For some, gender mainstreaming, the basis of the EU’s gender equality policy, has been the most effective tool for its implementation. Others indicate that its main weakness is the fact that it does not allow for radical critique of the existing relations of power. Usually, an important barrier is the lack of political will, making implementation of gender equality policies purely declarative. Should gender mainstreaming really be put to the side, since it lost its political potential for change? The authors of the latest publication by the Warsaw Office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation attempt to answer this question. Some of them took part in the debate promoting the Polish version of the publication, which was held on 3rd October 2008 in Warsaw.

Practically no critical analysis of gender mainstreaming was carried out in the new member countries. Usually, it is promoted as a tool for implementation of gender equality policy, and for pressuring governments to take action in this area by indicating that it constitutes a part of the EU’s official policy. The new publication of the Warsaw Office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation asks questions about strategic potential of gender mainstreaming. Its starting point is the paper prepared by Barbara Unmüβig, co-chairperson of the HBS board, presented during the international conference organised by HBS in September 2005 and later expanded. The publication presents the historical development of the concept of gender mainstreaming, analyses its implementation in Central and Eastern Europe, and makes a number of recommendations concerning more effective ways of utilising the political potential of gender mainstreaming.

Presentation by Barbara Unmüβig during the debate on 3rd October 2008 (pdf, 7 pages, 69.2 kB)
The full publication in English (pdf, 158 pages, 1 MB)
The full publication in Slovak (pdf, 50 pages, 1,5 MB)