Institute for Equality between Women and Men

Overview

The mission of the Belgian Institute for the Equality of Women and Men is to guarantee and promote the equality of women and men and to fight against any form of discrimination and inequality based on gender in all aspects of life through the development and implementation of an adequate legal framework, appropriate structures, strategies, instruments and actions

Brief history

Date established: 2002
Mode of establishment: Law of 16 December 2002 creating the Institute for the equality of women and men
Status: Autonomous institution of public law
Competences and responsibilities:

The Institute for the equality of women and men 
1.undertake, develop, support and co-ordinate studies and research in the field of gender and equality of women and men as well as to assess the impact in terms of gender, of policies, programmes and measures;
2.address recommendations to the public authorities with a view to improving the relevant laws and regulations;
3.address recommendations to the public authorities as well as to individuals and private institutions on the basis of the results of the studies and research described under point 1;
4.organise the support offered to associations working in the field of equality between women and men, or projects aiming at achieving equality between women and men;
5.help, within the limits of its goal, any person requesting advice on the scope of his/her rights and obligations. This assistance enables its beneficiary to obtain information and advice on the possible ways to have his/her rights enforced;
6.take legal action in the case of disputes resulting from the application of criminal and other laws, specifically aimed at guaranteeing the equality of women and men;
7.draft and provide any information, documents and archives that might be useful within the limits of its mission;
8.without any possibility of identifying the parties, statistics and jurisdictional decisions that might be useful to assess the laws and regulations relating to gender equality gather and issue;
9.ask the competent authorities, when the Institute evokes facts that give reason to presume the existence of discriminatory treatment as provided by the laws and regulations relating to the equality of women and men, to gather information and to inform the latter of the result of the analysis of the facts in question;
10.to set up a network with the various key players in the field of gender equality.

Governing laws and regulations

Mandate

Sectors covered

Private, Public

Legal standing before the courts

Representing victims of discrimination before the courts, Bringing proceedings in the name of the equality body [with or without an identifiable victim], Intervention in support of a party, Amicus curiae brief or similar

Fields and grounds

Other grounds

In employment and beyond employment: pregnancy, medically assisted reproduction, childbirth, breastfeeding, maternity, family responsibilities, gender expression, sexual characteristics, and medical or social transition.

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)

The Management Board is responsible for determining the general policy of the Institute, on the basis of proposals made by the Direction. It has the ability to give an opinion on the draft management plan and operational plan. The Direction is responsible for implementing the decisions of the Management Board. The Direction ensures the daily management of the Institute. It defines a 6-year management plan with strategic and operational targets. The Institute is divided in several cells. On one side, cells responsible of gender equality administration (e.g. : international policies, fight against violence), other dealing with the missions of the Equality body.

Procedure for nomination and appointment of management and board

Direction (mandate 6 years renewable) nominated by the Minister of Equal opportunities
Board appointed by Royal Decree (proposal of Minister of Equal opportunities approved by Council of Ministers)

Regional or Local offices

This institution does not have regional officies.

Accountability

National Parliament, Head of State, National Ministry, National Audit Institution, Other