Gender equality plan

The Gender Equality Plan of the Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences (Institute of Sociology CAS) is a practical tool for the promotion and support of objectives, mechanisms, and measures leading to the improvement of equal opportunities for men and women in research, development, and human resources management. It reflects the priorities of the European strategy for equality and the requirements of the Horizon Europe programme. By adopting the Gender Equality Plan (GEP), the Institute of Sociology CAS subscribes to the principles of the European Union's objectives in the field of gender equality (the EU Strategy for Gender Equality 2020-2025) and national policy intentions (The National Plan for Gender Equality 2021-2030: Office of the Government, Department of Gender Equality, the Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality of the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports for the period 2021-2024). The promotion of gender equality is thus embedded through the GEP as an important value in the organisational culture of the institute as a workplace.

It is in the highest interest of the Institute of Sociology to continue to follow European trends and to focus on cultivating an environment in which scientific activity is conducted in accordance with the principles of gender equality, given the international scientific cooperation in which the institute is engaged, its membership in major European research programmes, and the required changes set out in a recent gender audit. The focus on gender equality in scientific careers, gender balance in decision-making and the integration of this dimension into the content of scientific work, and the research environment is an integral part of this.

Equal opportunities in working conditions, career development, evaluation, and remuneration are fundamental priorities of a modern scientific institution. By adopting this Gender Equality Plan, the Institute of Sociology CAS is declaring its interest in developing and striving to become a modern scientific institution that promotes and values diversity at all levels of the organisation.

During the implementation of the GEP in the period between 2022 and 2026, the Institute of Sociology CAS will focus on:

• work-life balance and organisational culture,
• gender balance in leadership and decision-making,
• gender equality in recruitment and promotion,
• the integration of the gender dimension into research and teaching, and
• measures to combat gender-based violence, including sexual harassment.

The measures introduced by the institute will focus mainly on changes and improvements in all levels of gender issues, i.e. cultural, institutional, interpersonal and individual levels. The GEP is accompanied by an action plan that sets out the procedures and timetable for the GEP’s implementation and defines indicators that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time trackable to enable the ongoing monitoring of progress, while being flexible and reflective of the current needs of the institution. By adopting the GEP, which has been approved by the Institute of Sociology's management and discussed by the Council of the Institute of Sociology, the institute’s management commits itself to integrating the principles of the GEP into its managerial and work processes and to taking concrete steps to implement the GEP.