NATIONAL AND LOCAL GENDER INSTRUMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS Women and Government
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Transcript of NATIONAL AND LOCAL GENDER INSTRUMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS Women and Government
NATIONAL AND LOCAL NATIONAL AND LOCAL GENDER INSTRUMENTS GENDER INSTRUMENTS
AND INSTITUTIONSAND INSTITUTIONSWomen and Government
The National Democratic Institute
• Introductions• Ground rules• Ice breaker exercise
INTRODUCTIONS/INTRODUCTIONS/GROUND RULESGROUND RULES
Photo by Marie-Eve_NDI-Pakistan
SESSION OBJECTIVESSESSION OBJECTIVES
• To increase awareness of instruments for promoting gender equality at all levels of government
• To identify challenges and strategies for promoting gender equality in government institutions
TOPICSTOPICS
• National Gender Machineries• Constitutional and Legal
Frameworks for Gender Equality• Gender and the Legislature
KEY TERMSKEY TERMS
• Gender equality• Gender mainstreaming• Gender machinery• Gender committee• Gender caucus
NATIONAL GENDER NATIONAL GENDER MACHINERIES (NGMS)MACHINERIES (NGMS)
• Mechanisms can include: Ministries for women's affairs,
gender and development Gender desks/focal points Local level mechanisms
Photo: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
WOMEN’S AND GENDER WOMEN’S AND GENDER AFFAIRS MINISTRIESAFFAIRS MINISTRIES
• Role of Women’s Affairs Ministry: promote women’s empowerment coordinate all women related
policy
• Role of Gender Affairs Ministry: identify discrepancies between
sexes implement and monitor gender
mainstreaming policy
WOMEN’S AND GENDER WOMEN’S AND GENDER MINISTRIESMINISTRIES
• Advantages: high-level coordination of policy
implementation
• Disadvantages: can be an excuse to ignore or
limit gender mainstreaming efforts
often grouped with other issues
GENDER FOCAL POINTS GENDER FOCAL POINTS AND GENDER DESKSAND GENDER DESKS
• Role: Ideally an expert in gender and
the ministry focus area Mainstreaming gender into each
ministry Monitoring progress Advising on gender policy
GENDER FOCAL POINTS GENDER FOCAL POINTS AND GENDER DESKSAND GENDER DESKS
• Advantages: integrated potential to affect policy and
budgetary provisions
• Disadvantages: lower-level staff lack of support of ministry
leadership
LOCAL LEVEL MECHANISMSLOCAL LEVEL MECHANISMS• Role:
Gender equality in local policy and programs
Local concerns to national level Direct services and training to
women
Photo: The Advocacy Project
LOCAL LEVEL MECHANISMSLOCAL LEVEL MECHANISMS
• Advantages: Direct connection with
grassroots Can adapt to local needs
• Disadvantages: Inconsistency Lack of resources Entrenched interests
CHALLENGES FOR NGMSCHALLENGES FOR NGMS
Can be•Marginalized•Political tool to gain women’s support•Lack data and research capacity•Lack adequate funding and authority
STRATEGIES FOR NGMSSTRATEGIES FOR NGMS
• Independent advisory council • Adequate authority and funding• Transparency and inclusion• Engage grassroots and NGOs • Public awareness and strong leadership• Capacity building
EXERCISE: NGM Role PlayEXERCISE: NGM Role PlayRead through your role play scenario
- What tools are at your disposal?
CONSTITUTIONS & LEGAL CONSTITUTIONS & LEGAL FRAMEWORKSFRAMEWORKS
Where are the women??
Photo: Thomas B. Rossiter
CONSTITUTIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL DRAFTING PROCESSDRAFTING PROCESS
• Composition of drafting committees
• Consult and educate citizens • Influence the political and
electoral system
Photo: From NDI South Sudan Citizen Guide
GENDER SENSITIVE GENDER SENSITIVE CONSTITUTIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL
PROVISIONSPROVISIONS• A blanket equality clause• CEDAW and human rights
treaties • Full and equal citizenship• Full and equal inheritance and
land rights• Political quotas across sectors• Temporary special measures
INTERNATIONAL LAW & INTERNATIONAL LAW & CUSTOMARY/RELIGIOUS CUSTOMARY/RELIGIOUS
LAWLAW
EXAMPLE: SOUTH AFRICA EXAMPLE: SOUTH AFRICA
Photo: NDI, 1994
EXERCISE: Constitutional Gender EXERCISE: Constitutional Gender MainstreamingMainstreaming
Libyan women active in transition, lined up to vote.
Photo: Megan Doherty for NDI
GENDER EQUALITY LAWSGENDER EQUALITY LAWS
• Anti-discrimination laws• Employment opportunity• Equal pay for equal work• Educational equality• Land rights• Inheritance• Citizenship• Travel
FORMULATION OF FORMULATION OF GENDER EQUALITY LAWSGENDER EQUALITY LAWS
• Participatory and inclusive• International standards• Cover all spheres• Gender mainstream existing laws• Institutionalize implementation
and monitoring
Always conduct a baseline analysis to know what is already in effect and what has been tried before.
Always conduct a baseline analysis to know what is already in effect and what has been tried before.
GENDER ACTION PLANS GENDER ACTION PLANS
• Commitments to promote equality• Specific targets• Tool for monitoring progress• Increase accountability
Be Specific! Specific Actions Specific Targets Specific Timelines Specific Responsibilities Specific Resources
Be Specific! Specific Actions Specific Targets Specific Timelines Specific Responsibilities Specific Resources
EFFECTIVE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATIONIMPLEMENTATION
Harmonize with international standards
Assign authority Dedicate financial resources Monitor and report on progress Gender training
Photo: Wakalani (Flickr)
GENDER IN THE GENDER IN THE LEGISLATURELEGISLATURE
• Women’s Parliamentary Caucuses Informal women legislators
group Provides capacity building
• Gender Affairs Committees Wide gender mainstreaming
mandate• Gender Commissions
Institutionalized
GENDER IN THE GENDER IN THE LEGISLATURELEGISLATURE
• Challenges: Limited budget or staff Marginalization
• Opportunities: Point of contact Cross-party support Connect with civil society
STRATEGIES FOR GENDER STRATEGIES FOR GENDER IN THE LEGISLATUREIN THE LEGISLATURE
• Use international conventions and holidays
• Use research and data• Work with men
STRATEGIES FOR GENDER IN STRATEGIES FOR GENDER IN THE LEGISLATURETHE LEGISLATURE
• Develop relationships• Establish a staff• Focus on a few priority actions
each session
EXERCISE: Caucus EXERCISE: Caucus Strategic PlanningStrategic Planning
Photo- UN Photo, 1946 Birth of the Commission on the Status of Women
GENDER INSTRUMENTS AND GENDER INSTRUMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS INSTITUTIONS REVIEWREVIEW
• National Gender Machineries• Constitutional and Legal
Frameworks for Gender Equality• Women and Legislatures
Gender Affairs Committees and Caucuses
Questions? Feedback?