Equality of Opportunity in Education and Training - Secretary of State for Women's Rights and Vocational Training - France

In 1998, the Secretary of State for Women’s Rights and Vocational Training was established by the Décret n° 98-1069 du 27 novembre 1998 relatif aux attributions déléguées à la Secrétaire d’Etat aux droits des femmes et à la formation professionnelle (Decree No. 98-1069 of 27 November 1998 on the Attributions of the Secretary of State for Women’s Rights and Vocational Training). The Secretary of State exercises the authority of the Minister in relation to women’s rights and vocational training for the young and adults (article 1 of the Decree).

The Secretary of State and the Ministry have undertaken several activities.

For example, between the 15^th and the 17^th of April 1999, the Ministry, together with the Delegate Minister of European Affairs and the Secretary of State, organised a ministerial European conference on the equal participation of women and men in the decision making process. It gathered 400 participants of the political, economic, professional, trade unions and associative fields. The European Ministers adopted a solemn declaration for the sharing of power between women and men. On this occasion, France also presented "proposals for an action plan", with seven main actions (for the full text, see Secrétariat d’Etat aux Droits des femmes et à la formation professionnelle, Conférence de Pékin, cinq ans après. La mise en oeuvre par la France des recommendations de la 4e conférence mondiale sur les femmes, 1999, Annex 7, p. 157)

• to define a strategy for global action and partnership;
• to develop statistical resources;
• to act on the representation of women in society;
• to renew democracy;
• to increase economic and social progress;
• to make the public service an example in terms of an the equal sharing of decision making positions; and,
• to reinforce the quality of social dialogue.

These proposals were cited as "good practice" by the Informal Council of Equal Opportunities of the European Union in Berlin on 14 and 15 June 1999.

The Secretary of State and the Ministry have also elaborated an information brochure on sexual harassment in working relationships. This brochure gives a definition of sexual harassment and describes the rights of employees victims or witnesses of sexual harassment.

According to article 2 of Decree No. 98-1069, the Secretary of State has, inter alia, at her disposal, the Women’s Rights Service.