1. Gender Issue Pilot from Norwegian Perspective Gunnbjørg Naavik The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities-KS Lajosmizse, 11 February 2015

2. Overall Objective of Project and Pilot Project (WP4) Strengthening of women’s role in public and political life Support the balance between work and private life; the project puts special emphasis on the strengthening of the roles of women in public life and the research of municipal supporting possibilities that contribute to the creation of a balance between work and private life in the case of women Pilot Exchange of experiences in the theme of work life balance. We would like our municipalities to focus on themes connected to this idea when implementing pilot activities.

3. Expected Results from WP4 Gender Issues The publication containing the case studies of the pilot activities and the good practices that are result of this activity will be further disseminated in the course of the following WP4 WG meetings, the final conference, through our website, newspaper and in the course of the events of our Department of Women Mayors. We will have a steady group of women elected representatives to work within the Department of Women Mayors and plan further actions. Based on the result of the national survey, we will have a overview of the situation of gender issues in municipalities and will have a picture of how this situation changed after the election, we will be able to plan new activities based on the results of these national elections. In the course of the study trip to Norway, relevant representatives of the Hungarian and Norwegian ministries will have an opportunity to exchange experiences of gender policy- making. Based on the experiences of this workshop, we will be able to conduct a dialogue between the local and the central level on gender issues.

4. Role of KS in the Pilot Project Supportive to TOOSZ and Norwegian Pilot participants – Contributing to the development of the WP4 and Pilot project – Selecting and matching Norwegian and Hungarian participants – Kick-off April 2014 – Co-ordination and follow-up activities on behalf of Norwegian participants – Arranging workshop on gender issues in Oslo September 2015 – Prepare and participate sum-up Conference in Hungary December 2015

5. Norwegian Participants Bjørg Tingstad, Mayor, Fosnes Municipality Hege Nordheim-Viken, Mayor, Høylandet Municipality Grete Bækken Mollan, Deputy Mayor, Steinkjer Municipaity Marit Voll, Councillor, Verdal Municipality Eva Søgnebotten, Deputy Mayor, Stange Municipality

6. Activities Kick-off in Budapest April 2014 Hungarian colleagues to Norway in June 2014 Norwegian participants to Hungary in September 2014 Workshop in Oslo September 2015 Sum-up in Hungary December 2015

7. Norwegian Experiences Hectic – but exciting -programmes both in Norway and Hungary – as much as possible within the timeframe available A couple of days extra would have been useful – shadowing each others’ daily life, both as politicians and family members Cooperation with HU colleagues functioned well Would be interested to cooperate further on to issue - given the opportunity Some specific results from the exchange in HU New knowledge-new friendships (also in NO) More conscious about what we have achieved on gender equality in NO. Still have a lot to do. Expectations fulfilled – and more Would recommend others to participate in similar activities/pilots

8. Statement I New focus on my own behalf on gender related issue. Especially regarding the importance of the national policies, legal framework and practical solutions. Equality and gender issues are not something we can count on beeing solved once and for all. If we seriously think that all human beeings – independent of gender – should have the same possibilities and rights in using our abilities, following our interests, for education and work, society must have focus on measures to facilitate this.

9. Statement II I have gained knowledge about Hungarian challenges as a relatively new democracy, and a local democratic system functioning differently from in Norway. I have seen large cultural differences when it comes to gender equality, and met strong and skilled women beeing in front wishing to influence their society. I have seen the beautiful Hungarian country, the countryside, small villages and fantastic Budapest. Rich in culture and kind and polite people.