The Congress is undertaking work on women participation to public life, equality between men and women, as well as on women’s rights, for example by introducing quotas in its national delegations, adopting resolutions and recommandations on gender equality, and contributing to actions fighting violence against women.
Quotas within Congress national delegations

Introduced in 2008, in accordance with the Congress Charter, the participation of a minimum of 30% of the under-represented sex in national delegations has been ensured since 2011 as a precondition for the approval of the credentials of a delegation.

  • Between 1994 and 2014, 73% (132) of the posts of President and Vice-President were held by men and 27% (49) were held by elected women;
  • For the first time in 2010, the Vice-presidents of the Congress were in equal numbers. Today (mandate 2021-2026), women constitute 50% (8 out of 16 members) of the executive of the Congress (Bureau);
  • For the first time in 2016, a woman was elected President of the Congress.
Actions to fight violence against women
  • During 2006-2008, the Congress was actively involved in the “Stop domestic violence against women” campaign, and launched in particular a poster campaign in streets and subways of many European cities with the slogan “Cities and regions take a stand”.
  • In co-operation with the Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress organised a photo exhibition entitled “Break the silence on domestic violence“, inaugurated in 2008 and conducted in several cities.
  • In 2009, the Congress adopted Resolution 279 and Recommendation 260 on combating domestic violence against women and called for the development of strategies and measures at local level, to prevent and combat violence against women.
  • In 2020, the Congress adopted Resolution 459 and Recommendation 449 on fighting sexist violence against women in politics called on local and regional elected representatives to position themselves as political leaders against sexist discourse and violence.
Adopted texts
News

Back Gudrun Mosler-Törnström: "Women's participation in politics remains among top political priorities in Europe”

Gudrun Mosler-Törnström:

"Women's participation and representation, as well as gender equality, remain at the top of the political agenda in Europe," said Congress President Gudrun Mosler-Törnström addressing participants at the opening of the Eurasian Women's Forum in St Petersburg, Russian Federation, on 20 September 2018.

"The fair and equitable participation of women and men in public life is fundamental to democracy," she stressed underlining the commitment of the Council of Europe, whose three assemblies - the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, the Parliamentary Assembly and the Committee of Ministers - are now chaired by women.  " In the Congress, we have enforced a 30 per cent minimum requirement for women’s participation in national delegations. As a result, over the past five years alone, the representation of women in national delegations rose from 31% to 42%, and women constitute today 65% of the Congress executive leadership," she explained.

However, the President of the Congress stressed that, despite the progress made, women still remain largely under-represented at all levels of government and in all spheres of society. " Good laws are not enough to change the biased perception of the women’s role in society, which is proving to be a persistent challenge," she said stressing the importance of the local and regional levels in this regard. "If we do not achieve a high representation of women at the local level, we will not achieve parity in national parliaments and governments. As this level is closest to citizens, it makes it easier to combat prejudices against women and it is often a stepping stone for their national careers. »

Solutions may be based on the establishment of quotas or balanced representation, and above all, must be the concern of the whole society. They also require the commitment of local, regional and central governments, political parties and the media, as well as the possibility of creating platforms for dialogue and networking between women - but also between women and men.

In line with its work in this field, the Congress will contribute to the World Forum for Democracy, organised by the Council of Europe in Strasbourg in November 2018, under the theme "Gender Equality : Whose battle?".

Presidency St Petersburg, Russian Federation 20 September 2018
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Document reference
see also

In the Resolution 404 (2016), the Congress stresses the importance of adopting and implementing the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life, launched by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) in 2006, as a sound step towards gender equality, gender mainstreaming and the promotion of equal opportunities for women and men in local political and public life.