Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-05-21-Speech-1-146-000"
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"en.20120521.19.1-146-000"2
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"Madam President, I would like to thank the rapporteur, Ms Bozkurt, for this report. It is really good and well balanced. As is rightly emphasised, the issue of women’s rights is a major challenge on Turkey’s road to the European Union and it certainly merits a special report. The unanimous voting in the committee shows the strong support received from shadow rapporteurs and others, so thank you very much, Ms Bozkurt, for your work.
As you mentioned, Commissioner Füle was in Turkey last week and he discussed women’s rights with a range of civil society representatives. Protecting women’s rights in Turkey, promoting gender equality and combating violence against women remain major challenges. The legal framework guaranteeing women’s rights and gender equality is broadly in place and has been further reinforced by the recent law to protect women and family members from violence, and the Commission agrees that this is an important step forward. But, as all of you have underlined, the legal framework is not enough: it needs to translate into political, social and economic reality for women everywhere in Turkey.
Legislation needs to be implemented consistently across the country. Further training and awareness-raising on women’s rights and gender equality are needed, particularly for the police. Of course, as was also underlined in the report, serious problems remain with so-called ‘honour’ killings (which is a horrible term because there is nothing honourable in such brutality), as well as early enforced marriages and domestic violence against women.
The report calls upon us in the Commission to make the issue of women’s rights central to the negotiations with Turkey, and it mentions in this respect progress on the negotiation chapter devoted to the judiciary and fundamental rights. As you know, the positive agenda in EU-Turkey relations, which was endorsed by the Council in December, includes the judiciary and fundamental rights among its main features. During his visit to Turkey, Commissioner Füle launched concrete work on this positive agenda. I am happy to report that he chaired the first meeting of the working group on judiciary and fundamental rights with Justice Minister Ergin, with the aim of fostering reforms in Turkey in this crucial area. He also had a separate meeting with the Minister on the same day to underline these issues.
Commissioner Füle told the Minister that steps need to be taken to implement the new law on violence against women and to improve the real-life situation of women in Turkey as regards political representation and access to education and employment. While we need to combat violence against women as a matter of urgency, we also need to keep a focus on all the other aspects – and that is precisely what this resolution does.
Madam President, honourable Members, we share the same concerns about women in Turkey. The issues mentioned here in the debate are indeed grave; some of the stories are compelling, and there is a lot to be done. Reforms need to be further accelerated.
As I said, Commissioner Füle met civil society representatives and they assured him that they see the European Union as a vital source of support for their cause. We have legislation guaranteeing equality; we have standards protecting women against violence; and that is why the accession process is so important with regard to reforms on vital issues such as women’s rights, and the implementation of those reforms.
We must continue to encourage the progress of reform. Our leverage and influence in Turkey will be all the more credible and all the stronger if our commitments – as outlined in 2005 when we launched the accession negotiations – remain unambiguous."@en1
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