At its 25th Plenary Session, held on 16 – 18 April 2024 in Strasbourg, the Gender Equality Commission (GEC) held a number of fruitful exchanges with partner organisations. Promoting women in decision-making and in public life was the focus of discussions with Ana Peláez Narváez, Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee), and with representatives from ODIHR/OSCE, who highlighted the results of research indicating that very high numbers of women in politics quit their positions, after being subjected to gender-based violence, among other reasons. The OECD’s work to develop indicators on technology-facilitated violence against women and girls was the subject of another exchange. The importance of joining forces in combating discrimination and promoting gender equality through an intersectional approach was emphasized in the GEC members’ discussions with Bertil Cottier, Chair of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI). 

The GEC also adopted the 2023 report on the implementation of the Gender Equality Strategy 2018 – 2023. The report reveals that much work has been carried out to promote gender mainstreaming in a transversal manner and that Recommendation CM/Rec(2019)1 on preventing and combating sexism has been followed up in many countries, through awareness-raising activities but also through legislative and policy measures to reduce the pay gap and to address sexism and gender stereotypes. Member States efforts to prevent and combat violence against women continued to feature as a top priority of implementation of the Strategy. 

The GEC will hold its annual conference on 30 May in cooperation with the Lithuanian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers. This major event in Strasbourg will launch the Organisation’s new Gender Equality Strategy 2024-2029 and will mark 10 years since the entry into force of the Istanbul Convention.