ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book gives the overview of the law and policy-making framework in that particular state. It presents a critical account of national equality measures as well as a national perspective on the effect of European Union (EU) gender initiatives. Equality is not only a national concern but also represents a preoccupation of supranational bodies such as the EU. Equality between the sexes is accepted as a given value in present day developed countries. To acknowledge that equality between the sexes is totemic is not, of course, to claim that it is a value which is comprehensively observed. The book demonstrates more recently the EU and the UN have recognised the limitations of equality defined as equal treatment or equal rights and have attempted to use alternative strategies to promote equality such as mainstreaming.
