During the plenary session (23-26 November) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate the Preparation of the European Council meeting of 10-11 December 2020. Opening statement by David SASSOLI, EP President on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Brussels

statement

debate

plenary session

SASSOLI, David Maria (S&D, IT, S&D, IT)

violence against women (T)

European Council meeting 10-11 December 2020 (T)

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 10-11 December 2020. Opening statement by David SASSOLI, EP President on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

SOUNDBITE (Original) David SASSOLI, EP President: Colleagues, today is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, so prior to getting started on our plenary session, I want to deal with the issue of violence in our societies.

SOUNDBITE (Original) David SASSOLI, EP President: Now, there are many reasons why we need to talk about this in order to free up the voices of victims, for example, and help them to break the silence. That's one reason. We need to talk about it, to increase awareness, to and to express our commitment to non-violence and equality. Above all, we need to talk about it so that we can find solutions and put an end to this plague that is the scourge of our society.

SOUNDBITE (Original) David SASSOLI, EP President: This covid-19 year has seen this violence intensified, particularly domestic violence. Very often this has taken place insidiously behind closed doors without people having the possibility of fleeing, also because in many member states, refuges and emergency hotlines are insufficiently funded or nonexistent. And this is unacceptable.

SOUNDBITE (Original) David SASSOLI, EP President: The European Union will continue to insist that all member states ratify the Istanbul Convention on the Prevention and fight against violence against women. And we will work together with the other institutions to table a directive on the fight against gender violence.

SOUNDBITE (Original) David SASSOLI, EP President: As the European Parliament, we have set an example. We transformed one of our buildings into a temporary centre to host vulnerable women who were affected by the covid-19 pandemic. We have a key role to play. Public administrations need to be close to citizens and be in a situation where they can improve the situation.

SOUNDBITE (Original) David SASSOLI, EP President: Now, that's why we're proud of the role that the European Parliament has played. We're also proud of the role that we've played in the negotiations on the MFF, ensuring that nought point eight billion extra euros would go to the values programme and also boost the fight against violence against women and girls.

SOUNDBITE (Original) David SASSOLI, EP President: In addition, the Commission will be developing a methodology to increase funding, which aims to increase gender equality and will also be trying to mainstream the gender aspect across community programmes. We need to talk about this. We need to talk about the violence that women and girls suffer from, and we need to find the right words to talk about it.

SOUNDBITE (Original) David SASSOLI, EP President: It's also important for us to adopt a crosscutting, overarching approach that concentrates on the institutional socioeconomic aspects relating to gender equality and women's rights. This is, as I said, the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women and the European Parliament hereby commits itself to continuing to work to do away with violence against women and girls. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (Original) David SASSOLI, EP President: The session is resumed. The next item on the agenda is the council and commission statements on the preparation of the European Council meeting of the 10th and 11th of December twenty twenty, I should like to remind members that for all debates of this past session, there will be no catch the eye procedure and no blue cards will be accepted.