstreaming]
Legal obligation regarding the implementation of gender mainstreaming without provisions for enforcement or sanctions
Ireland
No data available
n/a
Greece
Articles 10-20 of the Law on Substantive Gender Equality
Legal obligation regarding the implementation of gender mainstreaming without provisions for enforcement or sanctions
Spain
Organic Law 3/2007 on effective equality between women and men (Equality Law)
Legal obligation regarding the implementation of gender mainstreaming without provisions for enforcement or sanctions
France
No data available
n/a
Croatia
Article 3 of the Gender Equality Act
[National Policy for Gender Equality 2022-2027 includes references to gender mainstreaming]
Legal obligation regarding the implementation of gender mainstreaming without provisions for enforcement or sanctions
Italy
Principle of gender mainstreaming – National Code of Equal Opportunities between Women and Men
[National Strategy for Equal Opportunities 2021-2026 includes references to gender mainstreaming]
De facto binding decision of the government on gender mainstreaming
Cyprus
Decision of the Council of Ministers No 61.649, dated 24 February 2005
National Action Plan for Gender Equality
Other policy commitment
Latvia
A de facto binding decision adopted in the Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 617 ‘Procedure for Initial Impact Assessment of a Draft Legislative Act’
De facto binding decision of the government on gender mainstreaming
Lithuania
National Progress Plan
[National Programme on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men 2015–2021 includes references to gender mainstreaming]
Other policy commitment
Luxembourg
National action plan for Equality between women and men
Other policy commitment
Hungary
No data available
n/a
Malta
OPM Circular 15/2000
Other policy commitment
Netherlands
Gender mainstreaming is part of the Integral Assessment Framework for policy and regulation (IAK)
Other policy commitment
Austria
Five Resolutions of the Council of Ministers (2000–2010)
De facto binding decision of the government on gender mainstreaming
Poland
No commitment to gender mainstreaming
Portugal
Article 13(3) and Article 51(8) of the Federal Constitutional Act (Bundes-Verfassungsgesetz, B-VG).
Legal obligation regarding the implementation of gender mainstreaming without provisions for enforcement or sanctions
Romania
2018-2021 National Strategy for the Promotion of Equal Opportunity and Treatment between Women and Men
De facto binding decision of the government on gender mainstreaming
Slovenia
Equal Opportunities for Women and Men Act (2002)
Legal obligation regarding the implementation of gender mainstreaming without provisions for enforcement or sanctions
Slovakia
No commitment to gender mainstreaming
Finland
Legal obligation for gender mainstreaming contained in the 1995 Act
[Gender Equality Programme 2020-2023 includes references to gender mainstreaming]
Legal obligation regarding the implementation of gender mainstreaming without provisions for enforcement or sanctions
Sweden
Decision A2021/01442
Legal obligation regarding the implementation of gender mainstreaming without provisions for enforcement or sanctions
Gender statistics inform on differences and inequalities between women and men in all areas of life. The Beijing Platform for Action recommends that gender statistics are regularly collected, compiled and analysed to monitor progress and shed light on issues and gaps where further policy action might be needed. Gender statistics are an indispensable tool to inform and support gender mainstreaming activities.
In many Member States, national governments are committed to the production of gender statistics. Eighteen Member States (1) have some form of obligation or agreement in place on the collection of sex-disaggregated data. The most common form is a legal obligation for the national statistical office to collect data disaggregated by sex (BE, ES, HR, IT, MT, RO, SI, SE) – this is in addition to obligations imposed by EU regulations. Five Member States (DE, EL, NL, PT, SK) have imposed a legal obligation on a different public institution, noting the general requirement for ministries and other bodies to collect data disaggregated by sex where relevant. There are weaker policy commitments in two Member States (LT, PL) and ad hoc policy commitments in three Member States (EE, LU, FI).
Four Member States (CZ, CY, LV, AT) have no obligation/commitment to the collection/production of sex-disaggregated data.
Table 1.5 Institutional mechanisms in place for the collection of sex-disaggregated data (as at 2021)
Country
Legal obligation on national statistical office
Legal obligation on another public institution
Other kind of agreement
Regular agreement
Ad hoc agreement
Belgium
X
X
No agreement
No agreement
Bulgaria
No data available
Czech Republic
No obligation
No obligation
No obligation
No obligation
Denmark
No data available
Germany
No obligation
No obligation
X
Not known
Estonia
No obligation
No obligation
No agreement
X
Ireland
No data available
Greece
No obligation
X
X
Spain
X
X
No agreement
No agreement
France
No data available
Croatia
X
X
No agreement
No agreement
Italy
X
No obligation
X
No agreement
Cyprus
No obligation
No obligation
No agreement
No agreement
Latvia
No obligation
No obligation
No agreement
No agreement
Lithuania
No obligation
No obligation
X
No agreement
Luxemburg
No obligation
No obligation
No agreement
X
Hungary
No data available
Malta
X
Not known
No agreement
No agreement
Netherlands
No obligation
X
X
No agreement
Austria
No obligation
No obligation
No agreement
No agreement
Poland
No obligation
No obligation
X
No agreement
Portugal
No obligation
X
X
No agreement
Romania
X
X
No agreement
No agreement
Slovenia
X
X
No agreement
No agreement
Slovakia
No obligation
X
No agreement
No agreement
Finland
No obligation
No obligation
No agreement
X
Sweden
X
X
No agreement
No agreement
(1) There is no data on institutional mechanisms for the collection of sex-disaggregated data in Bulgaria, Denmark, Ireland, France or Hungary.
Structures for gender mainstreaming at the ministerial level
Effective implementation of gender mainstreaming requires dedicated governmental structures to oversee and coordinate human resources and processes to generate change. Such structures might be units/departments/working groups dedicated to gender mainstreaming within each ministry, gender focal points in ministries (i.e. contact points for gender mainstreaming), and/or an inter‑ministerial group (i.e. a coordinating body or a network of contact points).
The existence of a governmental structure dedicated to gender mainstreaming is crucial to ensuring its effective coordination across government.
Twenty Member States have some form of structure in place (BE, BG, CZ, DK, DE, EE, EL, ES, HR, CY, LT, LU, MT, AT, PT, RO, SI, SK, FI, SE). Fifteen of those (BE, CZ, DK, EL, ES, CY, LT, LU, AT, PT, RO, SI, SK, FI, SE) have an interdepartmental structure with dedicated focal points to bring together different departments and ensure that gender equality concerns are integrated into laws and policies across all areas. Some focus on federal-level planning and guidance, others adopt a multilevel approach that allows them to deliver work nationally, regionally and locally (e.g. PT), while others target specific areas of gender equality (e.g. SK). The structure is typically led by a ministry (e.g. AT), or a governmental body (e.g. BE). In several Member States (BE, LU, RO), those structures have a representative (or two) in each ministry, while others (ES, PT, FI) have a working group in each ministry. Five Member States (BG, DE, EE, HR, MT) have less stringent structures in place, without strong central coordination (in DE, the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth is responsible for gender mainstreaming and is involved in legislative or consultative processes on gender mainstreaming on an ad hoc basis). Three Member States (IT, LV, NL) do not have a structure to coordinate gender mainstreaming efforts across government.
Addressing discrimination based on sex and promoting equal treatment between women and men are tasks assigned to specific bodies in all 27 Member States. These independent bodies complement the work of governmental gender equality bodies by virtue of their mandate to prevent the violation of rights and to offer legal protection.
In line with the requirements of EU Directives, Member States have established equality structures for the promotion, analysis, monitoring and support of equal treatment of all persons without discrimination. Some of these bodies focus solely on discrimination on the ground of sex, while others handle equal treatment of women and men in the same independent body that focuses on discrimination on other grounds. In the past two decades, Member States have shown a tendency to merge all grounds of discrimination, including discrimination based on sex, into the tasks of one independent body for promotion of equal treatment. The 2006 report noted that [re]placing the independent bodies for protection against discrimination on the ground of sex with bodies for protection against multiple discrimination seems to be a trend among Member States.
Recent developments show that equal treatment of women and men or discrimination on the ground of sex has been merged into the broader spectrum of different forms of discrimination. This trend can have both positive and negative consequences and should be investigated and monitored.
All Member States indicated the existence of an independent body with a mandate for gender equality. However, only six (BE, ES, HR, IT, PT, FI) have an independent body exclusively focused on gender equality, with the majority (BG, CZ, DK, DE, EE, EL, CY, LV, LT, LU, HU, MT, NL, AT, PL, RO, SI, SE) combining independent bodies’ mandates on gender equality and other equality-related functions.
The responsibilities entrusted to independent bodies vary. Independent bodies in 12 Member States (BE, BG, CZ, EE, ES, HR, IT, LV, LU, PT, RO, SI) carry out all key functions: (1) deciding on complaints on discrimination on the ground of sex; (2) providing legal support for victims of discrimination on the grounds of sex or gender; (3) publishing and disseminating gender equality-related information and training; and (4) researching gender equality issues (2).
Publishing and disseminating gender equality-related information and training is the most common function (24 independent bodies), followed by researching gender equality issues (22 independent bodies), providing legal support for victims (19 independent bodies) and deciding on complaints (19 independent bodies).
Equality bodies in the Member States
Country
Relevant independent equality body
Belgium
Institute for the Equality of Women and Men(Institut pour l’égalité entre les hommes et les femmes)
Bulgaria
Commission for Protection against Discrimination (комисия за защита от дискриминация)
Czechia
Public Defender of Rights(Veřejný ochránce práv)
Denmark
Danish Institute for Human Rights(Institut for Menneskerettigheder)
Germany
Federal AntiDiscrimination Agency(Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes)
Estonia
Gender Equality and Equal Treatment Commissioner(Soolise võrdõiguslikkuse ja võrdse kohtlemise volinik)
Ireland
No data available
Greece
Greek Ombudsman (Sector of Equal Treatment)(Συνήγορος του Πολίτη (Τομέας Ίσης Μεταχείρισης))
Spain
Institute of Women(Instituto de las Mujeres)
France
No data available
Croatia
Ombudsperson for Gender Equality(Pravobranitelj/ica za ravnopravnost spolova)
Italy
National Equality Counsellor(Consigliera nazionale di parità)
Cyprus
Equality Body(Φορέας Ισότητας και Καταπολέμησης των Διακρίσεων)
Latvia
Ombudsman’s Office of Latvia(Latvijas RepublikasTiesībsargs)
Lithuania
Office of the Ombudsperson for Equal Opportunities(Lygių galimybių kontrolieriaus tarnyba)
Luxemburg
Centre for Equal Treatment(Centre l’égalité de Traitement)
Hungary
Commissioner of Fundamental Rights
Malta
National Commission for the Promotion of Equality
Netherlands
The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights(College van de Rechten van de Mens)
Austria
Ombudsperson for Equal Treatment(Gleichbehandlungsanwaltschaft)
Poland
Department of Equal Treatment in the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Departament Równego Traktowania w Biurze Rzecznik Praw Obywatelskich)
Portugal
Commission for Equality in Labour and Employment (Comissão para a Igualdade no Trabalho e no Emprego)
Romania
National Council for Combating Discrimination(Consiliul National pentru Combaterea Discriminarii)
Slovenia
Advocate of the Principle of Equality(Zagovornik načela enakosti)
Slovakia
No data available
Finland
Ombudsman for Gender Equality and the Council for Gender Equality(Tasaarvovaltuutettu & Tasa-arvoasiain neuvottelukunta)
Sweden
Equality Ombudsman(Diskrimineringsombudsmannen)
(2) The functions are in line with Directive 2002/73/EC (Article 8a) and Article 20 of Directive 2006/54/EC (recast), which repealed Directive 2022/73/EC, as well as Directive 2004/113/EC (Article 12).
The Beijing Platform for Action recognises the importance of establishing cooperative relationships between civil society organisations (CSOs) and governmental bodies to promote gender equality. Similarly, the Council of the European Union emphasises the need for ‘formal and informal links of cooperation’ between ‘a wide range of civil society organisations, namely women’s rights and human rights [non-governmental organisations] NGOs, the media, the research and academic community, social partners and other relevant social actors, as well as with international and European organisations in the pursuit of gender equality objectives’(3).
Civil society involvement is evident in twenty-three Member States. In some (DE, EE, SI), the participation of civil society actors in governmental work on gender equality is mandated by law. Specific bodies have been set up in some Member States to facilitate consultation and cooperation between governmental institutions and civil society by providing a participation and dialogue channel between the two.
Bodies responsible for facilitating cooperation between governmnetal institutions and civil society organisations
Country
Relevant body
Belgium
Three councils active in the area of gender equality:
Federal Council for Equal Opportunities between Men and Women (CEC);
Walloon Council for Equality between Men and Women (CWEHF); and
Brussels Council of Equality between Women and Men (CEFH)
Gender and Development Advisory Council (set up in 2016)
Bulgaria
National Council on Equality between Women and Men
Czechia
Government Council for Gender Equality
Denmark
No specific body identified
Germany
Federal Foundation for Gender Equality
Estonia
Gender Equality Council
Ireland
No data available
Greece
National Council of Greek Women
Spain
Women's Participation Council
France
No data available
Croatia
No specific body identified
Italy
Equal Opportunities National Committee (EONC)
Cyprus
Council of the National Machinery for Women's Rights
Latvia
No data available
Lithuania
Commission of Equal Opportunities for Women and Men
Luxemburg
Committee on Women's Labour
Hungary
No data available
Malta
Consultative Council for Women’s Rights
Netherlands
No specific body identified
Austria
No data available
Poland
No specific body identified
Portugal
No specific body identified
Romania
National Agency for Equal Opportunities between Women and Men
Slovenia
Expert Council for Gender Equality
Slovakia
Gender Equality Committee
Finland
No specific body identified
Sweden
A national body for dialogue and consultation between the government and civil society (NOD)
CSOs work collaboratively with governmental organisations. They have diverse roles/activities across the Member States, including:
Participating in consultations (e.g. providing expert input) as part of the drafting process for new legislation/national strategies/action plans/policies/programmes/ reforms related to gender equality;
Participating in expert groups or committees working to promote gender equality (e.g. assessing/reporting the status of gender equality efforts);
Participating in official delegations to international meetings;
Participating in consultations on international negotiations on gender equality;
Attending meetings held by the governmental body for gender equality;
Participating in conferences, seminars, discussions and debates on gender equality-related topics;
Assisting the governmental gender equality body to implement various activities, such as research, training, developing guidelines and manuals, awareness-raising and sensitisation campaigns;
Gathering/disseminating information/publications related to gender equality;
Participating in multidisciplinary committees under other ministries dealing with wider social issues, such as family, children, gender-based violence, human trafficking/exploitation, social inclusion and employment, to ensure a gender perspective in the formulation and implementation of relevant policies.
(3) Council of the European Union (2007), Recommendation CM/Rec(2007)17 of the Committee of Ministers to Member States on gender equality standards and mechanisms, adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 21 November 2007 at the 1011th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies, https://search.coe.int/cm/Pages/result_details.aspx?ObjectID=0900001680…
Regional structures
The advancement of gender equality is not undertaken solely at national level. Fifteen Member States (BE, BG, DK, DE, EL, ES, HR, IT, LT, AT, PL, PT, RO, SI, SE) have regional structures to facilitate the promotion of gender equality at regional or local level.
In some countries (AT, DE), provincial/regional parliaments engage in developing and implementing regional policy on gender equality.
Legal obligations in certain Member States (BG, DK, EL, HR, IT, PT) mandate the participation of regional/local authorities in advancing the gender equality agenda:
In Bulgaria, the Law on Equality between Women and Men involves both the central and territorial bodies of the executive power in coordinating and implementing measures related to equality between women and men.
In Denmark, municipalities/regions are required to report the state of play on gender equality among municipal and regional employees, at least every two years, to the Minister for Gender Equality.
In Greece, Law 4604/2019 provides for the establishment of an Equality Office of the Association of Greek Regions and Regional Committees for Gender Equality in all 13 regions. Article 8 of Law 4604 mandates that independent offices for gender equality are to be established in the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece.
In Italy, according to Law No 53/2000, local authorities are responsible for their citizens’ quality of life and have a specific mandate to design positive action plans to reduce gender inequality, through the role of the regional adviser.
In Belgium and Spain, communities and regions enjoy the same level of competence for gender equality policy as federal/national authorities. They are thus able to develop their own laws/strategies/policies on gender equality. They may also set up their own gender equality bodies, as well as other structures, such as administrative bodies and specific departments/offices.
In Portugal and Slovenia, local advisors or coordinators are appointed within each municipality. In Portugal, the responsibilities conferred on local advisors include monitoring local equality strategies and policy measures, submitting proposals, conducting gender impact assessments (on request), and ensuring that the municipality cooperates with the national governmental gender equality body (the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG)). In Slovenia, the appointment of a local advisor/coordinator is not mandatory, but about 20 % of all municipalities across the country have done so. There are visible signs of this trend persisting, given increasing and strengthened local engagement in matters relating to gender equality.
Regional structures in Lithuania and Poland are different to those in other Member States, with an oversight body in place. In Lithuania, the Ministry of Social Security and Labour provides support and guidance to municipalities to integrate gender equality aspects into their regional programmes. In Poland, Plenipotentiaries for Equal Treatment have been appointed to improve the implementation of the principle of equal treatment in all 16 voivodeships (i.e. regions or provinces). These appointees work closely with the Government Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment and NGOs on equal treatment and anti-discrimination-related matters.
