Speeches

Mr President, Commissioner, the figures are again clear. A 2019 Barometer survey showed that 52% of people with disabilities feel discriminated against. In 2002, 27% of the EU population aged 16 and over had some form of disability. That's one in four people in Europe. The Disability and Parking Card, my main electoral promise to the citizens of the Czech Republic, is now on the table and I am glad that we are voting on it and making life easier for many citizens. I also appreciate that this is a directive that states have to implement, and I believe in its swift implementation. After all, the free movement of people and equal opportunities are a fundamental value of the European Union and we should build on that. So I thank all my colleagues, the Commission, Parliament, for their work and understanding, and I look forward to the implementation.

Mr President, just yesterday a very young popular politician in the Czech Republic was convicted of two rapes and one attempt. He was convicted precisely because the young girls, the victims, were not afraid to appear in public and say that it had happened to them. And thanks to our legislation, which we will pass tomorrow, it will be better. We need to look at the numbers. 44% of Europeans are unwilling to intervene when they see violence between partners. Only 22% of women in the European Union who have experienced violence from their partner report it to the police, and over 80% of women in the European Union who have experienced violence do not seek professional help. The cost of gender-based violence costs us EUR 366 billion a year in Europe. The big numbers. Tomorrow's vote will show that the European Parliament and the European Union are not indifferent to violence and that it is no longer permissible for it to be invisible. Please vote for us to move forward and not stay in the past.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, at the forthcoming 68th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, the European Parliament delegation should come up with a clear, united and ambitious position on improving the position of women in the world. The majority of the 1.2 billion people living in poverty worldwide are women. In the European Union, more than 20% of women are at risk of poverty, again a higher percentage than men. We also see a similar trend in the effects of the energy crisis or in wage inequality. Poverty is, to a large extent, a gender problem. We need to work together to improve the position of women in the world and to lift them out of extreme poverty, which has not yet disappeared from the world. This means empowering women through education, establishing strong social security systems, improving public services, increasing access to employment opportunities and promoting female employment, promoting equal distribution of domestic work and care, promoting changes in social attitudes and stereotypes about the role of women and men in the world. The European Parliament, and by extension the European Union, must lead by example, show strong leadership and adopt a united position on the importance of empowering women and girls and achieving gender equality in the world.

Madam President, Commissioner, the figures in the analyses are clear. Women have been hit hardest by energy crises, pandemics and inflation. Specifically, in 2022, 22.5% of women were at risk of poverty against 19.7% of men and 9.5% of women against 7.8% of men were at risk of energy poverty. This is due, for example, to the fact that women still receive lower pay for the same work. They work mainly in the care and social sectors, which unfortunately is often underfunded. As a result, they also have lower pensions and are easier to find themselves beyond the poverty line. Although states seek to take measures to mitigate these crises, these measures are often one-off, short-term or otherwise insufficient. Social partners are less and less involved in shaping these policies. In the report, therefore, there are concrete steps that we should take.

Mr President, I would like to thank rapporteur Marques for her excellent work on such a very important dossier. A family from one state must remain a family in all states of the European Union. The obligation of the state to legally protect the relationship between children and the child has been confirmed several times by the European Court of Human Rights, and failure to do so is a violation of the child's rights to private and family life. Children's rights must be protected first and foremost, and it does not matter how the family was formed, who the parents are, whether the child is from surrogacy. The fact is that the child is already in such a family, and the efforts of some colleagues to remove surrogacy from the scope of the regulation will have negative consequences especially for those children who have not chosen the way they will come into the world and by whom they will be raised. They are with their parents in their families and this regulation can ensure that their family is a family throughout the European Union. This must be our main reason. Therefore, I ask you to reject any suggestions that do not protect the best right of the child.

Mr President, even today in the twenty-first century, violence against women and domestic violence are pervasive, and crises are exacerbating the situation. In the European Union, violence affects one in three women. One in ten women has been the victim of sexual violence and one in twenty women has been raped. Gender-based violence also occurs online. Every other woman met him there. Almost every other woman has also experienced psychological violence from her partner. This has a very negative effect on the physical and mental health not only of the victim, but also of his surroundings. Unfortunately, even here we live in a world where we cannot feel 100% safe, not only when we are outside after dark, but also in our own homes. The most common perpetrators of sexual violence are close victims. The European Parliament has adopted a very ambitious position on the Directive on combating domestic violence and violence against women. It will be a difficult fight, but I believe that a good compromise will eventually be found, which will include both a definition of rape and important points for victims, such as a monitoring system for offenders and legal aid.

Mr President, for directly overseeing the abduction of Ukrainian children, an ICC arrest warrant was issued a month ago against Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Commissioner for Children's Rights, Marija Alexeyevna Lvova-Belova. According to the Ukrainian government, the number of children forcibly taken to Russia is increasing. We are already talking about 16,000 children who have not returned home to their parents and who are deprived of their nationality. It is very difficult or impossible for Ukrainian parents to get their children back. To do this, they need to know exactly where their children are, they need passports and funds. Some children's camps are located in Siberia, where practically no one can get to. Through better monitoring of Ukrainian children crossing the borders of Ukraine, we can prevent these unfair practices, which are very damaging to the mental health and development of children and can cause irreversible changes in their souls. That is why I very much appreciate the work of Mykola Kuleba, the newly established Commission working group and all the fighters for the rights of Ukrainian children who are rescuing them from the hands of the Russians or working tirelessly to bring the truth about forced adoptions to light.

Madam President, Commissioner, we are living in the 21st century, and yet it seems that in some countries we are going back in time. Yesterday in Poland, Justyna Wydrzyńska was sentenced for helping a woman who was pregnant with a child and did not want him with her violent husband. As Justyna herself said: “This process is trying to stop activists.” But brave women like Justyna will continue to support and help and defend the human rights of all. That is why we must protect those who fight for fundamental women's rights. We need NGOs and activists. In countries that do not respect basic human rights, it is only these people who help women and girls and who carry out the services that the state should provide. It is not only activists, but it is also doctors who are afraid to provide women with access to abortion with the prospect of prosecution. This medieval policy is responsible for at least six lives of Polish women and does not belong to Europe. Defending the right to access safe and legal abortion and assistance cannot be a criminal offence, neither in Poland nor anywhere in the European Union. And the right to safe and accessible abortion must be clearly established as a fundamental human right.

Madam President, Commissioner, half of our society cannot live without fear. They are women and can be attacked. Every year in the European Union, around 600 women lose their lives at the hands of their partner or relative. One in three women have experienced sexual violence. One in 20 was raped. Nearly half of women have experienced psychological violence from their partners. And these numbers don't decrease. The cost of tackling gender-based violence is €366 billion per year. And nearly 80 percent of this amount is spent on helping women. The Istanbul Convention provides a comprehensive framework for the prevention, protection of victims and prosecution of offenders. It recognises gender-based violence as a violation of human rights, a systemic problem that requires a coordinated response from all parts of society. When we see the abuse of a dog or other animal, we deal with it correctly, it is not acceptable to us. When we witness violence against a person, we often do not see him, that it does not concern us, that it is only a private matter. From personal experience, I can say that violence is not really a private matter. It is our common responsibility and our common interest. Let us reiterate the Istanbul Convention in the European Union.

Madam President, Commissioner, as shadow rapporteur, I would like to highlight here a few points close to me that deserve our utmost attention. It is primarily about sexual and reproductive health. That right is a fundamental right and, as such, is to be included in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Why? Because in Poland, several women have already died from the consequences of limited access to abortion. This must not happen anywhere, let alone in the European Union. I also appreciate that the final report contains clear support for the LGBTIQ+ community in our country, but also in the world, and condemns violence and discrimination. In conclusion, however, I must mention that some of the amendments seek to remove from the report any reference to women's rights, which unfortunately continue to be trampled on in the world. The European Union must lead by example in the area of women's rights. This is the only way to achieve true equality and allow women to live free lives. Ratifying the Istanbul Convention, combating violence against women and enshrining the right to sexual and reproductive health as a fundamental right are important steps in this regard, which we must work together to achieve.

Mr President, Commissioner, Minister, mental health is essential for both personal well-being and the well-being of our society. It affects all areas of our lives, be it employment, public health, it has an impact on the inclusion, quality and sustainability of society and the economy. 85 million people suffer from mental health problems in the European Union and the United Kingdom, costing us €600 billion a year, and we all see the negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the energy crisis and the war in Ukraine on mental health. Nevertheless, mental health does not deserve attention at European Union level. This is why the European Parliament calls for a comprehensive European Union strategy on mental health that takes into account the cross-sectoral impacts of different policies on mental health. And we also need to proclaim 2024 as the European Year of Mental Health. I am very pleased that I was able to initiate a position paper by the S&D faction calling for such a strategy, and I believe that the Commission will take our position paper into account when preparing the mental health initiative, because it is this initiative that the President of the Commission announced in her State of the Union speech two weeks ago.

Madam President, 200,000, that is the number of Ukrainian children who were forcibly taken to Russia, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the beginning of June. Life in areas of military conflict carries not only the risk of death from shooting, but also other risks. Hundreds of thousands of children around the world die each year due to the indirect effects of war, such as malnutrition, disease, lack of medical care or hygiene. Children fleeing the war are at increased risk of violence, abuse and exploitation and are victims of trafficking, especially when moving across borders. And as we can see in the case of Putin's government, there is also the risk of illegal adoptions. Dear colleagues from the Council, Parliament, the Commission, we must not ignore this. We need to prevent illegal adoptions through a system that would help to better monitor, in particular, children without parents when crossing borders. And we must ensure justice for the victims, that is, the investigation of the perpetrators of the aforementioned crimes. Let us support the resolution tomorrow and help those who really need it.

Madam President, Prime Minister, ladies and gentlemen, the motto of the Presidency is "Europe as a task" and a big task indeed awaits us in difficult times. The European Union will face tough challenges. We are facing a war in Ukraine, an energy crisis, inflation, a pandemic. And the Czech Republic emphasizes cooperation and unity in solving these problems. We should also be more or less united in addressing social issues, protecting vulnerable groups, equal opportunities and combating violence. In addition to the crises that you mentioned in your speech, I would like to draw attention to points that are not mentioned in the priorities of the Czech Presidency. We are experiencing a mental health crisis. In addition to the obvious impact on people's lives, these problems carry a cost of more than 4% of GDP. And challenging times call for an emphasis on the protection of mental health and the development of a European strategy to protect it. Please plead for it. Inaction can cost us up to eighty thousand lives a year, which we lose in the European Union as a result of mental health problems. The second thing I would like to mention is pay transparency. Women still take less in the European Union, which is why it is a big challenge for the Czech Presidency to manage trilogues on the Pay Transparency Directive. Believe that, as a faction of Social Democrats, we will keep our fingers crossed for you, but we will also keep an eye on you so that you do not overlook social problems.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, when I see what atrocities are happening to women and girls in Ukraine, where, according to reports, 25 girls between the ages of fourteen and twenty-four have been raped in a house in Bucha and nine of them have become pregnant, I am very distressed and I say to myself, I am glad that I have two sons, but they also face terrible atrocities during the war. Then I am very much surprised by the reactions of some, as they call themselves the Movement for Life, who do not fully condemn these atrocities and urge to send pepper sprays or horns to Ukraine instead of contraception or abortion pills as protection against rape. That is why we should help raped and then unintentionally pregnant women without any administrative or social barriers in individual Member States, if they so request. 90% of those who come to us from Ukraine are women and children. Girls are most at risk of human trafficking, rape or sexual abuse. To prevent human trafficking, we can ensure that there are no predators among those who offer help who want to exploit the situation. This will be achieved through high-quality, accessible and well-organised legal channels for crossing the border without the need for smugglers. I see other help to prevent the abuse of Ukrainian women and girls in regular inspections of houses, where they are often accommodated with children. That's one side of help. The second aspect of help is to support their integration into society, be it very important language courses and psychological support, as well as support in finding housing and employment as closely as possible to their qualifications. The European Union must coordinate this assistance and ensure effective sharing of good practice. I thank all my colleagues who are on our side and I thank the Commissioner for her excellent work.

Mr President, Commissioner, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, some 84 million Europeans were affected by mental health problems. This number doubled during the pandemic. This has cost us more than 4% of GDP, or more than EUR 600 billion. The pandemic has also had an impact on children’s mental health. The frequency of suicidal thoughts has increased significantly. Many children began to suffer from depression or anxiety disorders. And the number of eating disorders or self-harm has also increased. The difficulties caused by social separation and the problem of physical and psychological domestic violence have further increased. The associated problem is the lack of child psychiatrists and psychologists. The situation within the European Union varies, but in some areas care is completely unavailable or only available when a child is thinking about or has already attempted suicide. Therefore, mental health care can no longer be considered a marginal issue. We need a European strategy on mental health. It must address mental health in all its aspects from prevention to treatment to care and cover all policy sectors such as health, employment, finance, education and social services. The launch of a European Year of Mental Health to accelerate destigmatisation and provide a platform for stakeholders to exchange and share experiences and best practices will also help raise awareness of mental health.

Madam President, while we are horrified by the horrors that are happening right in our neighbourhood, we must not forget what is happening in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, this mainly affects women and girls, of whom there are almost 20 million in this country. It is unjustifiable that the Taliban have banned education for girls above sixth grade, stealing their chances of a full life in the future. Education for all indiscriminately is the basis for the development of every society, 87% of Afghans are in favour of equal education, and therefore the European Union must create such diplomatic pressure to make education accessible to all. We must also push for the reopening of shelters for victims of domestic violence so that women do not have to return to those who abuse them, some now face death for leaving their homes. And we must also not forget about completely inadequate care for people with disabilities. The EU must do its utmost to help people with disabilities in the country and at the same time prepare a new programme so that they can seek due care in our country, in the European Union.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, first of all I would like to thank my colleague Kalniet for the very good report, which I have also had the opportunity to work on and which, unfortunately, has become very topical in recent days. The attention of all of us is drawn to Ukraine at the moment. Therefore, we must not underestimate the influence of hybrid warfare, which we are now experiencing firsthand. Unfortunately, we have left online platforms too long to spread deliberate disinformation, under the pretext of freedom of speech, which undermines trust not only in the state and public institutions, but also in Europeans among themselves. After all, we could see this in the COVID-19 campaigns, and today we can also see it in the fact that we are responsible for the criminal attack on Ukraine. That is why I am very pleased that the report highlights both the role of awareness-raising and education about disinformation, as well as the consistent regulation of online platforms. Efforts to subvert our society are not only through disinformation, but also through inciting hatred against vulnerable groups, persons with disabilities, ethnic, religious minorities and LGBTIQ. We need to act vigorously against such manifestations, and for this we need the active cooperation of online platforms, which must take their share of responsibility. It is not possible for platforms to profit from polarisation among the public, and I therefore support the greatest possible transparency of the algorithms they use. This is a big challenge. But if we want to ensure an open, democratic, fair European future, we must overcome it together.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, first of all I would like to thank all of you who have worked on this report for your excellent work. We have succeeded in presenting a very high-quality document and expressing the European Parliament's position on the link between gender equality and the climate action ahead. Climate change will affect all areas of our lives and may exacerbate inequalities even further. The adverse effects of climate change, the increased risk of natural disasters and the consequent deterioration of the socio-economic situation can lead to serious violations of the fundamental rights of women and girls in some parts of the world. It is absolutely alarming that, according to the UN, women and children are 14 times more likely than men not to survive a natural disaster. There are many causes. It is women and girls who in some parts of the world do not learn to swim, stay longer with children and relatives than they seek shelter, or do not have access to quality food, hygiene or health care. There are still stereotypes and prejudices in some areas that do not allow women to acquire the knowledge necessary to survive in crisis situations. In countries where women cannot leave their homes unaccompanied, they do not receive warnings from others and are harder to escape from a devastating disaster. Therefore, involving more women in crisis management and rescue will ensure an appropriate approach to all disabilities and allow all perspectives to be taken into account when planning. But we need gender-sensitive analysis and data collection to better understand and be prepared for the specific impacts of climate change and the pandemic on women and men. If we only have aggregated data, we risk overlooking a large part of our population. Statistics also show that 35% of women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, climate change and natural disasters will only make this number worse. Women and girls who have had to leave their homes are at high risk of sexual violence. EU countries must therefore ratify the Istanbul Convention as soon as possible and subject it to ratification in other parts of the world. I would be very pleased if you would express your support for this report. Oh, thank you.