ABSTRACT
In 1997 the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the violation of women's rights and another on the need for a Europe-wide campaign of zero tolerance of violence against women. It called for 1999 to be designated 'European Year against Violence against Women' and for respect for women's rights to be written into all EU agreements with non-member countries. In April 2002, tough new rules to combat sexual harassment at work were agreed, and a number of other changes were made to the EU's sex equality laws. The new rules oblige employers to introduce preventive measures against sexual harassment in the workplace and to provide information to workers about equal treatment of men and women in the organisation. The Nordics made the first inroads at this level too, but since then the higher proportion of women among the successful recruits from central and eastern Europe has considerably improved their presence among middle and senior managers.
