Gender Equality

Gender equality is an important policy goal of the Council of Europe. Priority areas of intervention are defined by the Gender Equality Strategy 2018-2023 and working methods include intergovernmental work, cooperation projects and gender mainstreaming.

ON-LINE CONFERENCE: GENDER EQUALITY AND THE ISTANBUL CONVENTION ON-LINE CONFERENCE: GENDER EQUALITY AND THE ISTANBUL CONVENTION

Marking the 10th anniversary of the opening for signature of the Istanbul Convention, the Council of Europe held an on-line conference on 11 May 2021, in partnership with the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, and in the framework of the German Presidency of the Committee of Ministers.

The morning session of the conference reaffirmed the political will of states parties to fully implement the Istanbul Convention, and highlighted its importance and its impact over the past decade. The afternoon panel discussed the implementation of the Council of Europe Recommendation on preventing and combating sexism and the related Council of Europe Campaign “Sexism: See it. Name it. Stop it!”, highlighting relevant initiatives of decision makers and civil society at the national and regional level to address sexism.

 The recording of the conference which was livestreamed from Berlin will be available shortly on the conference webpage

In March 2019, the Committee of Ministers adopted Recommendation CM/Rec(2019)1 on preventing and combating sexism : it calls for specific action in respect of language and communications; internet and social media; media, advertising and other communication methods; workplace; public sector; justice sector; education institutions  culture and sport; private sphere. It is currently available in 25 languages as well as in the English and French official versions. 

An action page and a brochure give concrete guidance regarding the implementation of the Recommendation

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IN FOCUS IN FOCUS

The COVID-19 crisis has strong gender equality-related impacts, including alarmingly high levels of violence against women. The Council of Europe divisions on Gender Equality and on Violence Against Women have developed a new webpage gathering information about actions undertaken by member states, the Council of Europe and other international organisations and civil society organisations to analyse and mitigate the gendered impacts of COVID-19.