The Ministry of Women and Gender Equity () is a ministry of Chile responsible for assisting the President of the Republic in the design, coordination, and evaluation of policies, plans, and programs aimed at promoting gender equity, equality of rights, and the elimination of all forms of arbitrary discrimination against women. Since March 11, 2022, the minister in charge has been the journalist Antonia Orellana Guarello, while the corresponding undersecretary is Claudia Donaire Gaete; both serving under the government of Gabriel Boric.
It was created during the second government of Michelle Bachelet through Law No. 20,820, published in the Official Gazette on March 20, 2015. It began operating on June 1, 2016, in accordance with the provisions of Decree with the Force of Law (Decreto con Fuerza de Ley, DFL) No. 1, dated March 11, 2016. It did not replace the then National WomenâÂÂs Service (Servicio Nacional de la Mujer, Sernam), which came under the authority of the new ministry and was renamed the National WomenâÂÂs Service and Gender Equity (SernamEG).
The bill that led to the creation of this ministry originated as an initiative of the second government of Michelle Bachelet, who signed the message that gave rise to it on March 27, 2014, after which it was submitted to the National Congress and approved in January 2015.
This ministry was created by a law promulgated by President Michelle Bachelet on March 8, 2015, during a ceremony held in the context of International WomenâÂÂs Day, and published in the Official Gazette as Law No. 20,820 on March 20, 2015. It did not replace the National WomenâÂÂs Service, which came under the authority of the new ministry and was renamed the National WomenâÂÂs Service and Gender Equity.
According to the transitional provisions of the law that created this ministryâÂÂLaw No. 20,820â within one year from the date of its publication, the president was required to determine, by means of one or more decrees with the force of law (DFL), issued through the Ministry of Social Development and also signed by the Minister of Finance, the date or dates for the entry into force of the permanent provisions of the law, the staffing structures it established, the transfer and classification of personnel, and the commencement of activities of the Ministry of Women and Gender Equity. On March 11, 2016, DFL No. 1 was promulgated and published in the Official Gazette in April 2016, establishing that the date of entry into force of the permanent provisions of Law No. 20,820, the staffing structures set out in Articles 1 and 3 of said DFL, and the commencement of activities of the Ministry of Women and Gender Equity would be the first day of the month following its publicationâÂÂnamely, June 1, 2016.
The first Minister of Women and Gender Equity, Claudia PascualâÂÂthen director of Sernam was appointed by President Michelle Bachelet on June 3, 2016.
This ministry, acting as the governing body, must ensure the coordination, consistency, and coherence of policies, plans, and programs on gender equity, which are to be incorporated transversally across the actions of the State. It is responsible for planning and developing policies and special measures with cultural relevance aimed at promoting equal rights and opportunities between men and women, seeking to eliminate all forms of arbitrary discrimination based on gender, ensuring the full participation of women in cultural, political, economic, and social spheres, as well as the exercise of their human rights and fundamental freedoms. It must also ensure compliance with the obligations contained in international treaties ratified by Chile on these matters and currently in force.
The ministry is organised as follows:
The Minister of Women and Gender Equity is in charge of the senior leadership of this ministry and the functions established in Article 3 of Law No. 20.820. The minister also exercises the political leadership of the Ministry and acts as the immediate collaborator of the President of the Republic in the development of policies, plans, and programs aimed at gender equity, equality of rights, and the elimination of arbitrary discrimination against women. In particular, the minister is responsible for:
The Interministerial Committee is a body whose function is to collaborate in the implementation of policies, plans, and programs aimed at equality of rights between women and men, incorporating a gender perspective into the actions of the State.
The Committee serves as a mechanism for coordination, information-sharing, guidance, and agreement on public policies in this area. It is composed of:
The Advisory Council (AC) brings together all officials of the Ministry. It is chaired by the Minister for Women and Gender Equity.
The Undersecretariat for Women and Gender Equity of Chile is a state undersecretariat under the Ministry for Women and Gender Equity, which is responsible for assisting the President of the Republic in the design, coordination, and evaluation of policies, plans, and programs aimed at promoting gender equity, equality of rights, and the elimination of all forms of arbitrary discrimination against women. As such, the head of the Undersecretariat is tasked with acting as the direct collaborator, advisor, and substitute (in the event of a vacancy) of the Minister of the portfolio. Since March 28, 2025, the Undersecretary has been Claudia Donaire Gaete.
The Ministry oversees 16 Regional Ministerial Secretariats (SecretarÃÂa regional ministerial, SEREMIs) for Women and Gender Equity.
List by Region:
The National Service for Women and Gender Equity (SernamEG) is a functionally decentralized public service with its own legal personality and assets, responsible for implementing the policies, plans, and programs entrusted to it by the Ministry for Women and Gender Equity.
The Ministry includes the following departments:
It also has five divisions under its authority: