WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1725/96 by María SORNOSA MARTÍNEZ to the Commission. Equal treatment in the media
Date: 1996-06-25
Institutions: European Parliament, SORNOSA MARTINEZ
Subjects: equal treatment, freedom of self-determination, gender equality, mental stress, public sector, sexual discrimination, television, working conditions













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91996E1725

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1725/96 by María SORNOSA MARTÍNEZ to the Commission. Equal treatment in the media  


Official Journal C 365 , 04/12/1996 P. 0023 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1725/96 by María Sornosa Martínez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (25 June 1996)Subject: Equal treatment in the mediaIn certain Valencian public undertakings, including TVV-Canal 9, there have been cases of behaviour which could infringe the principle of equal treatment as enshrined in EC legislation by Directive 76/207/EEC ((OJ L 39, 14.02.1976, p. 40. )), and the Recommendation on the protection of the dignity of women and men at work and the code of conduct against sexual harassment (92/131/EEC) ((OJ L 49, 24.02.1992, p. 1. )).The fact that the infringement of the rights of women and the harassment concerned have occurred within public undertakings constitutes an aggravating factor, especially since TVV-Canal 9, a publicly owned mass medium, is projecting a sexist and discriminatory image of women.Can the Commission state whether it believes a policy for regulating the application of the principle of equal treatment in the media is required at Community level?Does the Commission intend to take any specific steps to make it possible to apply the existing legislation? Has it drafted any proposals in this connection?Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (18 September 1996)The Commission has long upheld the principle of equal treatment at work. It is evident that Council Directive 76/207/EEC of 9th February 1976 on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion and working conditions ((OJ L 39, 14.2.1976. )) and Council Recommendation 92/131/EEC of 27 November 1991 on the protection of the dignity of men and women at work ((OJ L 49, 24.3.1992. )) apply to the media just as to any other sector of employment.Moreover, the Commission has encouraged specific action to protect and uphold the image of women in the media, through its proposal for a resolution which was adopted by the Council on 5 October 1995 ((OJ C 296, 10.11.1995. )).It is imperative to ensure the proper implementation and enforcement of this legislation for the benefit of women and men in the media, as in all employment sectors. To this end, the Commission supports a group of legal experts who monitor the implementation of Community legislation in each of the Member States, and who present annual reports to the Commission.The Commission has produced an evaluation report on the implementation of the recommendation on the protection of the dignity of men and women at work. The report confirms that, although progress has been made in a majority of Member States, existing legislation is inadequate to establish and maintain a workplace free of sexual harassment. For that reason, the Commission has recently prepared and addressed a consultation document to the social partners requesting their opinions on further action which might be appropriate in this field and the form any such action should take. The social partners are encouraged to negotiate on this issue and it is also suggested that the way forward in this area may be a binding instrument setting out a common plan to be adapted to each individual Member State's situation.