What Assita spoke about.

5 Jul

2022

NL Speech

2021 Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina (debate)

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In today's amended European Security Framework, the ECR Group is working for a peaceful Western Balkan region that can continue on the European path without Russian interference. We welcome the political agreement of 12 June on the principles for ensuring a functional Bosnia and Herzegovina that is necessary for the stability of that country. We strongly urge the political leaders of Bosnia and He…

4 Jul

2022

EN Speech

US Supreme Court decision to overturn abortion rights in the United States and the need to safeguard abortion rights and Women’s health in the EU (debate)

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Madam President, I would like to say, frankly speaking, on the day when men will be able to give birth, on the day when men will be able to be pregnant and become mothers, then, on that day only, will they have the right to tell me what to do with my body. They will have the right on that day to tell my daughter what to do with her body. But today that is not the case. So please live with that. Wo…

8 Jun

2022

NL Speech

The human rights situation in Xinjiang, including the Xinjiang police files

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Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the data breach of police files from Xinjiang exposes more precisely than ever the suppression of the Uyghurs by China. They support the mass arbitrary detentions in so-called re-education camps. The torture. A policy aimed at reducing the Uyghur birth rate. The eradication of Uyghur identity, culture, education and religious experience. The separation of int…

8 Jun

2022

EN Speech

Revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (A9-0162/2022 - Peter Liese) (vote)

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Madam President, I hope you can hear me. I would like to say that in this House of democracy, please refer to people by their group name, do not look at this side of the Parliament and call us ‘far right’. I am not a far-right politician! I agree with Ms Iratxe that we need to find coherent agreement, that’s why we’re here, do not call me far right, do not call us far right. It is respect. This is…

4 May

2022

NL Speech

Use of the Pegasus Software by EU Member States against individuals including MEPs and the violation of fundamental rights (topical debate)

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Mr President, imagine: You sit at home and strangers sit down. They look at you, they listen to all your conversations at all times. That's how Pegasus works, I've read. I think that's very scary, creepy. Every month we see one Pegasus revelation after another. Government leaders, journalists and activists: No one seems safe. At the same time, we know very little. By whom? For what purpose? What a…

3 May

2022

NL Speech

Artificial intelligence in a digital age (debate)

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Mr President, in 2020, the EU failed to meet its target of spending 3% of GDP on research and development. Recent figures on private investment are very alarming: 80% in the US and China compared to less than 5% in the EU. The strategic relevance of artificial intelligence (AI) cannot be denied. The EU must therefore show greater ambition to boost AI and provide opportunities for European companie…

6 Apr

2022

NL Speech

Cooperation and similarities between the Putin regime and extreme right and separatist movements in Europe (topical debate)

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Mr President, certain parties have continued to cobble together with Putin's Russia, even when it was clear that Putin had already partially placed himself outside the international legal order with the annexation of Crimea, the destabilisation in Donbas, the interference in the US elections and the poisoning of opponents. A party from my Member State, Vlaams Belang, has been instrumentalised to l…

5 Apr

2022

EN Speech

Situation in Afghanistan, in particular the situation of women’s rights (debate)

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Madam President, you know today my teenage daughter chose my outfit for me for this speech. She’s 14 years old. For her it’s just an outfit. But for me it’s a costume of freedom. Women in Afghanistan cannot dress like this – their legs out and their hair wild – or smile in public. When the Taliban say that at age 11 girls can no longer go to school, we all know what this means for them. Dear colle…

23 Mar

2022

EN Speech

Suisse Secrets - How to implement anti-money laundering standards in third countries (debate)

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Mr President, Switzerland has bomb shelters for its entire population. Good. But they also have and provide financial shelter for those who make us need bomb shelters: Russian oligarchs evading EU sanctions. The investigative report showing that Switzerland’s second bank, Credit Suisse, harbours dirty money from, among others, Russian oligarchs, reminds us that we have to be alert for Swiss loopho…

8 Mar

2022

EN Speech

International Women’s Day – Address by Oksana Zabuzhko

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Madam President, has anyone recently looked into their mother’s eyes? When I look into my mother’s eyes, I see the scars and our failure to protect women. When I look in my daughter’s eyes, I see the promise we must keep for the future, as lawmakers. As lawmakers, we do have the power to change things, to build a world where all women are free. I’m honoured to be standing here today on Internation…

7 Mar

2022

NL Speech

Citizenship and residence by investment schemes (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioners, this is the European Parliament and I am speaking here today as a Fleming and as a European. Like someone who wasn't always free. As someone who knows the value of citizenship and the power of protection it brings to each of us. But I don't forget the responsibility that goes with it, and I embrace it. To become Flemish and European, I have learned the language, integr…

17 Feb

2022

EN Speech

Political crisis in Burkina Faso

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Madam President, , this is good morning in Burkina language. Just to greet these people who are suffering so much. If Africa does not succeed, I can tell you one thing, Europe will fail, said President Macron. I welcome this statement, but I regret that Europe is 60 years late and is now still sleepwalking. Europe is a true zombie in Africa. Why don’t we believe reality when we see it? Dear collea…

15 Feb

2022

NL Speech

EU-Africa relations (debate)

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Mr President, sixty years, sixty years of development aid shows that it does not work, except for those who really do not want to see it. I was ten years old when the French came to my village school in Burkina Faso. They gave us pencils and notebooks, but we already had them. ‘Because we were poor’, they said, they came to help us. After class, I ran home sobbing. "Dad, we're poor, did you know t…

20 Jan

2022

EN Speech

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the European Union (continuation of debate)

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Madam President, I would like to start by telling you a short story. Many among us know of a girl who did not want to stay pregnant or who got pregnant when she didn’t want to become pregnant or who was raped. Where I come from, I saw girls at school who died because they were pregnant. Not only because they wanted an abortion and didn’t get it and had to do it illegally, but sometimes because the…

19 Jan

2022

NL Speech

Political crisis in Sudan

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. – Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, in a report on Sudan there was a conversation with a woman. She was raped and then pregnant. She took the perpetrator to court. What do you think? She got whipped. He went free. These women don't have lives anymore. Following the military coup of October 2021, which abolished the transition to a civilian-led sovereign council, civilians continu…

16 Dec

2021

NL Speech

MeToo and harassment – the consequences for the EU institutions (debate)

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Mr President, I would like to thank everyone for this initiative. I have a little story here: In 2013, as a young politician, I was interviewed for the first time for the Flemish newspaper . On the front page there was a small photo of me. “Assita, who did you suck for this?”, a young man asked me at a party in Brussels. I didn't answer anything, so I was stunned. The worst thing, however, was not…

15 Dec

2021

NL Speech

The European Commission Guidelines on inclusive language (topical debate)

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Mr President, I am glad you are here, Mr Schinas. But does the Commission believe that women cannot tackle major problems and should send a man? Can the Commission explain why Mrs Dalli is not here? This feels like a man has to save her now. If I had been Mrs. Dalli, I would have wanted to explain it myself. I think Vice-President Schinas is actually a victim of sexism, and so is Mrs Dalli, unless…

15 Dec

2021

NL Speech

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 16-17 December 2021 - The EU's response to the global resurgence of Covid-19 and the new emerging Covid variants (debate)

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Mr President, "Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, then you aren’t’, Thatcher said. The problem with the EU is that it has to stress far too often that it has power. Have you noticed that this is making less and less of an impression? It smells mostly of past glory. A little depressing, right? Will this last European Council of the year be the first for hope an…

13 Dec

2021

EN Speech

Equality between women and men in the European Union in 2018-2020 (debate)

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Madam President, as a black woman and a secular Muslim, as the mother of a girl, as a daughter of a victim of polygamy and marital captivity, as a survivor of female genital mutilation, as an elected Member of this Chamber, and as a broken, but standing, woman, I am here with you today, furious and ashamed of how little this Parliament cares about the universal rights of women and pretends that we…

25 Nov

2021

EN Speech

The International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women and the State of play on the ratification of the Istanbul Convention (continuation of debate)

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Mr President, I would like to share a short story that many of you have probably heard already from a neighbour, from a family member, from a friend, or maybe it was your own experience. The girl came to my office. She told me that it was 11 years ago. She was 11 years old and the man was someone that the family knew. She was raped. She told me that this year her mother finished paying the debt th…

24 Nov

2021

EN Speech

Fundamental rights and the rule of law in Slovenia, in particular the delayed nomination of EPPO prosecutors (debate)

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Mr President, I was in Slovenia with the European Parliament delegation. I saw a very beautiful country, with a very ugly political debate. Leaders of national institutions told us that they were able to do their work independently and without fear. I believe them. Journalists and NGOs also told us they were under attack from many sides. I believe them as well. What Slovenia needs, and what most o…

10 Nov

2021

EN Speech

The escalating humanitarian crisis on the EU-Belarusian border, in particular in Poland (debate)

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Mr President, sometimes I wonder, is this a House of poetry or a House of lawmakers expressing emotions about problems but not doing much to solve them? What people want from us is to change the situation. Our work is to make good policy, support those in need and also respect our own laws. But, right now we aren’t fixing anything and that, my friends, is the problem. Because, by leaving refugees …

19 Oct

2021

NL Speech

EU-Taiwan political relations and cooperation (debate)

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Mr President, it is clear that the Chinese demand for reunification with Taiwan is not only about completing the Chinese project, but also about achieving geopolitical dominance in the Indo-Pacific region. With this in mind, the Weimers report rightly expresses serious concern about China's continued military militancy against Taiwan, and recommends that the EU and its Member States play a proacti…

7 Oct

2021

NL Speech

The case of Paul Rusesabagina in Rwanda

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Mr President, I am not surprised that Paul Rusesabagina was sentenced by the Rwandan Supreme Court to 25 years in prison. What surprises me is how Belgium allows a compatriot to languish far too easily. Not the Belgians here. Kathleen, Hilde, Tom and myself are still committed to Paul Rusesabagina. Rwanda has not allowed Belgium to fully provide the consular assistance of Paul Rusesabagina. It is …

7 Oct

2021

EN Speech

Human rights situation in Myanmar, including the situation of religious and ethnic groups

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Mr President, Myanmar has a long story of democratic struggles and military suppression. It was like reading a horror story when reading the most recent report from the UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar. Family members, including even innocent children, sometimes only 20 weeks old, of critics are systematically kidnapped in order to force them to surrender. We could all read this in The Guardian th…