24/06/2008 Session
Strasbourg, 24.06.2008 -Today the Assembly invited member states to take practical measures to empower women in our modern, multicultural society and to extend their rights, in particular by allowing them to take part fully in public life, politics and economic life through the introduction of positive measures (quotas and other mechanisms).
PACE asserts that states must protect women against violations of their rights, including those carried out in the name of religion. The resolution adopted today also suggests that the Council of Europe holds a European regional conference to prepare for the fifth United Nations World Conference on Women.
The Rapporteur of the Committee of Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, Ingrida Circene (Latvia, EPP/CD), said during the parliamentary debate that member states must do everything within their power to counter cultural and religious relativism where women's rights are concerned, combat discrimination and put an end to sexist violence.