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 Meeting of the Council of Europe's Gender Equality Commission

Congress Secretary General Andreas KIEFER with the Chair of the Council of Europe's Gender Equality Commission (GEC), Eva FEHRINGER.

Congress Secretary General Andreas KIEFER with the Chair of the Council of Europe's Gender Equality Commission (GEC), Eva FEHRINGER.

On the occasion of the meeting of the Council of Europe's Gender Equality Commission (GEC), from 11 – 13 April 2018 in Strasbourg, Congress Secretary General Andreas KIEFER met GEC Chairperson Eva FEHRINGER.

They discussed possible synergies, the role of the Congress in promoting the Council of Europe's work in this field with local and regional authorities, and the innovative initiatives implemented by cities and regions, from which national governments could draw inspiration.

The new Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy was adopted by the Committee of Ministers in their 1309th meeting on 7 March 2018. The Congress will contribute to those strategic objectives which are of relevance for local and regional politicians.

These include, in particular, preventing gender stereotypes, the fight against domestic violence, equal access of women to justice, the participation of women and men in political and public decision-making, protecting the rights of migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls, as well as gender mainstreaming in all policies and measures.

Gender Equality Strasbourg 13 April 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.