Drawn from an international research project, this study provides evidence of efforts to make law and policy-making truly inclusive, and discusses whether success or failure depends on the nature of the procedure, or the legal and social context. The book contains six case studies detailing national practice in promoting equality between the sexes and a series of general chapters which evaluate the effectiveness of individual equality stratgies and the factors which contribute to their success or failure. The contributors analyze the contribution of the European Union in promoting gender equality in Europe, and particular emphasis is placed on gender mainstreaming and how this strategy might be developed.