Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Swot Frenchcommunity1
Swot Frenchcommunity1
Swot Frenchcommunity1
(Sophia)
Strengths Weaknesses Resolution of the Council of no actions or measures are the French Community planned which establishes priorities for gender equality Opportunities need to tackle the issue of gender equality in the context of preparation of the UN Conference in Beijing Threats the issue is seen as a purely specific problem concerning womens policies agencies; ministers others than in charge with EO dont feel concerned
1994
Directorate for Equality of Opportunity between Women and Men: an administrative unit with a new mandate EO Advisory Committee within the French Community Parliament
1998
low status of the Committee and little participation to its meetings mandates broadened so as to include new target groups Minister charged with EO is President of French Community: possibility of a transversal policy EO is not a priority of the Minister President
1999
budget of the Directorate consistently increased and better staffing of the unit
2002
Decree on the balanced participation of women and men in advisory bodies (quota of one third)
influence of the federal EO policy through the good relations between the ministers responsible for it at Federal and Community level (both French-speaking and socialists
Decree on follow-up to UN Beijing Conference: obligation to report each year to Parliament on policies carried out in the areas of concern defined in the Platform. A few positive results: -amendments to legislation on sexual harassment -amendments to legislation on parental leave -creation of new childcare places
poor results shown by the report: most initiatives restricted to collecting data or raise awareness; no antisexist discrimination law in media and advertising
the Stork Plan adopted by the French Community to increase childcare places is designed to bring down unemployment; no concern for quality of the service
2005
Govenrment Action Programme for Equality between women and men, Interculturality and Social Inclusion: double track strategy (gender mainstreaming & positive action) Office of Coordination for Equal Opportunity: advisory body charged with setting up a plan to promote EO within all departments of the Ministry of the French Community; it is chaired by the EO Directorate (run by a committed feminist).
no official structure for consulting the womens organizations lack of gender expertise in universities (womens studies not institutionalized)
lack of political will and support from high status civil servants