Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-06-14-Speech-3-175"
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"en.20000614.7.3-175"2
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"Mr President, the World Conference on Women, which was held five years ago, meant a breakthrough at the time in the worldwide recognition of women’s rights as an area of human rights autonomy and empowerment. In contrast to this, I have mixed feelings about the UN Conference which was held in New York last week. On the one hand, it was confirmed that it is up to governments to guarantee equal rights for women and to pursue sound emancipation policy, and, despite many people’s fears, no retrograde steps were taken. On the other hand, it was once again impossible to reach agreement on sensitive issues which had not been resolved at Beijing, such as the recognition of the right to self-determination for women in their personal life, including their free choice in pregnancy and sexual behaviour or sexual preference. This is greatly disappointing. Actual equality and freedom for women is only possible if all options are open to them and if the traditional family image is not held up to them as the only true one. Resistance of the kind displayed by governments, diplomats and officials last week, is a form of rearguard action, however. It is impossible to stop a revolution with clever word games and little schemes behind the scenes. The fight goes on.
The true inspiration which I gained from last week’s conference in New York lay in the power of the international women’s movement which, contrary to popular belief, is as vigorous and alive as ever and is also bolstered by a new generation of young women who, strong and well-informed, stand up for all kinds of issues.
The European Union and Member State representatives showed great commitment during the Conference to the issue of sexual self-determination for women and the non-discrimination principle pursuant to Article 13. The fact that this did not end up in the final document should not be a reflection on them. What can, however, be expected of the Council and Commission, is that they put their money where their mouths are in their respective Chambers. In addition to what we obtained last week, namely reparative legislation on equality in work and professional life, they should produce new additional legislation to prevent sex discrimination across the entire range of social life. Article 13 offers the opportunity to do so and the Beijing +5 Conference issued an instruction to this effect.
Surely a European Union which, at international conferences, is full of rhetoric on banishing sex discrimination should set about developing effective policy instruments which can attain this goal at the level of the Union itself.
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