INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES RESPONSIBLE FOR EQUALITY BETWEEN WOMEN AND MEN
Women's Rights Series, FEMM 107 EN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• INTRODUCTION
• I. THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
  Belgium - Denmark - Germany - Greece - Spain - France - Ireland - Italy - Luxembourg - Netherlands - Austria - Portugal - Finland - Sweden - United Kingdom
• II. INSTITUTIONS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
  • European Parliament
  • European Commission
• III. THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE
• IV. OTHER EUROPEAN ORGANISATIONS
• V. THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANISATION
• VI. SOME INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
• Annex: Parliamentary bodies responsible for equal opportunities in the EU Member States

INTRODUCTION

This guide is an extensively reworked version of a document drawn up by the Directorate-General for Research (Women's Rights Series). It aims to provide a survey of the institutions and bodies responsible for promoting equal opportunities for men and women in the Member States of the European Union, the European Institutions, the Council of Europe and the United Nations. We have also included some organisations representing women in Europe and worldwide.

The description of the structure in each Member State begins with a reference to the ministry responsible for equal opportunities in the relevant country, in the case of those countries which have a specific women's rights portfolio. For countries where equality laws are firmly entrenched in society, as in the Nordic countries, a brief description is included.

In view of their specific nature, parliamentary committees on equal opportunities for women and men in the EU Member States are listed in an annex, with their electronic address.

This information has largely been compiled from data supplied by the organisations themselves and from their Internet sites. In view of the considerable number of information sources we have not been able to quote the source in every instance. If an Internet address is given, this signifies that the data have been obtained or confirmed by this source.

The administrative structure of some countries changed while this guide was being compiled. Therefore although we reconfirmed most of the information, some of it has been superseded or did not reach us in time.

We are grateful to all those contributors whose comments, written material and suggestions have enabled us to draw up this guide, and invite them to continue to send us their comments.

© European Parliament: 10/1999