During the EP plenary session (3-6 July 2017) in Strasbourg, MEPs&nbsp;debate on&nbsp;Saudi Arabia's election as Member of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Statements by Christos STYLIANIDES, Member of the EC in charge of Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Teresa JIM&Eacute;NEZ-BECERRIL BARRIO (EPP, ES) and Iratxe GARC&Iacute;A P&Eacute;REZ (S&amp;D, ES).

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - Saudi Arabia (T)

STYLIANIDES, Christos (CY, EC)

GARCÍA PÉREZ, Iratxe (S&D, ES)

JIMÉNEZ-BECERRIL BARRIO, Teresa (EPP, ES)

Saudi Arabia's election as Member of the UN Commission on the Status of Women: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Christos STYLIANIDES, Member of the EC in charge of Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Our work for gender equality is not only consistent with our principles and values, but it is also a matter of stability and resilience and it is a matter of economic growth. No country can achieve its full potential if half of its people do not have the same opportunities to work and of course to learn and to have a say.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christos STYLIANIDES, Member of the EC in charge of Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, The situation of women rights in Saudi Arabia remains difficult, the EU continues to engage the Saudi authorities in a number of human rights issues, including gender matters.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Teresa JIM&#201;NEZ-BECERRIL BARRIO (EPP, ES), When I found out that Saudi Arabia was elected as a member of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. I thought it was a mistake, because one of the moist misogynistic countries in the world had joined this committee that was about gender empowerment., I couldn&rsquo;t understand, how can a country that floods women&rsquo;s rights help promote them ?

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), We need to give our assurance that we are committed to defending equality for women. This is a fundamental tenant of European policy and that of all our member states. It is within our power to take action to ensure that our international institutions don&rsquo;t lose their credibility. We have got to stand up and protect women&rsquo;s rights