Guidelines on Developing Gender-Responsive Standards

The Guidelines on Developing Gender-Responsive Standards offer practical steps to establishing effective policies and practices, which support women’s equal participation as a strategic priority. The report acknowledges that standardization has traditionally been a male-dominated world and seeks to offer a baseline for standards development organizations (SDOs) aiming to ensure equity in their working processes and greater efficacy in the standards they develop. The guidelines encourage SDOs to take concerted action and build their commitment to gender equality. Government agencies are invited to consider standards as instruments of change, capable of supporting marginalized communities and accelerating the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.