Role of women in the field of science and technology

Recommendation 1435 (1999)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

See Doc. 8332, report of the Committee on Science and Technology, rapporteur: Mrs Guirado, and Doc. 8360, opinion of the Committee on Equal Opportunities between Women and Men, rapporteur: Mrs Aguiar. Text adopted by the Standing Committee, acting on behalf of the Assembly, on 4 November 1999.

Thesaurus

1. As in Resolution 1207 (1999), the Assembly believes that, notwithstanding the considerable progress observed recently, several inequalities concerning the participation of men and women in scientific and technological development continue to exist in Europe.

2. It recalls that girls and women continue to face considerable obstacles in pursuing studies and careers in the field of science and technology, and that there are relatively few women in decision-making and consultative bodies in the science and technology sectors.

3. The Assembly notes that the Final Declaration of the 2nd Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe (10-11 October 1997) stressed "the importance of a more balanced representation of men and women in all sectors of society" and called for "continued progress with a view to achieving effective equality of opportunities between men and women".

4. It supports the declaration on equality between women and men as a fundamental criterion of democracy, adopted by the 4th European Ministerial Conference on Equality between Women and Men (Istanbul, 13-14 November 1997) and backs the measures advocated.

5. Observing the active role played by the Council of Europe in the process of change in education systems throughout Europe, the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers include the following in its intergovernmental work programme:

5.1 a study on equality between women and men, focusing on women’s participation in scientific and technological activities in Europe, to be carried out by the Steering Committee for Equality between Women and Men (CDEG), with particular stress on the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), where the decrease in the number of posts in the field of science and technology has mainly affected women;

5.2 a study on methods of attracting girls to, and preparing them for, careers in science and technology, to be carried out by the Education Committee (CC-ED) of the Council for Cultural Co-operation (CDCC), in conjunction with the CDEG;

5.3 a study on the measures to be taken to provide the same opportunities for women and men who have chosen to study science and technology at university, to be carried out by the Higher Education and Research Committee (CC-HER);

5.4 a study on the measures to be taken to promote the development of out-of-school science and technology education for women, to be carried out by the School and Out-of-School Education Section of the Directorate of Education, Culture and Sport (DECS).