Welcome to the Council of Europe’s web site dedicated to equality between women and men

This site has been set up to provide information on all the Council of Europe’s activities in the field of equality between women and men at intergovernmental level.

Since 1979, the Organisation has been promoting European co-operation to achieve real equality between women and men. It possesses a wealth of information on subjects such as violence against women, trafficking in human beings, gender mainstreaming, positive action, balanced participation in decision-making, national machinery for equality, men and gender equality.

These works are presented on this site that gives direct access to several reports and studies. The site being constantly developed and updated, do not hesitate to contact us with your comments.

About Gender Equality

 At the 119th meeting of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers in Madrid, 12 May 2009, Ministers for Foreign Affaires and representatives of the 47 Council of Europe member states adopted the Declaration: Making gender equality a reality. 20 years after its Declaration on equality of women and men, the Committee of Ministers renewed its commitment to achieve a real equality between women and men and urged its Member States to commit themselves fully to bridging the gap between equality in fact and in law.

News

Adoption of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence

On 7 April 2011 the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers adopted the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.

This new landmark treaty of the Council of Europe opens the path for creating a legal framework at pan-European level to protect women against all forms of violence, and prevent, prosecute and eliminate violence against women and domestic violence. The Convention also establishes a specific monitoring mechanism in order to ensure effective implementation of its provisions by the Parties.

The Convention will be opened for signature on the occasion of the 121st Session of the Committee of Ministers (Istanbul, 10-11 May 2011).

Convention
Explanatory memorandum

55th Session of the Commission for the Status of Women CSW - New York
A side-event organised jointly by the Council of Europe and the Permanent Representation of Turkey to the United Nations on the occassion of the 55th Session of the Commission for the Status of Women -  "Combating Gender Stereotypes in Education" will be held on 25 February 2011, 1.15 pm – 2.45 pm in Conference Room 1 of the UN Building (more)

Now on screen the film: 'Women are Heroes', link to the official website

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Recommendation CM/Rec (2010) 10 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on the role of women and men in conflict prevention and resolution and in peach building was adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 30 June 2010 at the 1089th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies

Information brochure: Working towards a convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence

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The 7th Council of Europe Conference of Minister responsible for Equality between women and men was held on 24-25 May 2010 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The main theme of the Conference was:
"Gender equality: bridging the gap between de jure and de facto equality"

There were two sub-themes dedicated to:

  Positive action and gender mainstreaming to achieve de facto gender equality;  
  Combating gender stereotypes: the role of education and the media

Photo gallery

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Recent publications

Make equality in law a reality in fact
Compilation of recommendations of the Committee of Ministers in the filed of equality between women and men

Protecting women against violence
Analytical study of the results of the third round of monitoring the implementation of Recommendation Rec (2002)5 on the protection of women against violence in Council of Europe member states.
This is the third report on implementation of Recommendation Rec (2002)5 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on the protection of women against violence in the Council of Europe member states since the monitoring framework was set up in 2005.

Parity Democracy – a far cry from reality
This study concludes that in recent years no major progress has been achieved to increase the presence of women in political decision making bodies. The report calls for the creation of a new momentum in member states to implement the 2003 Council of Europe Committee of Ministers Recommendation which set a 40% minimum threshold in public decision making bodies for both men and women.