Gender equality

• Author: Tornasi, Zeno; Delaney, Niamh
• Pages: 17-28

17

2. GENDER EQUALITY

Gender equality and gender mainstreaming in research are a priority for Member

States and Associated Countries of the European Research Area (ERA), since the

Communication on the ERA of 7 July 2012. Horizon 2020 made significant progress

in promoting gender equality in the European Research & Innovation policy

(Regulation Establishing Horizon 2020) in terms of strengthening its legal basis, by

enshrining gender equality as a general principle of the programme in Article 16,

singling it out as one of the components of Responsible Research and Innovation in

Art. 14(l) on cross-cutting issues, and featuring it as part of SwafS in Annex I - Part

V, Art. 3(b). Furthermore, gender equality is also mentioned as a cross-cutting

priority in Art. 2.c of Annex I to Horizon 2020’s Specific Programme. Consequently,

gender equality has been a strategic orientation and a line of activity in each Horizon

2020 work programme.

The ERA Communication was followed by the Council conclusions of 1 December

2015 on advancing gender equality in the European Research Area, acknowledging

the contribution of gender equality to the quality of research and innovation. The

need for sustainable cultural and institutional change along the three following

objectives was reaffirmed:

 Removing barriers to the recruitment, retention and career progression of women

researchers;

 Addressing gender imbalances in decision making processes;

 Integrating the gender dimension in research and innovation content.

In the proposal on establishing the specific programme implementing Horizon

Europe, the ‘Reforming and Enhancing the European R&I System’ part of the

‘Widening Participation and Strengthening the ERA’ horizontal pillar includes:

‘Supporting and monitoring gender equality as well as other forms of diversity in

scientific careers and in decision making, including in advisory bodies, as well as the

integration of the gender dimension in research and innovation’. Furthermore, Article

2 includes ‘strengthening the gender dimension across the Programme’ as an

operational objective and A rticle 4.3d f oresees ‘gender equality, including the

integration of gender dimension in the R&I content’ forming part of the multi-annual

strategic plan.

2.1. Policy objectives

The gender equality (GE) policy objectives for the SwafS work programme are the

three GE objectives established for the ERA and transposed into Horizon 2020:

 Gender equality in careers at all levels;

 Gender equality in decision-making;

 Integration of the gender dimension into R&I content

To achieve these goals, a systemic approach was developed to tackle gender

inequalities, through institutional change. The approach chosen, already initiated

under FP7 was to support the implementation of Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) in

research performing organisations (RPOs), including universities and research

funding organisations (RFOs).