Speeches

Mr President, how many times have I stood here and pointed out that the right to safe and legal abortion is a fundamental right and that this is a necessary condition for the self-determination, the right to health and the physical integrity of women? If you ask me: way too often. Time and again we are dealing with extremists who have the unhealthy need to interfere with the bodies of women, who want to go back in time, who want women to go back to that hanger. The extremists in Europe have gathered in the so-called ‘Agenda Europe’, where they set out their destructive plans and are already implementing them. Also here. Consider the de facto ban on abortion in Poland. Consider the anti-LGBTI legislation in Hungary. These are plans against women, against the LGBTI+ community and against human rights. That's unacceptable. We must make this impossible, and that is why we must enshrine the right to abortion in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Because these are extremists, from the US to the European Parliament, and they have nothing to look for here, nothing to find of our fundamental rights.

Madam President, as I have said multiple times, we must base our relations on an equal partnership and the report we discuss today finally confirms our renewed approach to trade relations with Africa. And by engaging with Africa on this basis, we can ensure the sustainable development of our continent. This means we must invest in Africa, both financially and in human capital; investing in promising new economic initiatives such as digital and green initiatives, investing in young change-makers, in women and in the African diaspora in the EU. The current uncertain situation regarding food security underlines another important element of our relationship. As the war in Ukraine demonstrates, food security on the continent is a very urgent question we must answer. And together with our African partners, we must invest in the agricultural sector on the continent to ensure food security. There are a lot of opportunities – a lot of opportunities – to work on an equal partnership, so let’s do so.

Mr President, today, millions of people globally go to work facing inhumane conditions to produce products we all enjoy. Even in this House, many of us are using or wearing goods made by forced labour without us even realising it. And therefore the new instrument to ban products made by forced labour from our markets should be an instrument with which we can truly act. And in its design, we must ensure that this new legislation is WTO compatible. Also to make sure that countries comply to the international commitments and it must be able to limit products from our market made through forced labour when we as EU have clear evidence that this is the case. We must ensure it complements existing or upcoming EU legislation, for example due diligence, and as a Union that respects and promotes universal values globally, we need to ensure that forced labour goods do not enter our market, because this is about human rights. This is about credible trade policies. This is about our credibility, making sure that our partners, our customers trust us. And it is time we put a serious halt to the infringements of basic human rights. And it means that if we have clear evidence, if we have clear signs that these products are not OK, that these products are not ethical, then we need to do something about it. And I call upon the Commission to present us a legislative proposal no later than September this year. We have several experiences now that we are waiting for very important and needed legislation. And like I said, this is about human rights. Please come with a proposal no later than September.

Mr President, in the US, extremists have been campaigning for years to take away the right to abortion. And now their ultraconservative Supreme Court seems to go along with this. The right to abortion is also not self-evident here in Europe. In Italy, on average, 70% of doctors refuse to help women with abortions. In conservative regions, this can be as high as 87%. In Croatia it is legal, but not affordable and therefore not accessible. Costs for an intervention can be up to 400 euros. In Germany, a doctor is not allowed to give public information about abortion, so they are not allowed to give good and reliable information. In the Netherlands, you will still be abused and intimidated on your way to the clinic in 2022. In Poland, women die as a result of the de-facto ban on abortion, and in Malta, it is completely prohibited. It's been enough, but it's been enough. So my call today is: Let us amend the European treaties and enshrine the right to abortion in our Union. We must stop giving these fundamentalists an inch to carry out their destructive anti-women agenda. The right to abortion is a human right and we must now see that reflected in the European treaties.

Madam President, today I was meant to give my opinion about the breach of discharge, and in this breach of discharge the Parliament often reflects about gender balance and gender equality. We often call for access to sexual reproductive health and rights. That means we want safe and legal access to abortion. I am therefore outraged at the recent developments in the United States. This is an injustice. Banning abortion does not mean fewer abortions; it only means unsafe abortions. It means that the bodily integrity, dignity and self-determination of half of the population is violated. While some of us strongly defend this fundamental right in our Parliament, in the US, the conservatives are trying to dismantle it. This vile movement to repress women’s rights is transnational and it is on our doorstep. So we must stand with the women of the US fighting to prevent the overruling of Roe v. Wade, and let this be a lesson. We should keep fighting for more and more budget to guarantee access to sexual and reproductive health and rights for every single woman. Our body, our lives, our choice.

Mr President, because today’s vote is about gender equality, I would like to share the floor with another woman, Kira Peter—Hansen. We need women supporting women, but this is not enough. We also need this Parliament to support women. The gender pay gap stubbornly hovers around 14% in the European Union. The COVID—19 pandemic halted the slow progress we made, and if we do not intervene, this gap will only be resolved by 2059. I can’t wait this long. I won’t let other women wait this long for receiving what they deserve. We need to renew our economy now. The economy will truly thrive if women take up their rightful place in it with their rightful compensation. We are dealing with fundamental rights here. You see standing here two of the youngest elected MEPs in 2019. We are the generation that wants to get rid of this injustice. We do this for the generation of our mothers, our generation, and the generations after us. There is no time to waste.

Madam President, my expectations are high for the EU—African Union summit. The pandemic exposed structural inequalities we need to address together. I hope that during this summit we will take concrete steps towards a true equal partnership, for example with EU support for the development of the intra-African market. Equal partnership also means equal and fair access to vaccines. I call upon the EU leaders to deliver on our promise to expand the availability of vaccines in Africa. Put all the options on the table. Do not back away from solutions such as forcing licensing vaccine production for Africa or lifting patents. Working towards an equal partnership also means engaging with young changemakers. It means providing an environment where we empower youth and women. When we ensure a better economic future for them, an inclusive growth across Africa and Europe will happen. We are living at a historic moment. Let’s ride it together.

Mr President, it is absurd that today – in 2022 – I am again standing here advocating sexual and reproductive rights for women, but the bleak, conservative wind within Europe is blowing through. Safe and accessible abortion has already been de facto banned in Poland. And now the Polish government even wants the bizarre, mandatory registration of pregnancies. Conservative forces in the Member States of Croatia, Slovakia and Lithuania are eager to follow the Polish example. Abortions are banned in Malta without exception. Self-determination is no longer self-evident in Europe. For let me be clear: Sexual and reproductive rights are about the self-determination of women, the freedom and the fundamental right to make your own choices about your own body, and therefore your own life. These rights are inviolable. I therefore call on this Parliament, the European Council and the Commission to stand firmly behind these fundamental rights. Commit to the Simone Veil Pact. Ensure that all Member States of this Union guarantee the safe, legal and accessible right to abortion. The provision of inclusive sex education and access to contraceptives are non-negotiable. This is the only way to guarantee fundamental human rights for all citizens. Because women's rights are human rights, and that should be the norm and reality in Europe. And in order to achieve this, I invite all my colleagues here to speak out in favour of these fundamental rights. But that alone is not enough. If Member States do not have safe and legal paths to abortion in order, let us come up with a European solution. Let it be possible for women to make use of this right to safe abortion elsewhere in Europe. Because we have to help each other. And as we know in Poland, lives are at stake here. This is just about a human life. This is just about a woman's life. And that is just playing with these ridiculous laws that we now know here in Europe. It's just to be ashamed, here in Europe. And finally, we know that curtailing sexual and reproductive rights is not an isolated matter. Where women's rights are at stake, human rights are also at stake.

Mr President, young, ambitious and convinced European. Many staff and members of our European institutions arrive in Brussels in no time. Same with Jeanne Ponté. She worked in the European Parliament for two weeks when she was the victim of sexual harassment by a politician in the elevator. This misconduct turned out not to be an incident. When the #MeToo wave arrived in Brussels in 2018, more and more victims anonymously shared their experience of sexual harassment. The resolution we are voting on today is therefore the result of their courage, commitment and belief that a safe working environment is possible for everyone, for which many thanks! To politicians who abuse their power, I say: “Your time is really up.” In this era, we believe victims, we support victims and we stand next to victims, and the time of turning a blind eye to sexual harassment and abuse of power is over. This Parliament has an exemplary role. We cannot, on the one hand, advocate for gender equality and combating violence against women across Europe and, on the other hand, guarantee a safe workplace in our own Parliament. So to the politicians today who do not support the resolution, I say: “You have a political, social and human responsibility to ensure a safe workplace. Be part of the solution, not the problem.” If this resolution is adopted, it will be thanks to the tireless efforts of victims who show solidarity and journalists who tell their stories. The fear and fear of victim blaming Sometimes victims get in the way of speaking out against sexual harassment. For anyone who listens and hesitates to tell his or her story, I want to say: “We listen to you, we hear you and we stand beside you.” The fight for a better time where no one ever has to say: "Me Too" is not over yet, but we are on our way.

Madam President, just when you think that the situation of women’s rights in Poland couldn’t get any worse, the Polish Government will find a way to reach an all—time low. We now witness the introduction of a new national pregnancy database and an Institute for Family and Demography. It is a new attempt to gain control of women’s bodies, to reduce their autonomy and to interfere in personal family life. The Commission has been silent for too long. We can no longer hide behind a false argument of Member States’ competence. Women’s lives are at stake here and that is no longer a figure of speech. Women have actually died. The protection of women’s rights is a core value of our Union and we should live up to it. What we need is progressive European leadership, including in this Parliament. We need European leaders that dare to speak out and lead by example. A nuanced or neutral position on women’s rights will not do European women justice. Women’s rights are non-negotiable and we have had enough of that. European leadership means living up to expectations and sanctioning Member States when fundamental rights are violated. European funds are tied to European values and rules. Cherry-picking is not an option. As long as Poland continues to undermine women’s rights, it should not receive a single euro from European funds. We in this Parliament have called numerous times on Member States and our institutions to support civil society and to allocate funding to NGOs on the ground. The Netherlands and Belgium have answered this call, so I’m asking: which Member States will follow? Let me end by expressing my gratitude to the brave and courageous activists in Poland. Their fight against injustice has been remarkable, tireless and admirable. You are a true example of what actual dedication to women’s rights means.

Mr President, the global vaccination rate is and remains too low and the EU continues to block concrete solutions put forward, such as the temporary lifting of patents on vaccines. And what do we do? On paper, the EU shares 350 million vaccines with the world. The real, honest story is that only 118 million vaccines have been shared, and that's far too little in a pandemic. This is not the first debate on how the EU is contributing to the eradication of COVID-19 worldwide, and certainly not the last. But it is time for more transparency in the discussion. Transparency is essential for democratic control, but also for people around the world who wonder whether they can count on the EU. I call on the Commission and the Member States to be fully open about where we are now, about donations, supply and distribution problems in third countries and possible trade barriers, but above all about contracts with pharmaceutical companies. Democratic control is essential, especially in a crisis. It is time for responsibility and openness.

Mr President, today’s world of work coincides with new transitions, and the European Green Deal and digitalisation provide excellent chances for businesses to expand their borders and to explore new opportunities. It is our duty, however, to ensure that workers are not the victims of these transitions, because these changes also pose a great risk of leaving some behind, especially the most vulnerable workers. Our European Union must be more than a common market: workers must be protected in the same way that we protect our economic prosperity. European workers must have a voice and be able to shape and influence the decisions of today, instead of just being subjected to these transformative processes. The countless benefits of employee participation are clear and well proven. Companies that make full use of employee participation are more sustainable, more efficient and more gender equal. The current legal framework creates uncertainty for many workers across Europe and especially for those working in transnational companies. It is therefore high time that we fix what is broken and come up with a more comprehensive approach to improving worker participation and better enforce the European Works Council Directive. When we call for an increase in worker participation, we should not forget that workers continue to be represented unequally throughout the European Union. Women still only account for 29.5% of the board positions of the largest companies in Europe, and the numbers speak for themselves. Countries with binding quotas have female representation that is almost 25 percentage points higher than countries that have taken no action. The answer, therefore, is simple: we need European legislation to fill the gaps that Member States have not yet filled. We need the European Council to immediately unblock the Women On Boards Directive. Equal representation in decision-making is the key democratic principle with positive economic side effects, and we simply cannot afford to wait any longer to unlock the full potential of our societies.

Madam President, online gender-based violence is a continuation of the discrimination that women experience in the offline world and it is a continuation of the persisting inequalities and stereotypes of today’s society. The harmful impact on women and girls and on democracy as a whole may not be underestimated. Women and girls are silenced because of who they are. Their right to express themselves freely, equally and without fear is taken away from them and a young generation of female politicians will think twice before they enter the political arena. Stress, anxiety and a loss of self-confidence will replace bright futures full of outspoken ambition if we do not act. No policy alternative will be effective unless we face this new reality, and the Digital Services Act is a solid step towards a safer digital world. But we must demand that tech companies, as businesses, take responsibility and ensure that their digital and public spaces become safe and empowering places for everyone. The voices of women and girls are at stake. The value of our democracy is at stake. Let’s continue to speak out, but for a new generation.

Mr President, almost one in three women around the world becomes subject to physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. This implies that we all know a woman – and probably more – who has been abused. Abuse is a direct result of persisting gender inequalities in our society. With that in mind, it is incomprehensible that some colleagues in this European Parliament continue to oppose making gender equality a reality. Some of you in the Parliament deny the institutional character of the gender pay gap, you deny the danger of abortion bans to women’s health and you deny the fact that your actions have consequences. The fight for elimination of violence against women starts here in this Parliament. The EU has still not ratified the Istanbul Convention, and the EU still does not yet consider gender—based violence to be a ‘Euro—crime’ under Article 83, just to give you some examples. This urgently needs to change. I know that the European Commission is working hard, and I encourage you. Know that we support you in the Parliament to make this a reality. Violence against women and girls should not be a political issue. It should be a matter of respect and decency, but as long as some people in this House want to have a political fight over women’s rights and gender equality, we need to be ready to win that fight. Let me conclude by reaching out to the men and boys in Europe. This is about your family, about your loved ones and people who are dear to us. Violence does not happen in a vacuum. It happens in a society that condones the subordinate position of women. I therefore call upon all men to speak out against systemic inequalities. Join our fight against violence and be the promoters of change because this is not only a women’s issue. This is an issue that is the responsibility of all. We need to fight that together. We can only win this battle together. Take the responsibility. It starts here in Parliament.

Madam President, five months ago the European Parliament made its position clear on how to vaccinate the world. The Commission and Member States had every opportunity to take ideas from this resolution and move forward. For example, supporting lifting patents for vaccines to expand production, but so far the Commission has not pushed for the lifting of patents, and global goals are not yet reached. This Parliament outlined concrete options in the resolution on how we can move forward to address the challenges we are debating here today. Increasing global distribution is the most important step, and this is still a major challenge. Especially in developing countries, the distribution of vaccines still proves to be a major challenge. Only 6% of people in Africa are fully vaccinated according to the WHO, and the EU cannot accept that our twin continent is left behind in vaccination, and many developing countries want to vaccinate their people but have either no access to vaccines or problems with distribution. We must do more as the EU to assist countries in getting vaccines to the people, and we need to find concrete solutions to expand production and distribution globally. Since June, the Commission is discussing how compulsory licensing could contribute to expanding production. But I see a lack of concrete action: a TRIPS waiver on patents for vaccines, expanding possibilities of compulsory licensing making global distribution easier, assisting developing countries in getting vaccines to their people. We are collectively under-performing on all fronts and we need to understand this debate, this situation, is about human rights. It’s about human life. We won’t get out of the pandemic if the rest of the world is left behind. So I’m urging everyone here today, we must end the pandemic, we all agree, we must vaccinate the world. It’s a human right.

Madam President, global trade needs a fair and functioning World Trade Organization; however, the COVID-19 pandemic is showing us that we are far from that goal. When countries knocked on the door to lift barriers to the trade of COVID-19 vaccines, some WTO members did not answer. We can now conclude that all WTO members need to deliver. Global challenges ask for global solutions, so therefore I urge the WTO and the European Commission to deliver upon a declaration on trade and health next week with concrete language on intellectual property and with an agreement on taking away trade barriers for the export of vaccines. We are confronted with the fourth COVID-19 wave as we speak, and yet only 6% of people in Africa are fully vaccinated, according to the WHO. This is about human rights and human lives. Are we really doing everything to not be caught off guard again?

Madam President, the anti-abortion law in Poland has been exceptionally harmful and changed the daily lives of Polish women and girls. Thousands of women have crossed borders to Germany, England, the Netherlands and Belgium – amidst a pandemic, may I remind everyone. The work of NGOs such as Abortion Without Borders does not go unnoticed. They are helping thousands of women by accessing the right paperwork, preparing travel arrangements, ensuring safe and legal pathways to abortion. You are true heroes. The Polish government has no respect for fundamental rights. They neglect women, they disregard our bodies, and they put women’s lives at risk. Commissioner Dalli, this is unacceptable. These men in power are criminalising women’s rights. So support NGOs financially to ensure safe abortion and make sure the Polish government doesn’t receive a penny out of the EU COVID-19 recovery fund. So thank you, I say to all the Polish women who fight for change. Now it’s time the EU fights for you.

Madam President, central to the EU budget for 2022 is the recovery from an unprecedented crisis and when one must recover, one focuses on where the harm is, so a doctor treats his or her patients and focuses on where the pain is. In the European Union it is women that have been hurt the most. They were on the forefront in all of our healthcare services, and they have experienced excessively high rates of violence at home and enormous difficulties with accessing sexual and reproductive health services during the lockdowns. And despite these challenges, this budget does not contain a single reference to sexual and reproductive health and rights in its 1 348 page document, and the Commission often refers to its commitment of achieving a Union of equality. True equality does not exist if we ignore the unequal strain that this pandemic has had on women in Europe. So the recovery must focus on where the harm is done. We must put our money where it is needed and make gender equality the priority in the budget for 2022.

Mr President, my body, my rights. Words that do not seem controversial or political, but definitely are. The Texas law is shocking and humiliating. It allows private citizens to sue anyone in Texas who assists a woman in getting an abortion. People you do not know, to whom you did not give consent, decide on your future and your body. Women are constantly fighting for autonomy and the right to decide for their own. The news this morning that the federal judge has blocked the Texas abortion law gives me hope, hope that the international order is strong and continues its fight for women’s rights. The law disproportionately targets women from lower income classes and women of colour. Pressure on women’s rights is a worldwide phenomenon, including in this House. It is essential that the resistance to opposition, those who believe in her body, her right, stand in solidarity with women across the world. But some people in this House do not want that. You want men and others to decide for you, your daughters and sisters. Obviously, you don’t want real emancipation. You want women to keep depending on others, and the goal of the wave of anti-abortion laws and the politicians that push for it is to put female sexuality under strict and brutal state control, and it is dehumanising. While the Texas law is unprecedented, many Members of the European Parliament would limit abortion rights tomorrow if they had the opportunity. Even female Members of this House. So Members, colleagues, I am urging you to vote in favour of this resolution for the women in Texas first and foremost, and for women and girls across the EU or who watching this debate right now. We need to fight this battle. It is not over. Don’t underestimate it. It’s her body. It’s her choice. Let’s keep fighting for that.

Mr President, millions of women in Europe recognise the loneliness, shame and powerlessness caused by domestic violence. And domestic violence is a big taboo, and anyone who shares their story publicly has to deal with stigmatization. "But why didn't you leave him?" is a question that all victims will recognise. Domestic violence is regularly dismissed as an internal family affair, a ruling that protects only perpetrators. And that is why, ladies and gentlemen, today I would like to draw your attention to the thousands of children who are in between these divorced parents. For them, a safe home is not self-evident because the protection of children is still not given sufficient priority in family law cases. That is why this Parliament is calling for the protection of children throughout Europe to be at the heart of family law. Vote for the resolution and vote for the strengthening of children's rights.

Madam President, with our military withdrawal from Afghanistan, what was built has been broken down in just a matter of days. Female students went home and the first thing they did was hide their IDs, diplomas and certificates. Women are reporting threats of violence from Taliban fighters for simply playing sports, but many more women fear honour killings, child marriages, harassment and psychological abuse. I am urging the Commission and Member States to create a special fast-track EU asylum procedure for Afghan women and girls specifically, and to broaden the scope of Erasmus to include Afghan women because if education is the key, access to school is the lock. And my Islam has not taught me that women should be submissive; my Muslim father taught his three daughters that we as women can make our own choices. So do not believe the version of the Islam of the Taliban and do not recognise them. Afghan women deserve the right to make their own choices – to work, to love, to study and to be secure.