Political rights and position of women
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 9 October 1975 (18th Sitting) (see Doc 3643see Doc 3643, report of the Political Affairs Committee). Text adopted by the Assembly on 9 October 1975 (18th Sitting).
The Assembly,
1. Considering that 1975 has been proclaimed "International Women's Year" by the General Assembly of the United Nations ;
3. Considering that the solution of problems affecting women is in the interest of society as a whole, and that women's liberation is truly the liberation of all people ;
4. Considering that reasons other than strictly legal ones, such as traditional ways of thinking and existing socio-economic structures, still are obstacles which prevent women from taking up a number of posts in political bodies, including national parliaments, corresponding to the number of women in the community ;
5. Convinced that an increased participation of women in political life at all levels will undoubtedly allow politicians of both sexes to gain a more thorough and objective understanding of all the problems with which modern democratic societies are confronted ;
6. Considering that discrimination against women can be eradicated only by means of special efforts in education and increased public expenditure for social reforms, particularly in the fields of health services, professional training and baby-care facilities ;
7. Concerned that in 1975, as in all periods of economic difficulties, women are the first victims of recession,
8.
Shares the three objectives of International Women's Year- equality, development, peace- convinced as it is that only through equality can development and peace be ensured ;
Supports all policies and programmes designed to combat sexual discrimination undertaken by the United Nations, the Council of Europe, EEC and the eighteen member states, whether in conjunction with International Women's Year or not ;
Urges political parties in the member states of the Council of Europe to encourage women to take a more active part in political life, to make more room for women in party executives and definitely to select more women as candidates to public offices and to support actively their election ;
Urges the governments of the member states to take appropriate steps to ensure a wider participation of women in appointed bodies, the individual's intellectual and professional qualifications being the only prerequisite for such appointments ;
Urges the parliaments of the member states to recognise the talents of all their members, irrespective of sex, when forming their delegations to the Parliamentary Assembly ;
Urges the Committee of Ministers and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to see to it that internal regulations and practice concerning staff do not result in discrimination on the grounds of sex, including unintentional discrimination.
