Commission on Women and Development

The Commission on Women and Development is a consultative body that advises the Belgian Minister for Development Cooperation on matters relating to gender equality. It was created by the Royal Decree of 14 December 1993, which was amended by the Royal Decree of 3 June 2007.

The Commission on Women and Development was created to support and enhance awareness of equal opportunities for men and women in the formulation and implementation of the Belgian policy on development cooperation.

The law of 25 May 1999 on international cooperation identifies Belgium's priorities in development cooperation and highlights the importance of gender equality as one of the four cross-sectoral themes to be incorporated into development programmes, regardless of which sector they focus on. This law is the legal reference framework for the CWD's activities.

Tasks performed by the Commission on Women and Development:

• The CWD advises and questions the Minister and the government on consequences for gender equality when they are drawing up and implementing development cooperation policy. It highlights possible effects on partner countries, different stakeholders in cooperation and different forms of support provided by the Belgian government.
• On its own initiative or at the Minister's request, the CWD provides and publishes opinions and recommendations on issues relating to gender equality in development cooperation.
• The CWD provides support for initiatives and study in its field through exchanges of information, coordination, dialogue or networking.
• The CWD lobbies politicians and raises public awareness of gender equality through both cooperation programmes in partner countries and development education activities for the children and citizens of Belgium.

The Commission on Women and Development comprises 14 French- and Dutch-speaking representatives of women's organisations, NGOs in the development sector, universities and the Directorate-General for Development Cooperation, as well as 10 experts specialising in gender equality.

Plenary sessions, which are attended by all of the Commission's members, are held at least eight times a year. They are always prepared by the Commission's Executive Committee, which also manages the CWD's activities and budget. Working groups are formed based on priorities that are identified each year and approved by the Minister for Development Cooperation. The groups are open to anyone who wishes to contribute.

The secretariat of the CWD is entrusted to the Directorate-General for Development Cooperation and the Commission's headquarters are based there.

Offices:

59 Rue de Namur – office 305
1000 Brussels
Belgium

Tel.: +32 2 501 44 43
Fax: +32 2 501 45 44
E-mail: cvo-cfd@diplobel.fed.be

Postal address:

15 Rue des Petits Carmes (Na59 - 305)
1000 Brussels
Belgium