As an organisation dedicated to promoting Equal Opportunity policies, the Andalusian Institute for Women has decided to create the Equality and Gender Unit to provide the Administration a stable support structure to implement and consolidate Gender Mainstreaming in the region.

This is the first experience to provide policy management teams with specific knowledge and tools to integrate the gender dimension in their decisions and activities, thus providing an efficient response to the European Community recommendations.

The Equality and Gender Unit is promoted and co-ordinated by the Andalusian Institute for Women and the Economy and Finances Bureau through the General Direction of European Funds.

The Unit arises out of:

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• The European Commission Policy for "integrating equal opportunities between women and men in Community policies and actions".
• The inclusion of the gender approach in the Structural Funds Rules, as a natural consequence of the Amsterdam Treaty.
• The Framework Strategy or Action Programme on Community strategy on Equal Opportunities between men and women (2001-2005).
• The policy for enhancing the implementation of integration measures which ensure the Integrated Gender Approach in public management, promoted by the Institute and developed by the regional government of Andalusia.
• The Operative Programme which develops the policies financed by the Community Support Framework 2000-2006.