Member State: Austria Title: Implementation of The Platform for Action of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing (Draft National Report)

Author of plan The report is based on information supplied by the Federal Ministry for Women's Issues (FMFWI); Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs; Ministry of Finance; Ministry of the Environment, Youth and the Family; Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs; Ministry of Foreign Affairs. March 1998 Adoption NA Planning process At the request of the Federal Ministry for Women's Issues, different federal ministries submitted individual reports on their ongoing work related to the advancement for women. Support for planning process NA Advocacy 1. Information seminar on women policy perspectives after the 1995 women's Conference. 2. Campaigns against Violence. 3. Various seminars and information events on different aspects of violence: trafficking, rights, migrant women in the sex industry, sexual abuse etc. Critical areas of concern 1. Consumer Protection: take legal measures, research on working time flexibility. 2. Violence: undertake studies, combat trafficking, provide advanced training for professionals, shelters, target migrants. 3. Economics: promote equal treatment, establish women's Business Centre for self-employment, provide training and counselling, take measures to motivate companies to hire women. 4. Decision-making: advance women in the federal service. 5. The Girl Child: undertake campaigns, combat sexual abuse of girls/ boys, promote non-traditional careers, target rural girls. 6. Education: promote campaigns and research, focus on educational planning and policies, promote model schools, revise curricula. 7. Legislation: revise family, penal, civil and fiscal law, take action against sexual offenses, implement Federal Equal Treatment Act. 8. Health: promote programmes to professionalize care-giving; combat AIDS, alcoholism and drug addiction; take measures to assist care-givers, 80 per cent of whom are women. 9. Media: use new technologies, promote gender specific aspects. Institutional arrangements Different ministries, including Ministries of Justice, Labour, Health and Social Affairs, Finance, Environment, Youth and Family, Education and Cultural Affairs, Foreign Affairs are responsible for their own sphere of activities which are reported to the FMFWI. Other authorities involved are the Equal Treatment Commissioners and the Public Employment Service. Some activities are carried under joint leadership between more than one ministry, i.e. child-care projects to be carried out by the FMFWI, Ministries of Labour, Health and Social Affairs. Allocation of national resources The Austrian Public Employment Service adopted a Special Programme for Female Job Returnees at ATS 100 million. International resources/support 1. The European Social Fund provides many opportunities for the integration of women in the workforce. 2. Within the context of development cooperation, Austria has given assistance to Nicaragua, Western Sahara, El Salvador, India, Mozambique, Uganda, Namibia, Chile and Tanzania, Ethiopia. Notes The report confirms Austria's commitment to work within the framework of the European Union. Austria is preparing for the presidency of the European Council in 1998. Additional documents submitted: Austria’s National Report on the Implementation of the Platform for Action Fourth World Conference on Wwomen Beijing (final report 1998)

Member State: Canada Title: Setting the Stage for the Next Century: The Federal Plan for Gender Equality

Author of plan A concerted effort of 24 federal departments and agencies of the Government of Canada, spearheaded by Status of Women Canada (SWC), the federal government machinery for the advancement of women. Adoption NA Planning process Status of Women Canada (SWC), created in 1976, is the federal agency for coordination and policy and provides advice to the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women and to federal government departments and agencies on issues affecting women. Support for planning process Universities, non-governmental organizations and community groups lent support to the planing process. The regional structure allows SWC to establish and maintain contact with women's organizations across the country. Advocacy The Federal Plan refers to activities related to combat violence, e.g. private broadcasters contribute CAD 10 million in free air time; a Community Kit and Communities Stories are being disseminated. Critical areas of concern 1. Implement gender-based analysis throughout all federal departments and agencies: development of tools and methodology, training. 2. Improve women's economic autonomy: federal actions to promote women's autonomy, unemployment insurance reform, child care and tax benefit, entrepreneurship, balancing work and family, education and training, access to paid labour market, equitable sharing of work and family responsibilities, support to women entrepreneurs, housing, retirement income. 3. Improve physical and psychological well-being: reform and renewal of health system, breast cancer research initiative, action against HIV/AIDS, reform of the health system, occupational health and safety. 4. Reduce violence in society: community-based action, support information exchange and education, increase media awareness, provide shelters, criminal justice reform, protect women refugees, legislation on firearms and weapons, community policing. 5. Promote gender equality in cultural life: promote woman's historical and contemporary role, combat stereotyping, enhance participation in cultural development. 6. Incorporate women's perspectives in governance: Incorporate women's perspectives in governance and advance gender equality within government and agencies. 7. Promote and support global gender equality: promote gender equality in international fora. 8. Advance gender equality for employees of federal departments and agencies: provide equitable opportunities for federal women employees. Institutional arrangements Status of Women Canada (SWC) is also the federal agency for monitoring and coordination. Within the framework of the objectives, the 24 participating federal departments and agencies have examined their policies, programmes and activities, identified actions that will improve gender equality and have assumed responsibilities for implementation. Allocation of national resources The Federal Plan mentions the allocation of national resources in a few areas: The Government has allotted CAD 6 million for child-care, CAD 72 million for new child-care spaces to ensure women's economic autonomy. There is a CAD 10 million allotment of federal money annually to support women's participation in art. International resources/support One of the eight objectives of the Federal Plan is to "promote and support global gender equality". Reference is made to the promotion of gender equality in international fora, including, inter alia, the United Nations and others (OECD, Commonwealth, La Francophonie). In Canada's foreign policy, Women in Development is one of the six priorities of the Official Development Assistance Programme. The goal is to strengthen the full participation of women as equal partners in sustainable development, , further consultation with non-governmental organizations, strengthen national mechanisms and implement international commitments. Notes The Federal Plan will institutionalize a process of gender-based analysis across government in the coming years. In the Federal Plan, the federal government recognizes that achieving gender equality depends on the advancement of women in all spheres and is key to maximising Canada's ability to respond to emerging global challenges.

Member State: Denmark Title: Statement to the Folketing on Follow-up at National and International levels to the United Nations’ Fourth Conference on Women

Author of plan The Ministry of Foreign Affairs 9 April 1996 (S.Q.File No. 28.B.98). The statement contains information on preparations for the Fourth World Conference. Its emphasis is on follow-up activities at the national level and international level. Adoption NA Planning process In follow-up to the Beijing Conference, the Prime Minister has set up a Committee to strengthen organizational changes countrywide. Representatives from different ministries, the Equal Status Council, different organizations, local government authorities and research centres are members of the Committee. The Government awaits the outcome of the Committee's work which would form the basis of future work. The government also is awaiting all central government institutions/ ministries to complete drafts of the 3rd Plan of Action due at the end of 1996. Support for planning process The Committee has invited two representatives of the Joint Council of Danish Youth Organizations to join the Committee and feed into the equality planning. Advocacy 1. Popular version of Platform of Action. 2. Conference on "Women and Pensions". 3. Conference on "Equality in the European Union (EU)". 4. Databases available to public on legal decisions adopted as a result of the Equality Acts. 5. "Women and Men" statistics and analysis pamphlet. 6. Educational campaigns on assault on women and female genital mutilation. Critical areas of concern The following issues are addressed in the statement: 1. Integration of gender aspects: into policy, planning and legislation; prepare guides for local governments. 2.Education: revise curricula, teacher training; provide vocational guidance, achieve equitable distribution of teachers at all levels, steer girls into technical and science fields. 3. Employment: eliminate segregated market, legislation, incentives, reconciling work and family, collect statistics, e labour qual pay, reconcile working life and family life, promote equal remuneration. 4. Decision-making: achieve balanced composition on public boards, councils. 5. Violence: focus on legislation, foreign women in Denmark, preventive campaigns. Institutional arrangements The Danish Equal Status Council is the national centre point responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Platform of Action. At the international level, the Committee on International Equality Affairs is the monitoring body. Allocation of national resources NA. International resources/support The statement outlines follow-up activities of Denmark within the United Nations, the EU, the OECD, in cooperation with multilateral organizations and in support of developments in Eastern and Central Europe. The coordinated follow-up to recent global UN conferences is stressed. Notes The Danish Equal Status Council was set up in 1978 through a parliamentary act. Women-in Development (WID) aspects are part of development cooperation and fall under the international domain of the government's work on equality. The Council of Ministers of Development Cooperation (1995) has adopted a resolution to have a consolidated policy on women within the EU and of EU members in development cooperation. In 1995, the Council of Ministers for Labour and Social Affairs adopted the 4th Programme of Action of Equality (1996-2000) which promotes the integration of equality within the EU.

Member State: Finland Title: From Beijing to Finland, the plan of action for the promotion of gender equality of the Government of Finland

Author of plan Ministry of Equality Adoption The plan was approved by the Council of State on 6 February 1997. Others: - Reform of the Constitution Act of 1995. - The Act on Equality between Women and Men (The Equality Act). Planning process The following organizations are involved in planning and programmes developments: Ministries of Agriculture and Forestry, Education, Environment, Foreign Affairs, Labour, Social Affairs and Health, The Association of Finnish Local Authorities, the Council of State, the Council for Equality and the Academy of Finland. Support for planning process Same as the entities involved in the planning. Advocacy 1. Finland prepares for presidency of the European Union with a view to foster gender equality. 2. Division on the Human Rights for Women, established under the Comm. on Internat. Human Rights, to organize an internat. seminar on sexual rights as part of human rights in 1997. 4. Regional and local networking among rural women. 5. Campaign on environment 6. Anti-violence campaigns with non-governmental organizations. Critical areas of concern Main principles: 1. Promoting equality by mainstreaming. 2. The global framework. 3. Equality in the media. 4. Education and training. 5. Working life and the economy. 6. The information society. 7. The environment, communities and traffic. 8. Social participation and decision-making. 9. Reconciling working life with family life. 10. Reinforcing men's role as fathers and grandfathers. 11. Social security and social services. 12. Reinforcing gender equality in health services. 13. Preventing violence against women. 14. Monitoring and revising the equality programme. Institutional arrangements Different ministries are to be in charge of implementing and monitoring but there can be joint initiatives of two bodies who would then be jointly responsible for the entire initiative. Some mechanisms for this process are still in proposal stage. Beside the ministries, other bodies involved are: - the Council of State; - the Association of Finnish Local Authorities; - the Rural Women's Theme Group. Allocation of national resources The Regional Development Fund for granting loans for women enterprises. In 1996, some 150 projects on health were financed by public funds. International resources/support The Nordic Council of Ministers supports project development. The United Nations and the Council of Europe also have joint projects with Finland. The European Union also has several schemes that reinforce initiatives taken by Finland, i.e. employment initiatives for women, and the Structural Fund of the European Union. The European Social Fund provides allocations for women in developing enterprises. Notes Additional Report submitted: Second Equality Action Plan of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland of May 1996 by: Minister for Foreign Affairs. 6 February 1997: Equality programme of the Finish Government. Follow-up Report on the Equality programme of the Finish Government And Amendment proposal of 25 February, 1998. There is an acknowledgement of the need to mainstream the concerns of immigrant and refugee women.

Member State: Germany Title: National Strategies for Implementation of the Platform for Action of the 4th World Conference on Women

Author of plan The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. Adoption NA Planning process The National Strategies are the result of one year of discussion starting with the National Follow-up Conference in March 1996, where various social groups and decision-makers from politics, industry and commerce exchanged views on the implementation. Associations and institutions, women's groups and individual Federal Laender incorporated their initiatives and suggestions into the National Strategies. Support for planning process Four Federal Laender Governments and NGOs have formulated individual demands of the Platform of Action for themselves. Saxony passed a cabinet resolution. The 6th Conference of Ministers and Senators for Equal Opportunities and Women (GFMK) adopted a 24-point catalogue. Advocacy Reference is made to number of activities, including the conference on "Women Shape the Structural Shift"; the "Equality-Participation-Partnership" campaign on dissem- inating the National Strategies; Women's exhibition TOP'97; 53 regional campaigns on violence; educational brochures on genital mutilation, trafficking; "Atlanta Plus" sports campaign; campaigns on "Women in Voluntary Political Offices". Critical areas of concern Focus on three main areas for action: 1. Equal access to decision- making at all levels. 2. Improving the situation of women in industry and commerce and on the labour market. 3. Enforcing human rights and eliminating violence against women and girls. Institutional arrangements Different actors responsible for initiatives (i.e the 4 Federal Landers, NGOs) are also responsible for implementation. The separate Ministries for Women at Laender level and municipals equal opportunities boards have a dense network of institutions for enforcement. The Advisory Council for the Enforcement of Equality for Women and Men at the Federal Ministry Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth is also involved in the implementation process. Allocation of national resources The report refers to detailed expenditures for a number of projects, including inter alia: DM 720 million of the DM 3.6 billion allocated to HSP III Joint Universities Special Programme III, are earmarked to women personnel-related promotion; DM 5.5 million for pilot project on voluntary political commitment; DM 691,000 for film "Pluck up the Courage, Woman"; DM 1 million for study on the role of the father; DM 700,000 material for teaching, "Girls and boys-equality, not equally made"; DM 55,000 for publication: "Who's Who in the Women's Environmental Sector"; DM 40 million for legal & sociopolitical consulting on bilateral technical cooperation. (1996-2000) and DM 13.2 million (1996) for governmental. technical cooperation projects; DM 1.45 million for homeless women; DM 1 million and DM 620,000 for two initiatives on disabled women; for eradication of violence. International resources/support The European Union has provided support on issues of participation in industry, commerce, science, politics and society in the "Total E-Quality Commendation" publicity. The Government. is advocating equal rights in European Union treaties. Notes The National Strategies contain in an annex the 24-point catalogue issued by the 6th Conference of Ministers and Senators for Equal Opportunities and Women (GFMK) and established by the competent bodies of the Federal Laender responsible for women's affairs and equal opportunities for implementation of the Platform for Action. A second annex contains the demands of non-governmental organizations relating to the three main objectives.

Member State: Italy Title: National Plan of Italy to Implement The Beijing Platform for Action

Author of plan Office of the Minister of Equal Opportunities. March 11, 1996 Adoption The Prime Minister's Directive was adopted by the Council of Ministers on March 7, 1996. A Minister for Equal Opportunities was then appointed for the first time in Italian history. Planning process The guidelines for the Prime Minster's Directive focus on women's empowerment and mainstreaming of gender policies. Support for planning process NA Advocacy NA Critical areas of concern 1. Empowerment: .increase presence of women in decision-making fora, provide training, analyze electoral systems. 2. Mainstream gender perspective into government policies: strengthen and enhance institutional mechanisms for mainstreaming 3. Statistical analysis: collect data disaggregated by sex. 4. Gender-sensitive culture in education: introduce teaching of women's basic rights into curricula, school and university reforms, increase number of women in higher academics. 5. Employment and job-creation: initiate pilot projects for eradicating unregulated employment, enable self-employment, entrepreneurship, establish special programmes, facilitate transition from school to work. 6. Women's skills and entrepreneurship: provide incentives, public investment; access to European Structural Funds. 7. Re-organize use of time, working hours and organization of work: introduce flexible working hours, introduce new provisions and legislation on night work, parental leave and educational leave. 8. Health protection and disease prevention: protect women's health in all phases of life, promote use of more humane childbirth practices, draft legislation on maternity rights, develop studies on gender differences in health. 9. Prevention and repression of violence: develop statistical studies, draft new legislation to immediately remove perpetrators form family home, promote strategies against forced prostitution. 10. International relations and cooperation: value women's contribution to peaceful conflict resolution. Institutional arrangements The National Commission for Equality and Equal Opportunities plans, coordinates and monitors. The National Committee for Labour and Employment Equality and Equal Opportunities is also involved in continuous planning and monitoring. The National Statistics Agency gathers statistics disaggregated by sex. Allocation of national resources NA International resources/support Under "International relations and cooperation", the plan suggests to develop new forms of international cooperation, aimed at fully valuing women's autonomy in all spheres of society and economy, with a specific focus on the role of women in efforts to eradicate poverty. It also acknowledges the human rights of women and girls. Notes In 1991, Italy enacted legislation on "affirmative action to implement equality between women and men in the workplace". The law established a special committee under the Parliament, the Ministry of Labour, the National Committee for Labour and Employment Equality and Equal Opportunities.

Member State: Liechtenstein Title: Beijing Platform for Action, Interim Response by the Government of Liechtenstein, Draft Action Plan

Author of plan Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Vaduz, 4 November 1997 (RA/2777) In January 1997, the Liechtenstein Government submitted a report on equality between men and women to Parliament, which stated that instances of discrimination in legislative texts had been eliminated ( i.e. citizenship, social security, Old Age and Survivors' Pension Act, calculation of time spent on family/children for pensions, maternity protection, labour law, penal law). Adoption The plan is still in draft form. Planning process The Equal Rights Office (ERO) commenced its work in 1996 on projects, concepts and strategies, i.e. policy on gender equality and the empowerment of women and ensuring that a gender perspective is reflected in all policies and programmes. Support for planning process ERO works closely with the Commission on Equal Rights for Men and Women, the Working Group on the Advancement of Women within the National Administration, non-governmental organizations and political parties. Advocacy The Equal Rights Office organized an exhibition on education opportunities for girls which was shown in all schools. A campaign to combat sexual harassment at the workplace and domestic violence against girls and women started in 1997. Critical areas of concern 1. Women and poverty: addressing problems of unemployed women, single parents, retired persons. 2. Education and training: promote equality for girls through teaching methodology, provide teaching aids, revise curriculum. 3. Violence: address sexual harassment at the workplace, combat domestic violence with support of NGOs, amendments to penal code. 4. Armed conflict: target refugees and asylum seekers, women to participate in conflict-resolution at decision- making level, ban on landmines. 5. Economy: opportunities for self-awareness training, reintegration into employment, gender-neutral wording of vacancy announcements, drafting of an Equality Act, child care, family policy, hiring, remuneration, legal remedies, parental leave with protection against dismissal. 6. Power and decision making: improve the status of women at the political level; women's quota in government commissions etc.; compile sex disaggregated data. 7. Institutional mechanisms. Institutional arrangements Since 1995, gender issues were dealt with by a Ministry. As of 1997, it is being dealt with by the Department for Family Affairs and Equality between Men and Women. The Equal Rights Office (established in 1995) is responsible for preparation of projects. The Working Group for the Advancement of Women has been established within the National Administration to make proposals for the advancement of women within the administration. The Commission on Promotion of Equality of Opportunity for Girls and Women in Education works on education and training issues. Allocation of national resources The Government provides financial support for a number of non-governmental organizations. International resources/support NA Notes Equality between men and women is explicitly stated in the Constitution (Art. 31, Para.2) . The constitutional law of 16 June 1992 added a paragraph on gender equality to the Constitution. A letter by the Permanent Mission of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the United Nations, dated 25 November 1997, states that the final plan of action will be adopted by the Government in February/March 1998. The report acknowledges the important role played by non-governmental organizations in the field of gender equality.

Member State: Luxembourg Title: Plan d'Action 2000

Author of plan The Ministry of Women's Promotion. Adoption 26 March 1997 by the Council of Government. Planning process NA Support for planning process The Government of Luxembourg. Advocacy NA Critical areas of concern Luxembourg's National Plan is divided into the following twelve areas: 1. Poverty: integrate women's needs into economic and social policy; make credit institutions more accessible to women; research and statistics for poverty elimination; incorporate poverty issues in development assistance ODA. 2. Education and training: promote research projects which explore equal opportunity in education; introduce equal opportunity in all aspects of education and training; integrate a gender perspective into the training of teachers; integrate equal opportunity policy as one criterion for national education subsidies; create adequate mechanisms to coordinate, monitor and manage the development of equal opportunity policy. 3. Health: improve health services; reinforce prevention programmes; assist women with health problems; promote research and diffusion of information about women's health; increase resources allocated to women's health needs. 4. Violence against women and the girl child: prevent and eliminate violence against women; study the causes of violence; assist women victims of violence linked to prostitution or trafficking. 5. Armed conflict: enhance women's participation in the management of war and conflict; promote respect for human rights and the peaceful management of conflicts; promote the contribution of women to the development of a culture of peace; provide protection and assistance to refugee women. 6. Economy: promote the economic autonomy of women through access to resources, employment and markets; make information, technology and markets more accessible to women; reinforce economic capacity and commercial resources of women; eliminate professional segregation and all forms of discrimination in employment; harmonize family and professional responsibilities. 7 Decision-making: promote women's participation in decision-making; empower women to participate in decision-making; improve national mechanisms for the promotion of women; integrate equal opportunity into all legislation and policy. 8. Institutional mechanisms: produce and diffuse gender sensitive statistical information. 9. Human rights: respect fundamental rights to women; support and publicize women's rights. 10. Media: improve women's position and decision-making in the media; promote positive images of women in the media. 11. Environment: promote women and decision-making in environmental matters; integrate women's interests into sustainable development policies and programmes. 12. Discrimination against the girl child: eliminate all forms of discrimination against the girl child; eliminate discrimination of the girl child in health; protect girls who work; eliminate violence against the girl child; reinforce laws on the girl child. Institutional arrangements The Interministerial Committee for Equality between Women and Men, created on 31 March 1996, is charged with promoting, monitoring and implementing Luxembourg's National Action Plan. Each government entity, within its respective realm of authority, is responsible for carrying out the plan in collaboration with the Ministry of Women's Promotion. Allocation of national resources The National Society for Credit and Investment will serve as an alternative to traditional banking institutions by allowing poor women to acquire the necessary capital to undertake commercial business activities. NGO projects which promote women's activities may receive 300 per cent co-financing by the Ministry of Women's Promotion. International resources/support 1. The incorporation of women's issues in ODA was made explicit in a new law passed on 6 January 1996. 2. Luxembourg has selected UNIFEM as an intermediary through which it assists international programmes and projects. 3. In collaboration with UNICEF, Luxembourg finances projects to eliminate discrimination against young women in education and training. 4. Luxembourg also contributes through the OECD and the EU. Notes The plan includes a description of the status of women in Luxembourg under each critical area of concern.

Member State: New Zealand Title: Beyond Beijing: UN Fourth World Conference on Women: New Zealand Women Respond

Author of plan New Zealand Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordinating Committee, July 1996. Adoption NA Planning process The NGO Co-ordinating Committee distributes information to different actors and reports back to the Ministry of Women's Affairs. Support for planning process NA Advocacy NA Critical areas of concern 1. Poverty: review macroeconomic policies, revise laws and administrative practices, provide access to savings and credit, research, target migrant and refugee women. 2. Education: reduce high cost of education and large class size, give access to vocational training, science and technology and continuing education, introduce educational reforms. 3. Health: provide access throughout life cycle to affordable and high quality care, raise awareness, prevent HIV/AIDS and other diseases. 4. Violence: introduce user-friendly court system, provide independent monitoring of police, training courses, clearing house, preventative programmes, help hotlines; combat trafficking, review legislation. 5. Armed conflict: increase number of women as decision-makers, reduce military expenditures, provide assistance to refugees. 6. Economy: provide access to employment and appropriate working conditions, training, markets, technology; strengthen capacity and commercial networks, reconcile work and home life. 7. Power and decision-making: increase participation in power structures, target indigenous women, build a critical mass of women leaders, provide child care. 8. Human rights: introduce gender sensitive human rights education and training, ensure protection in law and practice, enhance legal literacy, focus on disabled women. 9. Media: increase participation in decision-making, promote non-stereotyped portrayal, develop women media networks, increase number of programmes addressing women's needs. 10. Environment: provide access to environmental decision-making, target indigenous women, introduce gender concerns in policy, achieve better labelling on the nature of food products. 11. The Girl child: increase awareness, eliminate discrimination in education and skills development, stop child labour and violence, strengthen the role of the family. Institutional arrangements The Ministry of Women's Affairs is the focal point and involved in policy-making and monitoring. The report acknowledges that there are insufficient mechanisms at all levels. The National Council of Women is to organize a women's forum in each town. Allocation of national resources The report underlines throughout all the critical areas the need for funding to carry out the work. International resources/support NA Notes Additional documents received: Beijing Platform Implementation: Interim Report. 15 October 1996. This report by the Ministry of Women's Affairs is considered an interim response and describes activities that have taken place in 1996. Progress on the implementation of the Beijing platform for action, Jan. 1998. WEDO Monitoring survey for 2-year progress report of Platform for Action. Annual report, 1996-97. Departmental forecast report, 1997-1998.

Member State: Norway Title: Norway's National Report on the Follow-up to the United Nations' Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing 1995

Author of plan The Ministry of Children and Family Affairs (MCFA), May 1997. Adoption NA Planning process A national strategy for mainstreaming gender concerns was discussed by State Secretaries from all ministries in 1996. Every four years a similar report is to be presented. MCFA is responsible for coordination and accountability. Support for planning process The Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Children and Family Affairs and the women's umbrella organization, FOKUS, organized a follow-up conference to discuss national implementation strategies. Advocacy MCFA organizes a two day seminar each year for professionals, researchers, and shelter workers to update their knowledge on violence. MCFA and the Gender Equality Council hold bi-annual conferences on gender mainstreaming for all municipalities. 1996 conference on "Gender in the Media". Critical areas of concern 1. Poverty: develop gender-based methodologies, conduct surveys, target single heads of households. 2. Education and Training: equal access to education, target illiterate women, access to vocational training, science and technology and continuing education, non-discriminatory education and training. 3. Health: access throughout life cycle to preventive health care, action against STDs, disseminate information. 4. Violence: establish centres for incest survivors, battered mothers, support services for migrant women, combat sexual abuse of disabled women, financial support for treatment centres offering therapy and counselling, do research, combat trafficking. 5. Armed conflict: increase participation of women in conflict resolution, gender equality in armed forces, reduce military expenditure and control the availability of arms. 6. Economics: provide access to resources, employment, markets and trade, The Sami Development Fund; achieve harmonization of work and family life, legislation. 7. Power and decision-making: provide equal access to power and decision-making, increase number of women in executive positions in public administration. 8. Human rights: revise legislation, promote legal literacy. 9. Media: non-stereotyping. 10. Environment: more women in environmental planning. 11. The girl-child: focus on education, information technology, nutrition, violence. Institutional arrangements The basic strategy for the promotion of gender equality in Norway is the mainstreaming of a gender perspective. All ministries are expected to integrate a gender perspective and the goal of gender equality in policy formulation, decision-making, and executive procedures at all levels and in all policy areas. Each ministry is responsible for its own implementation and evaluation which is to be given to the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs and presented to the Parliament. Allocation of national resources Research programme "Gender in transition: institutions, norms, identities", budget of NOK 25 million. The main government machineries are: MCFA; the Gender Equality Ombud enforcing the Gender Equality Act; the Gender Equality Council as the resource centre for gender equality and a focal point where different organizations meet; the Gender Equality Appeals Board; the Central Bureau of Statistics for collection of gender related data; the Research Council of Norway. International resources/support NA Notes The report of the follow-up conference was transmitted to all ministries which are expected to integrate a gender perspective into their work.

Member State: Portugal Title: Global Plan for Equal Opportunities

Author of plan High Commissioner for Matters relating to the Promotion of Equality and the Family Presidency of the Council of Ministers Adoption Resolution of the Council of Ministers 49/97 of 6 March 1997 approving the Global Plan for Equal Opportunities. Planning process NA Support for planning process NA Advocacy NA Critical areas of concern The Global Plan for Equal Opportunities has the following objectives: 1. Integrate the principle of equal opportunities for men and women in all economic, social and cultural policies: promote equality at the central, regional and local level of the state apparatus; train public officials. 2. Prevent violence and guarantee proper protection to women victims of violence: conduct campaigns, raise awareness of rights, provide shelters and help-line for victims of violence, eliminate trafficking, set up mediation centre. 3. Promote equal opportunities in employment and in work relations: provide access to employment, create mechanisms to detect, ensure and enforce legislation on equality within work and employment laws and domestic work laws, promote women's professional careers through projects supported by the European Social Fund. 4. Reconcile private and professional life: establish flexible working hours, provide child-care, guarantee the principle of proximity of married partners when making public administration appointments. 5. Social protection of the family and of maternity. 6. Health: assist adolescent mothers, provide family planning services, ensure privacy rights. 7. Education, science and culture: revise curriculum, improve teacher training, include sex education. Institutional arrangements Policy-making and Overseeing body: The Council of Ministers. Executive body: High Commissioner for Matters relating to the Promotion of Women and the Family. Follow-up: to be done by the Inter-ministerial Division of the Advisory Council of the Commission for Equality and women's Rights Superior Council of Statistics on gender data. In each sector, commissions are attached to relevant ministries such as the Permanent Commission of Social Regulation, Commission for Equality within Work and Employment and the Ministries of Internal Administration, Justice, Economics, Equipment, Planning and Administration, Agriculture, Rural Development, etc. Allocation of national resources The Council's decision requests that each of the Ministries involved in the execution assume responsibility for the financial charges incurred. International resources/support The European Social Fund contributes to the development of women's professional careers and creating mechanisms for harmonizing work and private life. Notes The Council's decision requires that within one year from the date of publication of the resolution, the High Commissioner for Matters relating to the Promotion of Women and the Family will present to the Council of Ministers a report on the implementation of the Global Plan.

Member State: Spain Title: III Plan para la Igualidad de Oportunidades entre Mujeres y Hombres 1997-2000

Author of plan The Institute for Women of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. Adoption Approved by the Council of Ministers. Planning process Women's NGOs, the Sectoral Conference on Women, relevant government agencies (not specified). Support for planning process The Spanish Government. Advocacy Expositions, mass media, conferences, lectures (in municipal city halls, universities), publications. Critical areas of concern The plan includes the following ten areas: 1. Education: promote equal access to education, develop education models that favour equality, promote women's participation in physical exercise and sports. 2. Health: contribute to the improvement of sexual and reproductive health, improve health problems linked to employment and domestic work. 3. Economy and employment: promote women's full access to economic and social rights, promote business activity among women. 4. Decision-making: favour gender balanced participation. 5. Means of communication: eliminate stereotypes. 6. Environment: encourage women's participation in environment protection. 7. Violence: eradicate sexual harassment in the workplace. 8. Social exclusion: combat poverty. 9. Rural women: improve development in rural areas. 10. Cooperation: promote gender mainstreaming in administration, strengthen cooperation with NGOs that are involved in promoting equal opportunity for women. Institutional arrangements Under "Application, Evaluation and Monitoring", joint responsibility of public administrative agencies, NGOs and other social entities is established. Evaluation, including both qualitative and quantitative measures, is to be undertaken on an annual basis. Follow-up to the agreements to the IV World Conference will take place through the joint efforts of Equality Organizations of the Autonomous Communities, the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces, and women's NGOs. A collaborative agreement between the Permanent Commission of the Interministerial Commission on Science and Technology and the Institute for Women has been established to collaborate on the Sectoral Programme for Women and Gender Studies. Allocation of national resources The Institute for Women, acting as a catalyst for women's issues, annually convenes a meeting to address funding for women's NGOs with the objective of strengthening the women's movement in Spain. Public resources have been made available for the following programmes: OPTIMA programme to promote women in business (101,245,000Pts), programme to strengthen business activity (134,981,202 Pts), training programmes for professionals in the health sector (7,400,000 Pts), and the women and employment programme (186,948,060 Pts). Within the III National Plan for Scientific Research and Technological Development, the following amounts were allocated to the Sectoral Programme for Women and Gender Studies: 100,000,000 Pts (1996), 120,000,000 Pts (1997), 140,000,000 Pts (1998) and 200,000,000 Pts (1999); intervention programme in prisons 200,000,000 Pts. International resources/support One objective under "cooperation" is to provide assistance to countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and in the Maghreb. Support to UNIFEM and INSTRAW is also mentioned. Notes Additional reports submitted: 1. Informe sobre las Actuaciones Llevadas a cabo por el Gobierno de Espana tras la Celebración de la IV Conferencia Mundial sobre las Mujeres Celebrada en Pekin 2. Las mujeres en cifras, 1997 Plan I initiated legislative reforms to create a legal basis for equality, Plan II (1990-1995) described the practical measures for equal opportunity, and Plan III (1997-2000) is the first step for the mobilization of policies and programmes to achieve equality for women. Various laws that address equal opportunity for women in decision-making and the workplace are currently being negotiated.

Member State: Sweden Title: Sweden's Follow-up to the UN Fourth World Conference on Women

Author of plan Ministry of Labour, July 1997. Adoption By the Parliament in March 1997. Planning process Every department has studied the Platform of Action in the respective areas of responsibility and reported to the Division for Equality Affairs at the Ministry of Labour. The results have been submitted to the Parliament. Support for planning process As a direct result of Beijing, 40 organizations formed an umbrella NGO organization SAMS to feed into the international dimension. 30 NGOs consult with the Government through the Equal Opportunities Commission which is chaired by the Minister for Equality Affairs. Advocacy NA Critical areas of concern 1. Poverty: emphasis is on development cooperation; Sweden allocates 0.7 per cent of GDP to development assistance yearly. 2. Education: ensure equal access to training and develop personnel ambitions, interests and talents. 3. Health: provide equal treatment and care, social insurance benefits from age 16, including sickness benefits. 4. Violence: take measures to counteract violence, support, aid and protect vulnerable women. 5. Armed conflict: pay attention to crimes and acts of violence committed against women in armed conflicts, punish perpetrators. 6. Economy: ensure same opportunities, combine work with parental responsibilities. 7. Power and decision-making: attain equal distribution of power and influence between women and men. 8. Human rights: ensure full enjoyment of women worldwide of human rights and fundamental freedoms. 9. Media: promote equality between men and women. 10. Environment: implement Agenda 21. 11. The Girl Child: promote national and international activities. Institutional arrangements The Cabinet Minister, the Equality Affairs Division of the Ministry of Labour and the Minister of Equality Affairs and the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman have the overall responsibility. Each sector has its own set of organisations involved in policy-making, implementation, evaluation and monitoring. 1. Education: National Agency of Education and two committees. 2. Health: Institute for Public Health, the Ministry for Health and Social Affairs, The Office of the Disability Ombudsman. 3. Violence: The Commission on Violence Against Women, a national centre for women. 4. Economy: National Audit Bureau, National Labour Market Administration, Government Commission, Ministry of Labour, Institute for Working Life, Business Leadership Academy, Swedish National Board for Industrial and Technical Development. 5. Decision-making: State boards reporting to Parliament annually, Cabinet Office's Equality Affairs Division, The Swedish Association of Local Authorities, the Federation of County Councils, Statistics Sweden, State's Renewal Fund. Allocation of national resources The following allocations are mentioned in the report: SEK 1,5 million (1995) for health sector, funds for disabled women; funds allocated to the National Police Board for the development of emergency protection programmes for women subjected to violence; establishment of chair in Sociology on Violence; Increase in funding to NGO for provision of shelters; Governmental funds to Departments of Journalism, Communication and Mass Communication at universities; for women professorships and research assistants, doctoral and post-doctoral candidatures. International resources/support NA Notes The report reflects Sweden's continued commitment to achieving the equality for women. It includes information on measures taken in 1996-1997 and continued measures under each critical area of concern.

Member State: Turkey Title: Report on the Progress of Implementing The Platform for Action

Author of plan Prepared by the relevant Turkish authorities.* (* not specified) Adoption NA Planning process The General Directorate on the Status and Problems of Women is an affiliated body to the Ministry of State, responsible for Women's Affairs and Social Services. An Interministerial Council has been set up to implement activities. Support for planning process Non-governmental organizations, representatives of ministries and different government departments participate in the Interministerial Council. Women parliamentarians gathered after the general elections to formulate new common strategies towards equality between women and men. At the regional level, a Eurasian Women Cooporation Group was established. Advocacy The official UN document was translated into Turkish and disseminated throughout the country. A summarized version of the Platform for Action is being published. Critical areas of concern The following actions have been taken related to the commitments made by Turkey in Beijing: 1. Legislation: women parliamentarians prepared a draft bill on the Amendment of the Civil Code, which, if enacted, would remove reservations to CEDAW. 2. Education: extend compulsory education from 5 to 8 years, increase literacy level of women to 100 per cent by the year 2000. 3. Health: reduce maternal and infant mortality rates by at least half by the year 2000. Institutional arrangements NA Allocation of national resources The report acknowledges that no additional resources and funding has been made available because of budget austerity. Efforts have been made to mobilize available financial resources with concrete results. International resources/support UNDP, the World Bank, and UNFPA is giving financial and technical assistance to projects which would be revised in terms of aims and goals in accordance with the initiatives and commitments of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Notes The report underlines that the Turkish Government supports the Optional Protocol to CEDAW and that the Platform for Action should be integrated into the outcomes of other UN Conferences, because each has implications for women's empowerment.

Member State: United Kingdom Title: One Year On: Implementing the Global Platform for Action from the UN Fourth World Conference on Women Government Progress and Plans

Author of plan Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Employment. Adoption NA Planning process The Cabinet sub-Committee on Women's Issues, the Women's Policy Network which is coordinated by the Sex and Race Equality Division (SRED) of the Department for Education and Employment contributed to the planning. SRED also held bilateral meetings with each Department. Support for planning process 120 organizations responded to the Government's consultation process. NGOs have been given contact points in all government departments to establish direct links. There is to be a annual review cycle with NGOs and new annual review meetings in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Government and the Equal Opportunities Commission has set up consortia in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on regional NAPs with focus on economy and education. Advocacy The Platform of Action has been distributed through the Internet, schools, and libraries. The Department for Education and Employment held a Conference for NGOs on priority areas. Several other conferences and campaigns. Critical areas of concern 1. Poverty: work incentives, credit and pension schemes, legislation. 2. Education and training: setting national targets, promoting science and technology, stereotypes. 3. Health: separate health targets for women in process, cancer, maternity, mental health and domestic violence; special emphasis on girl child education. 4. Violence: supervision of offenders, legislation, campaigns, girl child. 5. Armed Conflict: conflict resolution, landmines, nuclear test ban, international measures. 6. Economy: child care, equal pay and opportunities, stereotypes, rural women. 7. Power and Decision-making: public and private offices. 8. Human rights for women: withdrawal of reservations to CEDAW, actions against female genital mutilation. 9. Media : portrayal, decision making. 11. Environment: decision making, safe transportation. 12. The girl child: improve careers education and guidance, criminalization of sexual offenses against children abroad. Institutional arrangements Government agencies and private sector implement and monitor work in their own respective area but are feeding into the government for policy: Various offices, departments and interdepartmental groups are responsible for implementation and monitoring the critical areas of concern (e.g. Department for Education and Employment, Rural Development commission, Department of Trade and Industry). Allocation of national resources 64 million British Pounds have been allocated for national child care. The Government funds many initiatives in the voluntary sector on health issues. International resources/support The Overseas Development Administration (ODA) reviewed its existing strategy after the Fourth World Conference on Women. The UK is expected to see achievements towards the OECD/DAC targets for women by the year 2000 and is supporting multilateral agencies’ efforts to implement the Platform for Action. ODA expects an increase in the proportion of aid expenditure marked for gender equality in its bilateral programmes, because new gender sensitive projects will be added, for example in the education and good government sectors. Notes The report informs on progress achieved and action taken since September 1995 and defines a limited number of future actions under each critical area of concern. The Government holds an annual Parliamentary debate on women to achieve further mainstreaming. The Government published White Papers on different issues i.e. Health, Violence which are basic policy documents.

Member State: United States of America Title: America's Commitment: Federal Programs Benefiting Women and New Initiatives as Follow-up to the UN Fourth World Conference on Women.

Author of plan President's Interagency Council on Women, first headed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and as of March 1997 by the Secretary of State. May 1997. Adoption NA Planning process Various agency task forces have worked with the Interagency Council on Women to develop their agencies current and projected policies and programmes. Support for planning process NA Advocacy Conferences on "Healthy Women 2000 Initiative", "Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Partnerships to Improve Minority Women's Health", training conference on youth prostitution, "American's Commitment: The UN Women's Conference One Year Later". Critical areas of concern 1. Poverty: housing, food, working conditions, employment and training, welfare reform, social security, child care, distressed areas, statistics. 2. Education and training: equal access, school-to-work opportunities, eradicate illiteracy initiatives. 3. Heath: access to appropriate, affordable and quality care, information, legal action/protection, preventive care, nutrition, reproductive health , sexually transmitted diseases, aging, research. 4. Violence: legislation, law enforcement and the Criminal Justice System, Public Services and Education, female genital mutilation, political asylum, international initiatives, reporting. 5. Women and armed conflict: peacekeeping, reduce excessive military expenditures, availability of armaments, promote non-violent forms of resolution. 6. Economy: Access to employment, retirement security, non-discriminatory laws, transportation, low-income women. 7. Power and decision making: participation in public policy and federal employment. 8. Human rights of women: ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against women is top priority, achieve legal literacy. 9. Media: promote non-stereotyping, promote women in media, into decision-making position and ownership. 10. Environment: link to women's health. 11. The Girl-Child: education campaigns "girl power!", eliminate child labour. Institutional arrangements 1. President's Interagency Council on Women: policy making body containing representatives from NGOs and 16 federal departments 2. The White House Office for Women's Initiatives and Outreach is a liaison office to women's organizations. Each department (e.g. Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Health, Interior, Justice, Labour) is responsible for implementation and monitoring of its own initiatives. Allocation of national resources The report mentions many figures (1997 unless otherwise stated) across many departments such as USD 250,000 from Department of Housing and Urban Development for female home buyers; USD14 billion in child care for next 6 years; USD 4 billion for low income families; USD 490 million for employment, education, housing etc. for poor; USD 27.3 million for urban and rural development. International resources/support The Agency for International Development announced a new Gender Plan of Action in March 1996. It supports efforts, throughout the developing world, to enhance the economic status of women, education of girls, legal rights, participation in public life. Notes All critical areas have the common theme of recruiting women in decision-making positions in their respective areas. Under each critical areas of concern, the report contains extensive listings of programmes already implemented and laws adopted. Additional reports submitted: 1. U.S. Follow-up World Conference on Women. by the President's Interagency Council on Women's (May 1996) 2. Building on Beijing: United States NGOs Shape a Women's National Agenda published by the Stanley Foundation in cooperation with the American Association of University Women, Church Women United, National Association of Commission for Women and the women's Environment and Development Association.