Domain 1 – Gender mainstreaming structures

This domain assesses the presence and function of dedicated gender equality bodies, their resources and influence.

Reserving dedicated structures for gender mainstreaming is one of the most effective ways to systematically address and monitor gender equality in political institutions. Gender mainstreaming impacts on public policies that effectively respond to women’s demands and interests, positively influences the consolidation and progression of women’s political leadership (Agora: 2014), and enables critical acts. The IPU Plan of Action for Gender-sensitive parliaments (2012) stresses the relevance of establishing gender mainstreaming structures and mechanisms. The two main types of such infrastructures are gender equality committees and women’s caucuses.

Gender equality committees, councils or groups, as well as technical supporting bodies, are structures dedicated to placing gender equality and equal opportunities on the agenda of all parliaments. ‘Women’s parliamentary bodies can play a critical role in shifting the responsibility of making parliaments more gender-sensitive from women MPs alone to parliaments as a whole, including parliamentary leadership’ (OSCE: 2013).

Such bodies may have different formal positioning in the parliamentary organisation, with their functions ranging from advisory roles to decision-making capacity. Gender equality committees may:

  • Lobby and draw attention to equal opportunities;
  • Advise on gender equality;
  • Carry out gender analysis of draft legislation;
  • Monitor the implementation of enacted laws;
  • Request reports and briefings on gender issues from ministers or government departments;
  • Create and develop external partnerships (IPU: 2011).

The European Parliament, for example, has a dedicated Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM Committee). Its tasks include the protection and promotion of women’s rights in the Union and in third countries, the removal of all forms of discrimination based on sex, equality policy and the implementation of gender mainstreaming in all policy sectors, as well as the follow-up and implementation of international agreements and conventions on women’s rights (European Parliament FEMM Committee).

Women’s caucuses are cross-party forums, generally initiated by women MPs to promote solidarity among women politicians, enhance their parliamentary capacity and place women’s interests on the agenda. They can assist women MPs in knowing the parliament’s functioning and developing a common platform for lobbying and legislative action (OSCE: 2016). Women’s caucuses may differ in structure (e.g. more or less formal) and in organisational positioning.