1. 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. 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. 3 1.Women make up 45.3% of the work force 2.Median monthly employment wage 81.8% of what men earn 3.18.3% or 11 women councilors out of 60 Legislative Councilors 4.13.3% in the Executive Council Real Picture

4. 4 1.1995 – Sex Discrimination Ordinance (SDO) passed in the Legislative Council 2.Equal Opportunities Commission implemented SDO since 1996 3.2001 – High Court declared Secondary School Places Allocation System (SSPA) discriminatory and unlawful according to the SDO Some Milestones

5. 5 1.1996 – 2006 Pregnancy Discrimination Complaints: 944 Sexual Harassment Complaints: 750 2.Step up public education initiatives Media campaigns Training modules for employment sector & universities Sex Discrimination

6. 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

7. 7 1.51.8% 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. 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. 9 Thank you !