Promoting Gender Equality in Government: National and Local Instruments and Institutions

1. NATIONAL AND LOCAL GENDER INSTRUMENTS AND INSTITUTIONSWomen and Government The National Democratic Institute

2. INTRODUCTIONS/ GROUND RULES • Introductions • Ground rules • Ice breaker exercise Photo by Marie-Eve_NDI-Pakistan

3. SESSION 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

4. TOPICS • National Gender Machineries • Constitutional and Legal Frameworks for Gender Equality • Gender and the Legislature

5. KEY TERMS • Gender equality • Gender mainstreaming • Gender machinery • Gender committee • Gender caucus

6. NATIONAL GENDER 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

7. WOMEN’S AND GENDER AFFAIRS 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

8. WOMEN’S AND GENDER MINISTRIES • Advantages: • high-level • coordination of policy implementation • Disadvantages: • can be an excuse to ignore or limit gender mainstreaming efforts • often grouped with other issues

9. GENDER FOCAL POINTS AND GENDER DESKS • Role: • Ideally an expert in gender and the ministry focus area • Mainstreaming gender into each ministry • Monitoring progress • Advising on gender policy

10. GENDER FOCAL POINTS AND GENDER DESKS • Advantages: • integrated • potential to affect policy and budgetary provisions • Disadvantages: • lower-level staff • lack of support of ministry leadership

11. LOCAL 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

12. LOCAL LEVEL MECHANISMS • Advantages: • Direct connection with grassroots • Can adapt to local needs • Disadvantages: • Inconsistency • Lack of resources • Entrenched interests

13. CHALLENGES FOR NGMS • Can be • Marginalized • Political tool to gain women’s support • Lack data and research capacity • Lack adequate funding and authority

14. STRATEGIES FOR NGMS • Independent advisory council • Adequate authority and funding • Transparency and inclusion • Engage grassroots and NGOs • Public awareness • and strong leadership • Capacity building

15. EXERCISE: NGM Role Play Read through your role play scenario - What tools are at your disposal?

16. CONSTITUTIONS & LEGAL FRAMEWORKS Where are the women?? Photo: Thomas B. Rossiter

17. CONSTITUTIONAL DRAFTING PROCESS • Composition of drafting committees • Consult and educate citizens • Influence the political and electoral system Photo: From NDI South Sudan Citizen Guide

18. GENDER SENSITIVE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS • 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

19. INTERNATIONAL LAW & CUSTOMARY/RELIGIOUS LAW

20. EXAMPLE: SOUTH AFRICA Photo: NDI, 1994

21. EXERCISE: Constitutional Gender Mainstreaming Libyan women active in transition, lined up to vote. Photo: Megan Doherty for NDI

22. GENDER EQUALITY LAWS • Anti-discrimination laws • Employment opportunity • Equal pay for equal work • Educational equality • Land rights • Inheritance • Citizenship • Travel

23. FORMULATION OF GENDER 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.

24. 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

25. EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION • Harmonize with international standards • Assign authority • Dedicate financial resources • Monitor and report on progress • Gender training Photo: Wakalani (Flickr)

26. GENDER IN THE LEGISLATURE • Women’s Parliamentary Caucuses • Informal women legislators group • Provides capacity building • Gender Affairs Committees • Wide gender mainstreaming mandate • Gender Commissions • Institutionalized

27. GENDER IN THE LEGISLATURE • Challenges: • Limited budget or staff • Marginalization • Opportunities: • Point of contact • Cross-party support • Connect with civil society

28. STRATEGIES FOR GENDER IN THE LEGISLATURE • Use international conventions and holidays • Use research and data • Work with men

29. STRATEGIES FOR GENDER IN THE LEGISLATURE • Develop relationships • Establish a staff • Focus on a few priority actions each session

30. EXERCISE: Caucus Strategic Planning Photo- UN Photo, 1946 Birth of the Commission on the Status of Women

31. GENDER INSTRUMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS REVIEW • National Gender Machineries • Constitutional and Legal Frameworks for Gender Equality • Women and Legislatures • Gender Affairs Committees and Caucuses • Questions? • Feedback?