EU Presidency Statement - The advancement of women

Mr Chairman,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta, Turkey and Iceland align themselves with this statement.

Equality, development and peace were the objectives of the Fourth World Conference on Women, which gave rise to the Beijing Platform for Action, the basis of our gender-equality policy. We were reminded of this by the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly in June 2000, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century".

Since its beginnings, the European Union has been resolutely committed to stronger safeguards for peace and freedom, to development and equality. These objectives cannot be attained unless women are more able to take action and to play a full and equal part in all areas of life.

Civilians, particularly women and children, account for the vast majority of those adversely affected by armed conflict, including as refugees and displaced persons. But women also play an important role in the prevention and resolution of conflict and in peace building. It is of paramount importance that they should take an equal part in all decision-making with regard to conflict prevention, management and resolution. In this connection, the European Union welcomes Resolution 1325 on women in armed conflict, adopted by the Security Council on 31 October 2000. It encourages all the parties involved in conflicts to enhance women's role in peace negotiations.

Mr. Chairman,

The European Union calls on the Member States to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which qualifies rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilization and any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity as crimes against humanity, when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack.

Any form of violence is unacceptable to the European Union, whether it be rape, domestic violence, trafficking in human beings, particularly women and girls, crimes committed in the name of honor or traditional or customary practices which affect the health of women and girls. Tangible measures should be stepped up, such as adopting or tightening up legislation, developing integrated plans, establishing guidelines, training programmes and public information campaigns.

Violence against women is a major obstacle to achieving equality. Sex-based violence is the result of women's subordinate status, both past and present. Violence within the family is a particularly disturbing problem in this regard. The European Union urges the States to implement national plans to combat all forms of violence against women and children with the aim of developing a mainstreaming approach designed to structure and coordinate the various aspects of a policy to combat violence: prevention, public awareness, victim support and punishment of the perpetrators of violent acts. Furthermore, in 2002 the European Union will undertake to develop indicators for domestic violence, so that we can assess the scale of the phenomenon and gain a better understanding of its causes and effects.

Mr. Chairman,

The European Union condemns trafficking in human beings for the purposes of sexual or economic exploitation. Given the many different causes underlying this phenomenon, social and economic included, mainstreaming is essential in combating this phenomenon. It is important to adopt a strategy, which is designed to convict traffickers and their accomplices, as well as to stop the trade and help the victims.

Violence is also based on hate, prejudice and intolerance. Efforts to counter discrimination against women, particularly on the basis of sex, race or ethnic origin, religion or beliefs, disability, age or sexual orientation are also fundamental. The European Union believes that social, cultural or religious factors cannot be used to excuse the violation of the fundamental rights of women and girls.

Mr. Chairman,

The rights of women and girls belong inalienably, integrally and indivisibly to universal rights. Governments must guarantee that women can enjoy human rights and fundamental liberties. In the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, solemnly proclaimed on 7 December 2000, the European Union reiterated the importance it attaches to the indivisible, universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity. The chapter on equality enshrines the principle of non-discrimination, including on grounds of sex, and explicitly refers to equality between men and women, which is to be ensured in all areas. The EU particularly stresses how important it is for world democracy that women should take a full and equal part in political, social, economic and cultural life. The European Union is deeply concerned by the fate of Afghan women, which is a flagrant negation of basic rights. Basic rights for women will remain a dead letter until they are explicitly recognized in national legislation, and effectively protected and observed. Education plays a paramount role here. Accordingly, there should be more education in citizenship and human rights, including sexual equality and the gender dimension.

The basic international instrument on respect for the rights of women is the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, to which 168 States are party. The European Union is particularly concerned at the growing number of reservations to the Convention, which run counter to its objectives and content. The European Union calls on those States, which have not yet done so to ratify or accede to this Convention. It also urges that the Parties' obligations under the Convention should actually be put into practice. It is essential that countries which have ratified the Convention should take strong measures to put it into practice, such as measures to enforce the law and campaigns to counter violence against women.

The European Union has already expressed its great satisfaction at the adoption and entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against women. Twenty-seven States have ratified or acceded to this Protocol. The European Union urges the States Parties to the Convention to ratify this Protocol, which enables individuals or groups of individuals to submit claims of violations of the Convention by their governments directly to the Committee.

The European Union appreciates that the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has done much to improve its working methods. Nevertheless, the Union remains very concerned at the large number of reports, which the Committee has still not considered. In this connection, the EU welcomes the Committee's recommendation that an extra session be held.

Mr. Chairman,

Efforts to combat racism have been at the center of United Nations activity this year. The European Union welcomes the consensus which emerged, allowing the adoption of the political Declaration and the Programme of Action of the Conference held in Durban from 31 August to 8 September, particularly as regards the matter of concern to us here, gender mainstreaming in all action and all policies against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. In considering these issues, the Conference drew heavily on the work of the 45th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, in particular its conclusions on this issue. These reaffirmed that women are victim to multiple forms of discrimination and drew attention to the specific situation of migrant and indigenous women.

The European Union has also shown itself particularly attentive to these problems. Last year it adopted a Directive implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin, a Directive establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation and a Community action programme to combat discrimination (2001 to 2006). To build a society founded on respect for diversity and equality between men and women, economic development is indispensable. Economic independence for women is a necessary and effective means of combating poverty and achieving truly sustainable development. It is still too often lacking. Women must be able to participate in all areas of economic life, particularly through access to good-quality employment, on an equal footing with men. Horizontal and vertical segregation of the labor market, and the pay inequalities which stem from it, must be opposed more strongly. The sharing of family responsibilities and household tasks between men and women must become reality.

The European Union welcomes the Ministerial Declaration adopted by the Economic and Social Council during its high-level debate on the "Role of the United Nations system in supporting the efforts of African countries to achieve sustainable development", which recognized the need to promote the role of women in economic and social development, in part by ensuring their participation in the political and economic life of African countries.

The European Union also recognizes the importance of new information and communication technology. In the context of globalization and a changing economy, this technology presents new challenges and offers new possibilities. It is important that those possibilities should be equally accessible to women. Integrating the gender perspective at this level is fundamental. The Council's recognition of the contribution of new technology to empowering women and reducing gender inequalities is a first stage towards practical action.

Mr. Chairman

Another of the essential themes being addressed this year, alongside the question of the fight against racism, is HIV/AIDS. At the special session held in June on this subject, the Commission on the Status of Women called for the question of gender equality to be placed at the heart of all studies and activities connected with HIV/AIDS. The call was heard, and we welcome this. The conclusions adopted at CSW's 45th session on this subject underlined the importance of promoting women's empowerment, particularly their ability to demand safe and responsible sexual practices to stop the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS. The European Union notes that it was possible to agree on the inclusion of women's rights to take decisions about their sexuality freely and in a responsible manner. It is also important that health services should be accessible to all, whether male or female.

Mr. Chairman

The European Union also welcomes the work accomplished within the United Nations on promoting gender equality. Coordination and interaction between the Economic and Social Council's subsidiary commissions are paramount. The European Union welcomes the efforts made to ensure that the functional commissions incorporate the gender dimension in their work. It was pleased by the Economic and Social Council's adoption of the resolution on mainstreaming a gender perspective into all programmes and policies in the United Nations system. It also appreciated the call for the Secretary-General to evaluate progress in this area. In this context, the European Union would also refer to the Millennium Declaration, which reaffirms the need to include the gender perspective in United Nations operational activities. Similarly, the European Union would point out that through its Framework Strategy it aims to implement and consolidate its approach of mainstreaming the gender perspective in all areas.

Mr. Chairman

The Commission on the Status of Women naturally plays a special role in following up the mainstreaming of the gender perspective in all the areas of work of the United Nations. The European Union notes the adoption of the multiannual programme, which provides for a horizontal approach to the objectives of the Beijing Platform for Action, and addresses some themes for the first time, such as new technology, the role of men and boys and the participation of women in conflict prevention and the consolidation of peace. It welcomes the prospect of serious reflection on improving the working methods of the Commission on the Status of Women at its next session. The European Union hopes that the exercise will end in a reform of working methods, which will make the CSW yet more effective. It also welcomes the prospect of discussion on the Commission's communication procedure, which should make it more effective.

The European Union would also like to underline the vital role played by civil society and NGOs, particularly women's NGOs and associations, which have worked unceasingly for many years to promote women's rights and equality. It encourages governments to support this work.

Mr. Chairman

Equality between men and women has been a fundamental value of the European Union from the very beginning. The European Union promotes the equality of men and women through a dual strategy involving specific activities and an integrated approach to gender equality. In connection with implementation of the outcome of the United Nations World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995, the European Council gave an undertaking that each year it would draw up indicators and a timetable for implementation for one of the themes in the Beijing Platform for Action. Following the themes of political representation of women and reconciliation of private and professional life, the theme of pay inequalities has now been selected. A list of indicators measuring the factors explaining pay differences between men and women in the countries of the Union will be adopted by the Employment and Social Policy Council before the end of the year.

The European Union is determined to integrate the dimension of equality and the gender perspective in all its policies. It has done so in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership. A Regional Forum on "The role of women in economic development: the dimension of equality between men and women in the Euro?Mediterranean Partnership" was held in Brussels in July 2001. The aims of this forum were to make recommendations concerning the broad outline of a regional programme to promote the role of women in economic development, and to analyze various mechanisms and approaches to gender mainstreaming. Mainstreaming the dimension of equality and the gender perspective is also a guiding principle of the Community policy on development cooperation. The Community Framework Strategy on Gender Equality (2001 to 2005) provides a framework for action in which all Community activities contribute to the objective of eliminating inequalities and promoting equality between men and women. On 8 November 2001 the Development Council will consider the Commission's Programme of Action for the mainstreaming of gender equality in Community Development Cooperation.

The European Union also wants to examine how to take the dimension of equality into consideration in the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines (BEPGs) with the aim of giving greater visibility to the evaluation of the implementation of gender mainstreaming in the Union's policies.

Regarding the process of enlarging the Union, increased attention will be paid to the place of equality between men and women in that process, and particularly the question of strengthening the rights of women in an enlarged Europe. The Community Framework Strategy on Gender Equality (2001 to 2005) provides, in the framework of a support programme, for a follow?up to the establishment of support structures for the implementation of the acquis communautaire regarding equality in the candidate countries, and for the granting of appropriate resources to women's associations to create awareness for the respect of women's rights and boost the organization of information and study networks.

In conclusion, the European Union affirms that equality between men and women could and must become reality. Instruments such as the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women, the Beijing Platform for Action and the final document of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century" exist and must be implemented. The European Union believes that one of the major challenges is to implement the mainstreaming of a gender perspective in all its policies. Governments must provide themselves with the means, particularly in terms of political will, structures, and financial resources, to respect their commitments to make gender equality effective at all levels of society.

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• Commissioner Diamantopoulou's speech to the 2nd UN World Assembly on Ageing (8/4/2002)