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SDC-specialist website on the theme gender
 www.sdc-gender-development.net

Gender - Equal Rights, Equal Opportunity for Women and Men

Gender

For the SDC, gender equality is a transversal theme, a theme cutting across all of the SDC’s development programmes where it is systematically fostered. Indeed, the reduction of discrimination based on gender is at once both a goal of development and a pre-condition for development to take place.

Key facts
• Discrimination against women is the most common form of social exclusion worldwide.
• Women account for two thirds of those who cannot read or write.
• In 2005, the SDC was awarded the “Prix Égalité” (Equality Prize) of the Swiss Association of Commercial Employees for its equal opportunity policy.

The lopsided balance of power between the sexes is one of the causes of poverty and political instability. In the SDC’s opinion, reducing inequalities promotes social justice and sustainable development.

Equal rights despite gender-specific differences
Gender equality under the law is an established human right and should be implemented not just in Switzerland but also in developing countries and countries in transition. Both sexes should be able to avail themselves of their rights. However, at the same time, equality includes the right to be different. In principle, the opportunities open to men and women should be the same and should also be recognized as such by society. The SDC’s goal is to use its programmes and projects to foster gender equality in its partner counties, while taking into account the specific socio-cultural realities. Here, supporting local organizations with equality objectives plays a key role.

The SDC’s focus: gender equality, an objective in all of the SDC’s activities

In compliance with the article on equality in the Swiss Constitution, and within the frame of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which has been ratified by Switzerland, the SDC fosters equal opportunity of men and women at Headquarters, in its Cooperation Offices, and in political dialogue. Furthermore, it is engaged in promoting gender equality among its partner organizations. The SDC’s strategy is threefold: to implement gender as a cross-cutting theme; to support projects for empowerment of women wherever called for by glaring inequalities; and to strive to bring about institutional changes.

The SDC offers its members and partners a gender platform for the exchange of opinions and experience. Upon request, it organizes courses on the theme of gender equality. And finally, it provides working materials on gender mainstreaming for those interested. For instance, gender relationship patterns are analyzed as part of the initial review, and consideration of the specific needs and potential of women is mandatory in project planning and execution. The various activities in respect of equality are included in monitoring work. By applying a gender perspective in its activities, it is possible for the SDC to conduct evaluations and subsequently analyze the impact of its interventions on the relationship between the sexes.

Furthermore, SDC human resources policy consciously promotes equal opportunity inside the Agency.

Theme contact: Annemarie Sancar

Further topics in this field:

Gender and vocational training
A disproportionately high number of women are affected by unemployment and underemployment, making it all the more important to create employment and income opportunities for them through vocational training.

Equal opportunities for women
To progress gender equality in the organization and its staff, the SDC launched its policy on equal opportunities for women back in 1997, committing to achieving concrete gender equality targets and making equal opportunities for women a management mission.

Additional Information and Documents

Documents
  • Gender spezifische Auswirkungen von multilateralen (WTO) und bilateralen Handelsregeln
    Issue Paper
    Download (PDF, 89 KB) :  [de]  
  • Gender Equality - A key for poverty alleviation and sustainable development
    SDC's Gender Policy
    Download (PDF, 271 KB) :  [de]   [en]   [fr]   [it]   [es]  
  • Added Value
    Contributions to gender equitable economic development
    Download (PDF, 2984 KB) :  [de]   [en]   [fr]   [es]  
    Order
  • Trafficking in human beings in the Balkans
    Manual for Journalists
    Download (PDF, 289 KB) :  [en]  
  • Un seul monde
    (Disponible seulement en Suisse)
    N° 2/03 - Genre:
    Download (PDF, 1496 KB) :  [de]   [fr]   [it]  
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  • E+I CEDEFOP Summary conference report
    Download (PDF, 692 KB) :  [en]  
  • Wie kann man Kleinstkredite für Frauen nützlicher machen: Hintergrundinfos und Engagement der DEZA
    Download (PDF, 43 KB) :  [de]  
  • SDC’s Performance in Mainstreaming Gender Equality
    Evaluation 2009/1
    Download (PDF, 2120 KB) :  [en]  
  • Afghan women’s income-generating ventures: Between bee stings and ra ys of hope
    Asia Brief - March 2012
    Download (PDF, 636 KB) :  [en]  
  • Gender & Humanitarian Aid
    Why and how should SDC integrate gender into Humanitarian Aid?
    Download (PDF, 4702 KB) :  [en]   [fr]   [es]  
  • L’accent multilatéral / juin 2012: L'égalité est une question de volonté politique
    ONU Femmes
    Download (PDF, 1839 KB) :  [de]   [fr]  
  • SDC Gender Policy turns Ten
    english version from june on available
    Download (PDF, 7629 KB) :  [de]  
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External Links
Articles and Press releases