The Legal Basis for Producing Korean Gender Statistics

The Legal Basis for Producing Korean Gender Statistics Ki-Taek, Jeon Korean Women’s Development Institute Global Forum on Gender Statistics 26 -28 January 2009, Accra, Ghana

Outline u. Introduction u. Women’s Development Act, and the new Statistics Act u. Difference between the two Acts u. Connotations of the new Statistic Act u. Future Tasks of Korean Gender Statistics

u Gender Statistics: Vital Means of Gender Mainstreaming Implementation of Gender Mainstreaming in Korea Gender Impact Assessment: Since 2005 Gender Budget: Will start from 2010 Increased demand importance for gender statistics Beijing Platform for Action in 1995: adopted Strategic objective H. 3. Nations: endeavor for development of gender statistics

u Gender Statistics: Vital Means of Gender Mainstreaming Efforts for gender statistics in Korea: through Basic Plan for Women’s Policy Gender statistics publication Gender statistics DB (KWDI) Improvement of existing statistics Production of new gender statistics Education on gender statistics Legal basis for producing Korean gender statistics Women’s Development Act New Statistics Act (amended in 2007)

u. Women’s Development Act Article 13 (Survey, etc. on Affairs relating to Women) (1) If it is necessary for devising efficient women’s policy, the Minister o Gender Equality shall conduct a basic survey and a public opinion poll on affairs relating to women. (2) The Minister of Gender Equality shall strive to provide information relating to women by establishing information system. (3) In the event that the State and local governments compile population statistics, the distinction of gender shall be included in majo analysis units. [This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 9126, Jun. 13, 2008]

u New Statistics Act Article 18 (Approval for Statistical Compilation) (1) The head of a statistical agency intending to compile new statisti shall obtain prior approval relating to matters prescribed by Presidential Decree, such as the title, types, objectives, subject of survey, method of survey, distinction of sex in survey questions etc. , from the Commissioner of the Korea National Statistical Office. The same shall apply to the modification of approved matters or the suspension of approved statistical compilation. [This Article Wholly Amended by Act. No. 8387, Apr. 27, 2007]

u Difference between the two Acts Women’s Development Act New Statistics Act Jurisdiction of the Ministries in Charge • MOGE • Limited impact on other ministries • KNSO • Enhanced impact on othe ministries Subjects in Charge • The central and local ‘governments’ • No specific subjects indicated • ‘The head’ of Agency in charge of the statistics • Specific subjects indicate Step of Producing Gender Statistics • Production of population statistics • The step is vague • ‘Survey’ lists of newly produced statistics • The step is clearly defined

u. Connotations of the New Statistics Act Possible to introduce gender perspectives in the process of producing statistics Previously: re-analysis and re-editing of the existing statistics Topics of gender statistics are expanded Previously: limited to specific women-related topics

u. Future Tasks of Korean Gender Statistics Strengthen the Legal Basis for Producing Korean Gende Statistics Regular checkups for the status of gender statistics Promoting the production of gender statistics by statistics quality evaluation program Strengthen connection among GIA, GB and GS Promotion of gender statistics Increasing gender statistics publications from local/regional governments Providing various gender statistics by using GSIS

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