Gender mainstreaming is a multifaceted strategy to integrate a gender perspective into all levels and stages of policy and program development, from preparation to evaluation – across all sectors and at both international, national, and subnational levels. By integrating gender perspectives across all policies and programs, gender mainstreaming ensures that these initiatives are responsive to the diverse needs of society, thereby preventing the perpetuation of existing inequalities. At its core, gender mainstreaming is about improving the quality, relevance, and effectiveness of policy-making and legislative work by considering gender implications at every stage and, by doing so, ensuring gender-responsive (or transformative) policies. The approach is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focusing on human rights, justice, the rule of law, and accountability, particularly emphasising vulnerable groups and the principle of leaving no one behind.
Why gender mainstream? The approach of gender mainstreaming is particularly important as traditional policies often fail to recognise the different gendered impacts, operating under the assumption of gender neutrality, even though structural gender inequalities persist. Gender mainstreaming seeks not just to prevent new inequalities but also to address and rectify existing ones. This involves identifying current gender disparities and developing policies to undo the underlying causes of these inequalities. Incorporating gender perspectives is a way to ensure that inequalities are not perpetuated. Gender mainstreaming pays special attention to vulnerable and marginalised groups, recognising the necessity of an intersectional approach that addresses the unique challenges faced by groups experiencing multiple forms of discrimination. By focusing on these groups, gender mainstreaming ensures that no one is left behind and that policies and programs are inclusive and equitable for all, regardless of gender.
To put it briefly, gender mainstreaming is considered essential in achieving gender equality.
How to perform gender mainstreaming? Gender mainstreaming is implemented through measures such as:
Policy and legislative frameworks demonstrating commitment to gender equality and gender mainstreaming.
Action plans and strategies, including objectives, targets, actions, steps, methods, and responsibilities in terms of gender mainstreaming.
Knowledge generation building up awareness and knowledge on gender equality and gender mainstreaming, e.g. through courses and training programs.
Resources allocated for gender mainstreaming activities.
Stakeholder involvement with a focus on involving diverse stakeholder groups, including women from local communities and Indigenous Peoples.
Engagement of gender expertise involving consultation with both internal and external experts in gender equality and gender mainstreaming.
Monitoring and evaluation ensuring accountability and reporting mechanisms to track progress, gaps etc.
Initiatives aimed at achieving gender balance in decision-making
Gender-responsive language in policy documents, ensuring that policies address gender equality.
Collection and availability of sex-disaggregated data to establish a foundation for gender analyses, impact assessments and gender budgeting.
Application of data in gender analyses
Gender analyses identify differences between women and men in terms of their relative position in society and the distribution of resources, opportunities, constraints, and power in a given context. The first step is to collect available data and identify data gaps, and the second step is to uncover the underlying causes of gender inequalities. The third step is to let the analysis inform policies, programmes and projects directly, or to inform more specific gender impact assessments.
Gender Impact Assessment (GIA)
GIA is an ex-ante assessment of a law, policy, or programme to estimate the likelihood of a given decision having positive, negative, or neutral consequences for the state of gender equality. A primary objective is to adapt the policy to ensure that discriminatory effects are removed or reduced. Beyond avoiding negative effects, a GIA as well as a gender analysis, can also be used in a more transformative way as a tool for defining gender equality objectives and formulating the policy to proactively promote gender equality.
Gender budgeting
Gender budgeting is an approach for enhancing gender equality through budget management, e.g. how public resources are collected and spent. Though seemingly gender-neutral, national budgets impact individuals differently based on gender and identity. By analysing the budget from a gender perspective, gender budgeting exposes these disparities and integrates gender perspectives throughout the budgeting process.
EIGE provides detailed information and guides for institutions on gender mainstreaming, gender budgeting and other gender-responsive initiatives. Also, in 2023, the OECD launched The Toolkit for Mainstreaming and Implementing Gender Equality. It is a practical resource to help governments, parliaments, and judiciaries implement the OECD Recommendation on Gender Equality in Public Life. In the context of the Nordic countries and in relation to climate work, chapter 5.1.3 in this report contains more information on tools and guiding resources. For further information on gender mainstreaming as well as guides and tools, visit EIGE’s platform on the subject.
In summary, gender mainstreaming is a comprehensive approach that embeds gender equality in every aspect of policy-making. It requires a systematic consideration of gender differences and aims to create policies that are inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the needs of all individuals, regardless of gender.
3.2 International and Nordic commitments for gender mainstreaming
This section describes the international and Nordic mandates for gender mainstreaming and obligations to work towards gender equality.
The Nordic countries were among the 189 states approving the ambitious Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA) in 1995. The BPfA outlines 12 critical areas of concern focusing on safeguarding women's human rights and ensuring that gender considerations are integrated into all national, regional, and international policies and programs. Progress on implementing the BPfA is reviewed every five years by the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), with reports based on national reviews from UN member countries. Five reviews have been conducted, the latest in 2020, based on national review reports submitted in 2019.
In the context of the European Union, gender mainstreaming is a fundamental principle and member states are obligated to integrate gender perspectives into their policies and activities as part of their commitment to promoting gender equality. The Amsterdam Treaty, which entered into force in 1999, played a crucial role in embedding gender mainstreaming into EU policies and activities. Article 3(2) of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and Article 8 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) specifically emphasise the importance of promoting gender equality as a fundamental EU objective. These articles require member states to actively work towards eliminating gender discrimination and promoting gender equality in all aspects of their policies and actions.