Gender Budgeting: What can it mean for Wales?

Wales is unique among the UK regions. Section 120 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 obligates the government of Wales to exercise its functions 'with due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people.' This covers all the equality strands, including gender. In its 2004 Report on Mainstreaming Equality in the work of the National Assembly the Equality of Opportunity Committee, chaired by Gwenda Thomas, recommended that 'the Assembly Government pilots gender budgeting in a policy area to assess the level of equity in financial allocations, with a view to expanding its use across the Assembly.' (recommendation 20). What does this mean for Wales?