The Gender Equality Commission (GEC) held its 28th meeting on 18-20 November 2025 in Strasbourg. The GEC pre-approved a draft Committee of Ministers Recommendation on accountability for technology-facilitated violence against women and girls. It will be considered by the Council of Europe Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC) and submitted for approval at a joint session on 26 November, which GEC members will join online.
During a joint session of the GEC and the Steering Committee on Anti-discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion (CDADI), both Committees approved the draft Recommendation on equality and artificial intelligence, which will be examined by the Committee of Ministers for possible adoption in early 2026.
The GEC also discussed and adopted a practical Guidance for the development of positive narratives aimed at deflecting the anti-gender rhetoric.
In addition, the GEC held a series of exchanges with relevant Council of Europe sectors and international partners. These discussions covered developments in UN Women’s work to prevent and combat violence against women and girls; the new Council of Europe Recommendation (CM/Rec(2025)7) on equal rights for intersex persons; gender equality activities led by the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport; justice-related findings in the course of monitoring implementation of the Istanbul Convention; as well as the current situation regarding gender equality in the audiovisual sector.
Participants also took part in an interactive “World Café”, focused on the work of the Gender Equality Division’s Cooperation Unit, around four key themes: digital violence against women and girls, women’s access to justice, perpetrator programmes and civil society engagement. This allowed small group discussions with project managers, opening paths for closer engagement of GEC members in cooperation activities.
Finally, the GEC re-elected Sara Slana (Slovenia) as Chair and Sandra Lengwiler (Switzerland) as Vice-Chair, and elected Lea Spörcke (Germany) as member of the Bureau as of 1 January 2026.
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.
