however, in some NHRIs with a gender focal point, it was reported that gender work can be
ghettoised becoming the sole responsibility of the focal points with less engagement from across
the NHRI. Gender focal points also struggled with a lack of dedicated resourcing and/or mandate.
2. Organisation culture and practice
Indicators
2.1 Organisational culture, language and environment reflects gender equality.
2.2 Gender equality included in values, structures, systems and processes.
2.3 Gender considered in the budget process and in the allocation of funding and resources.
NHRIs appear to do better at the provision of externally facing work than gender mainstreaming
their internal structures, decision-making processes, culture, practice and capacity development.
Of the 25 survey respondents, one NHRI indicated that gender is not considered in its values,
structures, systems and processes, while 76.19% (16) said that gender is considered most, or
all, of the time. The document review of 24 NHRIs showed that only 29.17% of NHRIs provided
evidence of gender consideration in its values, structures, systems and processes. This difference
between these findings could be due to the difficulty NHRIs may have to demonstrate organisation
culture and practice in public documents. Given that, interviewees also identified gaps between
intention and delivery. While they noted that a gender policy may exist in an NHRI, they indicated
that is not always translated into culture and practice.
One NHRI interviewed had undertaken an independently facilitated gender audit resulting in
recommendations and a gender action plan and is working on actioning those. Others NHRIs
indicated that they regularly review polices to ensure they are gender mainstreamed.
While NHRIs have formal or informal gender specialists, it was noted that not all personnel
understand, or recognise, that their role requires the mainstreaming of gender. Several NHRIs
interviewed mentioned the difficulty and challenge of changing mindsets and of building a culture
of being deliberate about factoring gender into all aspects of a NHRIs activity.
The consideration of gender in the budget process and in the allocation of funding and resources
was one of the least achieved indicators. It was given the lowest weighted average score of 2.79
(out of a possible 4.0) by survey respondents. The document review found that gender based
resourcing was reported by two (8%) NHRIs only - also the lowest rated indicator. On this basis
interviewees were asked specific questions about gender-based resourcing. They concurred that
this is a little understood and challenging area.
3. Human resource management, policies and procedures
Gender Baseline Assessment of NHRIs in the Asia Pacific region – July 2024
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