The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has adopted the resolution “Overcoming Gender Stereotypes in the Media.” The document was supported by 94 members of the Assembly. The announcement was made by the resolution’s author, Ukrainian MP and member of Ukraine’s delegation to PACE, Yevheniya Kravchuk, on her Facebook page.
The resolution is the outcome of a comprehensive process that included a fact-finding mission to Ireland and consultations with media professionals, regulatory bodies, digital platforms, civil society organisations, and representatives of the Council of Europe’s youth sector.
The NGO Women in Media contributed to the preparation of the Ukraine-focused section of the report. The organisation’s expertise and recommendations helped strengthen the sections addressing the situation in Ukraine and the challenges related to gender inequality in the media landscape.
The resolution emphasises that gender stereotypes contribute to the reproduction of inequality, limit women’s participation in political, professional and public life, and also place additional pressure on men through imposed behavioural norms.
Key recommendations of the document include:
- the integration of gender equality, consent, and critical analysis of stereotypes into educational curricula;
- the development of media literacy for children, young people, and adults;
- the implementation of nationwide public awareness campaigns;
- ensuring sustainable support for civil society organisations working in the fields of gender equality, women’s rights, and media literacy;
- strengthening the accountability of digital platforms in addressing gender-based harassment, sexist hate speech, deepfakes, and misogynistic content;
- promoting equal representation of women and men in news, political and sports coverage, culture, advertising, and among expert communities.
During the drafting process, the PACE Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media also proposed a number of important amendments. In particular, attention was given to the risks associated with the use of artificial intelligence, which can reproduce and amplify gender stereotypes. The resolution includes recommendations to counter the unlawful dissemination of realistic digital impersonations of individuals and to support technological solutions that promote gender equality.
The document also emphasises the need to strengthen the representation of women not only in media content, but also among those making creative and editorial decisions — including female directors, producers, screenwriters, and heads of media organisations. It also highlights the issue of the underrepresentation and limited visibility of older women in the media.
A significant part of the report focuses on Ukraine’s experience in the context of Russia’s full-scale aggression. The document notes that Russia uses gender stereotypes, misogyny, sexualised deepfakes, fake accounts, doxxing, and online harassment as tools of disinformation and hybrid warfare.
The targets of such attacks are often Ukrainian journalists, activists, politicians, and human rights defenders who report on war crimes, corruption, and human rights violations. Therefore, the resolution emphasises the importance of platform accountability and cooperation with media organisations and civil society groups.
At the NGO Women in Media, we welcome the adoption of the resolution and hope that its provisions will be implemented at the level of Council of Europe member states, contributing to a more equal and safer media environment.