Colombia | Gender in Infrastructure

Legal Framework and Institutional Mechanisms

Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Ratification in 1982. Ratification of the Optional Protocol in 2007. Main reference document for equality between men and women. Through its ratification or accession to it the States are legally bound to adopt all necessary measures, including special temporary measures and laws, in order for women to fully enjoy all their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995). The signatory countries take responsibility for the implementation of the Platform for Action, in which 12 critical areas of concern for the advancement of women are defined.
Political Constitution (1991). All people are born free and equal before the law, they shall receive the same protection and treatment by the authorities and shall enjoy the same rights, freedoms and opportunities, facing no discrimination. The State is to promote conditions conducive to equality being real and effective and shall adopt measures on behalf of marginalized or discriminated against groups.
Office of the Presidential Adviser on Equality for Women (2014). Amongst its other functions, it provides guidance to the Presidency and National Government for the design of government policies aimed at promoting equity between women and men, and promotes the incorporation of gender perspective into national and local public entities' policy plans and programs.
Observatory for Gender Affairs (2014). It monitors the fulfillment of existing national and international regulations related to gender equity.

Equal opportunities

National Public Gender Equity Policy for Women (2012). It outlines, among other strategies: full participation of women in the labour market, enjoyment of equal opportunities; work-family life balance; promotion of women's participation in decision-making and positions of power; promotion of access to private property and productive resources.
National Development Plan 2014 - 2018. Goal 5: To achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Labor Code (2011). It establishes that all workers, male and female, are equal before the law, are to enjoy the same protection and guarantees and therefore, any distinction made on the basis of gender or sex is abolished.
Decree 4.463 (2011). It envisages the development of research on violence and discrimination of women in the workplace, and the launching of a social responsibility seal for companies that implement gender equity policies.

Personal and labor conciliation

Act 1.468 (2011). Maternity Leave consists of 14 paid weeks and paternity leave of 8 paid days.
Care Economy
Act 1.413 (2010). It includes care economy consisting of unpaid housework into the System of National Accounts, with the goal of measuring women's contribution to the country's social and economic development, and as an essential tool for the definition and implementation of public policies.

Violence due to gender

Decree 4.796 (2011). It defines necessary actions to be taken in order to detect, prevent and comprehensively care for women victims of violence.

Legal Framework and Institutional Mechanisms

Equal opportunities

Personal and labor conciliation

Violence due to gender

Example Projects: