Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-05-18-Speech-4-195"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2000-05-18"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Equal treatment (continuation)2
dcterms:Language	"nl"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20000518.7.4-195"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2000-05-18-Speech-4-1962
lpv:speaker	lp:Maria Martens2
lpv:spokenAs	member; Committee on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3,3 substitute; Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3,3 member; Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia and the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) (1999-10-06--2002-01-14)3,3 member; EPP-ED (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3,3 unknown; Christen Democratisch Appèl (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3,3 member; Committee on Culture, Youth, Education, the Media and Sport (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3,3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, the report we are debating here is, in my view, an extremely important one, and I would thank the Commissioner for her explanatory comments on the amendments. The international community sets great store by the fight against racism and it is also high on the agenda of the Member States, but a great deal still needs to be done in order to protect human rights and fight racism, xenophobia and intolerance. It is also becoming increasingly evident that cooperation within the EU is indispensable. Certainly within an open, internal market which enjoys the free movement of goods, people and services, further harmonisation with regard to the scope, content and options for enforcement is vitally important. It is with pleasure that I compliment Mrs Buitenweg on her report. It is an excellent report which deals with the equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial and ethnic origin, in general. I would like to point out, however, that women, in particular, are being disproportionately affected by discrimination and, among women as a group, it is especially women and girls who are often doubly discriminated against on the basis of their race and ethnic origin. I have another four points I would like to make, Mr President. It would be beneficial if organisations or other legal entities which intend to fight discrimination were to have the right to initiate the procedure to promote the observation or application of this directive or to support victims in the procedure. I am also of the opinion that it is advisable that each of the Member States should have an independent body, such as we have in the Netherlands, to assess the complaints. This body is called the Committee on equal treatment. It is an independent body which works extremely well and efficiently. I am pleased with the amendment tabled by the PPE-DE delegate, Mrs Smet, who advocates that the directive should also apply to elections of employees’ representatives in works councils, for example. This would be a gain, in my view. Finally, I would like to say a few words on the already mentioned problem of sharing the burden of proof. This is popularly termed the reversal of the burden of proof in the case of possible discrimination and already applies with regard to women. The same system is now also being proposed with regard to this directive. In order to actually tackle discrimination head on, it is extremely important – if not imperative – that this shared burden of proof enter into force. As the Commissioner said, in practice, this has never led to any difficulties in other spheres before. All the more reason to accept a swift implementation here."@en1
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"(Applause)"1

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