Recommendation 1738 (2006) Final version

Mechanisms to ensure women's participation in decision-making

Author(s): Parliamentary Assembly

Origin - Text adopted by the Standing Committee, acting on behalf of the Assembly, on 17 March 2006 (see Doc.10743, report of the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, rapporteur: Mrs Cliveti).

1. The Parliamentary Assembly refers to Resolution 1489 (2006) on mechanisms to guarantee women’s participation in decision making.

2. The Assembly invites the Committee of Ministers to:

2.1. continue its follow-up action on Committee of Ministers Recommendation Rec(2003)3 on balanced participation of women and men in political and public decision making and ensure in particular that indicators are introduced to gauge the efficiency of the institutional mechanisms and national action plans put in place in the member states of the Council of Europe;

2.2. in particular, ask the Steering Committee on Equality between Women and Men to conduct studies on the selection criteria used for public appointment procedures in order to pinpoint the factors that exercise a negative influence on female appointments and recommend measures to eliminate such factors;

2.3. implement without delay the Assembly’s Recommendation 1676 (2004) on women’s participation in elections by drawing up a charter for electoral equality aimed at giving women a genuine opportunity to accede to posts in political and public life and at combating family voting;

2.4. ensure participation by women in its steering committees and its other working bodies at the levels mentioned in its own recommendation, that is at least 40%;

2.5. continue its policy of promoting equal opportunities in the Council of Europe Secretariat and adopt further measures, taking account of the under-representation of women in the Organisation’s top posts and in middle management;

2.6. instruct the competent steering committee to define the duties and terms of reference of a Council of Europe gender equality ombudsperson with responsibilities covering all aspects of promotion of equal opportunities for men and women in Europe, including gender balance in decision making, who would ensure implementation of the principle of equality between women and men in the member states of the Council of Europe, in co-ordination with the Commissioner for Human Rights.