Groep op hoog niveau over gendergelijkheid in Europa komt bijeen (en)

The HLG is an informal forum for the exchange of opinion and experience regarding problems of gender equality. It has been part of the EU structure since 2001.

The meeting will be held on 5^th and 6^th September, in the Hotel Sofitel Victoria in Warsaw. Around 36 people will take part in the meeting.

High Level Group for Gender Mainstreaming

The High Level Group was set-up in 2001 in Sigtuna in Sweden. On the one hand the group is made up of representatives of the appropriate Ministries of each Member State of the European Union, and on the other hand of Representatives of the Commission and the Secretariat of the EU Council.

The members of the HLG meet twice per year (in January and September), in the country holding the Presidency of the EU Council.

Thanks to its work, the HLG contributes to the long-term planning of strategic EU initiatives regarding gender equality.

Furthermore, the HLG develops opinions regarding the degree of realisation of the Beijing Platform for Action and gender problems in EU institutions, helps the Commission in the preparation of annual reports regarding equality between men and women, and also functions as a forum for the further actions of the Pact for Gender Equality.

HLG meeting during the Polish Presidency i

The aims which have been set for the term of the Polish Presidency include:

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  A discussion of the principles of the troika regarding gender equality;
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  An analysis of data presented in the report of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE i) regarding the implementation of the resolutions of the Beijing Platform for Action;
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  An analysis of the data in the EC report regarding gender equality in 2011;
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  A discussion of other important matters which are vital for gender mainstreaming politics.

The HLG meeting in Warsaw will also be an opportunity to exchange good practice between representatives of the Member States concerning gender equality.

What does Gender mainstreaming mean?

Gender mainstreaming is a concept for rating the influence of public policy on women and men by all planned political actions, including regulations and programmes, in all areas and at all levels.

The concept was proposed for the first time in 1985, during the 3^rdWorld Conference on Women in Nairobi, after which it was systematically expanded by the United Nations Development Programme i and in the end, together with the development of the political structure of the EU, was considered at Union level in the form of the Commission’s press release of 1996: ‘The introduction of equal opportunities for women and men to all common policies and actions’, as well as the amendments to article 119 of the Treaty of i Amsterdam from 1997 (currently article 141), which strengthened the competency of the EU in the area of equal chances. Gender Mainstreaming was formally introduced in 1995 during the 4^thWorld Conference on Women in Beijing.

The majority of the wording regarding gender mainstreaming is based on the definition of the UN Economic and Social Council, which defines the notion as a rating process of the effects of all planned actions for women and men, including regulations, policies and programs, in all areas and at all levels. To put it another way, it is a strategy of incorporating the issues and experience of women, as well as men, for designing, implementing, monitoring and rating policies and programmes in all political, economic and social spheres, so that women and men can enjoy equal opportunities, while at the same time striving to eliminate all inequality.

It is worth underlining that gender mainstreaming does not replace equal rights policies for women, or the mechanisms supporting it. It is merely intended to supplement them. Above all the concept’s aim is to systematically focus on the position of women and men in all areas of social and professional life. Wherever the chosen policy of equality leads to changes in relationships in the selected area of life, the gender mainstreaming strategy allows equality to be ensured on a large scale.