ODIHR’s Making Laws Work for Women and Men: A Practical Guide to Gender-Sensitive Legislation looks at the legislative process as a vital entry point for gender mainstreaming, while taking into account the direct and tangible impact of legislation on people’s lives. The Guide is primarily intended for members of parliament and parliamentary staff, and aims to offer practical guidance on what gender-sensitive legislation is, why it is important, what it consists of and how it can be integrated it into routine parliamentary work.
The publication provides a step-by-step guide on how to implement gender-sensitive legislation. It includes recom327836mendations on how to conduct a gender needs analysis in a given sector, how to assess the gender implications of specific laws, how to integrate gender-focused activities in new legislative acts, and how to develop gender-sensitive indicators that can facilitate the monitoring of a law’s implementation.
The publication also discusses some of the main principles of gender-responsive budget analysis, a central component of any successful gender-sensitive legislation. Finally, the Guide provides its readers with a self-assessment tool to guide them through different stages of law-making from a gender perspective.
This Guide primarily targets members of parliament and parliamentary staff, and aims to offer practical guidance on what gender-sensitive legislation (GSL) is, why it is important, what it consists of and how to integrate it into routine parliamentary work.
- Part I begins with a general overview of the international framework on gender equality and gender mainstreaming.
- Part II discusses GSL concepts, principles and benefits; addresses the question of what a GSL is and is not; and refers to the role of parliaments in promoting GSL.
- Part III provides a step-by-step guide on how to implement GSL, including recommendations on how to conduct a gender needs analysis in a given sector, how to assess the gender implications of specific laws, whether and how to integrate gender-focused activities in new legislative acts, and how to develop gender-sensitive indicators that can facilitate the monitoring of the law’s implementation. This Part also discusses some of the main principles of gender-responsive budget analysis, a central component of any successful GSL.
- Part IV outlines approaches to institutionalizing GSL in the routine work of parliaments, while drawing on good practice examples of parliaments from around the world, including in OSCE participating States. This Part focuses on three major principles for GSL mainstreaming in parliaments: adopting an actionable GSL strategy, creating the parliamentary infrastructure for GSL, and collaborating with external stakeholders. This Part also outlines some of the enabling factors that contribute to the institutionalization of GSL.
- Part V provides concluding remarks and a set of general good practices related to the implementation of GSL.
You can download this guide for free here.
