ABSTRACT
From the perspective of gender, Latvia underwent a dramatic transitional period after the restoration of its political independence in 1991 and en route to its membership in the European Union [EU] in 2004 (Aasland et al. 1997; Ruminska-Zimny 2002; Feldhūne and Mits 2004). During this period, its national legislation had to be conformed to the EU acquis communautaire, which included the introduction of both gender equality policies and proactive gender mainstreaming measures. This chapter will examine the adaptation of the EU’s gender equality framework in Latvia during the nine-year period between the Europe Agreement signed by The Republic of Latvia and the EU (1995), and the time at which Latvia became a member of the EU, in 2004; it will focus on the successes and obstacles encountered in the process of adopting gender policies.
