7.3 Gender Equality and Broad Equality Grounds

7.3.1 Gender Equality

Linking with the EU Lisbon Strategy and with the European Pact for Gender Equality adopted in 2006, the Community Strategic Guidelines require Member States and Regions to pursue the objective of equality between men and women at all stages of the preparation and implementation of Programmes and projects. This may be done through specific actions to promote gender equality or to combat discrimination, as well as by taking careful account of how other projects and the management of the funds may affect women and men (gender mainstreaming).

The Managing Authority is committed to tracking the impact on the Equal Opportunities Horizontal Principle at implementation level to ensure compliance with the requirement. The promotion of gender balance on the monitoring committees will also be supported together with the incorporation of a gender equality perspective at all stages of Programme implementation. These commitments are additional to legal obligations which apply in relation to gender equality. The National Women’s Strategy will contain mechanisms to foster gender mainstreaming at all policy formation and implementation levels in the NDP 2007-2013 and under this Programme.

Gender Equality means that women and men should enjoy the same rights and opportunities and that the different behaviour, aspirations and needs of women and men are equally valued and favoured. Government policy in this area includes a double strategy consisting of a legal framework which provides for equal treatment for women and men and legislative backing for positive action initiatives for women and men including positive action in particular circumstances and commitments to apply a gender equality perspective in all areas (gender mainstreaming). The mainstream approach, gives the responsibility to address gender equality to the lead Department which is responsible for implementing the particular measure/activity.

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