Costa Rica
Legislative Assembly
Specialized body - Women's caucus
Parliamentary Group of Women Deputies (GPMD)
(June 2015)About
Formal or informal
Informal
The caucus is open to male MPs
No
The caucus is cross-party
Yes
Notes
The GPMD was established in compliance with actions outlined in the Gender Equality and Equity Policy of the Legislative Assembly (PIEGAL), via Article 24(1). The GPMD was established in compliance with the actions outlined in the Gender Equality and Equity Policy of the Legislative Assembly (PIEGAL), via Article 24(1).
During the first years of operation there were no internal operating regulations for the GPMD. Since July 2018 an internal operating regulation for the GPMD was approved.
Logistical and technical support is provided by the Technical Unit of Equality and Gender Equality.
During the first years of operation there were no internal operating regulations for the GPMD. Since July 2018 an internal operating regulation for the GPMD was approved.
Logistical and technical support is provided by the Technical Unit of Equality and Gender Equality.
There are rules governing the functioning of the caucus
Yes
Activities
Issues dealt with by the caucus
In line with the Gender Equality and Equity Policy of the Legislative Assembly (PIEGAL), general aims of the GPMD are:
- To sensitize and raise awareness of all parliamentary members on gender equality and women’s rights.
- Formulate and promote a legislative agenda without distinction of political party, oriented toward strengthening initiatives for the defense of women’s rights, gender equality and the oversight of public policies promulgated with these objectives.
- Perform oversight for adherence to national and international regulations aimed at protecting women’s rights and gender equality
Specific objectives include:
- Establishing a space for Deputies across political parties, to consult with one another and discuss legislative actions which promote women's rights and gender equality
- Developing and advocating for a legislative agenda on the promotion of gender equality, equity and women’s rights
- Exchanging good practices for the promotion of gender equality, equity and women’s rights in legislative work
- Establishing advocacy strategies for the implementation of the Assembly's Gender Equality and Equity Policy Legislative (PIEGAL) and the approval of the legislative agenda on gender
- Carrying out political oversight from a gender perspective
- Strengthening the legislative work of Deputies on gender
- Strengthening the gender institutions within the Assembly which includes:
1) The Technical Unit of Equality and Gender Equality (UTIEG), a permanent technical administrative body established in 2007, charged with promoting gender mainstreaming in all legislative work
2) The Special Permanent Commission of Women, established in 1999, that dictates bills on women’s rights and gender equality and has oversight power
Draft rules (pending approval) seek to formalize the GPMD and provide the caucus with more of a voice and a vote when the parliament is considering agendas or projects related to gender equality and women’s rights.
- To sensitize and raise awareness of all parliamentary members on gender equality and women’s rights.
- Formulate and promote a legislative agenda without distinction of political party, oriented toward strengthening initiatives for the defense of women’s rights, gender equality and the oversight of public policies promulgated with these objectives.
- Perform oversight for adherence to national and international regulations aimed at protecting women’s rights and gender equality
Specific objectives include:
- Establishing a space for Deputies across political parties, to consult with one another and discuss legislative actions which promote women's rights and gender equality
- Developing and advocating for a legislative agenda on the promotion of gender equality, equity and women’s rights
- Exchanging good practices for the promotion of gender equality, equity and women’s rights in legislative work
- Establishing advocacy strategies for the implementation of the Assembly's Gender Equality and Equity Policy Legislative (PIEGAL) and the approval of the legislative agenda on gender
- Carrying out political oversight from a gender perspective
- Strengthening the legislative work of Deputies on gender
- Strengthening the gender institutions within the Assembly which includes:
1) The Technical Unit of Equality and Gender Equality (UTIEG), a permanent technical administrative body established in 2007, charged with promoting gender mainstreaming in all legislative work
2) The Special Permanent Commission of Women, established in 1999, that dictates bills on women’s rights and gender equality and has oversight power
Draft rules (pending approval) seek to formalize the GPMD and provide the caucus with more of a voice and a vote when the parliament is considering agendas or projects related to gender equality and women’s rights.
The caucus has a strategic plan or plan of action
Yes
The caucus has a communication plan
No
Contact information for the Committee
Address
Costa Rica
Phone
+506-25316829
Fax number
+506-22432076