How can we ensure that policy actually contributes to gender equality? This question is more relevant than ever. There is a widespread sense of urgency and the ambition is high. Yet, in practice, translating knowledge into concrete policy decisions often proves to be a challenge.
How can we ensure that policy actually contributes to gender equality? This question is more relevant than ever. There is a widespread sense of urgency and the ambition is high. Yet, in practice, translating knowledge into concrete policy decisions often proves to be a challenge.
At the Gender in Policy Conference, we look forward to sharing, together with our partners, our insights and knowledge regarding the gender perspective across various policy areas. We do this based on our own research and practical examples. Together, we explore how gender-sensitive policy can move beyond being merely an ambition and actually take shape in everyday practice.
Programme
9.30 – 10.00
Welcome with coffee and tea
10.00 – 10.30
Opening by Karin van der Heiden, Managing Director of Atria
10.30 – 10.45
Judith Tielen, State Secretary for Education and Gender Equality
10.45 – 11.00
Coffee and tea break
11.00 – 12.00
How do you put gender-sensitive policy into practice?
A plenary discussion led by Julia Wouters
12.00 – 13.00
Lunch
1.00 – 3.00 pm
Breakout sessions
Choose one of the following breakout sessions*
Session 1 – Gender-based violence: how policy can contribute to prevention.
Session 2 – Policy and remuneration: the value of informal and unpaid work.
Session 3 – Ensuring gender equality in a digital society: policy guidelines.
* When registering, you can select your preferred breakout session
3.00 – 3.30 pm
Coffee and tea break
3.30 – 3.40 pm
Performance by Sophia Blyden
3.40 – 4.00 pm
Closing remarks by Karin van der Heiden
4.00 – 5.00 pm
Networking drinks
Details of the breakout sessions
Session 1 – Gender-based violence: how policy can contribute to prevention.
In this interactive breakout session, Atria and Rutgers will explore with you how everyday forms of sexism, gender stereotypes and exclusion underpin more serious gender-based violence. Using concrete policy cases, we will examine how gender mainstreaming can contribute to prevention and how the pyramid of violence can be applied to develop gender-sensitive policies that contribute to prevention.
Session 2 – Policy and remuneration: the value of informal and unpaid work.
In this interactive breakout session, Atria, Movisie and Drs Mama will explore with you the value of informal and unpaid work; from housework and involving fathers in childcare to informal care. The central question is: how can policy take greater account of people’s reproductive labour alongside their work in the labour market?
Through group exercises and policy reflection, we will explore together how reproductive labour can be made visible in policy and what steps are needed for a more gender-sensitive approach.
Session 3 – Ensuring gender equality in a digital society: policy guidelines.
In this interactive breakout session, Atria and VHTO will explore with you how a gender perspective can be structurally embedded in policy relating to digital technology and AI, and what you can do differently in your own work or practice as early as tomorrow.
Algorithms disadvantage women in the labour market, social media draws young people into the ‘manosphere’, and generative AI spreads and reinforces gender stereotypes and misogyny, including through deepfakes. Meanwhile, the anti-gender movement is making clever use of digital platforms to spread disinformation and undermine gender equality policies.
Session 4 – Between policy and perception: self-determination from a historical and social perspective.
What seems self-evident today is often the result of decades of struggle. In this interactive breakout session, Atria, together with Atria-affiliated researcher Dr Fleur van Leeuwen (Utrecht University), explores the relationship between self-determination, gender and policy from a historical perspective and with an eye to the present.
Using concrete case studies, such as the experiences of mothers who have given up their babies for adoption and issues surrounding the right to abortion, it becomes clear how personal experiences are not always compatible with social norms,legislation and policy. The central question is: where does policy fall short when it comes to genuine self-determination, and what lessons can we learn from the past to inform a gender-sensitive approach today?
Venue
Tuinzaal, Centraal Museum Utrecht, entrance: Nicolaasdwarsstraat 14, 3512 XH Utrecht
The Centraal Museum is easily accessible from Utrecht Central Station. From there, it is a 20-minute walk. It is also possible to take the train to Utrecht Vaartsche Rijn station. From there, it is approximately a 10-minute walk to the museum.
Bus: bus 2 towards the Museum Quarter.
Car: From the Vaartsche Rijn and Springweg car parks, it is approximately a 10-minute walk to the Centraal Museum.
More information about the address and route
More information about accessibility
Register
The conference is aimed at professionals working in the field of diversity and gender issues. If you would like to receive an invitation, please email us at pr@atria.nl
Partners
The breakout sessions have been developed in collaboration with our partners Rutgers, Movisie, VHTO , and Utrecht University.
