Institute of Gender Mainstreaming and Family Support in all political decisions of BBSK
The Banska Bystrica Self-Governing Region
Slovakia

The Problem

Institutional development of gender equality in Banska Bystrica Self – Governing Region (hereinafter BBSK) was launched in 2006, when 30 BBSK staff and 20 BBSK Office Institutions staff were involved in the project “The establishment of the Institute of Gender Mainstreaming and Family Support in all political decisions of the Banska Bystrica Self-Governing Region Office (hereinafter UBBSK)”. The project had taken thirteen months to the total cost of 500 thousand Euros from the European Commission. The project was organized by the Czech, German and French Ministries of Labour. Its goal was to strengthen capacity in aligning equal opportunities between women and men. Project had attended 300 participants from Slovakia, especially from state governments and self – governing agencies that have been learning whether the measures they had been taking in the practice, have the same impact on men and women.
In this project the BBSK staff was trained about the issue of gender equality and started the enforcement and implementation of a gender perspective at all levels of Banska Bystrica Self – Governing Region.
Why we have embarked the problem on this initiative was as follows:
- most people can’t see any problem
- the lack of comprehensive goal setting and objective procedures coordinated at the national level
- lack of the legislation
- there is lack of a long-term and a minimum consensus on key issues of the agenda by the political players
- inter-networking and participation in the preparation of joint action stagnation
- lacking knowledge
- salary between women and men disparity
- uneven representation of women and men in the public positions
- incompatible Labour Code with the family life
- lacking the involvement of men in the social care centers
- missing pupils and teachers orientation on the further education without the traditional dividing at schools to the males and females.

Solution and Key Benefits

 What is the initiative about? (the solution)
Ing. Jana Nova, MBA, Director of the BBSK Governor’s Office and at the same time gender equality coordinator in BBSK, presented at the 11th BBSK parliamentary session (hereinafter ZBBSK) in February 2007 material entitled "Promotion and the integration of gender equality in the Banska Bystrica Self-Governing Region." This was the first material that triggered the institutional development of gender issues in the Banska Bystrica Self-Governing Region and was approved at the regional parliament. The material included a proposal to promote the integration of gender equality in BBSK and also a proposal for the institutionalization - the creation of organizational preconditions for the implementation of activities in the field of gender equality in BBSK.
In the Banska Bystrica Self – Governing Region Office organizational structure approved by the BBSK Parliament order was from 1th July 2008 created job position for the Department of Family Support. At present, the governor’s office department was renamed the Research Institute of Gender Equality and Family Care in all BBSK Policies (hereinafter IVRR in BBSK) and has 3 employees, BBSK’s IVRR remained in the organizational ÚBBSK structure.
Partnership - Regional Expert Group on gender equality and equal opportunities in BBSK creation
In BBSK was established Regional expert group on gender equality and equal opportunities in BBSK (hereinafter KESRR in BBSK).
24th September was held IV.th KESRR BBSK expert meeting group which currently consists of 30 permanent expert members.
The BBSK KESRR members: ZBBSK members, towns and villages mayors, the Labor, Social Affairs and Family Office (hereinafter ÚPSVR) directors, National Forestry Center, Forestry Research Institute in the Zvolen city, Slovakia Women Association, the Association of Roma women from the Detva city, the European Regional Center in the Banska Bystrica city, the European training center in the Banska Bystrica city, Matej Bel University (hereinafter UMB) and the Institute of Science and Research representatives in the Banska Bystrica city, trade unions and trade union rights representatives, the Slovak National Center for Human Rights, business community representatives. To the meetings of KESRR BBSK Experts are routinely invited the Labor, Social Affairs and Family Ministry employees and institutions dealing with the issues of gender equality, discrimination and the issues of human rights in Slovakia.

Actors and Stakeholders

 Who proposed the solution, who implemented it and who were the stakeholders?
The IVRR highest priority is education and collection of the statistical indicators about gender and family issues.
The most important activities carried out in BBSK under this initiative since 2006 to the present are:
- Training for ÚBBSK employees in collaboration with the National Center for Human Rights in Prague, the training took place about gender equality;
- discrimination on grounds of gender under the project "Promoting gender equality, especially in the central European region (June 2007);
- Competition for the best essey with topic "Even though this does not concern me, it concerns me" with the tagline "Preventing discrimination is a challenge for me," competition was held in March 2007.; Best work is published on the website www.vucbb.sk , at "gender equality" banner;
- Training for BBSK managerial staff in the partnership project with the Regional Information Center (REIC) in Banska Bystrica, and UMB entitled "Strengthening the opportunity equality principle for employers in the Banská Bystrica region" (September 2007);
- Project preparation and the application to obtain a non-refundable financial contribution for the project entitled “The establishment of the Institute of Gender Mainstreaming and Family Support in all political decisions of the Banska Bystrica Self-Governing Region Office”;
- In 2008, we implemented a project funded by the Norwegian financial mechanism and the EEA entitled “The establishment of the Institute of Gender Mainstreaming and Family Support in all political decisions of the Banska Bystrica Self-Governing Region Office”. In this project, we organized on 13 and 14 May 2008 an international conference under the auspices of Social Affairs and Family Minister Mrs. Tomanova in the Dudince city (February 2008 - May 2008). Thanks to the project funds, we processed the feasibility study for the establishment of the Institute of Gender Mainstreaming and Family Support in all political decisions of the Banska Bystrica Self-Governing Region Office;
- In cooperation with the Slovak Women Association (hereinafter ZZS), we had trained ethics and society subjects teachers at BBSK managed secondary school thanks to the project "Preventing the discrimination by maintaining the principles of equal treatment". The funds provided for this project, a non-profit organization ZZS, MD SR. (October - November 2008)
- Organizing competitions for the best essay entitled "Discrimination", competition was attended by middle aged school girls and boys and school institutions managed by BBSK. (December 2008)
- for staff members children was organized:
o Sports’ Olympic Games (November 2008)
o Santa Claus’s evening (December 2008)

(a) Strategies

 Describe how and when the initiative was implemented by answering these questions
 a.      What were the strategies used to implement the initiative? In no more than 500 words, provide a summary of the main objectives and strategies of the initiative, how they were established and by whom.
Institute of Gender Mainstreaming and Family Support in all political decisions of the Banska Bystrica Self-Governing Region Office has prepared:
A) The concept of gender equality in BBSK
B) The gender equality plan
C) The incorporation of gender issues into the collective agreement
In spite of our activities however, the inequality between men and women in BBSK is still a sign of all public life areas.
Therefore we have chosen integrated approach to equality between women and men that will be one of the strategies to help to stop this happening. By the European Council definition, which is supported by all European Union (hereinafter EU) Member States, the integrated approach resides in the re-organization, improvement, development and evaluation of management processes to incorporate terms of equality between women and men in all areas and at all levels by the factors who/which are generally involved in the implementation of policies. Mainstreaming does not replace specific policies to remedy the situation, which is the result of inequalities between the sexes, but it is situated to the position of strategy, which complements the traditional policies.
In the BBSK for documents preparing process we used available Slovak, EU, Norway and Iceland materials. We have benefited from feedback from the experience that we gained during foreign study trips in these countries.
The conception task is to outline the strategic steps for a comprehensive, i.e. legislative and institutional equality assurance, especially in three priority areas where inequality between women and men reflected the most:
- 1st gender equality on the labour market
- 2nd gender equality in public and political life
- 3rd family - reconciling work and family life
- 4th women from vulnerable groups, with priority being given to the Roma women
The strategy papers starting point at the regional level were two official government documents: the National Action Plan for Women (1999) and The Concept of Equal Opportunities for Men and Women (2001). These documents are worded too broadly and bureaucratic. That means to this day, Slovakia doesn’t have gender equality strategy.

(b) Implementation

 b.      What were the key development and implementation steps and the chronology? No more than 500 words
Ing. Jana Nova, MBA, Director of the BBSK Governor’s Office and at the same time gender equality coordinator in BBSK, presented at the 11th BBSK parliamentary session (hereinafter ZBBSK) in February 2007 material entitled "Promotion and the integration of gender equality in the Banska Bystrica Self-Governing Region." This was the first material that triggered the institutional development of gender issues in the Banska Bystrica Self-Governing Region and was approved at the regional parliament.
Since then, BBSK parliament members have begun to be interested in gender issues. There is specified the number of MPs - men and women in the plan of gender equality. Out of the total 49 MPs only 7 are women.
From 1th July 2008 we have at the BBSK Governor’s Office the Department of Family Support. At present, the department was renamed as the Research Institute of Gender Equality and Family Care in all policies BBSK and has 3 employees. IVRR remained inside the ÚBBSK organizational structure.
BBSK became the winner of the Labor, Social Affairs and Family Ministry contest "Employer friendly to the family, gender equality and equal opportunities” for the year 2007.

(c) Overcoming Obstacles

 c.      What were the main obstacles encountered? How were they overcome? No more than 500 words
The European Consensus on Development is the Gender Equality defined as a common principle, which states that the EU in all its policies and practical relations with developing countries will include a significant component of equity (Part I - Article 19), and the Cotonou Agreement has been clearly emphasizing the value of gender equality, saying that the cooperation should help to improve women's access to all resources required to fully exercise their fundamental rights.

The main obstacles to the initiative:
- Gender inequality tends to lead to further inequalities, which have a negative impact on the women well-being, their families and the communities in which they live, as well as for their personal development
- Gender issues are seen as a unimportant issue, and the cultural, religious and socio-economic practices are used as an excuse for slowing progress down in the field of gender equality and women's rights.

How do we overcome them:
A) Following the European Commission pattern we will introduce a number of measures to promote gender equality between women and men in BBSK. We will prepare annual reports about the progress of the integration of the gender dimension in strategic areas. To create an institutional framework, BBSK parliament will adopt a resolution on an integrated approach to equality between women and men.
B) Set up Research Institute of Gender Equality and Family Care in all policies. The establishment of the Institute falls short of the EU ambitions to strengthen the equal opportunities policy. Equal opportunities and non-discrimination is a fundamental objective of the EU, while recent reports indicate that there are also differences remaining. The Institute will be taking an important contribution to the elimination of real existing inequalities between men and women. We consider the Institute establishment to be the essential "building block" of newly adopted equal opportunities implementation policy plan in Slovakia.

(d) Use of Resources

 d.      What resources were used for the initiative and what were its key benefits? In no more than 500 words, specify what were the financial, technical and human resources’ costs associated with this initiative. Describe how resources were mobilized
Institutional development:
The Research Institute for Gender Equality and Family Care in all BBSK policies has 3 employees. IVRR in BBSK remained in the structure of ÚBBSK. It is financed from the BBSK budget.
Projects:
IVRR BBSK is preparing projects to receive non-repayable financial contributions (hereinafter NFP) from the EU Structural Funds, the Norwegian financial mechanism, the EEA and other community programs and initiatives. NFP are applied for activities such as conferences and training based on the foreign groups funding.
Financial Policies ensuring equal opportunities between men and women in BBSK and operating of the Research Institute and Gender Equality and Family Care in BBSK is planned and approved in 2009. It is not possible to precisely forecast its long-term additional funding. Institute for Equal Treatment is established for people searching for access to employment, vocational training, promotion and working conditions and its entitlement to BBSK budget funding depends on the BBSK parliamentary budget approval in the coming years.

Sustainability and Transferability

  Is the initiative sustainable and transferable?
Initiative in the field of gender equality is not treated legally in the Slovakia, our strategy is governed by the 13 March 2008 European Parliament resolution on gender equality and empowering women in development cooperation with regard to:

- 8 March 2007 European Commission announcement about gender equality and empowering women position in development cooperation
- The conclusions of the General Affairs and External Relations Council and representatives of the EU Member States Council Government Representatives, adopted on 14 May 2007 on gender equality and empowering women position in development cooperation
- To the 21 April 2004 European Parliament and EU Council Regulation (hereinafter ES) No. 806/2004 on promoting gender equality in development cooperation
- EC Treaty Article 2, Article 3 section 2, and Articles 137 and 141,
- The EU Fundamental Rights Charter proclaimed in 2000 and in particular Article 23,
- To the 18 December 1979 United Nations (hereinafter UN) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (hereinafter CEDAW),
- The fourth World Conference on Women held in September 1995 in the Beijing. Declaration and Platform for Action adopted in Beijing and the following outcome documents adopted at the special United Nations meeting on further measures at Beijing +5 and Beijing + 10 adopted on 9 June 2000 and 11 March 2005
- To the Millennium Development Goals (hereinafter MDGs), adopted at the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000, and in particular the Millennium Development Goal of promoting gender equality and empower women as a precondition to overcome hunger, poverty and diseases, achieve equality at all levels of education and in all areas of work, equal control of resources and equal representation in public and political life,
- To the Commission's report on the Millennium Development Goals Report 2000 - 2004 (SE K(2004) 1379),
- The Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Employment in March 2000 and other documents.

In European consensus on the development the gender equality is identified as a common principle, where is stated that the EU to all its policies and practical relations with developing countries will include a significant component of equity (Part I - Article 19), and the Cotonou Agreement clearly emphasizes the value of gender equality, saying that the cooperation should help to improve women's access to all resources required to fully exercise their fundamental rights (Article 31);
In the the Beijing Platform for Action supporting gender mainstreaming as an effective strategy to promote gender equality is written that governments and other subjects should promote an active and visible policy of the gender perspective in all policies and programs so that before the adoption of decisions should be made analysis of their impact particularly on women and men.
Since approximately two-thirds of the work in the world is done by women and girls with the return less than 5% of income, whereas on the basis of women's work is produced half the food in the world and nearly 74% of unemployed women in particular, take care of the household work and family, compared with 27% of unemployed men.
Whereas the 1.3 billion people living in absolute poverty are women 70% and poverty is not just a symptom, but also cause of an unequal distribution of income, assets, resources, market power and the right of disposal, whereas the EU promotes gender equality and women's rights in development cooperation through a dual approach of gender mainstreaming and specific measures to promote women's rights and empowerment.

Lessons Learned

 What are the impact of your initiative and the lessons learned?
Our initiative achievements:
1) Training of ÚBBSK senior officials for gender equality
2) 80 teachers in BBSK secondary schools training in ethics and society subjects
3) Foreign missions of MPs and staff to countries where gender equality is at the heart of the whole society

Education strengthens the position of women in society and accelerates the fulfillment of all other goals improving the demographic, social and economic indicators. Education in the field of gender mainstreaming and its implementation right to the center of the community attention can help the communities, so that they become fairer and more democratic and women and men will be considered equal there.

Contact Information

Institution Name:   The Banska Bystrica Self-Governing Region
Institution Type:   Public Agency  
Contact Person:   Anna Pisarova
Title:   Ing.  
Telephone/ Fax:   +421484325646
Institution's / Project's Website:  
E-mail:   anna.pisarova@bbsk.sk  
Address:   Namestie SNP c. 23
Postal Code:   97401
City:   Banska Bystrica
State/Province:  
Country:   Slovakia

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