How do I implement a gender equality management system in accordance with the UNI/PdR 125:2022 reference practice? How do I obtain certification from an Accredia-accredited body?How to interpret performance indicators for organizations?
These and many other questions are answered in the new edition of the document “UNI/PdR 125 Frequently Asked Questions – Application guidelines for UNI/PdR 125” , developed by Accredia and UNI to support organizations in the application of the PdR and accredited bodies in certification audits.
Following the 2022 and 2024 editions, the FAQs have been updated to become an increasingly practical tool for consultation and guidance, in step with the times and the rapidly evolving society in which gender equity is emerging as a fundamental prerequisite for the country's economic and social growth.
Indications for organizations and bodies
All new features in the 2026 edition of the UNI/PdR 125 FAQs are marked in the text with the “NEW” symbol and provide targeted updates or specific details compared to previous versions.UNI/PdR 125, which can be downloaded free of charge from the UNI website , provides guidelines for a management system for gender equality through the structuring and adoption of a set of performance indicators (KPIs).
To facilitate its application, the FAQs therefore collect practical indications on the operational aspects of the reference practice, as well as information on specific KPIs capable of clarifying aspects or cases of more controversial interpretation.
For accredited bodies, in order to ensure a uniform and consistent approach in issuing certifications, the application interpretations provided by the document are to be considered prescriptive.
The accredited certification of gender equality
Despite the progress made, gender equality in the workplace remains a structural challenge in Italy.The Legislator and the Quality Infrastructure developed a mechanism that could go beyond declarations and translate commitments into measurable organizational changes.
The Italian gender equality certification system was introduced by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and subsequently regulated by Law 162/2021 (Gribaudo Law) and Law 234/2021 (2022 Budget Law).
In an integrated manner, the conformity assessment mechanism developed by UNI, with UNI/PdR 125, and by Accredia, with the accreditation requirements for bodies, responded to the need for a fair and objective measurement of gender equality.
Accredited certification of gender equality in organizations is therefore the new paradigm that produces sustainable and long-lasting change and is now a central element of corporate strategies.
The numbers of certified gender equality
The growth of gender equality management systems has been very positive: between 2022 and 2025, accredited certification according to UNI/PdR 125 rapidly moved from the launch of the scheme to the widespread diffusion of a new dimension of quality.July 2022 : Accredia issues the first three accreditations to bodies that certify management systems for gender equality according to UNI/PdR 125
December 2023 : Italy records strong initial growth, with 50 accredited certification bodies and 8,388 certified company sites
December 2024 : the system has 54 accredited bodies and over 16,000 certified sites
September 2025 : 62 accredited bodies are operational, having certified 38,652 sites , exceeding the PNRR target of 800 companies by 2026, a strong indicator of demand and political traction.