Recommendation 1931 (2010) Final version

Combating sexist stereotypes in the media

Author(s): Parliamentary Assembly

Origin - Assembly debate on 25 June 2010 (27th Sitting) (see Doc. 12267, report of the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, rapporteur: Mrs Stump). Text adopted by the Assembly on 25 June 2010 (27th Sitting).

1. Referring to its Resolution 1751 (2010) on combating sexist stereotypes in the media, the Parliamentary Assembly deplores the persistence of sexist stereotypes in the media, which impedes the achievement of de facto gender equality.

2. The Assembly welcomes the fact that the question of “Combating stereotypes: the role of education and the media” was discussed at the 7th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Equality between Women and Men in Baku (Azerbaijan) on 24 and 25 May 2010. The Assembly believes that education and the media have a key role in combating sexist stereotypes. At the same time, the Assembly stresses that the promotion of equality between women and men is not limited to upholding the principle of non-discrimination, but must involve positive obligations for states to guarantee the right to gender equality.

3. Accordingly, the Assembly invites the Committee of Ministers to:

3.1. draw up, in conjunction with the relevant steering committees:

3.1.1. a European code of good practice for member states to combat sexist stereotypes in the media;

3.1.2. a handbook for the media on strategies to combat gender stereotypes in the media, drawing on existing best practices;

3.2. incorporate, in the future Council of Europe convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, the fight against gender stereotypes as a means of preventing gender-based violence and promoting the effective achievement of equality between women and men;

3.3. alert its subordinate bodies to the need to use non-sexist language, in accordance with Recommendation No. R (90) 4 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on the elimination of sexism from language.

4. Referring to its Recommendation 1798 (2007) on respect for the principle of gender equality in civil law, the Assembly reiterates its invitation to the Committee of Ministers to draft a new protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights (ETS No. 5), establishing gender equality as a fundamental human right.