Doc. 10466

2 March 2005

The international day of equal opportunities for women and men

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mrs Cliveti and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1. Considering that the basic aim of the Council of Europe is to promote democracy, the respect for human rights and to fight against any form of discrimination,

2. Recalling the Universal Declaration on Democracy adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union in September 1997 which states that “the achievement of democracy presupposes a genuine partnership between men and women in the conduct of the affairs of the society in which they work in equality and complementarity…” and the declaration adopted in Istanbul in November 1997 by the 4th European Ministerial Conference on Equality between women and men that stipulates that the equality between women and men is a fundamental criterion of democracy,

3. Recalling that gender discrimination represents a violation of human rights and on offence to the dignity and the integrity of the human being which is still manifest in our societies,

4. Bearing in mind the necessity to increase the public awareness as far as the principles of gender equality and equal opportunities for women and men are concerned,

5. The Assembly thus recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

i. proclaims the day of 24 March as the International Day of the Equal Opportunities for Women and Men,

ii. calls on the governments and parliaments of member and observer States to observe this day and encourage activities and manifestations meant to increase public awareness regarding the principles of gender equality and equal opportunities for women and men.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed 1:

CLIVETI, Minodora, Romania, SOC

BABURIN, Oleksiy, Ukraine, UEL

BİLGEHAN, Gülsün, Turkey, SOC

BOUSAKLA, Mimount, Belgium, SOC

FOULKES, George, United Kingdom, SOC

GIOVANELLI, Fausto, Italy, SOC

OSKINA, Vera, Russia, EDG

RUPPRECHT, Marlene, Germany, SOC

STANTCHEVA, Darinka, Bulgaria, LDR

VERMOT-MANGOLD, Ruth-Gaby, Switzerland, SOC

1        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group