As early as 1957, the founders of European Community introduced the concept of equality between women and men at work as a legal principle in article 119 of the treaty of Rome. Since then, six Directives, several Recommendations and Council Resolutions have been developing and defining that principle. Since the 1980s, the European Commission has developed four Action Programmes in order to put the principle of equal rights into practice. During its first two programmes, the Commission primarily promoted positive actions to promote the integration of women in the workplace. In its 3rd programme, the Commission laid specific emphasis on the necessity to improve the status of women in society.
Women have to be treated equally and equally represented in the media and decision-making.
The 4th programme covers the period 1996-2000.