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Resolution 1593 (2007)
In favour of a Parliamentary Assembly “Gender Equality Prize”
1. Despite the progress made in Council
of Europe member states, the Parliamentary Assembly is deeply concerned
to find that women account for less than 20% of members of parliament
in nearly half the 47 Council of Europe member states, and less
than 25% of members of the Parliamentary Assembly.
2. The Assembly is convinced that a gender balance in politics
is essential if democracy and society are to function more effectively.
The Assembly draws attention in this connection to the Committee
of Ministers’ Recommendation Rec(2003)3 to member states on balanced
participation of women and men in political and public decision
making, which stipulates that balanced participation of women and
men means that the representation of either women or men in any
decision-making body in political or public life should not fall below
40%.
3. The Assembly observes that institutional mechanisms for fostering
women’s participation in political life often prove inadequate or
ineffective. It further observes that politics in Europe are based
on political parties, which therefore have a key role to play in
bringing women into politics, guaranteeing them equal access to posts
carrying responsibility and to positions on party lists that give
them a chance of being elected, and in contributing to a fairer
and more democratic society.
4. The Assembly intends, in this connection, to draw attention
to exemplary schemes introduced by political parties and has decided
to award a “Gender Equality Prize” (hereinafter “the Prize”).
5. The Prize is designed to reward actions, schemes or initiatives
that have been or are in the process of being carried out by political
parties and have brought about a significant improvement in women's
participation in elected assemblies, political parties and their
respective executives.
6. The political groups in the Parliamentary Assembly, in the
European Parliament and in member states’ national parliaments will
be able to submit a candidature file for the award, including the
description of specific action taken by one or more political parties
that has helped to achieve the objective of the Prize, namely a balanced
participation of women and men in political life.
7. The Assembly invites the Committee on Equal Opportunities
for Women and Men, in liaison with the Sub-Committee on Equal Participation
of Women and Men in Decision Making, to:
7.1. draw up rules setting out the technical conditions applicable
to the submission of nominations and the designation of the prizewinners;
7.2. appoint a jury of three independent figures known for
their expertise and competence in gender equality, who will be responsible
for analysing the entries and short-listing candidates;
7.3. choose the winners of the first, second and third prizes.
8. The “Gender Equality Prize” will be presented every five years
by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly.
9. The winner of the first Prize will receive a trophy and will
be offered the opportunity to take part in a co-operation activity
under the aegis of the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women
and Men. The winners of the second and third prizes will receive
a diploma.
10. In awarding the Prize, the Assembly is seeking to highlight
the importance it attaches to promoting women’s access to elected
office and decision-making positions in political parties and acknowledge
the special responsibility political parties have for fostering
equal opportunities for women and men.