Abstract 
of the speech at the conference on “Gender Budgets, Financial Markets, Financing for Development”, February 19th and 20th 2002 at the Heinrich-Boell Foundation in Berlin. 

 "In June 2001, the Nordic Ministers of Finance agreed that co-operation be launched with the Gender Equality Sector with a view to incorporating a gender perspective in Nordic economic policy. Credit should be given to Finland, then holding the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, and more specifically to two committed Finnish ladies. Maria-Kajsa Aula, Chair of the Finnish Parliament Finance Committee and Suvi-Anne Siimes, Minister of Finance in the Finnish Government were instrumental in this regard. As a consequence, a working group was constituted earlier this year that includes representatives of the Ministries of Finance and the National Machineries for gender equality in all five Nordic countries. The WG is only in its inaugural phase. In my speech, I focus on practical steps towards gender budgeting at the Nordic level and in my own country Norway.

The Nordic countries have a long tradition of co-operating for the promotion of gender equality. They have in general a positive image and reputation for being quite advanced in terms of women’s participation in all fields of society. However, gender disparities and gender discrimination persists. Gender based violence is a serious problem. Inequality persists in economic life, and there is insufficient awareness of diversity and the need to tackle double or multiple discrimination affecting minority groups.

We (the Nordic countries) realised a number of years ago that gender equality cannot be achieved through an isolated sector policy. A gender perspective needs to be incorporated in mainstream policies in all fields. Accordingly, all the Nordic countries as well as the Nordic Council of Ministers have over the last 10-15 years developed gender mainstreaming strategies. However, this approach has not so far been reflected in the state budgets.

Let me explain some of the background to the recent Nordic gender budget initiative. In August 2000, the Nordic Ministers for Gender Equality adopted a Programme for Nordic co-operation for the promotion of gender equality 2001-2005. Incorporation of a gender equality perspective in Nordic economic policy was identified among the three main priority areas. Reference is made to the commitment undertaken at Beijing to incorporate a gender perspective in all important policy decisions (gender mainstreaming), including the state budget – a key policy document in every country.

It is considered that state budgets that are gender mainstreamed in a consequent, visible and professional way would greatly contribute to gender equality. Facts and new knowledge will have to be provided. Diversity in gender relations among different population groups needs to be studied and taken into account. In the longer term, the aim is to ensure each country knows how the total state expenses affect women and men and gender relations.

State budgets of course are intrinsically national instruments and the impact of a joint Nordic project is limited. The contribution that can be made at the Nordic level is basically to provide inspiration, development of tools and methods, launching of pilot projects, evaluation of progress made and exchange of best practices.

The Nordic Council of Ministers’ own budgets will be no exception. The Ministers in charge of Nordic Co-operation (samarbeidsministrene) have agreed that the Nordic budget for 2003 will include a gender perspective. This is defined not as a separate “women’s budget”, but rather analysing the allocation of funds in general from a gender equality perspective. This entails assessing the implications or consequences for women / girls as opposed to men / boys. How does a specific budgetary allocation affect gender relations? Are inequalities diminished, do they increase or remain unchanged? The presumption is that reallocation be initiated where the conclusion is negative. For the 2003 budget, number of sector policies have been selected as pilots. They include (not an exhaustive list) education and research, culture, labour market issues, social affairs and health, welfare policy, drugs abuse and Nordic-Baltic co-operation. These are all sectors characterised by a relatively high level of gender awareness, and activities that can easily be statistically analysed from a gender perspective. Sex-disaggregated statistics will be required for all reporting relating to the allocation of funds for individuals or organisations with personal membership. It is foreseen that within the next 2 budget years all sectors of Nordic co-operation will be involved.

Gender budget initiatives have been taken at the national level in some of the Nordic countries. Inspired by the OECD and Nordic Council of Ministers Conference in Paris November 2000 on Gender Mainstreaming – Economic Growth and Competitiveness, the then Norwegian Minister of Children and Family Affairs, Ms Karita Bekkemellem Orheim, declared that she wished to incorporate a gender perspective in the state budget. Our current Minister, Ms Laila Dåvøy, although a different party affiliation, is likewise committed to the idea.

For the budget proposition 2000-2001, the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs had launched a pilot project to incorporate a gender perspective in the budget proposition of the ministry. For the first time, a chapter on gender equality as a crosscutting theme was included in the introductory part of the proposition. This was inspired modelled according to the presentation of environmental impact, which can be found in all ministries’ budget propositions. The focus is not on measures explicitly aimed at promoting gender equality (that are routinely presented as a sector policy of the Ministry), but highlighting the relevance of gender in other policy; youth policy, consumer affairs, family policy.

This initiative was “marketed” to the Government Committee of State Secretaries (Deputy Ministers) on Gender Equality, and three more ministries have initiated similar processes. These cover education and research, municipal and regional affairs and immigration policy, and agriculture.

In the process, we have consulted international expertise. The Swedish professor in economy and expert in gender mainstreaming Agneta Stark, and the Australian Professor and pioneer in terms of gender budgeting Rhonda Sharp.

Ours is a fully inside government initiative. Now, we have learnt from gender budget initiatives in other countries the importance of having the Parliament on board and civil society groups. Gender budgeting, like gender mainstreaming, is not widely accepted in the women’s movement as a useful strategy for gender equality. The Parliament committee in charge of our ministry has expressed appreciation of our modest gender budget pilot. But we need more active and critical support.

Looking ahead: Gender budgeting depends on the availability and use of sex-disaggregated statistics and gender relevant data. We need research to document the relevance as well as the economic rationality for doing this. There is also a need for a critical opinion and we will invite some sort of co-operation from Parliament and civil society groups. We plan for a feasibility study to help set out a strategy for gender budgeting. In the longer term, we see the need for quite extensive research to underpin gender budget initiatives in transport policy, financial policy etc. The barriers are lack of relevant statistics and information, and lack of resources to close those gaps. This is why we need to mobilise a critical opinion outside Government.

Finally, co-operation is crucial. Mainstreaming implies those involved in the regular budget process need to be mobilised. Gender expertise is needed to provide substance. Such co-operation is at the core of both the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Norwegian Ministry of Children and Family Affairs initiatives."

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Aktualisiert: 13.02.2005