To promote integration of the equal opportunities for woman and man dimension in all policies and activities . Recipe n.2 . What REFLEX a mainstreaming instrument REFLEX, a mainstreaming instrument to find out if a planned intervention will have an impact on the possibilities for women and men and how. It can be used in drawing up and implementing action plans. The purpose is to guarantee that the correct surveys of the needs of women and men are being made and that women and men have the same access to public resources and support when developing their ideas in working life, businesses and society.- The Vastra Goetaland County Administration, Sweden, has found that the REFLEX guide is easy and effective. How much Evaluation of financial and human resources No costs. The REFLEX instrument could be applied to every measure taken by commissions and councils as well as orther planning, decisionmaking, implementing and evaluating bodies. How Each intervention (action plan, project, rules, supporting program) should be examined according to the following items, in order to evaluate their effectiveness in determining an equal opportunities and equal rights situation: 1. Does the measure apply to both men and women? If the answer is yes, it is of importance to gender equality.  2. How about Representation, the gender distribution of boards and other descionmaking bodies. It is important that men and women share power and influence in society. Resources, the distribution of/access to resources for men and women. Resources are not only money but also information and time. This is a question of quantity.  Reality, do women and men profit from the measure? – Who gets what, why and on what conditions? - Quality! To analyse this you need gender disaggregated statistics etc. 3. Describe in which ways the situation of men and women are alike or differ. By doing this we minimize the risks of gender discrimination. Using the resources, experience and knowledge of both men and women will improve the quality of development work. 4. Which measurable goals indicate that gender equality is taken into consideration? Gender equality means that men and women have equal rights, obligations and possibilities.   Why The aim of the promotion of Equal Opportunities is to change the society structures contributing to gender segregation. Each intervention and measure, mostly those issuing resources, have to be carefully analysed before its implementation. Simone Lindsten, an Equal Opportunities expert, has created REFLEX in West Sweden after a long-lasting experience on the field. REFLEX is now used not only by the Swedish Public Authorities, but also in many other European Countries. Results A concrete realisation of gender equality in all policies and actions.   References for further informazion: SIMONE LINDSTEN, COUNTY OF VÄSTA GÖTERLAND, SWEDEN TEL.0046-31-605000