FIA Warmly Welcomes the new Council of Europe Recommendation on Gender Equality in the Audiovisual Sector

An inter-governmental organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 47 member states. FIA is recognised by the Council of Europe as an International Non-Governmental Organisation with observer status. As such, FIA is a member of the Council of INGOs, the civil society pillar at the Council of Europe.

On the 28^th of September 2017, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted an important new Recommendation on Gender Equality in the Audiovisual Sector.

This was the culmination of an intense two year process of discussion and drafting, led by a Council of Europe expert group. The recommendation was drafted by a wide range of international experts from funds and broadcasters in Council of Europe member states, with feedback from representatives of prominent industry bodies and academics. FIA participated actively in this drafting process, attending the expert group as an INGO participant and bringing its significant experience in this domain to the table. FIA was able to draw on the 2011 European Framework of Action on Gender Equality in the Audiovisual Sector, negotiated and adopted by the European sectoral social partners in the sector, as well as FIA’s own studies, projects and charter on gender equality.

The new Council of Europe recommendation acknowledges certain problems inherent in the industry from a gender perspective, including:

- the lack of awareness of the prevalence of gender inequality;

- the conscious and unconscious gender bias at all levels and

- the unequal distribution of funding for audiovisual content among women and men.

It seeks to promote a variety of practical solutions to address these issues.

The recommendation invites governments of Council of Europe member states to:

- review their legislation and policies;

- collect, monitor and publish data;

- support research;

- encourage the ongoing development of media literacy and

- enhance the accountability processes.

It also contains a suggested series of monitoring methods and performance indicators to assist all sectors of the audiovisual industry in collecting data and taking coherent action based on their findings.

In addition, there is a handy list of reference tools for developing knowledge in this sector. Outreach events will be held to disseminate best practice and share know-how.

The Council of Europe Eurimages film fund was instrumental in providing know-how for the content of the Recommendation alongside the CDCPP (Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape) and in fact Eurimages has a whole series of measures aimed at furthering gender equality in the film industry.