On 15 December, the Institute for the Equality of Women and Men, the Belgian independent public institution that guarantees and promotes gender equality, celebrated its fifteenth anniversary at The Egg in Brussels.
In the presence of partner organisations and colleagues, speeches were held by Mrs Evelyn Collins, Managing Director of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and former Chairperson of Equinet, and Ms Kalliope Agapiou Josephide, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of EIGE. In their keynote speeches, they emphasised the importance of the existence and added value of an institution that focuses on gender-based discrimination and inequality. Afterwards, prizes were awarded to the Institute's 30 godfathers and godmothers who fought for or are currently working for equality between women and men. In this way, the Institute wanted to thank them for their commitment to a more gender-equal society.
On the occasion of the Institute's fifteenth anniversary, it also published a publication that looks back on the Institute's origins, sketches out its daily activities and functions and provides a glimpse of the future. Access the publication in French and Dutch here.