The declaration was endorsed by 160 governments (United Nations, 1995) and incorporated into many national constitutions (e.g. Canada, Egypt, Germany, India, the Russian Federation, South Africa and Hirkey) and other legal and policy provisions. Defining gender equality and gender mainstreaming Gender equality describes the absence of obvious or hidden disparities among individuals based on gender. Disparities can include discrimination in terms of opportunities, resources, services, benefits, decision-making power and influence (Wikigender). It encompasses the ability to anticipate the potentially differential impact of policy actions on women and men as well as the ability to design policy actions that are not “gender-blind” but “gender-sensitive”.