The Corporation of the Senate in Chile Receives the Silver Gender Equality Seal

The Corporation of the Senate of the Republic of Chile formally received the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 

Voices from the Ceremony 

The award ceremony highlighted the Corporate of the Senate’s dedication to advancing gender equality, with leaders reflecting on both the institutional achievements and the broader significance of the recognition. Senate President Manuel José Ossandón emphasized the extraordinary and comprehensive work carried out by the institution, describing it as “the development of an institution with tools and opportunities for everyone.” He added:  

I congratulate the administration, but above all I congratulate the officials who have achieved this (…). This is the beginning… we must continue and hopefully other institutions will follow suit.

Senator Carmen Gloria Aravena, chair of the Women’s Commission, underlined that the Corporate of the Senate’s approach to gender equality is not only an organizational improvement but also a national benefit. She explained, “When we give women the opportunity to contribute on equal terms, the institution advances, grows, matures—and so does the country.” She added that the Chilean Senate is “the first parliament in the world to set this example,” highlighting the importance of integrating women fully into legislative institutions to strengthen governance and democracy. 

This is a great institution of the Republic. We must take care of it, professionalize it, and value those who work here. (…) I hope that, over the years, this will become much more firmly established, not because I am a feminist, but because I deeply believe that the country will be a better country when women are truly integrated. It is worth the effort. (…) Society as a whole will be able to see the focus we are establishing.

Secretary General Raúl Guzmán described the certification as “a very special day, a day of great satisfaction and pride, and above all, of strong commitment to an unprecedented global achievement.” He recognized the dedication of the Corporation of the Senate staff and the support provided by UNDP, highlighting that the certification fulfills a key objective of the Senate’s 2024–2028 strategic plan: strengthening institutional management through an integrated model of gender and inclusion. 

Georgiana Braga-Orillard, UNDP Resident Representative in Chile, also congratulated the Senate and praised the collaborative effort across the institution, “especially the Gender Secretariat and the Gender Committee, in which all the units, departments, and staff associations are represented.” She emphasized that “this is not a medal, it is not an award—it is the certification of an achievement,” noting that it reflects both conviction and concrete progress toward building a gender-sensitive parliament. 

Honoring Gender Equality Achievements 

With this certification, the Corporation of the Senate of the Republic of Chile demonstrates compliance with high international standards on gender equality in the public sector. 

During the awarding ceremony, specific actions taken by the Corporation of the Senate were highlighted, including the establishment of the Gender Committee; the inauguration of the first breastfeeding room in the National Congress; the creation of the Women Parliamentarians in the National Congress program; and, within the framework of the Karin Law, the training of more than 80% of civil servants in the prevention of workplace and sexual harassment. 

Also recognized was the “Women, Empower Your Leadership” program; the approval of the first institutional gender policy in the Corporation of the Senate; the implementation of a quality-of-life policy and a protocol for work–life balance; and the creation of a gender microsite on the institutional website, among other efforts. 

These initiatives reflect the Corporation of the Senate’s commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable work environment, ensuring that gender equality is embedded in both its institutional culture and daily practices. By setting this example, the Chilean Senate demonstrates how legislative institutions can lead by example, translating principles of equality into meaningful, tangible action.