Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-11-15-Speech-3-312"
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"en.20001115.13.3-312"2
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"Mr President, I think this really is an innovative report, an innovative resolution, one which introduces a new dimension into foreign policy in a very specific manner.
No one can claim that women would make better generals or better negotiators. No one can claim that women are more democratic or more supportive of peace. But what is clear in the resolution is that a basic social component is missing every time there is any political crisis management, every time there is any political conflict management and every time war takes its toll on society. The gender dimension is missing. Women are not people with fewer or more capabilities, they just have a different take on society. They are people with different experiences and these experiences are essential to the way in which policy is applied, especially in conflict management. This state of affairs is described in the report with interesting and often shocking details. However, I agree with some of the lady members who said that we need very specific objectives and measures if the gender dimension is to inform policies, programmes and individual projects.
Allow me to refer to some of the basic recommendations in the resolution which require action by the Commission. First, the recommendation about raising the awareness of both sexes of initiatives for peace and security is, as far as the rapid reaction facility is concerned, already contained in the regulation which will be voted on 4 December and which clearly states that security and stability beyond the borders of the European Union must take account of the physical integrity of men and women wherever it is threatened.
Secondly, there are the regulations for human rights. These regulations provide for a legal basis for our political activities vis-à-vis third countries as regards action taken by the Union to prevent conflict, deal with its consequences, implement confidence-building measures, promote humanitarian law and support international, regional and local organisations involved in conflict prevention. All these projects funded by the European Commission already include the gender dimension. Take the example of Angola: last year it received funding so that women and women's organisations could participate in endeavours to achieve final settlement of the crisis.
The third element is the participation of the European Community in rehabilitating victims of torture. One of our aims is to pay particular attention to the special needs of women. The first example occurred last year, with initiatives taken to provide medical, psychological and social support to exiled women in Bosnia.
The fourth example is the important role of women in the peace process which the European Community is supporting in the Balkans and in the Mediterranean basin.
The fifth point is the role of ECHO, the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office, which has been invited by Parliament to help evaluate the gender dimension. I must say that, as a rule, ECHO programmes do take account of the gender dimension and an effort is always made to include the gender dimension in many of the programmes funded by ECHO for the benefit of other organisations, such as the High Commissioner of the United Nations, the International Federation of Red Cross Societies and others. And we have implemented specific projects over recent years on women's protection, health and social status and large chunks of the programmes are dedicated to them.
Finally, I should like to refer to the European Refugee Fund. Article 4.2 states that, as far as terms of acceptance and access to asylum procedures are concerned, special measures may be taken for people who are especially vulnerable, such as women. Again in connection with this programme, because it is mentioned in the resolution, I should point out that projects are undertaken by the Member States. At the Commission's initiative, 5% of the resources may be provided for special projects, such as training civil servants at reception centres, the police and public hygiene officials in how to deal with the special needs of women refugees. As the resolution stresses, the European Fund takes account, where possible, of the gender dimension in this activity.
Mr President, what is clear is that we are witnessing an initial stage in which the gender dimension, the participation of women, is starting to become, if not the rule, then at least an element in various programmes. Clearly it is not enough. Clearly it is an initial stage, but I think that, with political action and initiatives such as this resolution and with specific objectives which both Parliament and the Commission must set, we may bring about a change."@en1
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