Achieving Equality – Have We Made a Difference? Seminar on Gender Equality Panel Session: “From Concept to Reality” Raymond Tang, Chairperson Equal Opportunities Commission 19 th January 2007

2 1.Better educated than their mothers 2.Many carry dual roles as carers and income earners 3.But women continue to suffer from family violence Women Today

3 1.Women make up 45.3% of the work force 2.Median monthly employment wage 81.8% of what men earn % or 11 women councilors out of 60 Legislative Councilors % in the Executive Council Real Picture

– Sex Discrimination Ordinance (SDO) passed in the Legislative Council 2.Equal Opportunities Commission implemented SDO since – High Court declared Secondary School Places Allocation System (SSPA) discriminatory and unlawful according to the SDO Some Milestones

– 2006 Pregnancy Discrimination Complaints: 944 Sexual Harassment Complaints: Step up public education initiatives Media campaigns Training modules for employment sector & universities Sex Discrimination

6 1.Priority to break down gender stereotyping 2.Youth mentorship programme “Career Challenge” 3.Broaden horizons to make real life-choices based on talents and abilities Gender Stereotyping

% labour force participation rate for women (2005) 2.Better work life balance enable flexibility to combine work and family responsibilities 3.Benefits employers and employees Work/Life Balance

8 1.Dual-earners families become the norm in our society 2.Roles for women and men to change 3.The Equal Opportunities Commission promotes equality for women and men New Landscape

9 Thank you !