Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-10-21-Speech-2-270"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20031021.8.2-270"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spoken text |
"Mr President, I suppose it is true to say that a lot of what needs to be said has already been said in this debate but I think it is important that as many people as possible should participate in this debate. I think, in particular, men should participate in this debate because this is an issue which concerns not only the women in our society but the whole of society. We are all diminished by the fact that so many millions of our citizens of the world are still denied basic human rights.
I am particularly supportive of paragraph 13 of Mrs Smet's report which urges that refugee status be given to those women who are threatened with the kind of violence that has already been outlined here. It is a sad fact that in my own country – and I believe in other European countries – the threat of genital mutilation or stoning or honour murders are not a basis for granting refugee status. That has to change if we are serious about making it clear that we stand for the human rights of all.
The European Union's development aid programmes should include programmes which seek to ensure that women can participate fully in society. I have to say I disagree with Commissioner Patten in relation to the trade agreements. We are quite fortunate that we have a person of the calibre of Commissioner Mr Patten doing this task, and it is clear that he has a commitment to women's rights and human rights generally. But I am afraid the evidence is that the approach so far has not made significant progress in ending the practices which are so prevalent in developing countries. I think that we have to begin to toughen up on the need to apply sanctions or suspend agreements if we are going to make progress in this area.
Those we are making agreements with have to appreciate that we are serious. I am not talking about suspending agreements at the drop of a hat. But where there are persistent violations of human rights in relation to women's rights and children's rights, we have to demonstrate that we are serious about our commitments."@en1
|
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples