Council of Europe criticizes advertising industry
Due to persistent sexist advertising, the Council of Europe, based in Strasbourg, now feels compelled to criticize the industry.
The Strasbourg-based Council of Europe feels compelled to criticize the industry due to persistent sexist advertising. Many states have tried to enact framework regulations for advertising, as the members of the Parliamentary Assembly explain in their resolution. Nevertheless, there is still an image of women that completely contradicts the current role of women in society. This is either due to the lack of appropriate laws and national advertising regulations or the lack of their enforcement, the parliamentarians write.
A 1979 UN convention called for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. However, not even all Council of Europe states ratified the agreement at the time. The Council of Europe called on these governments to do so. In addition, all member states should implement the 1995 Beijing Action Program for Gender Equality on Women and the Media and submit an annual review of progress, as reported by the Neue Zürcher Zeitung NZZ. Specifically, the member states should make incitement to discrimination in all advertising media a criminal offense within the framework of their national legislation, the assembly demands. The self-regulation established by the national advertising councils is to be strengthened by a stricter code of ethics.
The Council of Europe also relies on awareness-raising measures. These include the provision of programs and adequate resources to carry out campaigns in schools as well as the establishment of toll-free telephone numbers and e-mail addresses that citizens can use to complain if they come across sexist and discriminatory advertising. Advertisements that most effectively break with sexist stereotypes should also be awarded prizes, reports the NZZ.
A 1979 UN convention called for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. However, not even all Council of Europe states ratified the agreement at the time. The Council of Europe called on these governments to do so. In addition, all member states should implement the 1995 Beijing Action Program for Gender Equality on Women and the Media and submit an annual review of progress, as reported by the Neue Zürcher Zeitung NZZ. Specifically, the member states should make incitement to discrimination in all advertising media a criminal offense within the framework of their national legislation, the assembly demands. The self-regulation established by the national advertising councils is to be strengthened by a stricter code of ethics.
The Council of Europe also relies on awareness-raising measures. These include the provision of programs and adequate resources to carry out campaigns in schools as well as the establishment of toll-free telephone numbers and e-mail addresses that citizens can use to complain if they come across sexist and discriminatory advertising. Advertisements that most effectively break with sexist stereotypes should also be awarded prizes, reports the NZZ.
