Council Resolution of 27 March 1995 on the balanced participation of men and women in decision-making
Date: 1995-03-27
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: action programme, decision-making, equal treatment, gender equality, position of women, power of decision













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31995Y0704(02)

Council Resolution of 27 March 1995 on the balanced participation of men and women in decision-making  


Official Journal C 168 , 04/07/1995 P. 0003 - 0004 





COUNCIL RESOLUTIONof 27 March 1995on the balanced  participation of men and women in decision-making(95/C  168/02)THE COUNCIL OF THE  EUROPEAN UNION, Whereas, in its third medium-term action programme on equal opportunities for men and women (1991  to 1995), the Commission undertook to develop Community action in a new key area concerning the  participation of women in the decision-making process at every level of society, in order to  improve the status of women in society; Whereas the Council confirmed its support for the overall objective of this third action programme  in its resolution of 21 May 1991  (1): it invited the Member States to 'encourage measures designed  to promote the participation of women in the decision-making process in public, economic and social  life`; Whereas the Council invited both sides of industry to 'take all necessary measures actively to  promote women's representation in decision-making bodies`; Whereas, in its resolution of 11 February 1994 on women in decision-making bodies, the European  Parliament invited the Member States to undertake specific action in this area; Whereas the European Conference of Women Ministers from the Member States of the Council of Europe  (Brussels, 7 March 1994) proclaimed, in its declaration of principle, its determination to bring  about genuine equality between men and women in the Europe of tomorrow; Whereas the first European Conference on Women in Power (Athens, 2 and 3 November 1992) in  particular highlighted the fact that the under-representation of women in decision-making prevents  full account being taken of the interests and needs of the population as a whole, 1. AFFIRMS THAT: (a) the objective of balanced participation of men and women in decision-making and the sharing of  responsibilities between men and women in every sphere of life constitutes an important condition  for equality between men and women; (b) it is necessary to make every effort to bring about the changes in structures and attitudes  which are essential for genuine equality of access to decision-making posts for men and women in  the political, economic, social and cultural fields; 2. INVITES the Member States to: (a) promote the balanced participation of men and women in decision-making as a priority objective  in the context of their respective practices regarding equal opportunities for men and women and to  adopt this objective as such in their governments' programmes; (b) develop an integrated global strategy for promoting the balanced participation of men and women  in decision-making which spans the broad range of the following measures and takes into account the  options and best methods applied in the various Member States; (i) regularly compiling and publishing a report containing figures on the participation of women in  decision-making posts in the political, economic, social and cultural fields, in order to acquire  accurate knowledge of the factual situation and to promote awareness; (ii) developing incentives and support measures for non-governmental organizations in general and  in particular for groups who are actively committed in the field to this objective; (iii) developing support for scientific research in this area so as to permit the development of  new ideas and concepts; (iv) devising, launching and promoting information and awareness campaigns at regular intervals,  designed to fuel public debate and to develop more progressive outlooks as regards both the general  public and specific target groups; (v) instigating and accompanying initiatives, setting examples and opening up the way in practice  in the various areas of decision-making and thereafter developing programmes designed to generalize  effective action; (vi) developing an appropriate framework, where necessary encompassing specific measures, and  encouraging the balanced participation of men and women in decision-making in the political,  economic, social and cultural fields; 3. CALLS UPON the institutions and bodies of the European Communities: (a) to implement measures, in their capacity as employers and on the basis of a review, promoting  the balanced recruitment of men and women and, inter alia, by promotion and training actions,  enabling balanced participation in decision-making duties to be achieved; (b) to evaluate the results thereof periodically and have them published; 4. CALLS UPON the Commission: (a) to step up its information and awareness effort and its efforts to promote research and to  introduce pilot schemes to implement the balanced participation of men and women in  decision-making; (b) - to take account of this resolution in its fourth action programme on equal opportunities for  men and women; - to draw up, taking account of that fourth action programme, a draft recommendation to be  submitted to the Council aimed at promoting the balanced participation of men and women in  decision-making; (c) to ensure that the Member States are kept informed regularly on progress made in this area; 5. CALLS UPON both sides of industry to step up their efforts to ensure the balanced participation  of men and women in decision-making bodies; 6. RECALLS the discussions held and the initiatives taken within the Council in the past on the  topics dealt with in this resolution; 7. UNDERTAKES TO conduct regular discussions on the topics covered by this resolution. (1)  OJ No C 142, 31. 5. 1991, p. 1.