10 February 1995

Doc. 7240

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the improvement of the situation of women in rural society

presented by Mrs ANTTILA, Finland, LDR and others

      The Assembly,

1.       Is aware that women in rural society and especially in farming have always been an "invisible work force";

2.       Considers that society in general, and even rural women themselves, have greatly undervalued and often completely ignored the role of women in maintaining and consolidating the living countryside with its rich and diversified heritage and traditions;

3.       Deplores that too little has been done to fully recognise women's role on farms and in rural communities - legally, economically and in statistics;

4.       Believes that a full recognition of women's role in rural development would greatly contribute to rural prosperity and would in particular help sustainable rural development in the poorer countries and regions of the world;

5.       Is convinced that policies encouraging women and young girls to leave the countryside will eventually lead to total abandonment of rural areas;

6.       Consequently, the Assembly calls on member governments, governments of countries having special guest delegations with the Assembly, the European Union, the OECD and the United Nations:

i.       to work as a matter of urgency for the full socio-economic recognition of the vital role played by women in the family, on farms and in other employment in rural society. This implies the acknowledgement of the professional status of women, professional access to, and control of, resources, and services, including social security schemes, and the elimination of all legal and non-legal constraints;

ii.       to introduce measures to alleviate the work-load of women, and improve rural living conditions, including rural infrastructures, child-care and relief services;

iii.       to set up or strengthen education, and to extend and adapt information to the needs of rural women and respond to their growing requirements in agriculture, off-farm activities and other rural employment;

iv.       to adopt policy measures that will attract women and young girls to live and work in the countryside, in particular by favouring the development of diversified and challenging work opportunities as well as giving full recognition to traditional ones;

v.       make an up-to-date and comprehensive study of the situation of women in rural society with concrete proposals for improvements.

Signed:

Anttila, Finland, LDR

Halonen, Finland, SOC

Hacklin, Finland, SOC

Ala-Nissilä, Finland, -

Ryynänen, Finland, LDR

Andnor, Sweden, SOC

Laakso, Finland, UEL

Seiler, Switzerland, LDR

Mändmets, Estonia, EDG

Woltjer, Netherlands, SOC

Minkov, Bulgaria, LDR

Tiuri, Finland, EDG

Fenner, United Kingdom, EDG

Holte, Norway, LDR

Weyts, Belgium, EPP

Couveinhes, France, EDG

A. Moser, Bulgaria, EPP

*       SOC : Socialist Group

      EPP : Group of the European People's Party

      EDG : European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group

      UEL : Group of the Unified European Left