Doc. 10624

29 June 2005

The incorporation of equality principles in the internal work and decision-making mechanisms of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mrs Hurskainen and others

In recent years the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has amended its Rules of Procedures on several points in order to increase the equal representation of men and women in the Assembly. The amendments have concerned the composition of the national delegations as well as the nominations of candidates to various posts in the Council of Europe in the election of which the Assembly plays an essential role.

However, the equal representation of both women and men has not yet reached in all respects the internal working procedures of the Assembly. Although national delegations today must include representatives of both sexes, this requirement does not extend for instance to the composition of the Bureau of the Assembly nor its committees and working groups. Thus the present Rules of Procedures with the present requirements of equal representation of women and men in national delegations have not led to de facto increased equality in the actual decision-making process within the Assembly.

Similar situations exist in most other international parliamentary assemblies. For instance the Presidency of the Nordic Council has recently nominated a working group to propose amendments to its Rules.

As the main European organisation promoting and defending human rights and equality, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe should endeavour to ensure that equality between women and men is de facto realized in all phases of its work. Therefore we propose that the Assembly should examine the present shortcomings in the Rules of Procedures of the Assembly with a view to making amendments to correct the situation.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed ¹:

HURSKAINEN, Sinikka, Finland, SOC

AHLQVIST, Birgitta, Sweden, SOC

AKSELSEN, Olav, Norway, SOC

ANTTILA, Sirkka-Liisa, Finland, ALDE

BARGHOLTZ, Helena, Sweden, ALDE

de MELO, Maria Manuela, Portugal, SOC

ELO, Mikko, Finland, SOC

ERR, Lydie, Luxembourg, SOC

GROSS, Andreas, Switzerland, SOC

HAGBERG, Michael, Sweden, SOC

HÄGG, Carina, Sweden, SOC

JAŘAB, Josef, Czech Republic, ALDE

KAIKKONEN, Antti, Finland, ALDE

LAUKKANEN, Markku, Finland, ALDE

LINTONEN, Minna, Finland, SOC

MILOTINOVA, Milena, Bulgaria, ALDE

OHLSSON, Carina, Sweden, SOC

OLIN, Kalevi, Finland, SOC

SAHLBERG, Pär-Axel, Sweden, SOC

SASI, Kimmo, Finland, EPP/CD

SEVERINSEN, Hanne, Denmark, ALDE

VAREIKIS, Egidijus, Lithuania, EPP/CD

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

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

      ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group