Speeches

Mr President, thank you very much. In 2015, The Gambia banned female genital mutilation. If The Gambia now decides to lift the ban, it would be the first country in the world to withdraw such a decision. The situation of women and girls in The Gambia is extremely serious. 76% of women and girls aged 15 to 49 have undergone genital mutilation. This is a serious violation of human rights. The health consequences are well documented and very difficult. A lot of people die. Those who survive will suffer for life. Infections, infertility and birth complications are among the most common complications. I very much call on the Gambian Parliament to immediately reject the proposal. Every girl deserves the right to her own body and her own life. All girls should grow up free from violence and oppression. Female genital mutilation is a medieval custom that best belongs on history's rubbish heap. Instead, do as we do here in the EU when we decide today on legislation against violence against women and girls.

Mr President, thank you very much. whereas half of all women in the EU have experienced sexual harassment and one third of these women have been exposed in the workplace – by a manager, a colleague or a customer; It is a major obstacle for women to participate fully in the labour market. That is totally unacceptable. Under me tooThe movement shared millions of women's experiences of sexual harassment. We agreed to stop closing our eyes, stop being silent. We agreed on change – so that the next generation of girls do not have to suffer the same experiences. ILO Convention 190 is the first international treaty to recognise the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment, including when it is gender-based. It's revolutionary. I call on the governments of all the Member States to ratify the Convention, including my own country, Sweden. Now we have the chance to create a world where everyone can go to work without fear.

Mr President, thank you very much. Last year we celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It was the first global text to affirm the dignity and equality of all people, regardless of skin colour, belief or origin. I would particularly like to highlight the fact that the human rights of women and girls continue to be violated throughout the world. No country has achieved gender equality, whether economically, politically or socially. It is unacceptable that women are still not allowed to control their own bodies, that women are denied access to legal and safe abortion, that female genital mutilation, child and forced marriages continue to occur and that rape against women is used both at home and as a weapon of war, as is currently happening in Ukraine, where Russian soldiers rape women. It is important to remember that although all women are structurally oppressed, there are also differences between women. Not all women have the same opportunities and opportunities. We need stronger legislation at both national and EU level.

Madam President, thank you very much. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is deeply unworthy. People are starving and forced to eat animal feed and weeds in order to survive. More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed: 12,300 children and 8,400 women. More than 70,000 people have been injured and 7,000 remain missing. The number of civilian casualties in Gaza, with a very high proportion of children, is unacceptable. Hamas' horrific terrorist attack on 7 October launched Israel's disproportionate military response, and the country is now being investigated for the gravest violation of international law: genocide. Respect for international humanitarian law is absolutely a must and not negotiable. This is a message that the EU has consistently conveyed to Israel, and Hamas must unconditionally release the hostages. An immediate and permanent ceasefire is needed. The Israeli occupation must end, and a two-state solution is inevitable for long-term peace in the region.

Mr President, thank you very much. When it was believed that the Iranian regime could not sink lower, then the theocracy executes a man with disabilities. His name was Mohammad Ghobadlou. Mohammad was accused of the medieval crime of ‘war against God’. But what God advocates for the murder of people who fight against the tyranny of power? Mohammad was involved in protests against the execution of Mahsa Jina Amini by the morality police. She had not covered her hair enough and for that she was murdered by a regime that actively supports and engages in international terrorism, a regime that rapes girls and women. A regime that executes people who stand up to oppression. The Iranian regime must also immediately release the Swedish citizen and EU official Johan Floderus. It is strange that the prosecutor is calling for the death penalty. The Iranian regime must reform itself or be scrapped on the garbage heap of history.

Mr President, thank you very much. This year, for the 68th time, we have a meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. We have made a lot of progress, but we cannot sit back and take past progress for granted. Equality in the world is in decline, unfortunately, and we must continue to fight for something as self-evident as everyone's equal value. Being a feminist requires patience. It's a constant struggle and often we take two steps forward and one step back. This year’s theme – fighting poverty – is very important and it is clear that women are more affected by poverty than men. It is more often a deeper poverty for women than for men, also due to the fact that women are more likely to have precarious jobs and lower wages than men. Women do more unpaid work to care for their own children, although the father is also actually a parent. I hope that the Commission and the Council will listen to the important points made in the resolution, so that together we can take a major step forward in the fight for gender equality. For women's rights are human rights and human rights are also women's rights.

Madam President, thank you very much. Their economic policy spokesperson is caught in a film and tells anecdotes about how his German colleagues heil and kick sheep carcasses and at the same time call them Jews. He remains the party's economic policy spokesperson. In recent years, there have been several revelations about politicians from the same party applauding Hitler, saying that Jews are not Swedes and mocking Anne Frank and calling her things like “the coolest Jew in the shower room“. Totally unacceptable. I'm talking, of course, about representatives of Charlie Weimer's party. They say that they are and have zero tolerance for racism and antisemitism, and that anyone who violates it should be excluded. In fact, they still hold their top positions. The list of statements from the Sweden Democrats filled with Jewish hatred can be made long, far too long. They say that anti-Semitism is due to Muslims and mass immigration. But with lessons learned from history as well as the present, I would say with certainty that it is parties with xenophobic ideas that pose the greatest threat.

Mr President, thank you very much. Haiti's fate is tragic. Human tragedies succeed each other. The country is in a vicious circle of murders, kidnappings and sexual violence. More than 2,300 people were killed at the end of last year and at least 170,000 children are displaced. The gangs' gross violence against civilians must end. The international community and the EU must take a holistic approach to Haiti, complementing security efforts with a long-term programme of humanitarian aid, development aid and the establishment of a transitional government. It is also crucial for the future that international efforts respect human rights and humanitarian law so that violence does not worsen. I also sincerely hope that the UN organization has learned from past efforts and mistakes. The spread of cholera in Haiti by the UN peacekeeping force was deeply unfortunate, albeit unconsciously. More than 10,000 people died as a result of poor sanitation and the dumping of untreated sewage water in the open air. That being said, it is extremely worrying that the UN-decided security force is not in place. If Kenya is unable to fulfil its commitment, the Security Council urgently needs to address the issue. Organised crime in Haiti is out of control and it is always women and children who suffer the most when lawlessness prevails.

– More than seven and a half million people are displaced in Sudan. It is now the largest displacement of people in the world. Five million are suffering acute hunger, and the protracted conflicts have led to the highest proportion of malnourished children in the world. The human suffering in Sudan must not be forgotten when the spotlight is on other wars and conflicts. Human tragedies should not be pitted against each other. When war crimes are put into the system of ruthless warlords and armies, human dignity is shattered, and people lose resilience to further abuse. It is a ruthless, inhumane and cynical weapon of war. It is always the ordinary person who suffers the most. We also know that sexual abuse is on the rise in this area. It is high time for the EU and the international community to shoulder the responsibility for global peace and security. The world needs, now more than ever, a new peace movement.

Madam President, thank you very much. The report shows a frightening development in Europe. The progress in gender equality policies that has been achieved in recent centuries is under attack. Conservative and far-right forces are working systematically to weaken women's and girls' rights and take control of their own lives. In recent years, several women have died due to unsafe abortions. That is totally unacceptable! Denied by women's access to safe and legal abortions is gender-based violence. We must fight discrimination in all its forms. You should have the same opportunities to live a good life no matter where you come from, what gender you have, who you love or what faith you belong to. The fight for equality for all and justice in the EU is far from over.

Madam President, thank you very much. If half the population refrains from expressing their opinion on social media because of fear of intimidation and hatred. What does it do to the democratic society when not everyone feels that they can be involved? whereas women journalists opt out of certain topics, young women drop out of politics, and women’s rights activists testify to recurrent death threats; The hatred of women is clearly organized from nationalists and extremists. When women report the problem, they are greeted by the advice to take a break from the internet. It's the same type of advice given to women about their dress for a night out to avoid being raped. The guilt must be laid where it belongs, with the man who rapes and with the man who hates. We politicians have a responsibility both to create legislation and resources that counteract hatred, but also to contribute to a good climate for debate that excludes hatred and threats.

Madam President, thank you very much. Conflict prevention does not make great headlines, but it is by staying one step ahead and investing in diplomacy that we maintain peace. Some conflicts make headlines, others go on silently. Did you know, for example, that there have been wars and conflicts in Congo-Kinshasa for more than 20 years? Or that decades of conflict in Somalia have caused half of the population to suffer from drought? Or that there are more than 50 so-called frozen conflicts around the world? No matter what conflict we are talking about, it is women's rights that are erased first, many times in the hidden. I would therefore like to highlight the feminist foreign policy introduced by my close friend Margot Wallström, which has now also been followed by several countries, but which unfortunately the SD-led government in Sweden threw in the trash. It is high time for the EU to adopt a feminist foreign policy that provides a long-term investment in global peace and security!

Mr President, thank you very much. Last week I took part in the European Parliament's mission to Israel and Palestine. The visit to kibbutzen Kfar Aza made clear how Israeli civilians were indiscriminately and brutally affected by Hamas terrorist attacks. We demand that Hamas immediately release all hostages. We met families of those who still have children, siblings or partners kidnapped. These are stories that I will always carry with me. From the kibbutz it was only a few kilometers to Gaza. We could clearly see the thick smoke and hear Israel's bombing. Israel has the right to defend itself in accordance with international law, but also has an obligation to ensure the protection of civilian lives. More than 18,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 50,000 injured, many children and young people. Carl Skau, deputy director of the UN Food Programme, said that nine out of ten people in Gaza cannot eat food every day and that half of the population is starving. Emergency assistance is needed and a ceasefire is needed. A two-state solution is also the only realistic solution to a conflict that has been going on for far too long.

Mr President, thank you very much. The Commission. Aida, 29, the student who is straight on the case, but with a huge heart, was killed by her boyfriend. Tally, 50 years old, she who just got a motorcycle license and who always spread joy around. She was killed by her partner. Somayyeh, 40-year-old surgical nurse. She, who is described as ambitious, loving and safe, was killed by her husband. Carine, 27 years old. She with so many dreams in her life, who was outgoing and caring, was killed by her husband. These are four of the women who last year were murdered in Sweden by a man they love or have loved. Every week, 50 women in the EU are murdered by a man she has or had a relationship with. Women are murdered because they are women. Cause of death: woman. It can even happen in front of their children. This must end. We need strong common EU legislation against men's violence against women.

Madam President, thank you very much. Shutdown of universities, control of the country’s media, curtailment of women’s rights, control of the country’s courts, almost gone LGBTIQ rights – yes, the list of examples of anti-democratic developments in Hungary can be lengthy. It makes me both angry and frustrated. But what makes me even more frustrated is that there are parliamentarians here and in the Swedish parliament, in my home country, who support this ruling party that is responsible for this development. Last year we decided that Hungary could no longer be considered a democracy. There was a Swedish party that voted against that position, the Sweden Democrats. Time and time again the Sweden Democrats back Viktor Orbán and his party. I am concerned about the future development of Hungary and the European Union. But it also worries me about Sweden's development. The EU has, and needs to continue to take, great responsibility for putting pressure on Hungary, but in order to do so, of course, we need MEPs who stand up for democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner Ivanova! As we could hear here, the social economy employs more than 13 million workers. They work tirelessly to solve some of our biggest and common societal challenges. Social economy activities reinvest their profits and are driven primarily by social and environmental objectives and not the pursuit of profits. They create high-quality jobs, support integration and promote an economy based on democratic participation. They provide opportunities for disadvantaged and under-represented groups, as well as those who are far from the labour market, so that they have an opportunity to enter. Through the clear localisation of the social economy, they are an important player for the good development of our local communities as they see and understand the local needs. In my own region in West Sweden, for example, we find cooperatives that work to create meaningful jobs for people who have been in crime, that help people break their addiction and that welcome people who need language training and move on to work life. The social economy also promotes fair conditions by leading by example in creating quality jobs with good working conditions and active participation in the labour market. Many of the solutions provided by the social economy lead to positive systemic changes, and these solutions can be expanded or repeated when the right conditions are in place. Unfortunately, however, we can see that social activities still face various types of difficulties across the Member States. That is why it is now up to the Member States to deliver and ensure that Europe's social activities are put in the right conditions. I listened carefully to Commissioner Ivanova, who also highlighted the gender perspective, which is very important in this context.

Madam President, thank you very much. Two out of three women are stressed at work every week. It is unsustainable and needs to change. Women-dominated professions are now more mentally demanding. These are women who work as social workers, assistant nurses and preschool teachers, so-called contact professions. Professions involving high demands on delivery, but at the same time a lack of control. But it is also about performance requirements where more women than men experience problems living up to their own and others' expectations. Why do we have a society that teaches girls to be good girls when we know it leads to burnout? Mental illness can also be linked to discrimination. Nearly one in three young women report that they have often or sometimes felt discriminated against because of their gender in the workplace. That is totally unacceptable. Stress, pressure and discrimination lead to increased sick leave that ultimately affects everyone – the individual, the employer and society. We need employers who distribute work better, and especially the so-called invisible tasks, evenly between the sexes. And we all have a responsibility for the norms and attitudes we create in the workplace.

Mr President, thank you very much. Israeli civilians have been injured, tortured and murdered indiscriminately. Men, women and children of all ages. We strongly condemn Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel. Israel has an obvious right to defend itself in accordance with international law and to save the Israeli hostages. But Israel also has an obligation under international law to protect civilian lives. The Palestinian people should not be punished for the terrorist acts of Hamas. Last night we were reached by the news that hundreds were killed in a bombing of a hospital in Gaza. It is absolutely unacceptable, and any attack on civilian targets in Gaza must be condemned. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is getting worse. The population needs access to food, water, electricity and medicine. The EU has announced a significant increase in aid to Gaza. We welcome social democrats, and help needs to be provided. It is now that we need to give all our support to those who are fighting in headwinds for peace, freedom and human rights.

Mr President, thank you very much. Russian soldiers are equipped with Viagra. Could it be more obvious that it is a military strategy to rape Ukrainian women? In the hiatus between curfews and bombings, Ukrainian women are looking for the day after pill, instead of looking for first aid kits. Because in the war zone of Ukraine it is almost impossible to get contraception, let alone safe abortion. Nine out of ten Ukrainian refugees currently in Poland and Hungary are women and children. In Hungary, several abortion restrictions are regulated by law. In Poland, there is almost a total ban, and there we really hope that there will be a change now with a new government. The women come from a war-torn country where the opportunities for care and support are minimal, and then face a terrible legislation that once again turns their backs on vulnerable women. whereas the right to be protected from sexual and gender-based violence and the right to safe abortion must be part of all humanitarian efforts undertaken in Ukraine and neighbouring countries, to which women and children in particular are fleeing; That is not the case today. Change should happen.

Mr President, thank you very much. whereas a more uncertain world of war, conflict and terror requires the EU to be a strong voice for peace, democracy and human rights, including women’s rights; More and more girls are being married against their will. When women and girls in Afghanistan lose access to education, when women in Iran are persecuted by morality police, when women’s bodies are used as weapons by Russia in the war against Ukraine – yes, a feminist foreign policy is needed more than ever. Priority needs to be given to efforts to promote the rights of girls and women in conflict areas. The EU must work strategically to combat gender-based violence, to include women in conflict prevention and peace-building, and to empower women. Humanitarian aid is an important part of the EU's efforts to promote peace and democracy. Reductions and freezing of aid would have the opposite effect. It would only harm civilians and fuel extremism and conflict. These troubled times of war in our neighbourhood have painfully reminded us that peace and security are prerequisites for sustainable development and an equal and equal Europe.

Mr President, thank you very much. whereas Russia’s illegal, illegal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine shows unlimited contempt for international law; The EU must continue to support Ukraine and its people in the fight against the Russian war of aggression and increase pressure on Russia to end its atrocious war. We are reached by horrific reports of sexual violence against girls and women in Ukraine by Russian soldiers. But it can also be difficult when traumatized soldiers return home, because we know that violence breeds violence. Ukrainian women participate at the front, but the country is still heavily influenced by patriarchal structures. The original Commission proposal did not even mention gender equality as an explicit objective of the Ukraine Facility. It is now up to the evidence, so that the EU Member States do not water down Parliament's text. The Ukraine Facility must ensure women’s participation in decision-making processes, promote gender equality and gender mainstreaming, empower women and girls and protect their rights. Ukraine's future belongs in the EU, but it must be a gender-equal future.

Mr President, thank you very much. whereas Afghanistan is in a very serious human crisis, with the Taliban de facto imposing gender apartheid in the country; Former government representatives, many of them women, belonged to the country's spearheads and dreamed of lifting the country from the shackles of the Middle Ages, where women and men have the same rights and obligations. These hopes were ruthlessly shattered when the Taliban returned to power. Those who previously worked tirelessly for values such as democracy, justice and human rights now face serious threats to their lives and freedom. These people now face the choice of living in constant fear or fleeing their homeland. They need to leave behind their families and everything they hold dear. The UN should initiate a mechanism to investigate human rights violations and violations of international law. The international community must take immediate action to protect these people. As Nelson Mandela put it: To deny people their fundamental rights is to threaten their humanity. I also thank you for the cooperation that we have been able to achieve with what we have agreed here. I would also like to thank both the rapporteur and all the co-rapporteurs.

Mr President, thank you very much. Everyone has the right to be treated with respect. All people are equally valuable. Those sentences can't be repeated enough and often. Because reality is completely different. It is incomprehensible to me how love can be a crime. How can it be illegal to love whoever you want? How can it be okay to harass someone because of who they fall in love with? How can it be okay to persecute, torture and kill someone because of their sexual orientation? In today's Russia, you risk imprisonment only if you consider sharing information that demonstrates a sexual orientation other than the heteronorm. Do not allow this to spread here to this Parliament and to the European Union. It is completely – would like to use a swear word – insane. Our most important task as politicians is to contribute to a society for all and where everyone can live a life free from violence, harassment and discrimination. That is our most important mission, to stand up for human rights.

Mr President, thank you very much. Last week, 10,000 people arrived on the island of Lampedusa in three days. Lampedusa with 6,000 inhabitants is smaller than the Swedish island of Lidingö. Imagine that 200 boats with over 10,000 people arrive in Lidingö in three days. What headlines that would have been! The situation had been considered completely unsustainable. Because it is unsustainable. Today we have a situation where we repeatedly make laws according to location. However, the EU cannot continue to be an ongoing renovation project. Europe cannot help everyone, but we can take our responsibility. EU Member States are now sitting around the same table negotiating a common migration policy. It is a breakthrough that should not be underestimated and a situation we have never managed to achieve before, actually historically. But we are now waiting for solutions based on a common regulatory framework, not 27. We agree that the Pact on Migration is needed. It is by truly sharing responsibility in Europe that we can have a long-term sustainable migration policy.

Madam President, thank you very much. The human rights situation in Bangladesh has deteriorated sharply. We are talking about extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, while at the same time severely restricting freedom of expression and undermining workers' rights. This is a deeply worrying development, against which the EU must mark. whereas the Bangladeshi authorities must immediately end the criminalisation and persecution of civil society organisations fighting for human rights, such as Odhikar; The systematic harassment of members of Odhikar and the use of fabricated criminal charges against leading individuals in the organisation cannot be ignored. Odhikar has in fact been criminalised by the country’s authorities, as their authorisation to operate in the country has not been renewed. Ten years after Odhikar published a report on extrajudicial killings in the country, the organization's secretary, Adilur Rahman Khan, and director, Nasiruddin Elan, continue to face harassment in a legal farce. A court ruling is expected tomorrow, in which they face up to ten years in prison. At the same time, I am appalled by the brutal murder of trade union leader Shahidul Islam in June this year. When he tried to assist textile workers in receiving a missing salary, he was brutally beaten to death. It is both inhuman and shameless. whereas the Government of Bangladesh is solely responsible for ensuring the rule of law and security for civil society organisations, human rights defenders, trade unionists and religious minorities; Bangladesh must live up to its international obligations, in particular the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. whereas the Government of Bangladesh needs to work with the UN to investigate the existence of forced disappearances, while international observers must be given access to court hearings; I would like to call on the Government of Bangladesh to unconditionally drop all charges against Odhikar's representatives, to restore its registration and to ensure foreign contributions to civil society organisations. I would urge the EEAS, its delegation and Member States' missions to raise the issue of human rights vigorously at the highest political level. Support must be increased for human rights defenders. whereas the EU’s preferential trade agreement with Bangladesh should be negatively affected in the future unless the human rights situation improves significantly;