CoE Recommendation No. 1413 of the Parliamentary Assembly on Equal Representation in Political Life (1999) (English)
Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1413 (1999)
EQUAL REPRESENTATION IN POLITICAL LIFE
(Rap-Eg(99)1)
Decisions
The Deputies
1. adopted the following reply to Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1413 (1999) on equal representation in political life:
"The Committee of Ministers welcomes the interest shown by the Parliamentary Assembly in the question of balanced representation of women and men in political life. It recalls that, at their Second Summit in October 1997, the Heads of State and Government of the member states of the Council of Europe stressed "the importance of a more balanced representation of men and women in all sectors of society, including political life" and called for "continued progress with a view to achieving effective equality of opportunities between women and men".
The Committee of Ministers wishes to draw the attention of the Parliamentary Assembly to the fact that the Declaration on equality between women and men as a fundamental criterion of democracy, adopted by the 4th European Ministerial Conference on equality between women and men (Istanbul, November 1997), contains an appendix setting out multidisciplinary strategies, giving many practical suggestions as to how to improve the representation of women in decision-making, including in political and public life. It should also like to recall that in 1998, the Committee of Ministers adopted Recommendation No. R (98) 14 to member states on gender mainstreaming, encouraging member states to implement this strategy.
As regards paragraph 13 of the Recommendation, the Committee of Ministers:
- informs the Parliamentary Assembly, regarding 13.i, that the Steering Committee for Equality between Women and Men (CDEG) is currently preparing a report on positive action in the field of equality between women and men, which deals with, inter alia, positive action in political decision-making. This report should be available in the second half of 2000. The CDEG then intends to set up a Group of Specialists to prepare a draft recommendation from the Committee of Ministers on balanced representation of women and men in political decision-making. The Committee of Ministers suggests that the CDEG should have close co-operation with the Parliamentary Assembly in the preparation of this text and consider inviting a representative of the Assembly to take part in the work of this Group of Specialists;
- instructs the CDEG to give its opinion on the proposal made in paragraph 13.ii, regarding "the institution of a European ombudsman for the re-balancing of representation";
- instructs the CDEG and the Education Committee (CC-ED) to study, in the framework of their planned joint activity in 2000, to study the proposal made in 13.iii on introducing an education programme in the field of equality.
Concerning paragraph 14.i-iii, the Committee of Ministers recalls that the United Nations, in 2000, will organise a review of the commitments made at the Beijing Conference. The Council of Europe, through the CDEG and its Equality Section participates actively in the preparation of this review. This includes preparation of documents taking stock of the progress made in member states, i.e. with regard to national machinery for equality and gender mainstreaming";
2. adopted Decision No. CM/736/12012000 issuing ad hoc terms of reference to the Steering Committee for Equality between Women and Men (CDEG) as it appears at Appendix 5 to the present volume of Decisions;
3. adopted Decision No. CM/737/12012000 issuing ad hoc terms of reference to the Steering Committee for Equality between Women and Men (CDEG) and to the Education Committee (CC-ED) as it appears at Appendix 6 to the present volume of Decisions.