Zonta Essentials: Gender Equality – a cross cutting topic and an important policy goal of the Council of Europe

Through Zonta's Council of Europe (CoE) Committee, Zonta holds participatory status at the Council of Europe, Europe's leading human rights organization. The committee will provide regular updates to enhance members' understanding of Zonta's role with CoE.

Click here to read the basics and Part 2 and three of the CoE as a human rights organization and the previous episodes.

Part 4. Gender Equality – a cross-cutting topic and an important policy goal of the CoE

Gender equality is an integral part of human rights and a fundamental element of democracy. It is a transversal matter, touching all spheres of public and private life. Gender equality is central to the protection of women’s rights and an important policy goal of the Council of Europe.
Gender Equality entails equal rights for all and equal access to resources between women and men. It is central to the fulfilment of the Council of Europe’s mission: safeguarding human rights, upholding democracy, and promoting the rule of law. Gender equality benefits a society as a whole.
What does “cross-cutting” mean?
It means that a gender equality perspective should be taken into account at all topics and levels at the CoE and should be incorporated in all development and evaluation processes and policies (gender mainstreaming).
For the Conference of INGOs (CINGO), the chief body representing Europe’s civil society, it means that a gender equality perspective will be observed in each of its Committees’ work and outcome, no matter the specific key topics. It is a permanent fixture as set forth in the Gender Equality Strategy of the CINGO.
The Gender Equality Committee of the CINGO, co-chaired by Zonta’s Head of Delegation, sees the advancement of gender equality as a joint task for all and everyone. It is the Committee’s goal for this term to raise awareness on the CoE’s existing and strong instruments fighting drawbacks in women’s rights and gender equality, to highlight severe obstacles to achieve real gender equality, and to detect gaps in the policy framework of the CoE.

Next episode: The Council of Europe’s Gender Equality Strategy 2024-2029 – key actions to achieve de facto gender equality in Europe.

18 FEBRUARY 2025