Fighting gender inequalities: Istat’s experience

Abstract

Istat has long demonstrated a keen sensitivity to the issue of gender equality and promoted, in a pioneering way, the conduction of surveys, studies and research aimed at a greater knowledge and dissemination of data on gender equality, useful for guiding policies to promote equality. As of 2024, the Institute has a Gender Equality Plan covering for 2024-2026 and a Gender Budget 2022. Their introduction, in the more general set of planning and reporting tools adopted by the Institute, is in accordance with the Horizon Europe strategy, which considers Gender Equality Plans a tool recognized and supported by the European Commission for gender rebalancing among the staff of research institutions and by the Fourth Conference World Conference of Women in Beijing in 1995, and later in the EU context with the European Parliament resolution of July 3, 2003, which identify the construction of public budgets according to the gender perspective as a functional action for the dissemination of greater accountability and commitment of administrations to equality. Finally, an additional tool aimed at reducing inequality should be mentioned: the Plan of Positive Actions drafted by the Comitato Unico di Garanzia which constitutes, as of the 2022 edition, an integral part of the Integrated Plan of Activities and Organization.