What is the Framework for the Integration of Women in APEC?

The Framework responds to APEC Leaders' recognition that gender is a cross-cutting theme in APEC. It is a practical and systematic approach to guide APEC in the achievement of the integration of women in the mainstream of APEC processes and activities. The Framework is comprised of three inter-related elements, and an Implementation Strategy, which together were identified by the 1998 APEC Ministerial Meeting on Women as essential to reinforce the important role of women in economic development. The inter-related elements are:

• Gender Analysis - a methodology for examining the differences in women's and men's lives;
• Collection and Use of Sex-disaggregated Data - data classified by sex and presented separately for women and men;
• Involvement of Women in APEC - the increased participation of women in APEC fora.

In addition, practical Guides for gender analysis, the collection and use of sex-disaggregated data and the involvement of women in APEC have been developed as tools to complement the Framework and assist APEC with its implementation. These are available in print and on the APEC Secretariat website (www.apecsec.org.sg).

What is the mandate for the Framework?

The Framework follows up on the recommendation of the 1998 Ministerial Meeting on Women and subsequent APEC Leaders' directive to "develop a Framework for the Integration of Women in APEC" as a means of accelerating the progress of integrating women in the mainstream of APEC processes and activities. The Framework has been prepared by the SOM Ad Hoc Task Force on the Integration of Women in APEC, established for this purpose. The Joint Ministerial Statement of the 1998 APEC Ministerial Meeting on Women is Appendix 1.

What is the basis for the recommendations from the Ministerial Meeting On Women?

Ministerial recommendations are based on a series of principles contained throughout their Joint Ministerial Statement:

• Gender is a cross cutting theme in APEC;
• APEC activities related to trade and investment liberalization and facilitation (TILF) and economic and technical cooperation (ECOTECH) are closely inter-linked and have major implications for women;
• Women are critical to the achievement of sustainable economic development in the region; and, women's unpaid work constitutes a major contribution to the economy;
• Close linkages exist between the issues and activities of other APEC fora and the issues affecting women in micro, small and medium enterprises, science and technology, human resources development, finance, fisheries, tourism, transportation, telecommunications, and other sectors;
• The specific realities faced by women must be recognized, understood and systematically taken into account in the formulation and implementation of policies, programs (including economic recovery programs), and projects;
• Efforts should be directed to empower and increase the capacity building of women to respond to economic opportunities and challenges, and to eliminate barriers to women's full participation in the economy;
• Greater emphasis should be placed on the engagement of broader sectors of society.

What is meant by "gender"?

Gender refers to the socially determined differences between women and men such as roles, attitudes, behaviors and values, as opposed to sex that identifies the biological differences between women and men. Whilst sex is genetically determined, gender roles are learned, vary across cultures and over time, and are thus amenable to change. Gender is a relational term, which includes both women and men.

What is meant by "gender mainstreaming"?

In the APEC context, the mainstream refers to the set of dominant ideas, policies, practices, institutions, and organizations in society which determine the allocation of resources and opportunities.

Gender mainstreaming means women and men having equitable access to, and benefit from society's resources, opportunities and rewards, and equal participation in influencing what is valued and in shaping directions and decisions. Therefore, within APEC, gender mainstreaming would incorporate gender perspectives into the goals, structures, priorities, policies, decisions, processes, practices, activities (including projects), and resource allocation as well as participation at all levels.

In addition, special measures or women-specific projects may also be necessary to address gender inequalities and achieve APEC's goals for women and men in the region.

What is the potential impact of the Framework?

Over time, the Framework could have far-reaching positive impacts on the social and economic well-being of the region. Its implementation would contribute to the increased effectiveness of APEC policies and activities in the achievement of its vision and goals, for example:

• The identification and elimination of barriers to women's full participation in the economy and the disproportionate impacts of the financial and economic crisis on women, as identified by the 1998 APEC Ministerial Meeting on Women.
• The creation of a leading-edge workforce that fully utilizes the talents of the entire population, male and female;
• The increased capacity of women to respond to economic opportunities offered by trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation, and by economic and technical cooperation;
• The explicit integration of the economic interests of women into strategies for economic recovery and future prosperity;
• Broader understanding and support for APEC, through the increased participation of women.

To whom does it apply?

The implementation of the Framework is the responsibility of all APEC fora and of all women and men involved in APEC processes, policies, projects and activities including Leaders, Ministers, Senior Officials, Chairs, Lead Shepherds and the APEC Secretariat.
The Framework may also be applied at the individual economy level.