Pilot project: update on the current activities


The “Pilot project for development of indicators to measure the implementation of the European Charter of women and men in local life” is progressing.

In May 2014, a questionnaire was sent out to the signatories of the Charter to gather information about the current “state of play” of the implementation of the Charter in different EU Member states.

The aim of this questionnaire was:

  • to gather information on the implementation of the Charter;
  • to collect background material for the process of developing indicators based on the articles of the Charter

The questionnaire covered a several issues related to the Charter such as;

  • level of competences of local and regional authorities in relation to gender equality,
  • the existence and contents of action plans and activities put in place,
  • the existence of monitoring frameworks,
  • challenges in implementing the Charter.

 

The response rate from signatories varied significantly between different member states, however the overall response rate was 18,5 %.

 

Based on the results of the questionnaire Member State factsheets were elaborated presenting the current state of play of the Charter in different countries.

 

The Study team also drafted a report on the “State of play” of the Charter in different EU Member States. Some of the results were the following:

  • Based on the study 7 out of 10 local and regional authorities have elaborated an action plan on gender equality
  • Most respondents are implementing activities although not necessarily in the framework of an action plan. Most are implementing some activities rather than all presented in their action plans;
  • Financial and human resources are the most commonly mentioned solutions to the challenges of implementation
  • Overall less than 50 % are monitoring the actions in their plan

The results of the questionnaire gave interesting information and provided a basis for the Study team to elaborate a first draft set of indicators. Even if many respondents confirmed that they monitor the implementation of their action plan or gender equality policies related to the Charter, only a few of the respondents said they are using indicators to measure progress and performance which confirms the need for developing a framework of indicators.

 

The pilot project has now entered in the testing phase of the first set of indicators. In the elaboration of this set of indicators, the Study team has taken into consideration the information on existing indicators provided by signatories via the questionnaire.  

 

The suggested indicators were presented for the first time at a workshop organised in Brussels on the 11th of July. Among the participants in this workshop were experts from the Steering group of the Pilot project, representatives from DG Justice and representatives from a selected number* of local and regional authorities from Austria, Germany, Poland, Spain and Sweden.

 

The draft indicators are currently being tested among a selected number* of signatories from different countries (Austria, Germany, Finland, France, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden) that are invited to provide their comments on the feasibility and the applicability of the suggested indicators. The signatories participating in the testing phase have been selected based on the responses they have provided in the questionnaire of the Pilot project and their previous experience from having worked with indicators to evaluate their gender equality activities.

 

A final set of indicators will be presented at the next meeting with the Steering group of the Pilot project that will be organized in Brussels on the 6th of November.

 

For background information on the aim and overall objectives of the Pilot project please click on the following link.

 

For more information about the current activities of the Pilot project please contact:

 


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