Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-03-08-Speech-1-092"
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"en.20040308.7.1-092"2
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"Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I think that was a very good debate, making clear both the successes and shortcomings of the EU’s work on gender equality. What we discussed in this House was about both structures and standards. It was about very practical problems and challenges along the lines of equal wages for the same work, child care and care of the elderly and tasks that should be divided more equally between husbands and wives if society is to function, as well as about a number of other problems that, of course, affect both men and women, but above all women, in today’s society.
The list of things that so many women, young girls and children are forced to undergo was pitiable, as were the details of these things. It is called trafficking, but I believe we must be careful about using the correct designation. There is now a kind of trade in sexual slavery in Europe and the rest of the world. If I have the opportunity at the Spring Summit, I shall be the first to raise this issue and to place it at the very top of the agenda. Everything else we talk about becomes in some way hollow and loses its power and credibility if we continue to permit this direct exploitation of, and direct trade in, human beings, both across our European borders and internationally.
We must sometimes prioritise and be very careful to help each other in this fight. Above all, the debate has shown that we in the Commission must do whatever it is in our power to do to implement the existing legislation and attempt – and why not? – also to introduce new legislation. We need to use all the tools available to us: legislation, the open coordination method and the options we have for providing funding.
We believe in actual fact that it is only right to proceed step by step when it comes to legislation to combat sexism or discrimination against women, outside the workplace too. You have certainly noted how difficult matters have been with Article 13 of the directive. We nonetheless believe that it will be possible for us step by step to succeed this way too. We must extend a helping hand to each other across every border in order to achieve a situation in which men too can stand up and declare themselves feminists in the knowledge that this, in actual fact, means ensuring that both women and men have the same rights, obligations and opportunities."@en1
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