The Conference concluded with the adoption of a Platform
of Action and a statement intended as a political message on the essential
points of that Platform. The Council concentrated on the follow-up measures
to fulfil the Platform of Action planned in the Member States and on those to
be implemented at European Union level; it also considered the incorporation
of the principle of equality between men and women in the Member States’
policies and programmes (mainstreaming). In the course of the debate the
Ministers and Commissioner FLYNN welcomed the results of the Beijing
Conference. The following were among the points made in connection with the
implementation of the results: - the major role played by the non-governmental
organisations; - the need to apply existing Community legislation effectively
throughout the European Union; - the need to achieve greater equality between
men and women in all areas affecting employment; - greater involvement of
women in decision-taking, both in politics and business. Several Ministers
and the Commission felt that the adoption of the ‘Fourth Programme on Equal
Opportunities for Men and Women’ would be an essential contribution to the
implementation of the Beijing
programme at Community level. The conclusions that the Presidency submitted on
the close of the debate were as follows. ‘The European Council noted that,
together with combating unemployment, equal opportunities for women and men
represents the prime task within the European Union. The Beijing Conference,
organised by the United Nations, concluded with a Platform of Action
establishing the rights of women and the girl child and laying down specific
provisions with the aim of achieving the objective of equality between women
and men. The Platform of Action is a document which will have positive
effects for all, women and men, implementation of which will benefit society
as a whole. The Beijing Conference has shown that empowerment of women and
equality are preconditions for the development of peoples. We shall therefore
be stepping up equal opportunities policies, particularly in the field of
economic, political and social participation by women. The European Union
attaches fundamental importance to policies on vocational training, labour
market equality, combating wage discrimination and job segregation, promotion
of entrepreneurship by women, balanced participation in decision-making, and
the combining of working life with family life for women and men - in the
final analysis, to improving the socio-economic status of women. Building the
equal opportunities factor into the design of action in all social, economic,
political and cultural fields is the only way to address effectively the full
participation of women in public life. We shall therefore be bolstering
national arrangements for equal opportunities and working to make policy on
equality a leading plank in the programmes of our governments and political
parties and in action by the social partners. We, the Member States of the
European Union, are resolved to condemn and eradicate any form of violence
against women, which must be regarded as a violation of their basic rights
and freedoms, both domestic violence and violence in other areas of society.
We shall have to step up development cooperation efforts, particularly for
women in countries with economies undergoing transition, and give priority to
programmes which include among their objectives equal opportunities for women
and men. The Beijing Conference acknowledged the role of non-governmental
organisations, which need to cooperate with governments in implementing the
measures in the Platform of Action. At national level, all Member States have
set in train measures to fulfil the Platform of Action: action programmes,
declarations, follow-up measures and machinery for dialogue with non-governmental
organisations to determine future action strategies. All Member States are
firmly committed to equal opportunities. The European Union will continue to
act as a driving force, as it did at the Beijing Conference. The fifteen
Member States were able to speak with a single voice, which lent us
considerable strength and political weight. The fourth medium-term Community
action programme on equal opportunities for women and men will provide a
chance to put our commitments into practice within the European Union. One of
the key aspects will be monitoring and evaluation of the application of the
measures adopted and of those to be adopted in future by the European Union
as a result of implementing the Platform of Action. Given the importance of
putting into practice the Beijing Platform of Action, both in the European
Union and in each of the Member States, the need is apparent for the Labour
and Social Affairs Council to monitor and evaluate such application on a
regular basis, with the inclusion of the matter on its agenda at least once a
year.’