NOVEMBER 25-26, 2004, Athens, Greece
"GENDER EQUALITY POLICY
IN EUROPE: MAKING PROGRESS
IN DIFFICULT TIMES"

NOVEMBER 25-26, 2004
Athens, Greece

This two-day European Conference is organised as part of the EQUAPOL research project, which has studied the progress of gender equality policy and gender mainstreaming in Europe. EQUAPOL is financed under the EU 5th Framework Programme (see www.equapol.gr).

The aims of the conference are to review and discuss the findings of the research and to identify and explore options, opportunities and prospects for improving gender equality policy at national and European levels.

Around 150 participants are expected to participate in the conference. These include the EQUAPOL partners and mmembers of the policy reference group, national and EU policy-makers and experts and other interested parties in gender equality policy. Six thematic working groups will be organised, where all participants will have the opportunity to participate and discuss any of the following topics:

1. Gender equality and inequality in education: challenging gendered power structures and gender stereotypes
2. Gender studies and gender policy: links and synergies
3. The European Gender Institute: hopes, concerns and priorities
4. Changing the legal gender profile in Europe: the Constitution and new legal framework for gender equality
5. Gender analysis and gender budgeting: the use of gender mainstreaming tools
6. Gender equality and diversity: maintaining gender equalityÕs specificities and resources in the context of a broader equality approach

Speakers and discussants include:
Ana ALBERDI (Spain), Gertrud AoSTR…M (Sweden), Myria VASSILIADOU (EU), Mary BRA¹THWAITE (EU), Mary DALY (UK), V?ronique DEGRAEF (EU), Eva EBERHARDT
(Hungary), D?nise FUCHS (France), Ausra GRIBAUSKIEN? (Lithuania), Anne HAVNO/ R (Norway), Barbara HELFFERICH (EU), Agns HUBERT (EU), Anna KARAMANOU (Greece), Koula KASSIMATI (Greece), Nikos KOKOSALAKIS (Greece), Emanuela LOMBARDO (Spain), Lut MERGAERT (Belgium), Christina M…RTBERG (Sweden), Yvonne STRACHAN (UK), Sofia SPILIOTOPOULOU (Greece), Fotini SIANOU (Greece), Maria STRATIGAKI (Greece).

The Conference will take place at:
THE TRAINING AND CONFERENCE CENTRE OF THE NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE, 41-43, POSSIDONOS AVE., 166 75, GLYFADA, ATHENS.

To obtain more information and register for the conference, contact:
KEKMOKOP (Panteion University): Mr. Spyros TRYFONAS, 136. Syngrou Av, GR 17671, Kallithea, Athens, Greece,

Email: kekmokop@panteion.gr or tspyrid@panteion.gr
Tel.+30210 9238473, Fax.+30210 9238290.

EUROPEAN UNION
5th FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME FOR RESEARCH
E U R O P E A N C O N F E R E N C E
C O N F E R E N C E T H E M E S

Findings of EQUAPOL
Gender equality and gender mainstreaming have been prominent in European and national policy discourse since the mid 1990s. EQUAPOL has found that concrete implementation of the many political commitments to "integrate gender in all policies and programmes" is mixed, with considerable variation across the eight countries studied. There is also evidence of declining support at European level. While actions in support of gender mainstreaming are being taken, many of them have insufficient depth and sustainability. There is little evidence as yet that gender mainstreaming is leading to public policies that are more "gender-sensitive" or "women-friendly", and even in the most progressive of countries there remains entrenched resistance to de facto gender equality.
While views about the relevance and effectiveness of gender mainstreaming as a strategy are mixed, legislation and positive action are considered by many actors as essential elements of strategies for progress in gender equality.
The conference debates

The conference will address, in plenary and working groups, the following key issues:

• Nearly 10 years after Beijing, what has been achieved in Europe to promote gender equality and implement gender mainstreaming?
• What are the main trends and variations in policy, and how can these be explained?
• What do current European developments Ð the Constitution, institutional and political changes - mean for the future of gender equality policies?
• How can the specific requirements of gender equality be maintained and strengthened in the context of a shift towards diversity and the establishment of broad equality agendas and common institutions?
• How can a European Gender Institute best support gender equality and gender mainstreaming?
• What use is being made of instruments such as gender analysis, gender impact assessment and gender
  budgeting, and what are the most effective tools for integrating gender equality successfully into policy?
• What are the problems of gender inequality in education, and what are the lessons of national policies on gender equality in education?
• What contribution can gender studies make to the mainstreaming of gender equality in national and European policies?

The conference programme
As a policy-oriented conference, the format aims to be lively, interactive and lead to practical conclusions concerning future policy and practice at national and EU levels. The engagement of the participants in discussions will be encouraged, so as to benefit from the wide experiences and knowledge of those present.

EQUAPOL Research Consortium:
C o o r d i n a t o r :
Centre for Social Morphology and Social Policy (KEKMOKOP),
Panteion University, Athens, Greece
P a r t n e r s :
School of Sociology and Social Policy, QueenÕs University, Belfast, U.K.
DULBEA Ð Universit? Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
Luleao University of Technology, Luleao, Sweden
Law University of Lithuania, Vilnius, Lithuania