Institutions united for a greater gender focus in public policies

SANTO DOMINGO. - The Center for Gender Studies of the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (CEG-INTEC), together with the Ministry of Women and the Social Policy Office, concluded the first edition of the diploma in Gender Equality and Social Policy Perspective. This training strengthened the capacities of more than 50 social sector professionals to incorporate a gender perspective into public policies, making them more inclusive and equitable.

The diploma program was part of the "Strengthening Health and Social Protection Systems" project, funded by the European Union through funds delegated to the French Development Agency (AFD), with implementation responsibility for Expertise France. Its proposal was presented by the Ministry of Women's Affairs in collaboration with the Social Policy Office, and its academic implementation was led by INTEC's Center for Gender Studies.

To conclude this training session, a seminar entitled "The Gender Equality Perspective as an Essential Strategy for Addressing the Structural Challenges that Limit the Effectiveness of Social Policies" was held. This seminar featured a keynote address by Marisol Touraine, president of the UNITAID executive board and former French Minister of Health, Social Affairs, and Women's Rights.

During the closing ceremony, held in the Multipurpose Room of the INTEC Health Sciences building, the Minister of Women, Mayra Jimenez; the coordinator of the Social Policy Cabinet, Tony Peña Guaba; the French ambassador, Sonia Barbry; the ambassador of the European Union, Raúl Fuentes Milani; the Director General of Bilateral Cooperation of the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development, Clara Aquino; the dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Dalul Ordehi, and the coordinator of CEG-INTEC, Desiree del Rosario.

In her speech, Minister Jiménez emphasized that "mainstreaming a gender perspective into social policies is not only an ethical imperative, but also a condition for achieving a truly inclusive democracy that guarantees substantive equality and social justice."

For his part, Ordehi highlighted the university's commitment to training professionals capable of generating social transformation through knowledge, and encouraged graduates to be leaders of change. "The path toward an egalitarian society requires political will, but it also requires rigorous training, critical analysis, and strategic action. This is what we have achieved with this diploma program, taking firm steps in that direction," he stated.

Keynote lecture

During her participation, Marisol Touraine, former French Minister of Social Affairs, Health, and Women's Rights, shared her experience with the importance of gender equality perspectives for the effectiveness of social policies.

"There is something paradoxical, hidden, in the gender dimension when we see that women are the first victims of crises, and that, in situations of vulnerability, women are the most vulnerable. Taking a situation on equal terms, women are more affected by poverty, illness, or exclusion. So, if we do not act proactively, crisis situations weaken the most vulnerable, and women in particular."   the specialist expressed.

Touraine served as a minister in these important areas between 2012 and 2017. She is currently the President of the Executive Board of UNITAID, an international partner of the World Health Organization that promotes equitable access to health in low- and middle-income countries.

The Minister of Women's Affairs, Mayra Jiménez, emphasized that for the Ministry of Women, being part of this training process represents a direct expression of the institutional mandate as the governing body for gender equality policies, which seeks to strengthen capacities to promote substantive equality as a daily practice in all areas of life.

For his part, the coordinator of the Social Policy Office, Tony Peña Guaba, noted that this training program represented a strategic commitment by the Government and partner institutions to consolidate skills in the design, implementation, and evaluation of social policies.

"Women's rights are a priority in our international action, whether through the defense of sexual and reproductive rights or through support for local initiatives like this diplomat," said French Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Sonia Barbry.

In this regard, the European Union ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Raúl Fuentes, stated that this program reflects the shared vision that gender equality is essential for the resilience of societies.

Thematic panels

In addition, panels were developed on the Regional Agenda for Care and Social Protection, And the Gender gaps in the Dominican Social Security System, with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Women, UN Women, Supérate, and the Coalition for Decent Social Security.

This program has strengthened the capacities of 51 collaborators in Dominican institutions—both at the management and operational levels—for the formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of social policies in the Dominican Republic.

During the training, they participated in 11 in-person sessions and two keynote lectures, where they acquired theoretical and methodological tools to incorporate a gender perspective into the formulation, monitoring, and evaluation of public policies.

Together with the Ministry of Public Health, the Social Policy Office, and the Vice Ministry of Cooperation of the Ministry of the Presidency, Expertise France, a French technical cooperation agency, is implementing the Project to Strengthen the Resilience of Health and Social Protection Systems. This project aims to help reduce the health, social, and economic impacts on vulnerable populations and strengthen the country's preparedness for future crises.

The seminar closed with the presentation of final projects of the participating groups, focused on the evaluation of social policies, and with the delivery of certificates who recognized the effort and commitment of the graduates.

This activity culminated a training process that, according to its organizers, marks a firm step toward consolidating more equitable and sustainable social policies, in line with the principles of equality and non-discrimination established in the Constitution and the 2030 National Development Strategy.