Gender Impact Assessment in the field of Radiation Protection and Environment

During the pilot phase an exemplary GIA checklist was developed using the new regulations included in the 2001 revised radiation protection regulations. The latter cover the overlapping concerns of radiation protection, protection of reproductive health and protection of unborn life. During the application of the GIA checklist it was possible to give an affirmative answer to the question whether these new regulations could achieve a positive alliance of the goals of radiation protection and gender equity with respect to the work situation of women who work in occupations with radiation exposure and who are pregnant or want children. Furthermore, it was shown that the different regulations for protecting women and men from radiation are supported by the current state of medical research and, therefore, do not violate the gender equity principle.

Overall, the Gender Impact Assessment, by weighing many individual aspects, appraised the new regulations as constituting an improvement in achieving gender equity. Despite this clear-cut vote, room for improvement became apparent during the implementation of the GIA. This was formulated as recommendations included in the evaluation of the assessment. These recommendations were then taken over during the adjustment of the legislative provisions implementing a legal Act.

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