Gender Equality Commission Plenary sessions

The Gender Equality Commission holds its plenary sessions twice a year, in line with the GEC’s terms of reference. Plenary sessions are attended by: the GEC members, i.e. representatives of the 46 member states, representatives of various bodies of the Council of Europe (Parliamentary Assembly, Commissioner for Human Rights, Conference of INGOs and other Committees or sectors of the Council of Europe engaged in related work), the European Union and other intergovernmental organisations, representatives of States with observer status to the Council of Europe, and other States and non governmental organisations which have observer status with the GEC.

The plenary meetings are a forum to discuss important policy issues and developments relating to the Council of Europe's Gender Equality Strategy 2024-2029. Plenary session dates are decided during the last session of the preceding year.
For 2025, the agreed plenary meetings dates are:
13-15 May | 27th meeting
18-20 November | 28th meeting
26th meeting
19-21 November
Documents
25th meeting
16-18 April 2024
Documents
Presentations
Objective 2- Preventing and combating gender stereotypes and sexism
Objective 3 – Ensure the equal access of women to justice
Objective 4-Achieving balanced participation of women and men in political, public, social and economic life
- Advancing gender equality in politics: Opportunities for coOpportunities for co--operationoperation, Dr. Yulia Netesova, Chief of Democratic Governance and Gender Unit & Saša Gavrić, Gender Officer, OSCE/ODIHR
Objective 5-Ensuring women’s empowerment and gender equality in relation to global and geopolitical challenges
- Awareness-raising campaign deflecting anti-gender rhetoric and creating a new narrative – preparatory steps, Cécile Gréboval, Programme Manager, Gender Equality Adviser
Objective 6 - Achieve gender mainstreaming in all policies and measures
- Gender mainstreaming in Council of Europe activities – presentation of the new HELP course and update on activities from other sectors, Cécile Gréboval, Programme Manager, Gender Equality Adviser
24th meeting
14-16 November 2023
Documents
Presentations
Objective 2 – Prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence
Objective 3 of the Gender Equality Strategy – Ensure the equal access of women to justice
Objective 6 - Achieve gender mainstreaming in all policies and measures
23rd meeting
24-26 May 2023
The 23rd plenary meeting of the Gender Equality Commission (GEC) took place in Strasbourg, from 24 to 26 May 2023. On the policy development agenda, GEC members held a first discussion on a draft Gender Equality Strategy for 2024-2029. This will be the Organisation’s third Gender Equality Strategy. GEC members held also exchanges with Luxembourg’s Minister of Equality between Women and Men, Taina Bofferding, as well as with the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on Migration and Refugees, Leyla Kayacik, and with Tatyana Teplova, Head of Policy Coherence for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Division and Senior Counsellor, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Maria Ellul from Malta was elected as the new GEC Vice-Chair.
Documents
Presentations
Objective 1 – Prevent and combat gender stereotypes and sexism
Objective 2 – Prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence
Objective 3 – Ensure the equal access of women to justice
Objective 6 - Achieve gender mainstreaming in all policies and measures
Co-operation with other Council of Europe sectors
Co-operation with international/regional organisations
- Swedish presidency of the Council of the European Union
- Exchange of views with Tatyana Teplova, Head of Policy Coherence for the SDGs Division and Senior Counsellor, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), on the OECD’s work in the area of gender-based violence