Doc. 8866
9 October 2000

European women's participation in decision-making

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mrs Squarcialupi and others

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

1.       As a follow–up to the 4^th World Conference on Women held in Beijing on 15 September 1995, governments have undertaken to ensure women's equal access to and full participation in power structures and decision–making.

2.       Within the European Union, both the Council and the European Parliament have repeatedly reaffirmed – the European Parliament in its resolution of March 2000 – the principle of gender balance in public and private decision–making bodies, as well as in legislative and judicial bodies, throughout the Union.

3.       Despite the stands repeatedly taken by these and other authoritative international organisations, it should all the same be noted that women continue to be under–represented in decision–making bodies and that this is unfortunately a steady trend showing no signs of substantial change.

4.       For these reasons the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

i.       draw up a plan for an appropriate update of the statistics on women's participation in decision–making processes in the Council of Europe member states;

ii.       consider introducing women's adequate presence in political and administrative institutions amongst democracy indicators;

iii.       take positive action (or apply quotas as a transitional measure) to contribute towards achieving a more balanced participation of men and women in political life, as this is a prerequisite for a better functioning of politics itself thanks to the complementary nature of men's and women's specific qualities;

iv.        see to it that public and private institutions in Council of Europe member states set the reasonable target of having 40% women in high–ranking positions, in order to redress any gender imbalance;

v.        ensure actual application of the fundamental principle of "equal pay for same job" both for men and women;

vi.       consider that women's participation also within the Assembly of the Council of Europe should be regarded as essential.

Signed : ¹

Squarcialupi, Italy, SOC

About, France, LDR

Besostri, Italy, SOC

Björnemalm, Sweden, SOC

Briane, France, EPP/CD

Calner, Sweden, SOC

Davis, United Kingdom, SOC

Dreyfus-Schmidt, France, SOC

Durrieu, France, SOC

Err, Luxembourg, SOC

Herczog, Hungary, SOC

Jones, United Kingdom, SOC

Le Grand, France, EDG

Legendre, France, EDG

Magnusson, Sweden, SOC

Pourtaud, France, SOC

Pozza Tasca, Italy, LDR

Schreiner, France, EDG

Stanoiu, Romania, SOC

Vermot–Mangold, Switzerland, SOC

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

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

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group