1. État, peuple, Authorities » 17. Authorities » 172. Government, Administration and Advisory Councils

This ordinance specifies the competences of the Office of Women's Affairs, outlines its functioning, and determines the modalities of its relations with the public, relevant associations, and the administration.

This ordinance determines the tasks and powers of the Office for Women's Affairs and the Commission on Women's Issues (hereinafter referred to as "the commission") associated with it.

The Office for Women's Affairs conducts studies and makes proposals with the aim of defining a policy

a) for the improvement of women's status;

b) for the elimination of discrimination between men and women;

c) for the promotion of women to all levels of responsibility.

It establishes an appropriate action program and implements it.

The Office for Women's Affairs primarily engages in activities within the following areas

a) teaching and education;

b) vocational training;

c) work;

d) professional reintegration;

e) family;

f) legislation;

g) politics;

h) insurance and social equipment;

i) information.

The Office for Women's Affairs, in collaboration with the Legal Service, ensures the elimination of all forms of discrimination in the current legislation and develops new provisions that achieve equal rights between men and women and improve the status of women.

The Office for Women's Affairs ensures that the principle of equal rights is consistently considered in administrative activities and decisions.

It addresses issues related to women's status that are submitted to it by other state and municipal services.

**Article [Title Number]: The Office for Women's Affairs**

The Office for Women's Affairs compiles documentation and establishes statistics related to the status of women and any matters concerning women. It regularly informs the public, interested parties, relevant associations, and administrative services. It organizes courses, seminars, colloquia, and other debates.

The Office for Women's Affairs

a) receives the agenda of the Parliament and the Government and may consult the annexes of matters that concern its activities;

b) is informed of the creation of all commissions and working groups appointed by the Parliament, the Government, or the departments and of their mandate;

c) is informed by the Legal Service of all legislative drafts currently being developed;

d) is informed by administrative services of any new project from its inception and of any activity likely to concern women's affairs.

Based on the documents and information mentioned in Article 8 of this ordinance, the Office of Women's Affairs has the right to

a) request additional information;

b) demand the establishment of a commission or working group;

c) participate in the work of a commission or working group;

d) express its viewpoint and make proposals;

e) propose the convening of the heads of the relevant departments;

f) oversee the implementation, enforce and coordinate activities and administrative decisions concerning women.

The Office of Women's Affairs has the right, in all cases, to ensure active collaboration from the concerned services. If necessary, it requests the intervention of the Government.

When a file is submitted to the Government and it is found to be wholly or partially contrary to Article 44 of the Cantonal Constitution, the head of the Office for Women's Affairs may request the file's return in order to express their objections and submit their report to the Government.

As soon as it is informed of the existence of discrimination within the cantonal administration, the Office for the Status of Women intervenes to put an end to it.

If this discrimination falls within another sector, the Office for the Status of Women may report it to the parties concerned and invite them to reconsider the case.

The Office for the Status of Women may conduct all research and investigations necessary for the execution of its mandate.

The Office of Women's Status may create or support the creation of associations related to women's status.

The Office for Women's Status may propose the granting of subsidies to associations or private individuals that promote the application of the principle of equal rights.

The Government appoints a commission of seventeen members selected from relevant associations and socio-professional circles. The head of the Bureau for Women's Status and two representatives from the committee of the Jura Liaison Center of Women's Associations are members by default. Other individuals may also be appointed as members of the commission.

The commission represents

a) the various movements supported by women's and feminist associations and groups concerned with improving the status of women;

b) the different age categories and marital statuses;

c) all the regions of Jura.

To allow the largest number of associations to be represented, the members of the commission are appointed for a term corresponding to the legislative session and can be renewed only once consecutively.

If one of the members of the commission resigns before the expiration of their term, their replacement is appointed from within the association or the socio-professional sector they represented.

The commission advises and supports the Office of Women's Status in its activities.

In close collaboration with the Office of Women's Status, it works on defining the objectives to be achieved and commits to realizing them.

It proposes priorities in the tasks to be accomplished.

It reviews all matters submitted to it or on which it wishes to express an opinion.

It participates in the achievement of objectives through working groups.

**The Committee Prepares the Plenary Sessions of the Commission**

It collectively assumes responsibility for the proper functioning of the commission.

It coordinates and stimulates the activities of the working groups according to the current program.

Working groups implement the options chosen by the Bureau for the Status of Women and the commission in their various fields of activity.

They inform the commission about the progress of their work.

They take into account the comments of the commission members.

The head of the Bureau for Women's Affairs typically leads the plenary meetings of the commission. All members of the commission may lead plenary meetings or informational sessions and represent the Bureau for Women's Affairs at events organized by the relevant associations. The Bureau for Women's Affairs serves as the secretariat of the commission.

**The Commission Appoints a Five-Member Committee From Among Its Members, Including the Head of the Bureau for Women's Status**

All working groups are represented on the committee.

The members of the commission are divided into working groups formed on the basis of the government program and as required.

The commission meets in plenary session at least twice a year.

It may also be convened by

a) the head of the Bureau for Women's Affairs;

b) the committee.

The committee meets before each plenary session of the commission and as often as its work requires.

Working groups meet as often as their work requires.

They may invite other individuals from outside the committee to participate in their discussions.

The members of the commission and the secretary shall be compensated in accordance with the ordinance of November 11, 1980, regarding daily and travel allowances for members of cantonal commissions. Members who, with the prior authorization of the Head of Department, are required to attend meetings or events organized by the Office for Women's Status, or who are delegated by the Office for Women's Status to attend meetings or events, shall be compensated in accordance with the previous paragraph.

This order shall come into force on October 15, 1985.