The office of the commissioner for gender equality and equal treatment Mari-Liis Sepper with the Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs is set to boost its ranks fourfold to eight officials in just a few months, the online edition of Postimees said.
Office of Estonia's gender equality commissioner to quadruple its lineup
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Until last month the office had only two staff -- the commissioner and her aide, Hille Naaber. The third member to join the team was a specialist in equal treatment, Liivi Pehk, who began consulting state agencies on how to promote gender equality and consider the different social status of men and women in governance, Postimees said. On Monday a media adviser was added when Nele Meikar, former spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture, took up a position at the commissioner's office.
In a week's time a project coordinator will be employed and in the coming months the office will get a secretary and two legal experts.
All the new jobs have been created under a program financed by the Norway Grants facility that runs to Dec. 31, 2015.
Altogether 249,549 euros has been set out for the office of the Estonian gender equality commissioner under the Norway Grants facility this year. From the Estonian state budget personnel expenses are financed in the amount of 60,810 euros, plus 1,541 euros toward daily operating expenses and 1,000 euros for membership fee in the EQUINET network. The government also will contribute 15 percent of the financing for projects funded by the Norwegian facility.
In addition to the office of the gender equality commissioner there is a department for gender equality at the Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs with a staff of 10, Postimees pointed out.