Institute of Women

Overview

The Spanish Institute of Women, an autonomous body attached to the Ministry of Equality through the State Secretariat for Equality and Against Gender-Based Violence, works to support progress of women in all areas of society since 1983. It is specifically entrusted to foster gender equality and the equal participation of women and men in all areas of public life, in particular in political, economic, cultural and social life, and to foster and implement gender mainstreaming.
The Institute is also the National Equality Body under the Gender Equal Treatment Directives (the 2010/41 on self-employed persons, the 2006/54 Recast directive, and the 2004/113 Goods and services directive) and Directive (EU) 2019/1158 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on work-life balance for parents and carers and repealing Council Directive 2010/18/EU. Among specific functions carried out by the Institute as such are: to receive and channel, in the administrative order, discrimination complaints on the ground of sex, independently assisting victims of discrimination on how to proceed with their claims; to prepare and publish reports, studies and formulate recommendations on gender equality. The Institute, within the scope of its competencies, also collaborates with non-governmental state-level organizations, public or private entities and international organisations dedicated to gender equality issues.

Brief history

The Institute of Women was created by Law nº 16/1983, of 24 October. It was born as an independent organisation attached, at that time, to the Ministry of Culture, in order to reinforce the constitutional principles set out in Arts. 9.2 and 14, and to promote the conditions to facilitate social equality between women and men, as well as to support the participation of women in political, cultural, economic and social life.
With the emergence of the Institute of Women came an institutional policy for equal opportunities, gathered under four Women’s Equal Opportunities Plans, aimed to eradicate gender differences and discriminations, since 1988 until 2005. The Fourth Women’s Equal Opportunities Plan 2003-2006 was inspired by the European Community directives and by the Community Framework Strategy on Equality between Men and Women (2001-2005), and sought to strengthen gender mainstreaming, promoting specific equal opportunities policies and positive action.
In March 2004, the government committed itself further by creating the General Secretariat for Equality Policy within the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs, to which the Institute of Women was attached. This institutional framework was the driving force behind the two most significant acts passed on gender equality: the Organic Law 1/2004, of 28 December, on Integrated Protection Measures against Gender Violence; and the Organic Law 3/2007, of 3 March, for effective equality between women and men. These laws were pioneering initiatives within the legislative framework of European Union member states.
In 2008, the Ministry of Equality was created, to which the Institute of Women was attached, through the General Secretariat for Equality Policy. This ministry was responsible for the proposal and implementation of Government policy in the areas of equality and the fight against all kinds of discrimination and against gender violence.
Late 2010, following the crisis period, the Ministry of Equality became the General Secretariat for Equality, attached to the Ministry of Health, Social Policy and Equality. After the administrative restructuring that took place in December 2011, and through Royal Decree 200/2012 of 23 January, which created the new State Secretariat for Social Services and Equality, to which the Institute of Women was attached.

The Institute of Women has been participating and responsible for the drafting and follow-up of the Strategic Equal Opportunities Plans 2008-2011, 2014-2016 and 2022-2025.

In June 2018, the Institute of Women and for Equal Opportunities, was attached to the Ministry of the Presidency, Parliamentary Relations and Equality through the State Secretariat for Equality and since January 2020 the Institute is attached to the Ministry of Equality, throught the State Secretariat for Equality and Against Gender-Based Violence.

The Institute of Women works to support the progress of women in all areas of society since 1983, and it is also the National Equality Body under the Gender Equal Treatment EU Directives (the 2010/41 on self-employed persons, the 2006/54 Recast Directive, the 2004/113 Goods and Services Directive) and the Directive (EU) 2019/1158 on work-life balance.

Governing laws and regulations

Mandate

Sectors covered

Private, Public

Functions

• Making recommendations on claims of discrimination [or other decisions on the merit that are not legally binding]
• Organising training, advising and capacity-building activities for particular stakeholders on meeting their obligations
• Organising awareness raising and communication activities
• Advising government on the development, adoption and amendment of law and policy
• Monitoring national law and policy from an equality perspective
• Carrying out specialist research on equality and non-discrimination
• Reporting to national and international bodies on discrimination issues
• Networking with relevant entities in the country and internationally

Fields and grounds

Other mandates of the institution

Standalone dedicated national equality body

Institution

Management and Appointments

Management

Single headed equality body (led by director or ombudsman/commissioner)

https://www.inmujeres.gob.es/elInstituto/organigrama/Docs/Organigrama_IM.pdf

Regional or Local offices

This institution does not have regional officies.

Accountability

National Ministry