The PACE Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men today elected the members of the Gender Equality Prize jury, including its chairperson. Having topped the voting, the Swedish politician, Lena Hjelm-Wallén, will chair the jury. In twenty years of office in the Swedish government, Ms Hjelm-Wallén served as Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs, Minister responsible for International Development Co-operation, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister. The deadline for submitting candidatures for the prize has been extended to 1 June 2009.