Municipal Gender Audit Program Launched

Municipal Gender Audit Program Launched
Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, 05/25/2011

The Ministry of Women and the Progressio Foundation, with support from UN Women and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), launched the Municipal Gender Audit Program (MAG in Spanish): A Practical Application Guide in the Municipalities of the Dominican Republic, with the goal of promoting the fundamental mainstreaming of gender-focused formulation, management and evaluation of municipal policies on this issue.

The presentation was headed by Minister of Women, Alejandrina Germán with Mr. Nicolo Schiaparelli, representative of Progresso; Sonia Vásquez, Assistant representative of UNFPA; Amaya Pérez, Coordinator General of UN Women and consultant Susi Pola, who was in charge of presenting the MAG Guide.

The MAG program defines guidelines for the development of municipal policies being considered with regard to gender equality. It provides the tools necessary to sensitize politicians and civil servants on the need to incorporate women in territorial strategies especially now that there is a participatory methodology. In the process, it will identify the gender-related aspects obtained under Law 176-07 while strengthening mechanisms needed for the application of gender policies within the town halls and at local government levels.

The presentation was headed by Minister of Women, Alejandrina Germán with Mr. Nicolo Schiaparelli, representative of Progresso; Sonia Vásquez, Assistant representative of UNFPA; Amaya Pérez, Coordinator General of UN Women and consultant Susi Pola, who was in charge of presenting the MAG Guide.

Alejandrina Germán said the Ministry of Women is firm in its decision to continue strengthening equal opportunity and gender equality on the municipal level in that municipal governments are areas with close access and exposure to the needs of male and female citizens. As a consequence, they are the most genuine and current expression of the needs of women and the commitments they take on together with their male counterparts who seek to live in a just society with the same rights and responsibilities regardless of gender.

The Minister of Women said institutionalizing gender perspective on the municipal level presumes a prior knowledge of the implications of any decision, request or action in the government office for men and women. At the same time, this analysis will be integrated into the design, implementation and monitoring of polices, plans, programs and actions contributing, with these community spaces, to a culture of mutual support and solidarity, justice and equality “which are part of a larger contribution to societies on the path to human development and peace.”

“Following the approval of the law, the Ministry of Women drew up a regulatory proposal for the application of the gender components of the Law.

Ms. Germán said that in recent years, the Ministry of Women was developing permanent projects in this area, citing the initiatives undertaken to assure the incorporation of the gender perspective in Law 176-07 of the National District and Municipalities. She said discussions leading up to this Law were subject to consultation that took place in various public meetings of women, representatives of women’s movements and the participation of the Ministry of Women.

“Following the approval of the law, the Ministry of Women drew up a regulatory proposal for the application of the gender components of the Law. The proposal was also submitted to consultation and consideration in the various municipalities and among women and has served as a point of reference for local governments to adapt their gender policies and regulations,” Germán explained.

She said there is also a campaign underway to raise awareness in different provinces, municipalities and districts around the country and that it is contributing to the formation of human resources that can effectively participate in the design and implementation of policies, plans and programs that guarantee the objectives being sought and supported within the framework of the Law.

Alejandrina Germán said she believed the continuity of the work in this area appears to be close to the goal of providing the same rights and opportunities to both women and men while also fulfilling their needs and aspirations, “and I have no doubt that we will reach our goals as we use our will, capacities and resources.”

Alejandrina Germán is at the head of the main table at the event with Amaya Pérez, Nicolo Schiaparelli, Sonia Vásquez and Susi Pola.