The Gender Equality Commission (GEC) is holding its 29th plenary meeting on 10 to 12 June 2026 in Strasbourg. A highlight of the agenda will be the launch of the Recommendation on Accountability for Technology-facilitated violence against women and girls, adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 4 March 2026. The launch event will take place at 15.30 C.E.T. on 10 June and can be followed online. It will feature expert interventions on technology-facilitated violence against women and girls, highlighting the challenges and how the Recommendation can help to strengthen efforts to ensure accountability.

Other key items on the agenda include the examination and planned approval of the first biennial report on the implementation of the Gender Equality Strategy 2024-2029 for the period 2024-2025, as well as a discussion around improving dissemination at national level of existing standards developed by the GEC. Members will also begin to reflect on the GEC’s Terms of Reference for 2028-2031. As a specific contribution to the Council of Europe’s New Democratic Pact for Europe, an exchange will be held, with experts in the fields of democracy and democratic institutions, about the role of women in democracy. GEC members will also take part in a workshop to collect promising practices, by way of follow up to the 2023 Guidelines on the place of men and boys in gender equality policies and in policies to combat violence against women.  Furthermore, in a context of increasing backlash against gender equality, the GEC will reflect on activities to raise awareness of its newly published guide on “Advancing gender equality through values-based communication: A practical guide for authorities, communicators, and civil society to deflect anti-gender rhetoric”.

The GEC steers the Council of Europe’s intergovernmental work in the field of gender equality. It is composed of representatives of the 46 member States. Other states and organisations, including civil society organisations, are invited as participants or observers. Established to help mainstream gender equality into all Council of Europe policies and to bridge the gap between international commitments and women’s lived realities in Europe, the GEC oversees and supports the implementation of the Council of Europe’s Gender Equality Strategy.