Activities of Beatriz BECERRA BASTERRECHEA related to 2017/2015(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Gender equality in EU trade agreements (debate) ES
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on gender equality in EU trade agreements PDF (517 KB) DOC (93 KB)
Amendments (42)
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas current EU trade policy lacks a gender equality perspective, as well as obligations to enforce women´s rights conventions; whereas including a gender perspective in trade and investment policies is an essential element of an integrated sustainable development policy framework that combines social and economic measures to ensure fairer and beneficial outcomes for all; Article 8 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) lays down that ‘in all its activities, the Union shall aim to eliminate inequalities, and to promote equality, between men and women’; whereas Articles 207 and 208 TFEU lay down that the Union’s common commercial policy and policy in the field of development cooperation 'shall be conducted in the context of the principles and objectives of the Union’s external action’, and whereas these principles as set out in Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union are: democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity, and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 36 a (new)
Citation 36 a (new)
– having regard to the Commission Report on the Implementation of the Trade Policy Strategy for All, Delivering a Progressive Trade Policy to Harnass Globalisation, COM (2017) 491 of 13 September 2017
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises the need for gender analysis and perspectives to be integrated systematically into trade and investment policies, and into the trade-related capacity building programmes of international finance institutions, donors and intergovernmental organisations, through ex-ante analysis and monitoring, with a view to overcoming the potentially negative gender impacts of different trade measures and instrumentstaken into account more fully and more systematically, through ex-ante analysis and monitoring;
Amendment 31 #
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, and between women and men, and realise women’s rights by ensuring decent work conditions for women andaim to create sustainable growth and jobs, which reduce socio-economic gaps, promote social justice, respect for human rights, including women's rights, high labour standards and high environmental standards; whereas modern trade agreements include sustainable development chapters aiming to contributinge to sustainable and equitable economic development;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the paramount importance of respecting, in accordance with SDG target 17.15, partner countries’ democratic policy space to regulate and take suitable decisions for their own national context, respond to the demands of their populations, and fulfil their human rights obligations and other international commitments, including those on gender equality; underlines the need to ensure that neither the EU's trade and investment mechanisms nor European intellectual property rights endanger the capacity of individual governments of developing countries to change their laws to include measures to promote gender equality or stronger labour and consumer rights;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the need to enhance the participation of women and gender expertsin decision- making at all levels, particularly in trade policy-making and negotiation processes at all levels, and the fact that multi-stakeholder mechanisms should be established to reorient the trade agenda in support of a pro-poor and, so as to ensure greater gender- aware development frameworkness;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas country-specific and sector-specific assessments are of great importance; whereas women tend to be more concentrated in low-wage or low- status forms of formal and informal employment than men, leading to gender segregation in types of occupations and activities and gender gaps in wages and working conditionimportant differences exist both between countries and within countries in terms of production structures, female labour force participation rates and welfare regimes, in particular in the garment and textile manufacturing, agriculture and fisheries sectors; whereas country-specific and sector-specific gender assessments therefore bring important added value when designing trade agreements;
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Insists that all EU trade agreements should include binding clauses on women’s rights, gender equality and gender mainstreaming, with an appropriate body appointed, or an explicit mechanism established,in its foreign policy the Union should promote effective rules to promote and strengthen its principles, and should establish mechanisms to monitor compliance;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas women are often less able than men to take advantage of new opportunities due to the gender-specific constraints women face, such as limited access to and control over resources (land and other assets, credit, information, technology), limited access to markets, social responsibility for unpaid domestic work, legal discrimination and discriminatory cultural norms and values.
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Acknowledges that the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), and in particular the GSP+ system, could be improved by linking economic incentives to the effective adoption and constant monitoring of the implementation of core human and labour rights conventions, in particular on gender-related issues;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the current EU trade policy and its ‘Trade for All’ strategy lack a gender equality perspective, as well as any binding obligations to enforce core women’s rights conventions such as the CEDAW;gender equality and women's rights have been progressively included in DG Trade evaluations; whereas all of the EU's recently negotiated trade agreements contain commitments related to the implementation of fundamental ILO conventions targeting non-discrimination in employment; whereas the European Commission organized on June 20th 2017 an International forum on women and trade; whereas the Commission has committed to addressing gender issues in its review of the Aid for Trade strategy 2017
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. Whereas ex-ante assessment of gender implications of trade policies can make a contribution to women's empowerment and well-being and at the same time can help mitigate existing disparities and avoid increasing gender inequality;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. Whereas close to 40% of SMEs worldwide are women-owned businesses, but only 15% of exporting firms are led by women;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. whereas in the EU in 2011, exports-dependent employment represented around 1 in every 9 jobs (11%) held by women in the EU;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the only area of gender equality in which DG Trade has demonstrated an interest so farCommission is promoting female entrepreneurship;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) and GSP+ systems aims to ensure the ratification and implementation of human and labour rights conventionsas well as environmental protection and good governance in developing countries;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas CEDAW is one of the relevant conventions under GSP +
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas civil society, particularly women’s rights organisations and trade unions,social partners hasve the knowledge and potential to strengthen women’s economic empowerment;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas special attention must be given to the negative consequences of trade liberalisation as regards basic public services and goods, such as water and sanitation, education and healthcarpublic services are not part of EU trade agreements but part of Member States' competence;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas globally, gender disaggregated data and research, empirical evidence and subsequent knowledge gaps on the gender effects of trade hamper can contribute to effective policy making in this field;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that fair and inclusive international trade policies require a clearer framework aimlso contributing to enhance women’s livelihoodsempowerment, strengthen gender equality, protect the environment, and promote social justice and international solidarity;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Insists that all international trade policies must be based on thmodern trade agreements should make reference to and promote 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 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines the urgent need to work with transnational companies (TNCs) and other companies to adopt gender-sensitive binding human rights regulations on an international level to regulate transnational companies (TNCs) and other companies; wWelcomes the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. InEmphasistes that all international trade agreements must include safeguard clauses enabling the contractit is Member States' governments and not the EU or trade agreements that can regulate and reverse liberalisation ing parties to regulate and also reverse liberalisationublic services of public interest where they find it necessary to do so in order to protect fundamental objectives such as gender equality, human rights, public health and environmental sustainability;
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 200 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that IPR provisions in trade have a significant impact on women’s health which must be taken carefully into consideratiorelated to patents that prohibit the production of generic medicines can have a significant impact on the particular health requirements of women;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines that basic public services and goods, such as water and sanitation, education and healthcare (notably access to sexual and reproductive health and rights services), should b are exempted from the opening up of public procurement and the trade liberalisrade negotiations agenda, and that safeguards must be put in place to reinforce states’ capacities to provide basic services for allnd fall under the competence of governments;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for binding measuresHighlights the importance to engage trading partners in dialogue on human rights, labour, social and environmental standards in order to combat exploitation and improve working conditions for women in the export- oriented industries, in particular the garment and textile manufacturing and agriculture sectors where trade liberalisation has contributed to precarious labour rights and gender wage gaps;; calls on the Commission and all international actors to adhere to the new OECD due diligence guidelines for responsible supply chains in the garment and footwear sector.
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Underlines that the impact ofe need to assist SMEs, including women-owned business, also in the agricultural sector, in order to allow them to benefit from the growing agricultural EU exports is generally less favourable to women than to men, as emand to compete in overseas markets; Stresses that women- owned businesses would benefit from lowerging trends indicate that small farmers, many of whom are womencultural barriers, increasing market access, facilitating access to finance, mare often not in a position to compete in overseas markets;keting formation and networks, and improving capacity building and training.
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. InsistReminds that binding instruments are needed in EU trade policy to ensure that decent 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 sustainable development, poverty reduction and gender equalitythe trade and sustainable development chapters protect human rights principles and ensure labour, social and environmental standards;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls for allProposes that EU trade agreements to include binding clauses, in the form of a stand-alone article, that promote and protectreferences to and promote international commitments on women’s rights, gender equality and gender mainstreaming, based on such as the Beijing Platform for Action and the SDGs, with an appropriate body appointed or an explicit mechanism in place to monitor compliance;
Amendment 286 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Is convinced that the CEDAW is of great importance for all policy areas, including trade; invites the Commission, therefore, to take action in this context to enable the EU’s accession to and ratification of the CEDAW Convention, and to include CEDAW as an instrument to include a reference to CEDAW in trade agreements;
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls for the EU and the Member States to ensure that binding clauses on labour rights, based on the ILO Conventions, includingin its trade agreements to reference the core ILO Conventions and to work with Member States towards ratification of Conventions like No 189 on Domestic Workers and No 156 on Workers with Family Responsibilities, are included in trade agreements, and that social clauses in trade agreements also apply to informal work;
Amendment 302 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Acknowledges that the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) and GSP+ systems needs to be improved bycontinue linking economic incentives to the effective adoption and constant monitoring of core human, genderinternational conventions on human and labour rights c, environvmentionsal protection and good governance;
Amendment 315 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for EU legislation similar to UN binding due diligence obligationon the Commission to work in international fora towards international rules to ensure respect for human rights, including women’s rights, and adequate social and environmental standards;
Amendment 333 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls on the EU and Member States to make use of the training provided by for example UNCTAD to ensure officials and negotiators are aware of issues related to gender and trade;
Amendment 336 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Supports initiatives such as the ITC’s She Trades global action to enhance the competitiveness of women entrepreneurs and encourages in this regard the international exchange of best practices within such organisations and bodies such as the WTO, ITC and UN on gender-responsive policies and programmes;
Amendment 338 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 c (new)
Paragraph 18 c (new)
18c. Stresses the importance of the availability of gender -disaggregated data related to work, ownership of assets, and financial inclusion, which contribute to assessing the gender equality situation and provide evidence-based information essential for analysing the possible gender impact of trade policies; encourages the Commission to cooperate with European and international organisations such as the World Bank, United Nations, OECD and EIGE, but also with national statistical offices, to improve the collection and availability of such data; recalls that he Sustainable Development Goals require gender-disaggregated data to track progress towards all goals, including SDG 5 on Gender Equality;