Doc. 11428

9 October 2007

Involving men to achieve gender equality

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr MENDES BOTA and others

1. In various activities linked to the pan-European Campaign “Stop domestic violence against women”, the Council of Europe and the Parliamentary Assembly have highlighted that the involvement of men in combating domestic violence against women is a key factor in order to change not only laws, but also mentalities. In this context, the PACE Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men invited, for example, national parliaments to set up groups of male parliamentarians committed to combat violence against women. The next pan-European parliamentary initiative, to be carried out by the Parliamentary Assembly on 25 November 2007 throughout Europe, will focus on involving men in combating violence against women, a concept that has emerged only in the last decade.

2. Violence against women is the most obvious assault on women’s dignity. It is, however, only the reflection of the imbalance of power in society between women and men, which is affecting women in many other areas, such as workplaces, schools, politics, etc. In these contexts as well, it is important to recognise that men have a specific role to play to push the gender issue high on the agenda and work for a more egalitarian society.

3. Male parliamentarians constitute almost 80% of the parliamentarians across Europe who draft laws and set norms. It is, therefore, time to initiate a targeted action to involve more men, including male parliamentarians, in equality projects and provide them an opportunity to get involved more actively in issues such as reproductive health, parental responsibilities and family, work and the economy.

4. To this end, the Assembly urges the governments of member states to promote men’s involvement in programmes aimed at achieving equal opportunities for women and men and to encourage men to join in equality projects.

5. Taking into account the work undertaken by organisations and parliamentarians who have begun to reflect on involving men methodology in practice, the Assembly invites national parliaments to raise awareness on gender issues, to involve more male parliamentarians in equality projects and to find institutional ways to increase men’s involvement in order to achieve gender equality and contribute to a democracy and a society that function more effectively.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed¹:

MENDES BOTA José, Portugal, EPP/CD

AUSTIN John, United Kingdom, SOC

BOSWELL Tim, United Kingdom, EDG

BRANGER Jean-Guy, France, EPP/CD

CIRCENE Ingrida, Latvia, EPP/CD

ČURDOVÁ Anna, Czech Republic, SOC

DAČIĆ Ivica, Serbia, SOC

DUPRAZ John, Switzerland, ALDE

ERR Lydie, Luxembourg, SOC

GRAF Angelika, Germany, SOC

HÄGG Carina, Sweden, SOC

JOVANOVIĆ Nataša, Serbia, NR

KOVAČ Elvira, Serbia, NR

MALIĆ Mirjana, Bosnia and Herzegovina, SOC

MENDONÇA Ana Catarina, Portugal, SOC

PAPADOPOULOS Antigoni, Cyprus, ALDE

PLATVOET Leo, Netherlands, UEL

RUPPRECHT Marlene, Germany, SOC

VERMOT-MANGOLD Ruth-Gaby, Switzerland, SOC

WOLDSETH Karin S., Norway, EDG

WURM Gisela, Austria, SOC

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