Council of Europe standards in the fields of human rights and gender equality
The Council of Europe’s pioneering work in the fields of human rights and gender equality has also resulted in solid standards which, if fully implemented, would and bring member states closer to real equality between women and men. Some of the milestone achievements in this respect include two conventions.
The Council of Europe Convention on action against trafficking in human beings recognises that trafficking in human being is a heavily gendered phenomenon and contains several strong references to gender equality and to mainstreaming a gender equality perspective in the area of trafficking. The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) is the most far-reaching international treaty to tackle violence against women and domestic violence. It aims at zero tolerance for such violence and is a major step forward in making Europe safer for women. In addition, a number of recommendations adopted by the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers address gender equality issues in a broad range of areas notably violence against women, balanced participation in political and public decision-making, media, education, health or sport.
Read more:
Factsheet on gender equality and women’s rights – Council of Europe key standards, 2022
- 2011 Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention)
- 2007 Convention on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse (Lanzarote Convention)
- 2005 Convention on action against trafficking in human beings
- 2005 Protocol No. 12 to the Convention for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms
- 1996 Revised European Social Charter
- 1950 European Convention on human rights
- 2024 Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)1 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on equality of Roma and Traveller women and girls
- 2023 Guidelines CM(2023)51-add2-final of the Committee of Ministers on the place of men and boys in gender equality policies and in policies to combat violence against women
- 2022 Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)17 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on protecting the rights of migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls | Others languages
- 2022 Make gender equality in law a reality in fact: Compilation of recommendations of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in the field of gender equality
- 2019 Recommendation CM/Rec(2019)1 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on preventing and combating sexism | Other languages
- 2017 Recommendation CM/Rec(2017)9 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on gender equality in the audiovisual sector
- 2015 Recommendation CM/Rec(2015)2 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on gender mainstreaming in sport
- 2013 Recommendation CM/Rec(2013)1 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on gender equality and media
- 2012 Recommendation CM/Rec(2012)6 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the protection and promotion of the rights of women and girls with disabilities
- 2010 Recommendation CM/Rec(2010)10 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the role of women and men in conflict prevention and resolution and in peace building
- 2008 Recommendation CM/Rec(2008)1 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the inclusion of gender differences in health policy
- 2007 Recommendation CM/Rec(2007)17 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on gender equality standards and mechanisms
- 2007 Recommendation CM/Rec(2007)13 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on gender mainstreaming in education and its explanatory memorandum
- 2003 Recommendation CM/Rec(2003)3 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on balanced participation of women and men in political and public decision-making
- 2002 Recommendation CM/Rec(2002)5 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the protection of women against violence
- 1998 Recommendation R(98)14 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on gender mainstreaming
- 1996 Recommendation R(96)51 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on reconciling work and family life
- 1990 Recommendation R(90)4 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the elimination of sexism from language
- 1985 Recommendation R(85)2 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on legal protection against sex discrimination
- 1979 Recommendation R(79)10 of the Committee of Ministers to member States concerning women migrants