http://www.coe.int/t/e/Human_Rights/Equality/ Important: Please click website Link to access subsite references.
Welcome to the Council of Europe’s web site dedicated to equality between women and men
Overview Gender mainstreaming Balanced participation of women and men in political and public decision making National Mechanisms Violence against women Trafficking in human beings Conflict prevention and peacebuilding Men and Gender Equality Other activities Conferences and Seminars Equality Committee Secretariat Links Recent publications Stocktaking study on the measures and actions taken in Council of Europe member states to combat violence against women Forced marriages in Council of Europe member states Gender Budgeting The role of women and men in intercultural and interreligious dialogue for the prevention of conflict, for peace building and for democratisation	NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS In accordance with the Action Plan adopted during the Third Summit of Heads of State and Government of Council of Europe Member States in Warsaw on 16-17 May 2005, a Task Force to Combat Violence against Women, including Domestic Violence has been set up in 2006. The Task Force, composed of eight international experts in the field of preventing and combating violence against women, will be in charge of evaluating progress at national level and establishing instruments for quantifying developments at pan-European level with a view to drawing up proposals for action. The Blueprint for a Pan-European Campaign to combat violence against women, including domestic violence prepared by the Task Force was adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 21 June 2006. ***** 6th European Ministerial Conference on Equality between Women and Men (Stockholm on 8 and 9 June 2006) The European Ministers responsible for Equality between Women and Men met in Stockholm on 8 and 9 June 2006. The main theme of the Conference was "Human rights and economic challenges in Europe - gender equality" and the two sub themes are (1) : Gender equality as an integral part of human rights in a democratic society and (2) : Gender analysis and gender budgeting: tools for economic development. More information on the Conference available here. ***** Regional Seminar on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings: Prevention, Protection and Prosecution, Bucharest (Romania), 4-5 April 2006 in the framework of the Romanian Chairmanship to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. This seminar was organised by the Directorate General of Human Rights - DGII of the Council of Europe in co-operation with the Romanian Ministry for Administration and Interior within the framework of the Council of Europe Campaign to combat trafficking in human beings. The aim of the seminar is to raise awareness among governments, parliamentarians, NGOs and civil society on issues related to trafficking in human beings and to promote the widest possible signature and ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. ***** Gender budgeting in Europe, Side-Event, 2 March 2006, 1 pm – 2.45 pm, Conference Room 2 of the United Nations Building New York The Equality Division of the Council of Europe, the Women’s Institute of Spain and the Permanent Representation of Spain to the United Nations have jointly organised a side-event on " Gender Budgeting in Europe" which took place on 2 March 2006 on the occasion of the 50th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) (New York, 27 February – 10 March 2006). Programme The event was chaired by Ambassador Juan Antonio YÀÑEZ-BARNUEVO, Permanent Representative of Spain to the United Nations. ***** The Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (CETS N° 197) was adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 3 May 2005 and opened for signature in Warsaw on 16 May 2005, on the occasion of the 3rd Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe. The text of the Convention and its Explanatory Report are available here. The Convention is a comprehensive treaty mainly focused on the protection of victims of trafficking and the safeguard of their rights. It also aims at preventing trafficking as well as prosecuting traffickers. The Convention applies to all forms of trafficking; whether national or transnational, whether or not related to organised crime. It applies whoever the victim: women, men or children and whatever the form of exploitation: sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, etc. The Convention provides for the setting up of an independent monitoring mechanism guaranteeing parties’ compliance with its provisions. *****
Gender equality means an equal visibility, empowerment and participation of both sexes in all spheres of public and private life. Gender equality is the opposite of gender inequality, not of gender difference. This site has been set up to provide information on all the Council of Europe’s activities in the field of equality between women and men at intergovernmental level. Since 1979, the Organisation has been promoting European co-operation to achieve real equality between the sexes. It possesses a wealth of information on subjects such as violence against women, trafficking in human beings, gender mainstreaming, positive action, balanced participation in decision-making, national machinery for equality, men and gender equality. The site explains what kind of work is carried out and gives direct access to a number of publications and studies.