Gender indicators online: a resource of the South Australian Government

Governments have a patchy record on the development, storage and use of gender disaggregated data. Readily accessible and up-to-date gender disaggregated data is essential for the development of gender indicators to monitor progress on gender equality, facilitating gender analyses of programmes and policies and the implementation of gender mainstreaming. Despite the widespread use of internet web based technologies for accessing and disseminating information, and analysis by policy makers and governments of developed countries, relatively few have availed themselves of the opportunity to develop online gender disaggregated databases. This is particularly so at the state, provincial and local levels of government. In August 2006 the South Australian Minister for the Status of Women launched Gender Indicators Online ( G I 0), the first web based gender disaggregated database of its kind at the state level in Australia. Moreover the database is exceptionally user friendly and relatively cheap to set up and maintain. As such it provides a viable option for developed and many developing countries. This paper outlines the conceptual framework utilised for the development ofGIO and the nature of the resource.