“WOMEN FOR A HUMAN AND NON-VIOLENT SOCIETY” Conference in celebration of International Women΄s Day 2002	Brussels, 6 March 2002
Opening remarks by Mrs Anna Karamanou Chairperson, E.P. Committee on Women's Rights & Equal Opportunities

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Warmly welcome to this extra-ordinary meeting of the Committee on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities on the occasion of the International Women's Day of 2002. The theme we have chosen is “Women for a Human and Non-Violent Society” and it is dedicated mostly to women who suffer under undemocratic and fundamentalist regimes. Very recently, we witnessed the drama of Safiya Husseini that was sentenced by an Islamic Court of Sokoto, in Nigeria, to death by stoning for adultery, followed by another case of the soudanese Mrs Abok Alfa Akok. These two incidents have brought forward the question of human rights violation and individual rights of women around the globe. For these reasons, the problem of violence against women constitutes the main issue for discussion to celebrate International Women's Day.

 

Let me stress that violation of women´s human rights has no geographical borders - it appears in all countries in the world, including the European Union. It is not restricted to any race or ethnic group, nor to any culture or religion, nor to any economic, social or political system.

 

It is a very wide subject that we will treat today. We will not be able to treat all its aspects. Invited speakers will only illustrate some  kinds of violation of women´s rights which appear in different parts of the world. On my side, let me highlight some serious forms of violation of women´s human rights which during the past few years have attracted the attention of the Committee on Women´s Rights and Equal Opportunities.

 

First, there are three forms which are treated by the Spanish Presidency, and which Mr APARICIO PÉREZ, Minister for Employment and Social Affairs, Spain, Presidency-in-Office,  will inform us about today:

 

-          domestic violence

-          sexual violence

-          workplace violence

 

I welcome very much the work undertaken by the Spanish Presidency, both its study on measures adopted by Member States, as well as the good practice guide, to combat and stop these forms of violence. With regard to workplace violence, may I refer to the important ongoing revision of the Directive on Equal Treatment in employment, which the Parliament and the Council are undertaking together. With the revision, we will for the first time  have legislative actions to stop harassment and sexual harassment at the work place. On proposal by the Parliament, the new Directive will include precise and coherent definitions of harassment and sexual harassment. Preventive measures, effective judicial protection and sanctions against these forms of violence are some priority matters stressed by the Parliament´s delegation in the ongoing conciliation process with the Council.

 

- Trafficking in women has been of growing concern to our Committee. 500 000 victims of trafficking enter Western Europe annually, and flows from Central and Eastern European countries have dramatically increased, in addition to the already existing flows from Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia. Trafficking is a modern form of slavery, and it often leads to forced prostitution. Both these phenomena are intolerable violation of fundamental rights, and the Parliament has requested that fighting them should become the first priority in Community action.

 

- Female genital mutilation is a brutal so-called “traditional practice” and is an offence against the integrity and dignity of women which should be punished. In a resolution by Parliament, we have requested that women arriving from third countries should be informed about their rights, they should be informed about the consequences of practising genital mutilation. Health professionals, social workers and teachers should also be instructed to provide such information and to play a role for the protection of victims of these acts.

 

- "Honours murder" is an extreme illustration of the way in which men in some Muslim communities try to control the lives of women. For example, such a murder happened recently in Sweden. Our Committee is aware of the complex situations arising from contradictory laws and cultures in Europe, mostly in the case of women belonging to different population groups. Therefore, we require common and coherent measures to allow for a better integration of women belonging to minority groups in our societies, in respect of their fundamental rights.

 

- Capital punishment by lapidation, or stoning, is a cruel and inhuman method  which has been condemned by the European Parliament. Our Committee recently wrote to the President of Nigeria  and expressed our solidarity with Ms Safiya Husseini Tungar-Dudu in order to stop this act of cruel and inhuman punishment which is contrary to all international standards of human rights.

 

- Rape and assaults and other forms of torture which occurs to women in armed conflicts are condemned by the European Parliament as war crimes. In a resolution, the Parliament has claimed that assistance and adequate funds should be provided to the victims. The gender dimension should be taken into account in the planning of refugee camps. When these actions are implemented, it will substantially reduce the barriers and constraints women currently face during and after armed conflicts. Politicians can no longer say that they lack the tools for placing equality at the centre of conflicts.

 

In this context, let me mention how the Parliament has presented very concrete and strict demands in favour of the women in Afghanistan in view of the systematic and massive violation of their human rights under the Taliban regime which imposed an apartheid based on sex that denied women´s identity itself.  In a resolution in December last year, the Parliament proposed that the International Women´s Day 2002 should be declared “Afghan Women´s Day”. This proposal was echoed in a joint statement on women in Afghanistan by the Committee I chair and the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

 

Violation of women´s human rights is exercised by men who demonstrate their power, control and domination over women. However, this does not at all mean that all men are violent, but it still demonstrates the unequal and unbalanced distribution of power between women and men. Therefore,  also men must be addressed when taking actions to stop the violence.

 

Having said that, the persisting imbalance between women and men in decision-making is a matter of great  concern to our Committee. The latest illustration is the composition of the new Convention on the future of Europe which have just started its work. In a letter to Mr Giscard d´Estaing, I expressed this concern. I find the unbalanced composition a very worrying symbol, as equality of women and men is a prerequisite for the building of a democratic and non-violent society.

 

I shall now leave the floor to Mrs Laurette ONKELINX, vice Premier Minister and Minister for Employment and Social Affairs, Belgium, former Presidency-in-Office. Before that, may I extend the gratitude of our Committee for your kind co-operation in inviting several of the women speakers today.