EU Cross Party Gender Committees - Case Studies

SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVES BY
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES FOR

WOMENS ISSUES AND GENDER
EQUALITY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

Memorandum

April 2013

SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVES BY PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES FOR WOMENS
ISSUES AND GENDER EQUALITY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

Executive Summary

The purpose of this memorandum is to identify successful initiatives for
women and gender equality implemented by cross-party parliamentary committees
in European Union (EU) states.

Most EU states have cross-party parliamentary committees devoted to
gender equality and the promotion of womens issues. This memorandum will
summarize successful initiatives of parliamentary committees of this type: the
Belgian Senates Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Men and
Women; the Finnish Parliaments Employment and Equality Committee; the
Croatian Parliaments Committee on Gender Equality; the Estonian Constitutional
Committee; the German Committee on Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women
and Youth; the Irish Defence, Justice and Equality Committee; the Lithuanian
Committee on Human Rights; the Luxembourg Committee on Family, Equal
Opportunities and Youth; the Polish Committee on Family and Social Policy; and
the European Parliaments Committee on Womens Rights and Gender Equality.
The Croatian Parliaments Committee on Gender Equality implemented a
mechanism that allowed the Croatian Parliament to track public awareness of new
gender equality legislation. The European Commission recognized this to be a best
practice because legislation can only be effective if the pubic is aware of new
changes to the law. Parliamentary committees in Ireland and Luxembourg have
similarly utilized reporting and discussion mechanisms to further best practices and
gender related policy reform.

Furthermore, committees within the Belgian and Finnish Parliaments and
European Parliament established international networking events for all European
parliamentary committees dedicated to gender equality and womens issues. These
events provide forums for members of parliament to share best practices and
experiences, while raising awareness for gender equality on an international level.
The Committee on Womens Rights and Gender Equality in the European
Parliament held an event in 2012 to encourage the European Parliament to adopt a
resolution with guidelines for the European Commission on reducing the pay gap
between men and women. Estonian, German, Lithuanian, and Polish
parliamentary committees have also successfully influenced legislation relating to
gender equality and anti-discrimination.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Statement of Purpose 1

Introduction 1

Belgiums Senate Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for
Men and Women 1

Finlands Employment and Equality Committee 2

Croatias Committee on Gender Equality 3

Estonias Constitutional Committee 5

Germanys Committee on Family Affairs, Senior Citizens,
Women and Youth 6

Irelands Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality 8

Lithuanias Committee on Human Rights 10

Luxembourgs Committee on Families, Equal Opportunities and Youth 11

Polands Committee on Family and Social Policy 12

European Parliaments Committee on Womens Rights and 13
Gender Equality

Conclusion 14

Successful Initiatives by Parliamentary Committees, April 2013
1
SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVES BY PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES FOR WOMENS
ISSUES AND GENDER EQUALITY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of this memorandum is to identify successful initiatives for
women and gender equality implemented by cross-party parliamentary committees
in European Union (EU) states.

Introduction

Most EU state parliaments address gender equality and womens issues via
the creation of parliamentary committees and sub-committees. These committees
conduct a variety of activities, such as government and parliamentary oversight
and support for gender-specific legislation, and ensure that gender equality and
womens issues remain political priorities in European states. This memorandum
identifies successful initiatives conducted by parliamentary committees and groups
in the EU: the Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Men and Women
in the Belgian Senate; the Employment and Equality Committee of the Finnish
Parliament; the Committee on Gender Equality of the Croatian Parliament (Croatia
is expected to enter the EU in July 2013); the Estonian Constitutional Committee;
the German Committee on Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth; the
Irish Defence, Justice and Equality Committee; the Lithuanian Committee on
Human Rights; the Luxembourg Committee on Family, Equal Opportunities and
Youth; the Polish Committee on Family and Social Policy; and the Committee on
Womens Rights and Gender Equality of the European Parliament.

Belgiums Senate Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Men and
Women

The Belgian Senate Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Men
and Women addresses issues related to gender equality. The committee has 16
members who are appointed for four-year terms from political groups in proportion
to their representation in the Senate.
1
The Committee issues opinions on questions
of gender equality to other committees, either upon its own initiative or at the
request of the President of the Senate.
2
In 1997, the Committee started an initiative

1
Inter-Parliamentary Union, Belgium: Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Men and Women (Nov. 29,
2006), available at http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/instance/2_246.htm.
2
Inter-Parliamentary Union, Belgium: Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Men and Women (Nov. 29,
2006), available at http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/instance/2_246.htm.
2
aimed at gathering members of the parliamentary committees responsible for
gender equality in EU member states to work on the reinforcement of gender
equality in the Treaties of the European Union.
3
The conference is now held
annually and is titled, Network of Parliamentary Committees for Equal
Opportunities for Women and Men in the Parliaments of European Union Member
States and the European Parliament, also known as the NCEO Conference of
Equality Committees.
4
The Conference has elected national parliamentary
representatives to, among other things, implement legal quotas and target figures
for the balanced representation of men and women in public business enterprises,
and introduce gender-related policy recommendations to the European Parliament
and European Council.
5

The NCEO Conference of Equality Committees is helpful for EU member
states because it provides a forum to exchange advice and ideas on achieving
gender equality.
6
More importantly, participants have an opportunity to network
internationally with other parliamentary committees working towards similar
goals.
7
Participants are able to gain new ideas about initiatives that were
successfully implemented by committees in other European states as well as learn
about initiatives that were not as successful.
8

Finlands Employment and Equality Committee

The Finnish Parliaments Employment and Equality Committee focuses on
issues involving occupational safety, employment, equality in the workplace, and
non-military national service.
9
Founded in 1991, the Committee is one of 14
specialized standing committees in Finlands Parliament and is comprised of 17

3
European Parliament Committee on Womens Rights and Gender Equality, How Do You Consider the Role of
Women in Parliamentary Work?: Seminar on Gender Mainstreaming in Parliamentary Work, 9 (Mar. 6, 2008),
available at
www.europarl.europa.eu/document/activities/cont/200803/20080317ATT24419/20080317ATT24419EN.pdf.
4
Conference of Equality Committees, Summary of Proceedings (Jan. 11, 2006), 4 available at
http://web.eduskunta.fi/dman/Document.phx?documentId=ai09407144452705&cmd=download.
5
NCEO Network of Parliamentary Committees for Equal Opportunities for Women and Men in the European
Union, Declaration of Brussels to improve the representation of women in senior positions 4 (Nov. 22, 2010).
6
7
8
9
Inter-Parliamentary Union, Finland: Employment and Equality Committee (Apr. 4, 2006), available at
http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/instance/2_190.htm.
3
parliamentary members who are elected by the Plenary Session.
10
The Committee
is responsible for the preparation of legislative proposals related to labor equality
and employee participation in the workplace.
11

Finland is considered a pioneer for gender equality.
12
In 1906, following the
adoption of the Parliamentary Act and the Election Act, Finland was the first
country to give women full political rights, by providing women with the right to
vote and stand in elections.
13
In 2006, as a way to celebrate its centennial in
gender equality, the Employment and Equality Committee hosted the annual
NCEO Conference of Equality Committees, which focused on women and
globalization; women in armed conflicts; and the rights of minorities.
14

Additional topics discussed among the participants included the challenges for
equal pay, the end to violence against women, and women refugees in Europe.
15

Representatives from a total of 27 states attended the conference.
16

Croatias Committee on Gender Equality

The Committee on Gender Equality is a cross-party committee in the
Croatian Parliament that monitors and enhances implementation of laws and
policies affecting gender equality.
17
The Committee was created in 2001 and
consists of 13 parliamentary members elected in accordance with party affiliation,
plus three appointed members from related non-governmental, scientific, and
professional organizations.
18
The Committee assists in drafting the National
Gender Equality Policy in the Republic of Croatia, participates in procedures to

10
Inter-Parliamentary Union, Finland: Employment and Equality Committee (Apr. 4, 2006), available at
11
Parliament of Finland, The Employment and Equality Committee (last accessed Mar. 24, 2013), available at
http://web.eduskunta.fi/Resource.phx/parliament/committees/employment.htx.
12
13
14
European Parliament Committee on Womens Rights and Gender Equality, How Do You Consider the Role of
Women in Parliamentary Work?: Seminar on Gender Mainstreaming in Parliamentary Work, 10 (Mar. 6, 2008),
available at
www.europarl.europa.eu/document/activities/cont/200803/20080317ATT24419/20080317ATT24419EN.pdf.
15
16
17
Government of the Republic of Croatia, National Policy for Gender Equality For The Period 2011-2015 (2011), 7
available at http://www.ured-
ravnopravnost.hr/site/images/pdf/kb%20strategija%20za%20ravnopravnost%20spolova%20knjizica%20eng.pdf.
18
Inter-Parliamentary Union, Croatia: Committee on Gender Equality (Apr. 3, 2006), available at
4
enact legislation, and undertakes efforts to bring awareness to gender equality.
19

The National Gender Equality Policy in the Republic of Croatia is a strategic plan
introduced in 1997 for purposes of eliminating gender inequalities at a national
level and is renewed as necessary every four years.
20

As part of its implementation of the National Policy for the Promotion of
Gender Equality 2006-2010, the Committee on Gender Equality required the
Croatian Radio and Television (CRT) Programme Council to submit an annual
special report to the Croatian Parliament on promoting awareness of gender
equality, to supplement its regular annual report to Parliament.
21
In addition to
demonstrating the diversity in employment practices and supplying gender
representation data, as necessitated by the regular annual report,
22
the special
reports focus on raising awareness of gender equality in Croatian media
programs.
23
For instance, by comprehensively surveying Croatian Radio and
Television employees, and examining programming content,
24
the 2008-2009
special report indicated a need for better CRT staff training on issues of gender
equality, as well as the need to increase the amount of relevant programming and
the number of female experts on various shows.
25
Through recognition of the
medias role in perpetuating gender stereotypes and discrimination, the special
reports have emphasized the need for gender-sensitive language in Croatian
Radio and Television content.
26

Another important role of the Committee on Gender Equality is to oversee
the implementation of new legislation such as the Gender Equality Act adopted in

19
Croatia Parliament, Committees of Croatia Parliament Gender Equality Committee, available at
http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?sec=5266 (last visited March 1, 2013).
20
Government of the Republic of Croatia, National Policy for Gender Equality For The Period 2011-2015, 7
(2011), available at http://www.ured-
21
22
Zrinjka Perusko, Assessment of Media Development in Croatia, UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND
CULTURAL ORGANIZATION, 17 (2011), available at
http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CI/CI/pdf/IPDC/croatia_report_final.pdf.
23
Republic of Croatia Ombudsperson for Gender Equality, Report on Activities for 2009 18 (Mar. 2010), available
at http://www.prs.hr/attachments/article/105/Annual%20Report%202009.pdf.
24
25
Republic of Croatia Ombudsperson for Gender Equality, Report on Activities for 2009, 18 (Mar. 2010), available
at http://www.prs.hr/attachments/article/105/Annual%20Report%202009.pdf.
26
5
2003. The Committees ability to require special reports from government
institutions, as it did with the Croatian Radio and Television Programme Council,
allowed it to assess general public awareness of the Gender Equality Act.
27

Likely due in part to the work of the Committee, the European Commission
(EC) reported in 2010 that there has been significant progress in implementing the
National Gender Equality Policy in the Republic of Croatia 2006-2010,
particularly with respect to public awareness-raising activities.
28
The EC also
commended Croatia on achievements in areas of gender equality and womens
rights generally.
29
Nevertheless, the EC also noted that the conditions for
employment of women [in Croatia] are still unfavourable.
30

Estonias Constitutional Committee

The Constitutional Committee in the Estonian Parliament addresses issues
relating to constitutional order in Estonia, including gender equality.
31
Established
in 1992 in accordance with the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure Act,
32
the standing
Constitutional Committee has 11 members, who are appointed by political factions
and confirmed by the Board of the Parliament, based on proportional
representation of each political party.
33
The Committee specifically focuses on
issues related to fundamental rights, such as the right to non-discrimination on the
basis of gender.
34
To this end, the Committee also oversees compliance with
national and international standards, provides advice to government agencies,
drafts legislative proposals, and discusses the status of women generally.
35

27
Government of the Republic of Croatia, National Policy for Gender Equality For The Period 2011-2015, 19-20
28
European Commission, Croatia 2010 Progress Report, 44 (Nov. 9, 2010), available at
http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/key_documents/2010/package/hr_rapport_2010_en.pdf.
29
Government of the Republic of Croatia, National Policy for Gender Equality For The Period 2011-2015, 20-21
30
European Commission, Croatia 2010 Progress Report, 44 (Nov. 9, 2010), available at
http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/key_documents/2010/package/hr_rapport_2010_en.pdf.
31
The Parliament of Estonia, Work of the Constitutional Committee (last accessed Mar. 24, 2013), available at
http://www.riigikogu.ee/index.php?id=35286.
32
Riigikogu Rules of Procedure Act, chap. 4, div. 1, 18 (Estonia, 1992), available at
http://www.riigikogu.ee/?rep_id=799356.
33
Inter-Parliamentary Union, Estonia: Constitutional Committee (Apr. 25, 2006), available at
34
35
6
The Constitutional Committee serves as the leading committee during
legislative proceedings for the drafting of constitutional amendments and other
draft acts, resolutions, and communications related to the Constitution,
36
such as
the Gender Equality Act in 2004.
37
The Act, which ensures equal treatment of men
and women as a fundamental right under the Estonian Constitution, prohibits
discrimination in the public and private sector, creates an obligation for employers
to promote gender equality, and provides for victims damages.
38

The Constitutional Committee also spearheaded efforts to pass the Equal
Treatment Act of 2008,
39
which further codifies equal treatment and protection
from discrimination in Estonia.
40
The implementation of both the Gender Equality
Act and the Equal Treatment Act brought the state into conformity with European
Union requirements, and led to the creation of the Gender Equality and Equal
Treatment Commissioner, an independent expert to monitor state compliance with
the Act and other provisions related to anti-discrimination and gender equality.
41

Germanys Committee on Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth

The Committee on Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth
ensures equal treatment of men and women in Germany. The Committee consists
of 34 members, one member from each of the 16 Lnder (also known as states),
plus delegated commissioners and experts.
42
The Committee works to promote
gender equality through equal opportunities, particularly in the workplace, and
gives opinions on all bills, motions, reports, resolutions, and EU items relating to
families, senior citizens, women, and young people.
43
The Committee has recently
held public hearings on womens rights and equality issues, including the

36
The Parliament of Estonia, Work of the Constitutional Committee (last accessed Mar. 24, 2013), available at
http://www.riigikogu.ee/index.php?id=35286.
37
Kaia Philips & Raul Eamets, Parliament passes Gender Equality Act, EIRONLINE, May 10, 2004, available at
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/2004/05/inbrief/ee0405101n.htm.
38
Gender Equality Act, 1 (Estonia, 2004), available at www.iwraw-ap.org/resources/documents/GE_Estonia.doc.
39
Riigikogu Rules of Procedure Act, chap. 4, div. 1, 18 (Estonia, 1992), available at
http://www.riigikogu.ee/?rep_id=799356; Estonia: Legislative Developments, Adoption of the Law on Equal
Treatment, 8 EUROPEAN ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAW REVIEW (2009), available at http://www.non-
discrimination.net/content/media/LR-8-EE-1.pdf.
40
Equal Treatment Act, 1 (Estonia, 2008), available at
www.hsph.harvard.edu/population/womenrights/estonia.equality.08.doc.
41
SOOLISE VRDIGUSLIKKUSE JA VRDSE KOHTLEMISE VOLINIK (last accessed Mar. 24, 2013),
available at http://www.svv.ee/index.php?t=2.
42
Inter-Parliamentary Union, Germany: Committee on Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Apr. 3,
2006), available at http://www.ipu.org/parline/reports/instance/2_177.htm.
43
German Bundestag, Committee on Family Affairs, Senior Citizen, Women and Youth (last accessed Mar. 24,
2013), available at http://www.bundestag.de/htdocs_e/bundestag/committees/a13/index.html.
7
conditions of womens shelters and equal pay for men and women in all sectors.
44

The Committee has also proposed recent draft laws dealing with problems of
gender justice, parental benefits, and equal participation of women in leadership
positions, and has led initiatives to combat human trafficking and violence against
women.
45

Committee efforts have led to the implementation of two influential pieces
of legislation related to gender equality: the Federal Act on Equal Opportunities
between Women and Men in the Federal Administration and Federal Courts
(Federal Equal Opportunities Act) and the Federal Act on Appointment to
Bodies.
46
The Federal Equal Opportunities Act of 2001 provides a legal basis for
improvement of equal opportunities in the Federal Administration.
47
This Act
provides that as an employer, the federal government will serve as a role model in
implementing equality principles by, for instance, giving preference to qualified
women when filling senior positions in government agencies in which women are
underrepresented; prohibiting indirect discrimination against women in hiring;
utilizing gender mainstreaming in all policy areas; and introducing flexible work
options to improve the work-family balance for women and men.
48

Similarly, the Federal Act on Appointment to Bodies delineates certain
procedural requirements to ensure that all agencies involved in the appointment to
Federal Bodies attempt to have equal representation of men and women.
49

Federal Bodies include political entities such as administrative, advisory, and
research committees. The Act requires that when seats in such entities become

44
German Bundestrag, Ausschuss fr Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend - ffentliche Anhrungen (last
accessed Mar. 24, 2013), available at
http://www.bundestag.de/bundestag/ausschuesse17/a13/anhoerungen/index.html.
45
Germnan Bundestrag, Ausschuss fr Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend - Beschlussempfehlungen und
Berichte (last accessed Mar. 24, 2013), available at
http://www.bundestag.de/bundestag/ausschuesse17/a13/Beschlussempfehlungen_und_Berichte/index.html.
46
Federal Ministry For Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, United Nations Questionnaire on the
National Implementation of the Platform for Action of the Fourth World Conference on Women In Beijing:
Response of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany (May 2004), available at
http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/Gender/documents/question/Germany.pdf.
47
Federal Equal Opportunities Act (Bundesgleichstellungsgesetz) (Germany, 2001), available in German at
http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bundesrecht/bgleig/gesamt.pdf.
48
United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, Consideration of Reports
Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention: Fifth Periodic Report of Germany, para. 2.6, U.N.
Doc. CEDAW/C/DEU/5 (Feb. 5, 2003), available at
http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/publisher,CEDAW,STATEPARTIESREP,DEU,3f6ac7742,0.html.
49
Federal Act on Appointment to Bodies (Bundesgremienbesetzungsgesetz) (Germany, 1994), available in German
at http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bundesrecht/bgrembg/gesamt.pdf.
8
vacant, the government must recommend two equally qualified candidates, one a
male and one a female, to fill the vacancy.
50

Irelands Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality

The Irish Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality was established
following the 2002 election to address issues of gender equality and womens
rights in general.
51
The Joint Committee has 15 members: 11 members from the
Dil (lower house), and four members from the Seanad (upper house).
52

Membership is proportional to political party power in the Oireachtas (the Irish
legislature), with the majority party having the most seats on the Joint Committee
for each term.
53
The Joint Committee is a forum for discussion of prominent issues
related to gender equality, and conducts examinations, issues reports, and makes
recommendations to influence public opinion and shape legislation and policy.
54

The Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality holds discussions on
emerging issues involving equality and justice, inviting various experts, interest
group members, government ministers, academics, and other representatives to
share their opinions and exchange ideas.
55
Public hearings are held for issues of
particular relevance, which may be further referred to the two houses by formal
motion.
56
Discussions have been held on subjects including domestic violence,
homophobia, and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill of 2012.
57

Following discussion, regardless of whether an issue is formally referred to
the Oireachtas, the Joint Committee often releases a report detailing its

50
United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, Consideration of Reports
Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention: Fifth Periodic Report of Germany (Continued),
para. 3, U.N. Doc. CEDAW/C/SR.640 (Jan. 21, 2004), available at
http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/0/62e9ce026726d2dac125729b003fbb84/$FILE/N0421465.pdf
51
Inter-Parliamentary Union, Ireland: Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality (Apr. 4, 2006), available at
52
53
54
Houses of the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament), Role of the Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality (last
accessed Mar. 24, 2013), available at http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/oireachtasbusiness/committees_list/jde-
committee/role/.
55
56
57
House of the Oireachtas, Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality2012 (last accessed on Mar. 24, 2013),
available at http://debates.oireachtas.ie/committees/2012/JU.asp.
9
recommendations to the government and other findings.
58
Joint Committee reports
provide statistical data and diverse opinions to spur legislative and social reform in
areas such as childcare and womens participation in politics.
59
A recent Joint
Committee report on childcare recommended the extension of paid maternity leave
and greater appreciation for the needs of stay-at-home parents.
60
A related report
on womens political participation likewise highlighted childcare and lack of other
resources, in addition to candidate selection procedures, as barriers to gender
equality government.
61
This report also recommended legislation requiring
political parties to select a certain proportion of female candidates to represent
them.
62
In 2011, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local
Government proposed a bill that would cut state funding to political parties by 50
percent if 30 percent or more of their candidates were not women in the next
general election, to be increased to 40 percent in the subsequent general election.
63

The Irish Parliament passed the legislation as the Electoral (Amendment) (Political
Funding) Act 2012.
64

Joint Committee reports also touch on issues of womens justice. Recent
reports on domestic violence
65
and sexual exploitation
66
have led to legislative
reform and ultimately greater protection for women.
67

58
Houses of the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament), Role of the Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality (last
accessed Mar. 24, 2013), available at http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/oireachtasbusiness/committees_list/jde-
committee/role/.
59
60
61
Houses of the Oireachtas, Womens Participation in Politics (Oct. 2009), available at
http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/committees30thdail/j-justiceedwr/reports_2008/20091105.pdf; European
Commission, Exchange of good practices on gender equality: Women in economic decision making 4 (May 10-11,
2012), available at http://ec.europa.eu/justice/gender-
equality/files/exchange_of_good_practice_no/ie_comments_paper_no_2012_en.pdf.
62
Houses of the Oireachtas, Womens Participation in Politics, 19 (Oct. 2009), available at
http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/committees30thdail/j-justiceedwr/reports_2008/20091105.pdf.
63
Houses of the Oireachtas, Womens Participation in Politics, 19 (Oct. 2009), available at
http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/committees30thdail/j-justiceedwr/reports_2008/20091105.pdf; Electoral
(Amendment) (Political Funding) Act 2012 art. 42 (Ireland, 2012), available at
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2012/en/act/pub/0036/print.html#sec44.
64
Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Act 2012 art. 42 (Ireland, 2012), available at
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2012/en/act/pub/0036/print.html#sec44.
65
Houses of the Oireachtas, Annual Report of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's
Rights (Apr. 29, 2007), available at http://193.178.2.84/test/R/2007/REPORT_20070429_3.html.
66
Oral Presentation: Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, Review of Legislation on
Prostitution (Dec. 12, 2012), available at http://www.nascireland.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Nasc-
Prostitution-Oral-Presentation-Web.pdf.
67
Alexandra Topping, Government under pressure to review prostitution laws in England and Wales, THE
GUARDIAN, Dec. 26, 2012, available at http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/dec/26/government-pressure-
review-prostitution-laws.
10

Lithuanias Committee on Human Rights

The Lithuanian Committee on Human Rights exercises parliamentary
control over human and civil rights issues.
68
Specifically, the Committee reviews
draft laws and proposals related to women and gender equality; makes
recommendations to ministries and other parliamentary committees on issues
concerning women and gender equality; composes a written report on the Equal
Opportunities Ombudsman; and addresses gender-related complaints through
distribution of information and organized discussions.
69
The Committee has seven
members, nominated by political parties represented in Parliament, and approved
by Parliament to serve four-year terms.
70

To effectively gauge the need for specific legal instruments to combat
gender equality issues, the Committee forms working groups of Committee
members, state representatives, private parties, and experts.
71
Such groups have
worked on gender equality legislation, most notably recommending amendments to
the Law on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men (Law on Equal
Opportunities).
72
The 1998 Law on Equal Opportunities protects against direct and
indirect discrimination, incorporating principles of gender equality into labor,
education, and other sectors.
73
Based on Committee recommendations, the law
was amended in 2002 to include consumers rights and prohibit prioritization based
on sex in employment and educational opportunity advertisements.
74

68
Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, Committee on Human Rights (last accessed on Mar. 24, 2013), available at
http://www3.lrs.lt/pls/inter/w5_show?p_r=6150&p_k=2.
69
Inter-Parliamentary Union, Lithuania: Committee on Human Rights (Dec. 5, 2007), available at
70
71
72
73
Social Innovation Fund, Overview of Gender Equality Issues in Lithuania (2003-2006), available at
http://www.gender-equality.webinfo.lt/results/lithuania.htm.
74
Social Innovation Fund, Overview of Gender Equality Issues in Lithuania (2003-2006), available at
http://www.gender-equality.webinfo.lt/results/lithuania.htm; Law on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men art. 8
(Lithuania, 1998), available at www.iwraw-ap.org/resources/documents/GE_Lithuania.doc.
11
Luxembourgs Committee on Families, Equal Opportunities and Youth

The Committee on Family, Equal Opportunities and Youth is a
parliamentary standing committee responsible for overseeing gender equality and
womens issues in Luxembourg. The Committee was established in 2004, and
consists of 12 independent deputies, nominated by absolute majority vote to serve
five-year terms.
75
The Committee works to develop and coordinate national and
international policies, promoting equality between men and women and gender
non-discrimination; conducting legislative impact studies; and supporting national,
regional, and international organizations that promote gender equality.
76
In
accordance with this mandate, the Committee has engaged in a variety of
initiatives, such as facilitating discussions on relevant issues and monitoring the
impact of parliamentary initiatives.
77

One particularly ambitious plan implemented by the Committee is the 2004
National Action Plan for Gender Equality (NAPGE), which promoted gender
equality in the education and training sectors.
78
Specifically, the NAPGE sought to
encourage integration of education initiatives, diversification of occupational
choices for boys and girls, and gender-neutral resource management.
79
Deeming
education reform as vital to discontinue the perpetuation of gender stereotypes, the
NAPGE also included curriculum counseling and vocational guidance provisions.
80

An evaluation of NAPGEs impact during a two-year period, from 2006 to
2008, characterized it as the start of the systematization of equality policies in
Luxembourg, securing principles of gender equality as a state priority.
81
The
impact of the NAPGE is best demonstrated by the related initiatives that followed,
such the Fiche dImpact, a gender-specific legal impact assessment, and a mandate

75
Inter-Parliamentary Union, Luxembourg: Committee on Families, Equal Opportunities and Youth (Apr. 27, 2006),
available at http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/instance/2_214.htm.
76
77
78
EPASI, National Action Plan for Gender Equality (NAPGE): Project Study (last accessed Mar. 24, 2013),
available at http://www.epasi.eu/$-project-study.cfm?PID=275.
79
80
81
Gitte Landgrebe S..r.l., Evaluation of the National Action Plan for Gender Equality: Final Report 24 (Dec.
2008), available at
http://www.mega.public.lu/actualites/actu_min/2009/05/presse_plan_egalite/Endbericht_PAN_EN.pdf.
12
for advanced gender training of state officials.
82
The NAPGE also set the stage for
future studies on implementing gender equality policies, focusing on greater
coordination, gender mainstreaming, and the reclassification of gender equality as
a managerial task.
83

Polands Committee on Family and Social Policy

The Polish Senate Committee on Family and Social Policy is charged with
competence on gender equality issues. Established in 1997, the permanent
Committee has 14 members, elected based upon party affiliation.
84
The
Committee prepares legislative proposals and disseminates information on the
status of womens rights and gender equality.
85
The Committees scope
encompasses labor and employment law, as well as social policies involving health
and the family.
86

Following Polands accession to the EU in 2005, the Committee shifted its
focus from combatting unemployment to the implementation of a new system of
equal representation, and social policies like family mediation and social care
governance.
87
Since 2007, the Committee has worked to stimulate legislative
action in the areas of adoption and childcare, actively contributing to the expansion
of the Ombudsman for Children.
88
The Committee has also supported legislative
efforts related to the eradication of domestic violence.
89

82
2008), available at
83
2008), available at
84
Inter-Parliamentary Union, Poland: Committee on Family and Social Policy (Dec. 1, 2006), available at
85
Inter-Parliamentary Union, Poland: Committee on Family and Social Policy (Dec. 1, 2006), available at
86
Senat RP, Family and Social Policy Committee (last accessed Mar. 25, 2013), available at
http://ww2.senat.pl/k7eng/kom/krps.pdf.
87
88
89
13

European Parliaments Committee on Womens Rights and Gender Equality

The European Parliaments Committee on Womens Rights and Gender
Equality defines, protects, and promotes womens rights in all aspects in the
European Union.
90
To do so, the Committee publishes policy papers on women
and implements gender mainstreaming in all policy sectors.
91
The Committee also
coordinates events bringing together members of parliamentary committees in EU
member states that focus on womens issues.
92

One successful initiative of the Committee is the Interparliamentary
Committee Meeting on the occasion of International Womens Day every March.
93

Each year, the Committee addresses a different theme pertaining to challenges for
women, including equal pay, violence against women, and, this year, womens
response to the economic crisis in Europe.
94

An aspect of the yearly meeting that has been especially helpful to
participants is the ability of parliamentarians from EU member states to share and
exchange best practices.
95
As a result, the event celebrates women and the
progress that has been made, while providing a forum to share new resources and
ideas for members of parliament to implement in their respective states.
96

One of the Committees top priorities is reducing the pay gap between men
and women, for which it has adopted the slogan Equal Pay for Work of Equal

90
European Parliament, Committee on Womens Rights and Gender Equality (last visited March. 2, 2013), available
at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/femm/home.html.
91
92
93
European Parliament, Committee on Womens Rights and Gender Equality (last visited March 2, 2013), available
94
European Parliament, International Womens Day (last visited March. 2, 2013), available at
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/femm/publications.html?id=FEMM00001#menuzone.
95
FEMM Newsletter, Committee on Womens Rights and Gender Equality International Womens Day 2013 (last
visited March 2, 2013), available at
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/document/activities/cont/201302/20130220ATT61460/20130220ATT61460EN.pdf.
A program for the 2013 Interparliamentary Committee Meeting shows various panel discussions following by Q&A,
as well as a debate and a cocktail reception. See European Parliament Committee on Womens Rights and Gender
Equality, Interparliamentary Committee Meeting: Womens Response to the Crisis: Draft Program (Mar. 7, 2013),
available at
96
FEMM Newsletter, Committee on Womens Rights and Gender Equality International Womens Day 2013 (last
visited March 2, 2013), available at
14
Value. The March 2012 International Womens Day meeting focused on this
issue, and participants discussed measures used to reduce the pay gap to date, as
well as possible initiatives for addressing its causes going forward.
97
On May 10,
2012, the Committee issued a report with recommendations to the EC on Equal
Pay for Work of Equal Value, which included a Motion for a European
Parliament Resolution on the matter. The proposed Motion asked the EC to review
Directive 2006/54/EC, on the implementation of the principle of equal
opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment
and occupation, by February 15, 2013, with a special focus on: definitions;
analysis of the situation and transparency of results; equality bodies and legal
remedies; social dialogue; work evaluation and job classification; prevention of
discrimination; gender mainstreaming; streamlining of EU regulation and EU
policy; and sanctions.
98
The European Parliament passed the resolution on May
24, 2012
99
and the ECs response was adopted on September 24, 2012.
100

Conclusion

Many parliamentary committees and groups throughout Europe focus on
gender equality and womens issues. The initiatives mentioned above provide
examples of successful approaches parliamentary committees in the EU have
implemented to address these issues. Some approaches to consider include
implementing new legislative mechanisms as a way to track public awareness of
gender equality legislation, as in Croatia, and coordinating international events in
which all parliamentary committees for gender equality can network while
exchanging ideas and new resources, as Finland, Belgium, and the European
Parliament have done. Policy goals and discussion, as utilized in Luxembourg and
Ireland, can also spur reform. The potential of parliamentary gender committees is
demonstrated by the successful implementation of legislation by committees in
Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, and Poland.

97
European Parliament, MEPs and MPs discuss "Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value," (Mar. 3, 2012), available at
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-%2f%2fEP%2f%2fTEXT%2bIM-
PRESS%2b20120305IPR39922%2b0%2bDOC%2bXML%2bV0%2f%2fEN&language=EN.
98
European Parliament Committee on Womens Rights and Gender Equality, Report with Recommendations to the
Commission on Application of the Principle of Equal Pay for Male and Female Workers for Equal Work or Work of
Equal Value (May 10, 2012), available at
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A7-2012-0160&language=EN.
99
European Parliament, Resolution of 24 May 2012 recommendations to the Commission on Application of the
Principle of Equal Pay for Male and Female Workers for Equal Work or Work of Equal Value (May 24, 2012),
available at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P7-TA-2012-
0225+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN#BKMD-7.
100
European Parliament / Legislative Observatory, 2011/2285(INI) Procedure File (last accessed Mar. 24, 2013),
available at
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?lang=en&reference=2011/2285(INI)#tab-0.

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