Activities of Godelieve QUISTHOUDT-ROWOHL related to 2017/2015(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Gender equality in EU trade agreements (debate) DE
Amendments (17)
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas trade policies should aim to reduce socio-economic gaps between the Global North and the Global South in terms of development and wealth, andcan contribute to the development and wealth of women, to reduce gaps between women and men, and realisze women’s rights by ensuring decent work conditions for women and finally by contributing to sustainable and equitable economic development while expanding opportunities for women entrepreneurship, access to apprenticeships and work and employment;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. Whereas according to a 2017 study of the European Commission almost 12 million women in the EU have jobs that depend on the exports of goods and services to the rest of the world1a; __________________ 1a http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2017 /june/tradoc_155632.pdf
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the impacts of trade liberalisation on individuals depends also on their geographical localisation and the sector of their economic activities;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas a review of current EU multilateral and bilateral agreements shows that only 20 % of the agreements with non-European trading partners make reference to women’s rights, and thatstudy recently published by the Commission shows that a gender gap persists in terms of opportunities for access to jobs and that, in 2011, only 40 38% of these agreements include references that aim to promote gender equality; whereas references in these agreements to promoting women’s empowerment are voluntary and almost all relate to non-trading aspects of the agreementsjobs supported by exports to the rest of the world were occupied by women; whereas another study shows that promoting women’s equality could increase global GDP by USD 28 billion by 2025;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas there is a crucial need of recognising and better understanding gender specific impacts of trade liberalisation to deliver adequate policy responses.
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas in the framework of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) and GSP+ systems, aim toing at ensureing the ratification and implementation of human and labour rights conventions in developing countries, it is crucial to monitor on a regular basis and to take actions when needed and pay particular attention to gender equality;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas events such as the International Forum on Women and Trade organised by the Commission on 29 June 2017 enable many economic stakeholders and representatives of civil society to exchange and launch initiatives on the impact of trade on gender equality;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that fair and inclusive international trade policies require a clearer framework aiming to enhance women’s livelihoods, strengthen gender equality, protect the environment, and promote social justice and international solidaritytrade can contribute to the development of sustainable growth and job creation; recalls that the EU’s trade policy contributes to the promotion and protection of human rights and the values of the European Union, including gender equality; notes that Article 8 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union stipulates that ‘in all its activities, the Union shall aim to eliminate inequalities, and to promote equality, between men and women’;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that the EU’s trade strategy entitled ‘Trade for All’ does not mention gender equality; calls on the Commission to take this dimension into account in the conduct of its trade policy and stresses that trade negotiations may make it possible to promote gender equality on the international scene and ensure that both women and men can benefit from the advantages of trade liberalisation and be protected from its negative effects;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Stresses how few data are available on the impact of trade on gender equality; with that in mind, calls for more data to be gathered on this topic; stresses that collecting this type of information will make it possible to improve analysis of the situation, establish a methodology and improve the definition of the objectives and measures to be taken to ensure that women benefit more from trade;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Notes that the Report on the Implementation of the Trade Policy Strategy ‘Trade for All’ of 13 September 2017 mentions gender equality in trade and specifies that it is essential to improve our understanding of the impact of trade instruments on gender equality; further notes the view expressed in the report that addressing gender equality would help ensure that the benefits of trade reach everyone, and by the same token maximise the overall gains from trade opportunities; calls on the Commission to continue its work on this matter and supply information and data as soon as possible;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Insists that all international trade policies must be based ontrade policy could make it possible to promote the relevant international standards and legal instruments on gender equality, such as the CEDAW, the Beijing Platform for Action and the sustainable development goals (SDGs);
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. InsistRecalls that all international trade agreements must include safeguard clauses enabling the contracting parties to regulate and also reverse liberalisation in order to protect fundamental objectives such as gender equality, human rights, public health and environmental sustainabian ambitious sustainable development chapter with the aim of enhancing social and environmental standards, as well as respect for human rights, which also encompass gender equality;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines the need to recognise the risks inherent in trade agreement mechanisms such as ISDS and ICS, which undermine the capacity of individual governments to change their laws to include measures to promote gender equalityRecalls the ongoing process led by the EU to develop a new system for settling disputes between investors and states; recalls that the European Parliament advocates the need to ensure, among other things, stronger labour and consumer rights and advancement in environmental policiesansparency and the right to regulation on the part of the states which will be responsible for carrying out this reform;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that IPR provisions in trade can have a significantn impact on women’s health which must be taken carefully; calls for this aspect to be taken into consideration;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls for regular events and meetings to be held on gender equality in EU trade agreements with the participation of representatives of the institutions and economic and civil society stakeholders with a view to creating synergy on this issue, holding discussions and setting common objectives;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Insists that binding instruments are needed in EU trade policy to ensure that deccertain elements of EU trade policy, such as the presence of a chapter on sustainable development work standards, women’s rights, human rights principles and environmental protection are at the core of all types of EU trade agreements and that EU trade policy is coherent with the Union’s overarching aims of GSP+ systems, and the monitoring thereof, help promote and uphold human rights, including gender equality, workers’ rights and environmental protection; recalls the overriding importance of consistency between EU trade policy and Union policy as a whole; stresses that EU trade policy contributes to the pursuit of many aims, including sustainable development, poverty reduction and the promotion of gender equality;