Speeches

Mr President, violence against women is an egregious violation of human rights. In 2016, in Spain we had the case of La Manada. The sentence of one of the members of La Manada, the rapists, was reduced because of the Law of "only yes is yes". The victim was also revictimized, the sentences of 1 233 rapists and paedophiles were reduced, 126 of them were left on the street and, last year, 53 women were murdered. It's a clear case of what not to do. The Pélicot case is that of a woman who, after fifty years of marriage, was drugged by her husband, who invited more than fifty men to rape her when she was unconscious. There are also the cases of Catania or Palermo: Group rapes of a 13-year-old girl by seven young men. All these violations, these abuses against women, shake the collective conscience and force us to reflect on the magnitude of violence against women. The victim of the Pélicot case has decided to put her face in front of the world and has done it for all of us. Many will be able to come home tomorrow thanks to her. We have the directive to combat violence against women. We could not make rape without consent a Eurocrime and that was the responsibility of the French Government, the Renew Group, Macron and the German Socialist Government. I hope that after this they will change their mind and, in this obstacle course, we will make rape without consent... (the Chair withdrew the floor to the speaker).

Mr. President, since the Taliban's takeover, oppression and persecution of women has been institutionalized. This is a crisis against humanity. Human rights violations and crimes under international law occur on a daily basis with absolute impunity. The lives of 21 million Afghan women have become hell. In their words, "I prefer my daughters to die before falling into the hands of the Taliban; We are back in the dark. It has been said here: vetoed education; excluded from the labour market; may not travel without the accompaniment of a male relative; they must be covered from head to toe; may not wear heels; sport is also prohibited; prohibited from grooming in beauty salons; they may not use mobile phones or cameras; segregation in transport; They are forbidden to sing, raise their voices, play music, etc. If they do, the punishments are heinous: rapes, executions, flogging, stoning, all this added to an absolutely non-independent Justice. We condemn, therefore, this regime, without palliatives. They ask us: ‘Speak of us; Don't forget us. Therefore, we need to generate a global awareness and we need to act. We have to raise our voices because we can't let them do it alone. His destiny, let us not forget, is ours. They all came the day before yesterday, yesterday and today. All of them are the real revolution. Europe must rise to the challenge of these women and to the challenge of human rights.

Mr President, at the last part-session of this parliamentary term, it is an honour to vote on the directive to bring into force the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities. It involves mutual recognition of disability status in all Member States, in an accessible and digital format and with a common design. It guarantees what is the cornerstone of the European Union: the free movement of persons with disabilities. It allows the entire group of people with disabilities to have access mainly to culture, leisure, sport, transport, guided tours, personalized, etc. There is no doubt that people with disabilities do not change because they cross a border, their rights do not change and, therefore, with this card, accessibility, inclusion and equality are recognised as fundamental rights of the Union. Cards are not the end, they are the beginning of a great way to go. Today is a great day with the adoption of this directive.

Mr President, every six hours a woman dies in Europe. For the first time there will be an EU-wide standard to combat violence against women and domestic violence. We are taking a historic step forward to make Europe the first continent in the world to eliminate violence against women. We send the message that it is not accepted that, because we are women, we take more risks than if we were men. Female genital mutilation in all its forms, forced marriage, cyber stalking, cyber-attack, incitement to online hatred or violence and non-consensual sharing of intimate images are criminalised across the European Union. These common standards are set to make us stronger, but access to justice is also facilitated. There is talk of protection and prevention. Rape could not be introduced without consent. We regret that some countries have not put themselves on the right side of history. I have to tell you, on behalf of the EPP Group, that all the countries where it governs have voted for rape without consent to be a Eurocrime. This has not been the case - it has been said here - of countries such as Germany, the S&D Group, or France, with Mr Macron. We will have time to amend this mistake in the next legislature.

Mr President, the Government of the Balearic Islands, chaired by the Armenian socialist, concealed from Brussels that masks paid for with European funds were fraudulent. Masks were bought without any contracting file for 3.7 million euros public to an organized plot, the same one that met with Delcy at the Barajas airport. The National Center for Means of Protection certified that they were "ultrafake". Seven days after detecting fraud are paid at an unusual speed. They endorse them to finance the plot, knowing that they were fake. They charge them to European funds and hide from the European authorities the certificate that they were useless and of poor quality and that they were ‘ultrafake’. This information is also hidden from the Civil Guard and the Prosecutor's Office and it takes more than three years to claim a merchandise that was expiring and that, today, is in boxes stacked in a warehouse. Mrs. Armengol said her administration was slow. The Directorate-General for European Funds activated the anti-fraud protocol and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened proceedings for alleged crimes of misappropriation of public funds, influence peddling and prevarication. Everything points to the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and the government of Mr. Sánchez. The cause of the damage cannot be the one who corrects it. Mr. Sanchez does not fight corruption, amnesty. We need Europe. Spain is sick of Mr Sanchez's government. Europe, act.

Mr President, violence and harassment in the world of work have to be eradicated and Convention No 190 of the International Labour Organisation provides an excellent framework for achieving this. Women are disproportionately affected. The figures have been said here, which are scandalous. This International Treaty recognizes that the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment fosters a culture of work based on mutual respect and human dignity to prevent such violence and harassment. An international common definition of violence and harassment at work is established for the first time. Efforts are being made to develop a comprehensive strategy to prevent and combat this violence. It provides for the establishment of monitoring and follow-up mechanisms, a sanctions regime, access to remedies for victims, training and awareness-raising activities and efficient and effective means of investigation. Cyberbullying is also prevented, which is another form of harassment and violence that is now on the table. That is why we need an appeal to all Member States, an invitation to ratify it, to ensure a world of work free from violence and harassment and to comply with European values.

Mr President, Commissioner, President-in-Office of the Council, there is no doubt that one of the objectives of the European Union is to protect the right of every worker to work in conditions which respect his or her health, safety and dignity, and to protect the right to information and consultation. There is a digital transformation that has accelerated very significantly after COVID-19 and, therefore, the labour market is undergoing very rapid changes, making it necessary to work so that the working conditions of platform workers are protected throughout the Union. They've said it here: there is a very considerable increase in the number of platform workers. Of the 28 million we currently have, it seems that in 2025 we will reach 43 million and, of the current 28 million, five and a half million may not be classified as appropriate. It is therefore crucial that this regulation is made with common sense, with a balance between the protection of workers and also the growth of platforms. There is an important issue, which is transparency – ensuring transparency in the use of algorithms with human oversight – and, of course, establishing data protection rules. I would like to appeal to the Council so that it can be unblocked, especially in the case of Germany and France. In the FEMM Committee, also Germany, with the S&D Group, has blocked the Directive to make non-consensual rape a Eurocrime.

Madam President, President Ursula von der Leyen said so. We will all work together to achieve a Union of Equality. The European LGBTIQ Strategy, recently presented by the Commission, has been instrumental. Determinant to be able to be that Union of Equality. All LGBTIQ people should feel safe and enjoy the same rights and opportunities, as well as participate on an equal footing. With this Strategy, as I said, a step forward was taken. Today we must continue to fight so that they are not discriminated against. For that, an education in equality is very important. Stigma, violence and discrimination against this group undoubtedly limit their participation and violate human rights. It is also very important to ensure the safety of LGBTIQ people, especially for crimes of violence or hatred. Tell them also that I am absolutely against conversion therapies. They must be banned throughout the European Union. And we must create inclusive societies for LGTBIQ people. Protect all rainbow families in cross-border situations. They often have difficulty accessing employment and housing, and are also at risk of violence, exclusion and poverty. Therefore, the European Union, Commissioner, has to lead the call for equality for this group because it is as much as leading the defense of fundamental rights. The European Union has to set an example and take that leadership position.

Mr President, next March will be the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women, where the European Union will have to present its priorities and will have to present strong leadership in defence of women's rights and, in addition, achieve a roadmap for the full participation of women in all areas. It is true that the central issue is that, unfortunately, poverty has a woman's face and the causes are multiple. We are overrepresented in low-paid, precarious and part-time jobs and jobs. Of course, career breaks have a lot to do with it, precisely because there is a disproportionate responsibility for all unpaid care. There is also a pay gap – it is now necessary to transpose the Pay Transparency Directive – and a pension gap, as well as a lack of absolute participation in all decision-making by women. This poverty means that there is a very high risk of violence against women – we can see this every day – and also social exclusion. Yesterday the European Directive to make violence against women and domestic violence a Eurocrime was closed with a provisional agreement. It would be a historic step, but rape was left out without consent, basically because countries like Germany, governed by the Socialist Group, did not agree to put it down. We need a commitment from the whole European Union, a universal commitment, which also begins with a personal reflection. We must ensure that this sixty-eighth session takes a giant step towards achieving women's equal rights.

Mr President, violence against women is a serious violation of human rights. It prevents the achievement of equality, peace and other human rights. One in three women is still a victim of violence. We attend daily scenes and cases of violence against women. Europe has already ratified the Istanbul Convention, which marked the roadmap. We are negotiating a directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence so that we can have a comprehensive, coordinated and unitary response. It is important that Parliament's voice be heard in these trilogues by the Council. To combat this scourge, there is no doubt that adequate policies, the political will to implement them and a conscious society in the fight against this violence are needed. Europe is walking this way. What has happened in my country, Spain, is different: More than 1,200 rapists have had sentence reductions, and more than hundreds of rapists have been released while the number of women killed continues to rise. It took six months to change the Spanish law on ‘Solo si es sí’ (Only yes is yes), which has produced these bad results, and its consequences will last more than five years. The message was sent to the world that saving women's lives and protecting their rights was not a priority. The message was neither clear nor unison. Mrs. Iratxe Garcia said that she needed a clear and unison message. For the Spanish response was neither clear nor unified. The left-wing parties that govern in Spain wanted to impregnate human rights with ideology. That, no doubt, is a bad path. Many of them – who are sitting here – were silent. They didn't want to talk about it. And others wouldn't even have changed it. We had a mission from the European Parliament to be able to study this issue, including in Spain. The conclusions of this European Parliament mission, with the consent of the Chair of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality and the non-majority left groups, have been paralysed. I'd like that to change. Women's rights have no ideology.

Mr President, a few weeks ago, on the occasion of the celebration of the Spanish victory in the FIFA Women's World Cup, we were able to witness the deplorable, embarrassing and defiant attitude of the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, which violated the dignity and rights of all women. These behaviours undoubtedly reflect the tip of the iceberg of a much broader discriminatory and sexist reality that has long been denounced. From here our absolute condemnation of all forms of violence against women. It must be eradicated with an immediate response and an effective response. Therefore, it is necessary to call on the entire sports community to comply with the Istanbul Convention: protect, prevent, pursue and eliminate. Protecting women. Prevent, prosecute and eliminate all forms of violence against women. The response of the whole society has been exemplary. The social outcry and massive support for world football champion Jenny Hermoso has been decisive. Thank you, Jenny. And also thanks to the solidarity community of the champions, because they have given us a lesson so that never again a woman has to live a situation of contempt, lack of respect, abuse or violence. We have a long way to go to break down inequality and achieve a sport free of violence and discrimination. It's over. For all of us, we're with you, Jenny Beautiful. The world is proud of you. You have made history in sport, but also in the struggle to achieve real equality in the situation of women in the world of sport. Society requires and seeks authenticity and consistency in the voice of its leaders. I wish the unanimous reaction of all in defense of women's rights had been the same in defense and criticism, above all, of the dramatic consequences of the Law of "only yes is yes". It's a shame.

Mr President, prostitution is an appalling form of violence and, at the same time, a cause and consequence of inequality. It reproduces stereotypes and perpetuates them, impacts on the advancement of women's rights, hinders the access of all women to their fundamental rights and, in addition, puts at risk the women themselves and people who practice prostitution. It is a world surrounded by threats, coercion, manipulation, violence, marginalization, exploitation, stigmatization and trafficking. That is why we need to make sure that the debate we have today focuses on protecting women's rights. That's the central point. It is the most vulnerable women and girls who engage in prostitution for lack of alternatives. It certainly has many cross-border implications. Criminalizing women is never the way. Member States need to take measures to prevent and decriminalise prostitutes and support all exit options. It is very important to destigmatize and punish customers. The Nordic model is our choice. We will support Maria Noichl's report.

Mr President, the European Pillar of Social Rights was proclaimed in 2017 in Gothenburg and set out a clear roadmap for achieving a fair Europe, a Europe that is fair, strong, inclusive and full of opportunities. It was the guiding compass for social Europe. There are three pillars. One is employment. It is a titanic struggle to be able to get quality employment and decent wages. Unfortunately, my country, Spain, leads the ranking unemployment throughout the European Union. It is a crucial issue in order to have a Europe of opportunities. Training was another of the pillars, continuous training, in addition to the fight against poverty in order to reduce it, because that is at the heart of social Europe. Steps have been taken in the development of this social pillar such as the following: The European Disability Strategy: it seems that we will approve the European card, but there is still some way to go; inclusive education, unemployment is very high in the disability sector; independent living; non-discrimination, the Non-Discrimination Directive is still in the drawer. The European Care Strategy: it is also important, but there is also much to be done, to value professional and non-professional carers. The Istanbul Convention – we adopted it this morning – to combat gender-based violence, and the Strategy for equality between men and women, but there is also a long way to go in terms of equal opportunities. We have also adopted the directives on minimum wages and pay transparency. But ultimately, we need to make further progress in order to achieve that inclusive Europe. We have to get social rights on the same level as economic rights and environmental rights.

Madam President, one third of women in the European Union have experienced physical or sexual violence throughout their lives. And that violence, according to the data, has increased after the COVID-19 pandemic. Today we celebrate Europe Day, the day of the values of concord. And it is no coincidence that we are also celebrating that tomorrow we will vote in favour of the ratification of the Istanbul Convention by the European Union. The main international instrument to prevent, protect, and eliminate and prosecute violence against women sets out a very clear roadmap with a global, united and coordinated response. Together with this ratification, we will soon have the proposal for a directive to make violence against women a Eurocrime with a common definition and minimum rules on sanctions, and also with all the instruments to be able to attack this attack on human rights. It is a paradox that some leftist groups talk about the need to sign and push - I agree - for the ratification of the Istanbul Convention, but then in Spain - which I am sorry, but has not been an example, it was an example, but it has not been an example - a rule has been approved that has made possible more than a million reductions in sentences for sexual aggressors and more than a hundred releases of sexual aggressors, who are now on the street. And all those who have taken more than eight months to change this law come here to ask for haste for the Istanbul Convention. We have to be consistent. It must be said that this is wrongly done in Spain and we must come here to defend the Istanbul Convention. But it is not possible to lengthen the agony of Spain and then come here to say that women are defended. Tomorrow will be a great day and I hope we are all united.

Madam President, Commissioner, Mr Omarjee, the petition is very timely in this Parliament. I am going to focus on island territories, which suffer serious and permanent disadvantages recognised in the Treaty on European Union itself. In addition to island territories, there are many more vulnerable territories, but I will focus on the former. I come from the Balearic Islands. One of the main disadvantages is the impossibility of using land transport. Neither train nor road: to be able to access all goods and services, air and sea transport must always be used. And this undoubtedly diminishes our competitiveness. We cannot therefore participate on an equal footing with the continental territories. We have many more expenses when it comes to importing and exporting products, and in energy, education, health and a very long etcetera. All this has led to the deindustrialisation of our sectors. Many economic sectors disappear and in the end only tourism remains. In 2008 we had seven hundred industrial weaving companies; in 2020, 330. We therefore need to seize the opportunity of amending this Regulation. de minimis to do justice and to remove the general threshold for all regions and create a specific threshold for islands, so that rules can be adapted to their circumstances, justice is done and cohesion – which is an essential element of Europe to eliminate these disparities – is real. So that there really is economic, territorial and social cohesion, and justice is done.

Mr President, 21% of European children are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, which represents almost 18 million. If we add the energy crisis, the war in Ukraine, the food crisis, COVID-19, inflation ... never before have so many families been impoverished so quickly. My country, Spain, is the third most at-risk-of-poverty and social exclusion rate for children in the European Union, behind Romania and Bulgaria. One in three children in Spain is at risk of poverty, a rate well above the European average. Spain is also the sixth country with the most child inequality. This child guarantee is timely, necessary and a priority. It aims to ensure that all children in Europe have essential services: free education and health, healthy nutrition and decent housing. Children must be at the heart of all our policies. It is necessary to break the cycle of poverty transmission and to protect, in this context, especially the most vulnerable children: children with disabilities.

Madam President, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is the first international human rights treaty to be signed by the European Union and all its Member States and therefore legally binding. Sixteen years later, we are assessing its fulfillment. Progress has been made, but much work remains to be done. Keywords are "accessibility" and "inclusion". "Inclusion" means that all people have the same value. ‘Inclusion’ means tolerance. "Inclusion" means equality. "Inclusion" means respect. People with disabilities themselves give us every day a lesson in humanity and life of what this word means. "Accessibility" is the other keyword. Accessibility in education – much remains to be done. Accessibility at work – just look at the figures: people with disabilities have much higher unemployment figures than those without disabilities. In the areas of health, justice, gender-based violence against women, accessible housing, participation, the right to vote and, above all, stereotypes: People with disabilities give us a daily lesson. We have the opportunity now to act with the same sincerity with which they face their lives.

Madam President, rape against women is a heinous violation of human rights. 25 November will be the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The Government of Spain approved a law, the law of "only yes is yes", which entered into force on October 7. The consequences are as follows: Madrid, a man convicted of forcing a woman with 65% disability to perform oral sex, at large; man convicted of sexual abuse of his four-year-old niece, released; Teacher convicted of sexual abuse of four students, released. Baleares, two men convicted of sexual assault, released. The victim is humiliated, she is sunk, she explained that she has revived the whole process with that freedom. Galicia, a man convicted of sexual assault with carnal access, released; man convicted of penetrating his 13-year-old stepdaughter, reduced sentence; A man convicted of raping a friend at home, reduced sentence. The Audiencia de Barcelona has just handed down, in relation to a violation, a sentence in which it recognizes that it has to lower the penalty to comply with the new law. This rule does not protect the most vulnerable: women, girls and boys, children. Irreparable damage is being done. They were warned, warned by the judges of Spain, warned by innumerable rulings. They didn't listen. The answer has been to attack the judges: It's not the way. The European Association of Judges has also criticized this issue. Two years ago we had the La Manada debate here. That one could have and it was a Spanish debate. This one didn't want to have. Today Spanish women are in a very complicated situation. You said we're not alone. Let's prove it. Please, I ask the Commission, I ask the Council and the women and men of this Parliament to call on the Government of Spain to change that law.

Madam President, despite the fact that around 60% of new university graduates are women, they are underrepresented in many sectors, but especially in the economic sectors and especially at the highest levels. 31.5% of board members are women and only 8% chair them. With this new legislation, which has been in the drawer for a decade, listed companies will have to seek and will have to make, by 2026, people of the under-represented sex occupy at least 40% of non-executive positions and 33% of executive positions. Achieving a balanced representation between all sexes, between women and men, is an exercise in equality, information, transparency, justice, democracy and peace. Greater balance always means better competitiveness. It will boost economic growth, I have no doubt: smart, innovative, sustainable and inclusive growth. But it will also improve the competitiveness of businesses and reduce poverty. Diversity is synonymous with talent. Boosting the presence of women is a key tool to have the best talent.

Madam President, 25 November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. It is a priority for the Presidency, for all European institutions and for all women and men in Europe and the world. We are going to have a debate on this on Wednesday. Unanimous, we all agree; However, in Spain, a law has been published and passed that reduces sentences for rapists and those who violate women's sexual freedom. There have been more than five releases of paedophiles and rapists of women, releases, sentence reductions from six to eight years and, thus, one after another. It is urgent that we discuss this matter that day to stop this cascade of releases and the nonsense of this law. It is not ideology that I am asking for in this Parliament; I appeal to the consciences of the men and women of this Parliament. We have repeatedly said that violence against women is a heinous violation of human rights. We said not one more. Now we can prove it. Please, let's stop that law.

Indeed, the fight against gender-based violence is not just a women's issue, it is a human issue, a men's and women's issue. I have no doubt that the men who represent the European people, you, but also those who are not here, follow us from their offices, are involved in this struggle. It is true that it would be desirable for them to take the floor, but I have no doubt that, in all parties, as in my People's Party, there are men absolutely involved in that struggle. In mine, in the socialist, in Renew. All the parties here - I'm sure - are involved. The Commissioner has been accompanied by a group of men from the Commission. We are involved because, if not, it would not be a reasonable struggle. We are all involved in this struggle and so it must be.

Madam President, without equality Europe does not exist. Europe is the future of equality between all. Gender-based violence is one of the most serious violations of human rights. One third of women in the European Union – it has been said here – have experienced physical or sexual violence throughout their lives and data indicate that it has increased after the pandemic. There has been simultaneously a hidden pandemic. It is produced everywhere: at home, at school, at work, on the street, on the internet. We now have a war, the war in Ukraine, in which rape is used as a massive weapon by Russian soldiers. Women's fundamental rights continue to be violated around the world and this debate is therefore very important. Firstly, a request must be made to all Member States to ratify the Istanbul Convention, the most far-reaching international treaty in order to combat this scourge; also the proposal for a directive presented by the Commission in March, a directive to attack violence against women with all the instruments we have. We needed and need a global, united and coordinated response. Establish a coherent European legal framework, where it is clear that it is not a conjunctural issue, but is structural in nature and must be combated on the basis of common criteria. That is why, with this debate and with all of us together, we are committed to a strong message of commitment to combat this scourge. All humanity will benefit. It is not invincible and we must undoubtedly exercise decisive leadership in this struggle. (She agreed to respond to an intervention under the "blue card" procedure.)

Mr President, on the night of 12 October, a 19-year-old student from Bratislava attacked and shot dead two young men from Bratislava, Matúš and Juraj. It's a hate crime. It is not an attack on the LGTBI collective. It is an attack on all humanity. It is an attack on all of us because it targets everything that is at the heart of our values. It is aimed at what we stand for as Europe. And that is why we must reflect. Unfortunately, fear, violence and discrimination continue to be a reality faced by many LGBTI people in a large part of the world. It remains dangerous for many members of this collective to teach their feelings and simply be themselves. That is why we must defend that human rights are not an ideology. Human rights are our priority and that is why we must be at the forefront of their defence.

Mr. President, Mahsa Amini, 22, a young Iranian woman who showed too much hair under the veil. Sufficient reason for his arrest by the Moral Police, Police for the Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue. The name is already a scandal. Hours later, Amini was in a coma and three days later died in the hospital. A wave of protests has been unleashed around the world, leading in Iran to loss of life and also to hundreds of detainees and injuries. Iran's security forces have responded in a very violent manner and there are restrictions on communications. The agents there have the power to stop any woman and examine her clothing, examine the strands of hair she has in sight, the length of the trousers or her coat, or the amount, even, of makeup. The penalty may be detention, lashes, a fine or imprisonment. That, not to mention the multitude of absolutely degrading civil laws. How is it possible that the morale of an entire country depends on whether or not a piece of cloth accidentally slips over a woman's head? The world is watching. When you rape a woman, you attack all of us. Woman, life and freedom.

Madam President, following the adoption by this Parliament and the Community institutions of rules establishing an ecosystem to promote accessibility and the integration of people with disabilities, the European Disability Strategy was adopted, giving a mandate for the creation of this EU Accessibility Centre. This is another step towards inclusion and equality. Community standards on accessibility are not harmonised and therefore there was a need for coherence and organisation in this area. When we talk about accessibility we talk about a culture of equality, we talk about full participation, but not only in the digital world and in the world of transport, but at all levels: in education, at work, in health, in all aspects of life. It is very important to live up to the values we preach and that is why the creation of this Centre is of a fundamental nature. Today is a historic day because it means that there will be dialogue, that there will be participation, that there will be equality, and, above all, that there will be human rights.