Malta will host the annual conference of the Council of Europe’s Gender Equality Commission (GEC), under the theme “Tackling Sexism and Violence Against Women: A Step Towards Equal Participation”.
Comprising representatives appointed by Member States, the Commission was established to ensure that gender equality is integrated into all Council of Europe policies, bridging the gap between international commitments and the realities faced by women in Europe. It plays a vital role in advancing the six objectives outlined in the Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy for 2024-2029.
Operating under the authority of the Committee of Ministers, the GEC takes into account the Council of Europe’s legal standards, relevant case law from the European Court of Human Rights, and findings from applicable monitoring mechanisms. It directs the organisation’s intergovernmental initiatives on gender equality and provides recommendations to the Committee of Ministers on appropriate actions within its scope of work. This is carried out in accordance with the 2024-2029 Gender Equality Strategy, building upon the successes achieved under the previous strategy from 2018-2023.
