Regulations establishing the duties and competences of the Cantonal Office for Equality and the Family and the Council for Equality and the Family - Subject Matter and Scope

1. The State ensures the application of the principle of equality between women and men, as well as the elimination of any form of legal and factual discrimination. It implements a policy in the interest of the family and undertakes actions to combat domestic violence.

2. This regulation specifies the powers and duties of the Cantonal Office for Equality and Family (hereinafter: Office), establishes its working methods, and determines the details of its cooperation with the relevant public and private bodies.

3. It also specifies the organization and functioning of the Cantonal Council for Equality and Family Issues (hereinafter: Council for Equality and Family). The organization and operation of the Cantonal Advisory Commission against Domestic Violence are determined in the Ordinance on Domestic Violence.

1. The office is a specialized agency for consultation, hearing, coordination, information, and enforcement concerning the implementation of Article 8 paragraph 3 of the Federal Constitution and Article 13a of the Cantonal Constitution.

2. Operationally, it is affiliated with a department head and administratively with a service unit.

1. The staff of the office shall comprise at least three and a half positions, taking into account the needs of both the French-speaking and the German-speaking parts of the canton.

1. The Office has the following powers and duties

a) It advises the Council of State and various departments on issues of equality policy, family policy, and combating domestic violence, so that they can develop and enact legislative acts, administrative orders, and ad-hoc measures.

b) It coordinates the application of cantonal equality policy, family policy, and domestic violence prevention policy in close collaboration with the relevant bodies (administrative offices and departments of the cantonal administration, parliament, municipalities, federal government, associations).

c) It supports the responsible bodies (Council of State, Council for Equality and Family, Advisory Commission for Combating Domestic Violence, thematic commissions) in planning the cantonal equality policy, family policy, and domestic violence prevention policy.

d) It is represented on administrative commissions or working groups that deal with issues related to the principles of equality, family support, and combating domestic violence.

e) In agreement with the Council of State, it commissions external research and study assignments as well as other mandates related to its activities.

f) It is consulted for each preliminary draft or draft of federal or cantonal legislative enactments related to its activities and analyzes their compliance with Article 8 of the Federal Constitution and Article 13a of the Cantonal Constitution, as well as with all legislative enactments on the topics of equality, family, and domestic violence.

g) It ensures, in particular, gender-balanced representation on the administrative commissions by providing its preliminary opinion to the State Chancellery during the renewal process. It proposes measures in this regard.

h) In agreement with the concerned associations and economic and institutional circles, it designs and implements programs and measures to promote equality, support families, and combat domestic violence.

i) In collaboration with the Information/Communication Department of the State Chancellery, it regularly informs the public and organizes events to raise public awareness on issues related to equality, family, and domestic violence.

j) It grants financial aid in accordance with the law on the application of the principle of equality between men and women and the cantonal law on domestic violence.

1. In the fulfillment of its duties, the office relies on close collaboration with various partners, namely

a) it collaborates closely with the relevant departments and offices of the cantonal administration, which support it in the fulfillment of its duties and provide the necessary assistance (especially in matters of statistics, information, or studies);

b) it is informed by the department to which it is affiliated about matters concerning equality, family, or domestic violence discussed at the Council of State meetings;

c) it collaborates with federal, cantonal, municipal, and private organizations focused on gender equality, family support, or combatting domestic violence;

d) in fulfilling its duties, the office can obtain necessary information from all cantonal administration offices and review relevant dossier documents;

e) it is responsible for preparing responses to parliamentary initiatives concerning the topics of equality, family support, and domestic violence.

1. The Secretariat of the Council for Equality and Family Affairs is managed by the office. It is responsible for financial administration, handling of the dossiers, and management.

2. The Council for Equality and Family Affairs consists of eleven to fifteen members, who primarily represent the various concerned associations and institutional and economic partners active in the fields of equality or family.

3. It regularly meets in plenary sessions.

1. In addition to the tasks pursuant to Article 3 of the Act on the Application of the Principle of Equality between Women and Men, the Council for Equality and Family has the following tasks

a) in collaboration with the office, it may propose government policy projects to the State Council for the implementation of equality principles and family support;

b) it supports the implementation of equality and family policy through the various competent departments;

c) it assists the office in its activities and may implement its own projects to promote equality or support the family;

d) it disseminates the actions and information of the office to the circles it represents, establishing and maintaining contacts with its external partners;

e) it informs the population of Valais about the measures in favor of equality and family;

f) it evaluates the impacts and results of cantonal equality and family policy and proposes corrective and improvement measures.