FAQs

What does gender mainstreaming mean?

Gender mainstreaming is the process of integrating a gender perspective into all policies, programmes and activities. It aims to bring about fundamental and lasting change by transforming the structures that create and perpetuate gender inequality. By asking all policy-makers to consider the different ways in which any policy may affect men and women, and boys and girls, gender mainstreaming tries to put gender issues at the centre of planning and policy.

What does gender responsive budgeting mean?

Gender responsive budgeting provides a means for determining the effect of government revenue and expenditure policies on women and men, girls and boys. These initiatives, led either by governments or civil society groups, involve the examination of the gender distributional outcomes of budgetary allocations, that is, how these allocations affect the economic and social opportunities of women and men.

What are National Women’s Machineries?

The National Women's Machinery is recognised by Governments as the focal agency or government unit that promotes gender equality. It is the 'engine' through which the process of gender mainstreaming is implemented, monitored and evaluated.

What are the legal and political frameworks that guide the Commonwealth’s work on Gender Equality?

• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is often described as an international bill of rights for women. Consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination (Source: UNDAW). There are similar regional protocols and instruments that also guide the Secretariat’s work on gender equality.

• Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action 1995

The Platform for Action is an agenda for women's empowerment. It aims at accelerating the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women and at removing all the obstacles to women's active participation in all spheres of public and private life through a full and equal share in economic, social, cultural and political decision-making. (Source: UNDAW)

• The Millennium Development Goals

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight goals that respond to the world's main development challenges. The target date for the goals is 2015. These goals include halving extreme poverty, halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education. The third goal of the MDGs is the promotion of Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. (Source: UNDP).

• Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality 2005-2015

The Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality 2005-2015 (PoA) provides the framework within which the Commonwealth will contribute to advancing gender equality within the decade. The PoA focuses on four critical areas for Commonwealth action: 1) Gender, democracy, peace and conflict; 2) Gender, human rights and law; 3) Gender, poverty eradication and economic empowerment; and 4) Gender and HIV/AIDS, and reinforces the Commonwealth’s commitment to the Millennium Development Goals and the promotion of a rights-based approach to gender equality.

How do we ensure gender equality within the Secretariat?

We have developed a Gender Management System, in consultation with member governments and other partners, not only to strengthen the abilities of National Women’s Machineries and the public sector in promoting gender equality, but also to transform the Secretariat itself.

The key features of the System, which was established in 1998 are:

• A high level committee which meets bi-annually to check on progress in Divisions.
• A system of Gender Focal Points from each Division to liaise with the Gender Team and support developments in their respective Divisions.
• Systems for collected sex-disaggregated data
• Introduction of gender analysis and planning by Divisions in their project development
• A programme of gender training within the Secretariat to support Divisions in gender analysis skills and integrating gender into the project cycle.

An internal gender audit was also conducted in 2007 and findings serve as good referral point in shaping gender interventions within the secretariat.

Where can I buy gender mainstreaming publications?

Our gender mainstreaming publications, which provide resources for increasing knowledge and awareness, can be found at http://publications.thecommonwealth.org/gender-33-c.aspx

What are the Secretariat’s goals in this area?

The targets of the Plan of Action (click here to read the Plan) and global gender commitments remain the goals of the Secretariat on gender mainstreaming.

How do we measure progress?

• The Gender audit of the Secretariat’s work provides a baseline for internal performance, The Medium Term Review of the Plan ofAction will help to assess our impact in promoting equality between men and women in the Commonwealth.
• Every time Commonwealth Heads of Government meet for their biennial meeting the Commonwealth Secretary-General is mandated to report on progress that we have made in our work in this area.
• Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers meet periodically to review progress made and constraints encountered by governments at the Secretariat in implementing our Plan of Action. The 9WAMM will consider the Medium Term Review of the 2005-2015 Plan of Action.

If we would like assistance from the Secretariat what should we do?

Requests for assistance from our Gender section should be sent to:

Head of Gender
Social Transformation Programmes Division
Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House
Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5HX, United Kingdom
Fax: +44 (0)20 7747 6287