Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2007-02-12-Speech-1-137"
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"en.20070212.15.1-137"2
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".
Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I am grateful to our rapporteur for her work, and I welcome the lively and fruitful debate that took place within the committee responsible on women's role in the social, economic and political life in Turkey.
I should like to make three points in connection with this debate. Firstly, there is still some misunderstanding in terms of the difference between the simple act of debating the role of women in Turkey and that of concluding from the debate whether Turkey can or cannot join the European Union. This merging of the two does not help us to focus on the role of women in Turkey, which is an issue in itself. In this House, we regularly debate the role of women in Afghanistan, the Maghreb and Africa, without Afghanistan, the Maghreb or Africa necessarily being called on to become members of the European Union. The same applies to Turkey.
From this perspective, I also call on our counterpart from the Council of Europe to demonstrate responsibility and to conduct a dialogue with Turkey as a Member State of the Council of Europe. I call on my fellow Members to continue to focus on the role of women in Turkey.
We, as women, represent added value for the common good of society; we bring about peace, we have knowledge to share and a special kind of wisdom to pass on, wherever we are, including in Turkey.
Secondly, the debate on the role of women in Turkey reminds the EU Member States of their own responsibilities. How can we lecture Turkey when we are incapable of fulfilling our duties in our own countries? We will only be able to criticise Turkey when we are ready to criticise ourselves. So let us not pretend to sermonise.
Thirdly, we cannot tackle the situation of women by disregarding the role of men. The fact is that no one dares mention this obvious fact which, politically-speaking, is a very accurate one, but men also have a very important role to play where gender equality is concerned.
During our meeting in Istanbul, Prime Minister Erdogan clearly confirmed his opposition to violence against women. I called on him to express himself publicly on this matter and to set a good example to Turkish men. It is not enough to be deeply convinced that violence is not a solution; he has to say it out loud, bolstered by his political reputation.
That is why I am repeating my call to Mr Erdogan from this Chamber. Take a public stand against violence against women, including in your country. Mr Erdogan, set a good example of which men can be proud; we can then take a step forward together and improve the situation of women in your country."@en1
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