To promote a gender balance in decision-making . Recipe n.43 . What Gender democracy: increasing the presence of women within all the municipal bodies (council, board, commissions) The starting point for every action having as an objective a balanced participation of women and men to the political life, is the implementation of a detailed analysis of the social and political environment. A research performed in a number of municipalities in Belgium has shown the unbalance existing in the presence of women within the municipal bodies. The actions requested as a remedy to this situation are many, but in any case the first step to take is a sensitisation of the parties involved. How much Evaluation of financial resouces: For this kind of actions there are no direct costs foreseen. The work can be done, during the working hours, by a person in charge of the Municipal Equal Opportunities Office or by one of the Municipal Office for Institutional Affairs.   How   Collecting together the numeric data, on the basis of the lists of the members belonging to the municipal bodies (council, board, commissions). Calculating the number of women and men in each body and the percentages, in order to achieve a gender balanced participation into them. Those data will make it possible to make an exact description of the present situation. Afterwards, a number of methods could be used:   Drawing a note about the presence of women within each municipal bodies. This note, apart from showing data, shall specify the reasons why a more balanced participation is hoped. The note has to be sent to assessors, to the municipal council and to each body interested. This report has not only to be submitted to the attention of the administration as a whole, but also to be put into the agenda and commented by either the Assessor for Equal Opportunities or the Assessor for the Social Policies. Making an appeal and inviting all the organisations, the political parties and the civil society as a whole to delegate and candidate men and women, in the aim of having a more balanced social and political composition. Why Once stated the low presence of women within the political framework, this initiative, made of one phase of research and another of actions of sensitisation, must be fostered by officials and assessors. All the social parties have to be involved in it.   Results   A change in the present political arrangement. A strengthening in the political and civic awareness of women. A strengthening in the women's point of view in every policy and action, and, as a consequence, a change in the political and social life.   References for further informazion: MINISTÈRE DE L'EMPLOI ET DU TRAVAIL - SERVICE ÉGALITÉ DES CHANCES RUE BELLIARD 51 - BRUXELLES, BELGIUM TEL.: 0032 2 2334039