Reden

Am 1. Juli trat die Verordnung über das digitale COVID-Zertifikat der Europäischen Union in Kraft, um zur Wiederherstellung der Freizügigkeit innerhalb der EU beizutragen, ein stark eingeschränktes Recht nach der Erklärung der Pandemie. Ab diesem Zeitpunkt sollten die Mitgliedstaaten bereit sein, das physische oder elektronische Dokument auszustellen und zu überprüfen, aus dem hervorgeht, welche Personen geimpft sind, getestet wurden oder die Krankheit bestanden haben. Die Verordnung sieht jedoch einen Zeitraum von sechs Wochen vor, damit sich die Mitgliedstaaten auf die Ausstellung der in der Verordnung genannten Bescheinigungen vorbereiten können. Einundzwanzig von ihnen sowie Norwegen, Island und Liechtenstein hatten bereits vor dem 1. Juli mit der Ausstellung von Zertifikaten begonnen, und fünf weitere begannen ab diesem Datum damit. Nach Angaben der Europäischen Kommission vom 1. Juli fehlen jedoch noch sechs Mitgliedstaaten (Ungarn, Irland, Malta, die Niederlande, Rumänien und Schweden), die weitere Anstrengungen in dieser Hinsicht erfordern werden.

Madam President, thank you, colleagues, for your support and commitment. Thank you very much, Commissioner Kos, thank you for your commitment. I hope you support us in front of the Council so that we bring a strong and united position from the European Union, because the European Parliament is not a symbolic participant. We have championed ambitious standards to combat gender-based violence, including sexual violence and now also digital violence as well; eliminate all discrimination and strengthen victims' rights; promote economic independence for women; sexual and reproductive health rights and also access to justice – which today is more important than ever, as we are seeing what is happening with the Epstein files. United States justice and institutions choose not to believe the victims. This is why it is so important that we advance here in Europe in a consent-based definition of rape. We need to believe the victims. And regarding the ones against women's rights and gender equality, I would like to remind you that, contrary to what you have been saying, that equality is an idea coming from abroad: please read, study – it is a healthy practice. I really promise, because these ideas of equality were born here in Europe, are enshrined in our Treaties, are part of our fundamental values. And please, please, please, stop using women's rights, stop instrumentalising gender equality for other ends that are racism and Islamophobia. Please fight for women's rights and for gender equality. And just to finish, I was complaining before when this debate started that there were not many male MEPs, colleagues, here for the debate. However, after listening to you say that women only serve to be mothers, for maternity, that we are not human beings in and of ourselves, after being called hysterical twice, and even being accused of going to New York to take a Prosecco – the college that said that just escaped after talking, probably he's the one taking a Prosecco – please, please, don't instrumentalise our fight. Because it is a very serious fight. So vote in favour of our position, of this resolution. Bring the CSW to Europe and please fight really for human rights.

Mr President, colleagues, the theme of the 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women this year is 'ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls'. This could not be more urgent, nor more fundamental. Access to justice is not an abstract principle. It is the difference between protection and impunity; between equality on paper and equality in reality; between rights promised and rights delivered. Around the world, millions of women and girls still face discriminatory laws, structural barriers and institutional practices that deny them equal protection under the law. Legal systems often fail survivors of gender-based violence, including sexual violence. We are seeing this now with the Epstein papers that are showing things that happened and were reported almost four decades ago. So, in addition, economic inequality limits women's ability to seek justice. Harmful social norms silence victims before they even enter the courtroom. If we are serious about equality, we must be serious about justice. The European Union has long positioned itself as a global leader in gender equality and human rights. Our credibility on the international stage depends on the strength, coherence and ambition of the position we bring to the CSW. That is why the European Parliament – and in particular the Gender Equality and Women's Rights Committee, the FEMM Committee that I chair – must be closely and meaningfully involved in shaping the European Union's position for this next session. In fact, the FEMM Committee participates in the CSW every year. We bring legislative expertise and democratic legitimacy. And we bring into the international arena the voices of European citizens, especially women and girls, but also men that are committed – though today there are not many MEPs here. Shameful. But never mind. That's normal in our debates. Early involvement of Parliament in the formulation of the European Union position is not a procedural step – it is a democratic necessity. Enhanced and sustained interinstitutional cooperation between the Parliament, the Presidency and the Commission is essential to ensuring a strong, unified European Union position. An inclusive approach strengthens policy coherence across institutions and legitimacy, and increases the effectiveness of our engagement at international level. When we speak with one voice, a voice shaped through today's democratic debate, that voice carries greater weight. Access to justice must be inclusive. It must reach migrant women, women with disabilities, women in rural areas, LGBTQI persons, and those facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination that is normally the case. Justice cannot be selective. Equality cannot be partial. Our draft recommendation from the Parliament urges the Council to, first, increase the European Union aid to compensate US aid cuts and ensure sustained funding for United Nations Women and gender equality, including sexual and reproductive health and rights. We must stop the backlash. Second, to tackle violence offline and online, including the non-consensual sharing of images, deepfakes, cyber-harassment and hate crimes, and push for stronger European Union and global action. Third, to promote women's leadership, participation and representation in the judiciary. Fourth, to advocate for a consent-based definition of rape, as a universal standard worldwide. Five, strongly condemned rape and sexual violence as weapons of war, and call for international prosecution and accountability. Six, to call for recognising gender apartheid as a crime against humanity under the Rome Statute, using the United Nations definition. As we adopt our recommendation today and prepare for the 70th CSW session, we must send a clear message. The European Union stands firmly for an inclusive and equitable legal system. We stand for the elimination of discriminatory laws, policies, and practices. We stand for dismantling structural barriers that prevent women and girls from fully exercising their rights. And we stand against the gender backlash. I hope that this House will support the FEMM Committee recommendation.

Frau Präsidentin, Frau Vizepräsidentin, ich danke dem Berichterstatter für seine ausgezeichnete Arbeit, aber jetzt möchte ich mich auf eine Realität konzentrieren: Die Armut in Europa hat ein Frauengesicht. Die Daten für 2025 sind sehr klar: Mehr als 65 Millionen Frauen sind von Armut oder sozialer Ausgrenzung bedroht. Und das ist kein Zufall, sondern das Ergebnis struktureller Ungleichheit. Frauen sind nicht nur weniger in den Arbeitsmarkt integriert und haben niedrigere Löhne, sondern wir haben auch die Last der Fürsorge, die unsere Autonomie und unser Wohlbefinden stark einschränkt. Und so kommt es zum Ruhestand, zu Renten, wo es eine Lücke von durchschnittlich mehr als 25% gibt. Die Beseitigung der Frauenarmut ist daher nicht nur eine Frage der sozialen Gerechtigkeit, sie ist nicht nur eine wirtschaftliche Frage, sie ist auch eine Frage der Zukunft, weil sie der Kinderarmut nahe ist. Mein Aufruf ist daher, sofort zu handeln. Wir brauchen eine Wirtschaftspolitik, die eine bessere Verteilung ermöglicht, eine Steuerpolitik, die eine bessere Verteilung ermöglicht, eine echte Aussöhnungspolitik, eine wirksame Lohngleichheit, universelle öffentliche Dienstleistungen und eine universelle Kindergarantie, denn ein faires, wohlhabendes und auch wettbewerbsfähiges Europa ist unmöglich, wenn wir mehr als die Hälfte der Bevölkerung zurücklassen und die Kinder, die davon abhängig sind.