WUNRN
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT FAILS TO PASS
REPORT ON WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
By Honor Mahony - December
10, 2013
BRUSSELS - The European Parliament erupted in internal bickering on
Tuesday (10 December) after an alliance of right-wing MEPs managed to sweep a
report on sexual and reproductive rights for women from the table.
The report by Portuguese Social Democrat MEP Edite Estrela puts such rights on a par with other human rights and speaks of the "problematic reality" of teenage pregnancies, the importance of making contraception widely available, of comprehensive "non-judgemental" sexuality education and of "quality family planning services."
It also says that "women have the right to decide freely and responsibly the number, timing and spacing of their children" and underlines the importance of safe abortions.
Estrela summed up the report as being about giving everybody the right to make "their own informed and responsible choices on their sexual and reproductive life."
However, controversy has long being brewing over the document, even though it is non-binding.
It was approved by a strong majority in the gender equality committee in September. But the following month, MEPs narrowly voted to send it back to the committee for a rethink.
The committee made few changes and resubmitted it for plenary vote.
But Tuesday saw MEPs narrowly vote in favour (334 to 327) of a counter resolution by an alliance of conservative, eurosceptic and far-right deputies.
Their resolution said the entire debate was an issue to be dealt with at the national level. Their successful bid meant that the Estrela report fell. The result was greeted by catcalls and jeering from the right in the house.
Estrela said the alliance had opened a "new front against the EU's founding principles of human dignity, freedom, equality and non-discrimination."
Hannes Swoboda, leader of the Socialists, said conservatives were "throwing away many years of progress on women's rights" and condemned the "misleading and demagogical campaign" against the report.
Corinne Lepage, a French Liberal MEP, tweeted: "I invite all women to look at who vote what on their rights and freedoms and with whom their shared their votes."
Austrian Green MEP Ulrike Lunacek said the centre-right had brought "shame" on the parliament and criticized the "ugly scenes" surrounding the vote.
She added that "contrary to the claims of those lobbying against it" the report "did not seek to impose a universal view on pregnancy termination, other than that where it is provided, it should be safe."
Dutch liberal MEP Sophie in't Veld said Tuesday's events illustrated that the European Parliament was no longer the focus just for big business lobbying - such as tobacco firms - but also for social and rights issues.
"The conservative religious lobby has found us too," she said.
__________________________________________________________
----- Original Message -----
From: WUNRN
ListServe
To: WUNRN ListServe
Sent: Sunday, November 24, 2013 6:19 PM
Subject: EU/EP - Sexual & Reproductive Rights Report Sent Back
to Committee
WUNRN
European Parliament Press Release
MEP'S SEND RESOLUTION ON SEXUAL HEALTH CARE & EDUCATION BACK TO COMMITTEE
___________________________________________________
European Women's Lobby - EWL
EUROPEAN WOMEN'S LOBBY DISMAYED WITH
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT'S REFERRAL OF SEXUAL & REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS REPORT BACK
TO COMMITTEE
(Brussels, 22 October 2013) This week, the
European Parliament has decided not to vote on a non-binding report on reproductive
and sexual health rights, but to refer it back to committee.
The vote scheduled the 22nd on the non-binding
resolution on sexual and reproductive health and rights, drawn up by Edite
Estrela (S&D, PT), did not take place as MEPs voted by a slim majority
to refer it back to the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality committee for
further deliberation.
The EWL is concerned about this political sign
given to all women and girls in Europe: despite the consensus gained in
FEMM Committee amongst all major political groups, very conservative forces try
to interfere to refuse to guarantee women’s rights in the EU. The EWL
hopes that the FEMM Committee will confirm its progressive position on sexual
and reproductive health and rights and would like to express its support to
Edite Estrela MEP, rapporteur of the report.
However, women’s organisations want to express
their support to all the MEPs who voted against a Motion for a Resolution,
which contained anti-choice statements and attacks on women’s rights. By
rejecting this motion with an overwhelming majority, the MEPs from all major
political groups gave a signal that a strong message can come out of the
European Parliament, promoting women’s rights and their full enjoyment of the
highest standards of sexual and reproductive health.
In this context, the EWL wants to send a
strong message to all MEPs, from all political groups and countries: in
the 21st century, we won’t achieve equality between women and men if we are not
committed to full sexual and reproductive health rights for all women in Europe.
The EWL hopes that the European Parliament sees fit to support real equality
for all men and women in Europe. The EWL calls on all progressive partners to
disseminate the attached document presenting 5 key reasons why vote
for the report, to all MEPs and engage in a constructive discussion towards
gender equality and the protection of women’s rights.
Read various press releases on the vote:
- S&D
group - rapporteur Edite Estrela MEP: "By not respecting the
outcome of the vote in parliamentary committee, the conservatives want to
set women’s rights back 30 years".
- Greens
group video - Ulrike Lunacek MEP: "We will continue to fight for
women’s rights".
- GUE/NGL
group - Mikael Gustafsson MEP: "This is a dark day for those who
believe that sexual and reproductive health and rights are central to
achieving gender equality in the EU and beyond."
- European
Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT rights
- EP
working group on reproductive health, HIV/Aids and development: press
release by IPPF-EN, DSW, MSI, EPF and the Centre for Reproductive Rights
- Mikael Gustafsson MEP: "Those who are so against the necessary and
progressive measures put forward in this report are living in the dark
ages. They have shown that intolerance and shouting at others are their
preferred methods".
- European
Humanist Federation
You can find here
the names of MEPs who voted in favor or against the referral of the report to
the FEMM Committee.
_______________________________________________________
European Parliament Committee on
Women’s Rights & Gender Equality
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/femm/home.html
SEXUAL AND
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS
Adoption of report
Rapporteur: Edite Estrela (S&D)
The Plenary in October referred back
to the committee (pursuant to Rule 175 of the Rules of Procedure of the
European Parliament) the report of Rapporteur Estrela, on Sexual and
Reproductive Health and Rights. FEMM Members and their respective groups have
the opportunity to table split votes to the original text and vote on it a
second time. This procedure might lead to a modified report which is planned to
be voted in Plenary in December.
_______________________________________________________________________
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT – FULL REPORT:
REPORT
on Sexual and Reproductive Health and
Rights
(2013/2040(INI))
Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
Rapporteur: Edite Estrela
_______________________________________________