Equality between women and men in the EU
Fields marked with * are mandatory.

About you
*Are you replying to this consultation in a professional capacity and/or on behalf of an organisation
Yes
No
Which organisation?
Government of the Netherlands
Ministry of Education, Culture and Science – Gender Equality and LGBT Equality Department

*What type of organisation is this?
NGO women's rights organisation
NGO men's organisation
NGO youth organisation
European institution
EU Member State government
Regional/Local authority
National government outside the EU
Academic institution
Media
International organisation
Social partner organisation
Equality body organisation
Other
Please specify

What is your function/position within the organisation?

Which country do you work in?
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic

Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom
Other (please specify)
Please specify the country

Which country do you live in?
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia

Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom
Other (please specify)
*Please specify the country

Questionnaire
*The current European Commission Strategy on equality between women and men sets the
following priorities:
Equal economic independence
Equal pay for equal work and work of equal value
Equality in decision-making
Dignity, integrity, and an end to gender-based violence
Gender equality in external relations
Horizontal issues of gender roles and legislation
Do you consider these priorities to still be valid for the Commission's work on equality between
women and men after 2015?
Yes
No
Partially

Other
Don't know
Please specify
Text of 1 to 200 characters will be accepted (still 1 more characters expected)

Here is a list of inequalities which men or women can face. In your opinion, which of them should
be dealt with most urgently?
at most 2 choice(s)
Facing prejudice because of preconceived ideas about the image and role of women and men
The unequal sharing of caring and household tasks between men and women
Harassment faced by women, e.g. on public transport, in the street, and online
The small number of women in positions of power in politics and businesses
The low employment rate of women
Women being paid less than men for the same work or work of equal value
Women being more likely than men to live in poverty
Women receiving lower pension benefits than men
The specific issues faced by women who are single parents
Gender-based violence
Men having a lower life expectancy than women
Boys having a higher school drop-out rate
Women being more discriminated against than men in the workplace
Widespread violation of women's rights worldwide
None
Don’t know
Other
Please describe briefly
Economic independence of women is a priority for the Netherlands. This is also related to
combatting VAW.

In your opinion, is there any specific group of women and men that requires more focused
attention in the Commission's efforts to ensure equality between women and men?
at most 2 choice(s)
Young women and men
Elderly women and men
Women and men with disabilities
Migrant women and men
Single parents
Working parents with young children

Women and men belonging to minorities (e.g. Roma)
None of these groups should be targeted specifically
Don't know
Other
Please describe briefly
If a specific group should be targeted, then the protection of LBTI women and persons.

*In your opinion, on what actions should the Commission focus to ensure equality between women
and men?
at most 2 choice(s)
Improving data collection and monitoring
Enforcing and monitoring existing legislation
Introducing legislation
Strengthening cooperation and coordination on gender equality policy at EU level
Providing funding
Facilitating European Networks
Providing fora for mutual exchange of practices
None
Don’t know
Other
Please describe briefly
The EU should focus on cooperation and coordination and on mutual exchange.

Women in the labour market
One of the EU’s objectives is to increase the number of women in the labour market. In your
opinion, what are the most effective ways to achieve this?
at most 2 choice(s)
Increasing flexible work arrangements and/or part-time work for women and men
Making child care more accessible, more affordable, and/or of better quality
Improving women's access to jobs traditionally held by men
Improving women's access to better paid jobs
Making sure women earn the same as men for the same work or work of equal value
Making sure it is beneficial financially for women to work (by changing rules on taxes and
social benefits)
Making it easier for women and men to combine a job with household and care responsibilities
Making sure that recruitment procedures do not discriminate against women
Making employers aware of the benefits of employing and promoting women
Preventing discrimination of female workers, e.g. dismissals for being pregnant
Provide for more targeted active labour market measures for specific groups of women (e.g.
migrants, women returning from maternity/parental leave, etc.)

Improving both formal institutional and home-care services (for dependant and elderly people)
as well as support to informal carers
Making jobs in innovative sectors, such as the digital sector, more accessible to women
None
Don’t know
Other
Please describe briefly
1. Beneficial financial for women to work: Priority for the Netherlands is: “werk moet lonen” (“Work
should pay”)
2. Awareness raising: economic empowerment of women to be economic independent.

Caring activities
What should be done to encourage a more equal sharing of caring activities (housework, caring for
children and/or dependents) between women and men?
at most 2 choice(s)
Introducing compulsory paternity leave
Improving the pay of parental leave
Making sure men are not discriminated against if they take leave to care for dependents
and/or children
Improving the quality and pay of part-time work to make it a valid career option for both
women and men
Promoting jobs in the care sectors as a valid career option for men
Changing men's and boys' attitudes towards caring activities (housework, caring for children
and/or dependents)
Support the involvement of men in pro-feminist movements and support male organisations
promoting gender equality
None
Don’t know
Other
Please describe briefly
Awareness raising campaigns as #stajijjevrouwtje and to facilitate (online) discussions.

In your opinion, which of the following actions would add most value in addressing the growing
needs in terms of elderly and dependent care which impact the work-life balance of women and
men?
at most 2 choice(s)
Introducing carer’s leave
Making institutional care more accessible, more affordable and better quality
Making formal care at home more accessible
Improving support to informal carers
Promoting innovative, less labour-intense solutions in elderly and dependent care
Improving working and pay conditions in the care sector
None

Don’t know
Other
Please describe briefly
Increase private participation combined with a flexible working environment.

Violence
*Which of the following policy actions should the Commission prioritise in combating gender-based
violence in the EU?
at most 2 choice(s)
Data collection and research on root causes, consequences and costs
Training police officers and others coming into contact with women at risk
EU accession to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence
against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention)
Funding grassroots projects by civil society organisations
Supporting EU wide networks
Awareness-raising campaigns
Exchanges of good practice among Member States
None – Member States should address gender-based violence by themselves
Don’t know
Other
Please describe briefly

EU policy-making
*In which of the following EU policy areas do you think a gender perspective should be better
integrated?
at most 2 choice(s)
Asylum & migration
Cohesion
Development cooperation & external relations
Digital agenda
Economic and financial
Education
Employment and social
Health
Research
None
Don’t know
Other
Please describe briefly
1. Employment and Social: EU2020 Strategy

2. Women and Health is an upcoming policy area in the Netherlands and also in other EU
member states.

What, based on your experience, are the measures that have the most impact on improving gender
mainstreaming within large public administrations, including the European Commission?
at most 2 choice(s)
Gender budgeting
Mandatory training on gender equality for Commission staff
Mandatory training on gender equality for high-level EU decision makers
Integrating the gender perspective better into impact assessments
Setting targets for each policy area and monitor results
More role models amongst EU managers showing that a better work-life balance is possible
None
Don’t know
Other
Please describe briefly

Good partnership with all stakeholders is key to ensure equality between women and men. Which
stakeholders do you believe are most important to ensure equality between women and men?
at most 2 choice(s)
Social partners
Governments of the EU countries
EU institutions
Women’s rights organisations
Men's organisations
Youth organisations
International organisations
None
Don't know
Other
Please describe briefly
Parliaments of the EU member states.

Any other comments
If you have any additional comments and/or suggestions to improve equality between women and
men in the EU, feel free to use the open box below.
1500 character(s) maximum (1500 characters left)
The Netherlands welcomes the Commission’s attention and thoughts for EU gender equality policy
after the current Gender equality Strategy 2010-2015 and also supports the Commission’s
intentions for a comprehensive EU LGBTI policy initiative. The Netherlands welcomes these
initiatives and is open to study any proposal in which the Commission would integrate it.