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Gender Equality
Welcome to the European Commission's webpages on Gender
Equality.
EU policy as regards equality between women and men takes a
comprehensive approach which includes legislation,
mainstreaming and positive actions. Financial support
is also available via an action programme.
The key objective is to eliminate inequalities and promote gender
equality throughout the European Community in accordance with
Articles 2 and 3 of the EC Treaty (gender mainstreaming) as well as
Article 141 (equality between women and men in matters of employment
and occupation) and Article 13 (sex discrimination within and
outside the work place).
Within the Employment, Social Affairs & Equal Opportunities
Directorate-General (DG), two Units deal with Gender Equality
issues: the "Equal Opportunities for Women and Men: Strategy and
Programme" Unit and the "Equality of treatment between Women and
Men: Legal Questions" Unit.
- The Unit dealing with "Equal Opportunities for Women and
Men: Strategy
and Programme"
coordinates gender mainstreaming and assists other services of the
Commission to gender mainstream their policies. This means
integrating the gender equality objective into all Community
policies.
The Unit is also preparing the future policy
roadmap on gender equality, which will succeed the current
Community Framework Strategy on gender equality (2001-2005) and
will be adopted by the Commission in 2006. Overall coordination of
gendermainstreaming and positive action measures are necessary to
promote the objective of the gender equality.
The actions programmes provides financial
support with three main objectives: awareness raising, analysis
and evaluation and capacity building. Financial support is also
given to European networks to promote gender equality.
DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities is
assisted in its work by an Advisory Committee, a programme
Committee, a High Level Group of senior Member State officials and
a Commission inter-services group. A Report on Equality
between women and men is submitted to the Spring European Council
each year.
- The Unit dealing with "Equality of treatment between
Women and Men: Legal
Questions" ensures the effective transposition and
implementation of Community legislation and initiates new
legislative proposals if necessary. Awareness raising is an
important aspect of the effective implementation of gender
equality legislation.
Legislation currently covers 13 directives in the area of
employment, social security and goods and services.
Another legislative proposal aiming at simplifying and
modernising some current directives (the recast proposal) is under
negotiation and will be soon adopted.
Contacts
Postal address |
: |
- European Commission,
Unit Equal Opportunities for
Women and Men : Strategy and Programme, SPA3
00/23 B-1049 Brussels
- European Commission,
Unit Equality of treatment
between Women and Men : Legal questions, SPA3
01/33 B-1049 Brussels |
E-mail |
: |
empl-info@ec.europa.eu | |