WRITTEN QUESTION E-1400/96 by Susan Waddington (PSE) to the Commission (6 June 1996)

Subject: Fourth UN World Conference on Women - Platform for Action

Following agreement on the 'platform for action' by the Fourth UN World Conference on Women in September 1995, what action has the Commission taken to assist the Member States with its implementation, and what further action does it envisage is needed at both European and national levels to ensure its full implementation, considering recent negative action by the Member States, such as the halving by the Council of the budget for the 'fourth medium-term Community action programme on equal opportunities between women and men'?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (30 July 1996)

Following the fourth UN world conference on women that took place in Beijing in September 1995, a number of initiatives have been taken at Community level to implement the Beijing platform for action.

The Council Decision on a medium-term Community action programme on equal opportunities for women and men (1996-2000) ((Decision 95/593/EC - OJ L 335/37 of 30.12.1995. )) covers a number of the strategic objectives contained in the platform, and aims to promote the integration of the equal opportunities for women and men in all policies and activities, to mobilize all the actors in economic and social life to achieve equal opportunities for men and women, to promote equal opportunities for men and women in a changing economy, especially in the fields of education, vocational training and the labour market, to reconcile working and family life, to promote a gender balance in decision-making, and to make conditions more conducive to exercising equality rights.

A Commission communication ((COM(95) 423 final of 18.9.1995. )) on integrating gender issues in development cooperation proposed a number of recommendations for strengthening the integration of gender issues in development following the approach of the Beijing platform. A Resolution ((Adopted on 20 December 1995 - not yet published in the OJ. )) of the Council and Member States endorses the communication's analysis and recommendations, as 'translating into the field of development cooperation the political commitments undertaken at the fourth world conference on women'. It also establishes common policy guidelines for the Commission and the Member States, based on the communication. Progress will be reviewed at the meeting of the Directors general of development agencies from the Commission and Member States at the end of 1996 and by the Council in 1997.

A proposal for a Council recommendation on the balanced participation of women and men in decision-making ((COM(95) 593 final of 29.11.1995. )) called on the Member States to adopt a comprehensive and integrated strategy to promote balanced representation of women and men in places of power, influence and decision and to develop or introduce suitable legislative or regulatory measures or incentives to achieve this.

The Commission communication 'The European Union and the external dimension of human rights policy: From Rome to Maastricht and beyond' ((COM(95) 567 final of 22.11.1995. )) recognised the principle that the fundamental rights of women and girls are an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights. This communication contains several references to the human rights of women.

A Council Resolution on the image of women and men portrayed in advertising and the media ((Resolution 95/C 296/06 of 5 October 1995 - OJ C 296/15 of 10.11.1995. )) calls on the Member States and other bodies, in compliance with their national constitutional rules and approaches and practices, to promote a diversified and realistic picture of the skills and potential of women and men in society and to take appropriate action aimed at disseminating this image.

The Commission communication on incorporating equal opportunities for women and men into all Community policies and activities ((COM(96) 67 final of 21.2.1996. )) is an initial response to the mainstreaming objective of the Beijing platform. It offers a survey of intiatives taken in the Commission to promote equal opportunities and include a gender perspective in the relevant Community policies and programmes and suggests some strategies for the future. A Commission interservice group on equality will ensure the follow-up to this communication.

A Council Directive was adopted on 3rd June 1996 on the framework agreement on parental leave concluded by UNICE, CEEP and the ETUC ((OJ L 145, 19.6.1996, p. 4. )). The essence of the agreement between the three organisations is to guarantee workers in the Member States a minimum of three months' unpaid parental leave regardless of sex. Moreover, it gives workers time off from work on grounds of 'force majeure' for urgent family reasons. It was the first time an agreement reached by the social partners at European level was submitted to the Council for adoption.

The Commission will publish, beginning in 1996, an annual equality report which will review developments in equality at Member State and Community level and serve as a monitoring instrument for equality policies. The 1996 report will contain a chapter on the fourth world conference analysing the role of the Community in the entire Beijing process.

In recent weeks, the Commission has taken new initiatives in the sex equality field. It has adopted a new proposal for a directive on the burden of proof in sex discrimination taxes, has launched a consultation of the social partners concerning the problem of sexual harassment at work and has adopted a code of practice (addressed to employers and the social partners in general) on the topic of equal pay for work of equal value.