Spanish Policy on Gender Equality : Relevant Current Legislation and Policies

This paper explores the main current Spanish legislation and policies relating to gender equality. Spain has moved in approximately three decades from being a ‘latecomer’ to being a ‘pioneer’ in gender equality policies. During this time Spain has consolidated its institutional machinery on gender equality policies (section 1.1). It has developed a strategy to promote gender equality based on equal opportunities, positive actions (2.3), and gender mainstreaming (2.2), and has adopted both plans and laws as policy instruments (2.1). It has approved a comprehensive law against gender violence that frames it as a public matter of high political priority and an issue of Human Rights (3.1), and an equality law that covers a broad range of issues, from paternity leave to a more gender-balanced political representation (respectively in 3.2 and 3.3). It has improved gender equality in politics, through a parity government and an increase in women’s political representation (3.3). It has placed the issue of reconciliation of work and family on the political agenda (3.2). The Spanish government is currently working on new laws such as a law on sexual and reproductive health and an equal treatment act covering different inequalities. Despite this progress, many challenges still lie ahead for Spanish policy on gender equality, some of which will be tackled in this briefing note.