Resolution on the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women–Platform for Action, Beijing + 10

The European Parliament adopted a joint resolution by 434 votes in favour, 52 against with 53 abstentions on the follow up of the Fourth World Conference on Women Platform for Action (Beijing + 10).

Firstly, the resolution strongly condemns the brutality of the Turkish police in Istanbul during the demonstration on 6 March 2005 to mark International Women's Day, and asks the Commission to present Parliament with a full report on what happened.

Moreover, Parliament requests that Member States adopt legislation, or enforce their existing laws, to put a stop to the female genital mutilation being perpetrated on their territory, and help the third countries concerned to set up programmes with local NGOs to combat such practices. It equally calls upon Member States identified as known sites of non-consensual sterilisation to coordinate law enforcement efforts and put an end to this practice.

Parliament does recognises that some positive measures have been taken in relation to violence against women; stresses, however, the lack of a clear political commitment to addressing and eradicating domestic violence against women, sex tourism and trafficking in women, including legislative measures such as asylum rights for victims. It calls, therefore, on the Commission to declare 2006 European Year against Violence towards Women and urges it, further, to include Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and neighbouring countries fully in the preparations for, and all events, programmes and projects in connection with, the year against violence towards women. Education and training are essential to the achievement of equality between women and men and Parliament underlines the need for lifelong learning and vocational training to promote equal access for women to skilled jobs and all levels of professional life.

The resolution also welcomes the adoption of the directive implementing the principle of equal treatment for women and men in access to and supply of goods and services and regards the directive as an important tool to ensure gender equality. The resolution regrets, however, that not enough progress has been made towards completely eliminating the use of gender as a discriminating factor for determining premiums and benefits in relation to insurance and related financial activities.