23/11/2007 Standing Committee
Strasbourg, 23.11.2007 – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) today decided to establish a PACE "Gender Equality Prize", to reward action, schemes or initiatives which have been or are in the process of being carried out by political parties and which have brought about a significant improvement in women’s participation in elected assemblies, political parties and their respective executives.
“Despite the progress made, we are deeply concerned to find that women account for less than 20% of members of parliament in nearly half (21)* of the 47 Council of Europe member states and less than 25% of members of the Parliamentary Assembly”, said Jean-Guy Branger (France, EPP/CD), the instigator of the prize. He added, “gender balance in politics is essential if democracy and society are to function more effectively. In awarding this prize, the Assembly is seeking to highlight the importance it attaches to promoting women’s access to elected office and decision-making positions in political parties and elected assemblies.”
Lastly, Mr Branger pointed out that in 2003, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe had addressed a recommendation to member states, stipulating that balanced participation of women and men meant that the representation of either women or men in any decision-making body should not fall below 40%.
* Source: IPU: http://www.ipu.org/wmn-f/classif.htm