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Strasbourg, 05.03.2009 – “Europe cannot play and win with half of the team
confined to the bench”, said Terry Davis, the Secretary General of the Council
of Europe, speaking on the publication of a report on the participation of
women in public decision making in Europe.
“Although there is some progress, the current situation is unfair,
unintelligent and ineffective. Gender inequality is detrimental to political,
social and economic development. That is why the Council of Europe member
states should do more to promote greater participation of women in decision
making bodies”, added Terry Davis.
The report is being published today, a few days before International
Women’s Day on 8 March. It shows that the average
number of women ministers is 28.6% and the average representation of women in national
parliaments is 21.7%. There has been some progress since 2005, when only 19.9%
of ministers were women, but representation in national parliaments has
remained the same. These figures are far from the 40% minimum recommended by
the organisation.
The data have been collected in order to monitor the implementation of a 2003
Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe which set
this 40% minimum in public decision making bodies for both men and women. This
text contains a number of guidelines to assist member states in promoting an
increased participation of women in decision-making.
The report contains data from 42 of the 47 members States of the Council of
Europe on national and regional parliaments, national, regional and local
governments, supreme and constitutional courts, the diplomatic service and
Council of Europe´s bodies. It follows a similar report in 2005 with data from
39 countries.
The report, “Sex-disaggregated statistics on the participation
of women and men in political and public decision making in the Council of
Europe member states”, depicts the situation as of 1 September 2008. Its
findings include:
· Only three member states have reached the recommended minimum of 40% of women
in their national parliament: Sweden (46%), Finland (41.5%) and the Netherlands
(41.3%). Belgium (37.3%), Denmark (38%) and Norway (37.9%) are close to
reaching the required minimum.
· Finland and Spain exceed 50% participation of women in the composition of
their national governments. Two women have been elected Heads of State – in
Finland and Ireland -, and another two Heads of Government – in Germany and
Ukraine -. In five countries there are no women ministers.
· Only 10.2 % of the mayors are women, Russia being the country with a highest
proportion of women in this post (29.5%). 24% of municipal councillors are
women. 27.6 % of the judges in Supreme Courts and 20.3% of the judges in
constitutional courts are women.
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