Andorra's Mariona Cadena Urges Resources and Gender Focus for Equality Laws at Ibero-American Forum

Mariona Cadena, Andorra's Secretary of State for Equality and Citizen Participation, called for gender equality laws to be supported by adequate funding, evaluation tools, and a cross-cutting gender perspective during the Ibero-American Gender Forum in Toledo, Spain.

Speaking on Friday at the event, tied to the 30th Ibero-American Summit, Cadena outlined Andorra's experiences and priorities. She stressed that passing legislation marks only the first step, with the greater task lying in effective rollout and resourcing.

"Legislation is essential, but not enough. The real challenge begins afterwards," Cadena noted, according to reports from the forum.

She identified key areas needing progress, including work-life balance and shared caregiving responsibilities, which still fall mainly on women. Cadena pointed to ongoing expansions of leave policies for births and care, alongside efforts to close labour market disparities and boost women's presence in decision-making positions.

The secretary also flagged the fight against all types of violence toward women, including online forms, as a major shared international priority. She advocated for cross-border cooperation to exchange experiences and craft collective responses, noting that many equality challenges "transcend borders."

During a working breakfast with delegation heads, Cadena highlighted Andorra's advances, such as the 2022 equal treatment and non-discrimination law, which engages public bodies, companies, and communities. The government recently advanced work-life measures, including phased leave extensions to encourage equal parenting roles.

Cadena presented Andorra's forthcoming strategic equality goals at the gathering, which drew officials, experts, and organisations to review progress on violence prevention, women's leadership, political engagement, and structural barriers.