Mutual Learning Programme in gender equality

The mutual learning programme in gender equality aims to reinforce mutual learning among EU countries.

The programme focuses on policy measures as well as concrete and existing examples. It addresses both the opportunities and limitations of real life implementation. The programme provides an opportunity for the stimulation of debate and exchange of experience between governmental representatives, independent experts and other relevant stakeholders. The ultimate aim is to facilitate the dissemination of good practice on gender equality in Europe.

Exchange of good practice seminars

The Commission organises around 3 exchange of good practice seminars each year. They focus on the priority areas of the Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025.

November 2024, Sweden and Ireland

The seminar held in Stockholm examined good practices in gender and equality budgeting. Representatives and independent experts from 15 further Member States discussed progress on gender and equality budgeting within the European Union. The documents related to the seminar are available here.

June 2024, Latvia and Portugal

On 13-14 June 2024, Latvia and Portugal co-hosted a seminar in Riga on “Challenging for change: working with perpetrators of GBV and domestic violence”. It was attended by 14 other Member States as well as by representatives of the European Commission, the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) and the European Network for the Work with Perpetrators of Domestic Violence (WWPEN). The documents related to the seminar are available here.

February 2024, The Netherlands and Slovenia

On 21-22 February 2024, The Netherlands and Slovenia co-hosted a seminar on the synergies between gender equality and climate action in The Hague. It was attended by fourteen other Member States as well as by representatives of the European Commission, European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) and the Nordic Council. The documents related to the seminar are available here.

April 2023, Romania

On 26-27 April 2023, Romania hosted a seminar on Combatting Domestic Violence. It was attended by fourteen other Member States as well as by representatives of the European Commission and the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE). The documents related to the seminar are available here .

February 2023, Ireland and Austria

The Mutual Learning Seminar, held in Dublin on 16-17 February 2023, discussed good practices from Ireland and Austria on the role of men and boys in advancing gender equality and breaking gender stereotypes. Government representatives and gender experts from 14 EU Member States participated in the seminar. The documents related to the seminar are available here.

November 2022, France and Belgium

On 29-30 November 2022, France and Belgium co-hosted a seminar on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Eleven other Member States participated, as well as representatives of the European Commission and the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE). The documents related to the seminar are available here.

September 2022, Denmark and The Netherlands

Denmark and the Netherlands jointly hosted the seminar on preventing sexual harassment in Copenhagen on 22-23 September 2022, where they presented their own good practices. Thirteen other Member States attended, together with the European Commission and the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE). The documents related to the seminar are available here.

November 2021, Czech Republic and Sweden - online seminar

In November, Sweden and the Czech Republic co-hosted an online seminar on gender equality, mental health and gender mainstreaming health policies. The seminar was an opportunity to discuss good practices and challenges concerning mental well-being through a gender lens. Sweden and the Czech Republic presented their work on this topic . The documents related to the seminar are available here.

July 2021, Finland - online seminar

In July, Finland hosted an online seminar on the costs of violence against women. The seminar was an opportunity to discuss methodologies, good practices and challenges in conducting research on the costs of violence against women. Finland presented its past and on-going research on the topic. The documents related to this seminar are available here.

November 2020, the Netherlands - online seminar

The Mutual Learning Seminar was held online and examined the challenges and opportunities of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in selection and recruitment processes, with a focus on gender bias in algorithms. An innovative practice example from the Netherlands supported the discussions. The documents related to this seminar are available here.

Webinar series on gender-sensitive responses to the COVID-19 crisis

In the first half of 2020, a series of webinars was organised on gender-sensitive responses to the COVID-19 crisis. The events addressed the main pillars of the Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 – Free, Thrive and Lead. You can find the related documents here.

February 2020, Slovakia

In February 2020, the Slovak Republic hosted a mutual learning seminar on gender mainstreaming and gender budgeting in the ESIF and national budgets. Slovakia and the Czech Republic presented their approaches to gender mainstreaming in the ESIF. Austria described its national gender budgeting strategy. The documents related to this seminar are available here.

September 2019, Sweden

The Mutual Learning seminar held in Stockholm examined opportunities and challenges to prevent domestic violence by involving men and boys. Good practice examples from Sweden supported the discussions. The documents related to this seminar are available here.

May 2019, Iceland

Iceland hosted a seminar on Equal Pay, presenting its Law on Equal Pay Certification and the related Equal Pay Standard. The documents related to this seminar are available here.

November 2018, France

France hosted a mutual learning seminar on Women and the media. The seminar addressed initiatives to overcome the under-representation of and discrimination against women in all media professions, as well as the broader issue of gender stereotypes and sexism in media content. The documents related to the seminar are available here.

October 2018, Spain

The Mutual Learning Seminar on Combatting trafficking in women and girls for the purpose of sexual exploitation took place in Madrid on 29-30 October 2018. Host country Spain presented its activities aimed at reducing demand and promoting multi-agency coordination and communication in the fight against trafficking. The documents related to the seminar are available here.

October 2018, Germany

Germany hosted a mutual learning seminar on Promoting long-term paternal involvement in family work and presented its good practice on parental allowances. The documents related to the seminar are available here.

February 2018, Greece

The Mutual Learning seminar ‘Support services for victims of violence in asylum and migration’ focused on the Greek ‘Protocol of Cooperation’ as a good practice example. The documents related to the seminar are available here.

September 2017, Denmark

The seminar examined ways of tackling sexual harassment with a focus on good practices in addressing digital sexual abuse in Denmark and a national campaign to fight sexual harassment in public transport in France. The documents related to the seminar are available here.

June 2017, Sweden

Sweden hosted a mutual learning seminar on the impact of tax systems on gender equality and presented its policy on full individual taxation, which was first introduced in 1971. The documents related to the seminar are be available here.

October 2016, Belgium

During this seminar, the host country Belgium presented the measures of the 2012 Gender Pay Gap Law and their practical implementation. The documents related to the seminar are available here.

June 2016, Slovenia

Slovenia hosted a mutual learning seminar on promoting women in political decision-making positions and presented its initiatives on awareness raising and legislative quotas with the aim to improve the under-representation of women. France participated as associated country and presented its approach to legislating for parity democracy. The documents related to the seminar are available here.

April 2016, United Kingdom

Seminar on practices from the UK and Italy in tackling female genital mutilation (FGM), forced marriage and other harmful practices through legislation, improving the evidence base on FGM and the role of awareness raising and training. The documents related to the seminar are available here.

October 2015, France

Seminar on good practices to support single parents. France presented a wide range of measures including universal and selective benefits, support in accessing employment, flexible childcare and family support. Germany presented programmes to support lone parents in accessing the labour market, to foster networking with employers and to enhance coordination and partnerships between local bodies. The documents related to the exchange are available here.

September 2015, Denmark

Seminar on gender segregation in the labour market and education. Denmark presented pilot projects to attract more male pedagogues to the field of early childhood education and care. Northern Ireland and the Netherlands participated as associated countries and presented their initiatives to promote more women and girls in STEM. The documents related to the exchange are available here.

October 2014, Finland

Finland hosted a seminar to discuss the role of men in gender equality. Austria and Iceland joined the seminar as associated countries and presented their policies on supporting paternity and parental leave. The documents related to the exchange are available here.

September 2014, United Kingdom

The United Kingdom hosted a seminar to discuss policy measures aimed at encouraging female entrepreneurship. The United Kingdom and Germany presented their actions supporting women in entrepreneurship. The documents related to the exchange are available here.

June 2014, Austria

Austria hosted a seminar on gender impact assessment. Austria presented its approach to Gender Budgeting and regulatory gender impact assessment. Finland described its tools for gender impact assessment in law drafting. The documents related to the exchange are available here.

Mutual Learning Programme in gender equality