Hurrah For Switzerland But When Will Europe Reach 40% Gender Balance In Politics?

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In another boost to gender equality in the Council of Europe region, election results in Switzerland have delivered a government with a female majority.

The country joins Finland, Norway and Spain among CoE nations with a female-dominated government. Switzerland is second only to Finland, which boasts 12 women (63%) out of 19 ministers.

In 2009, the Council of Europe reported on the success of governments in achieving balanced participation between women and men in political and public decision-making.

The 'Parity Democracy – a far cry from reality,' study revealed the results of the first and second rounds of monitoring of Council of Europe Recommendation Rec(2003)3 on balanced participation of women and men in political and public decision-making.

The recommendation defined balanced participation as a minimum representation of 40% of both sexes in all decision-making bodies in political or public life in the 47 member states.

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