27 Amendments of Miltiadis KYRKOS related to 2018/2103(INI)
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. Whereas Brexit negotiations are ongoing but already impact directly the lives of millions of European citizens, especially EU nationals’ resident in the UK and UK citizens living in the EU27; whereas safeguarding fundamental rights of people should be as equally important as other aspects in these negotiations;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes with concern that the 2017 FRA paper entitled ‘Challenges to women’s human rights in the EU’ confirms that women and girls experience persistent gender discrimination, sexist hate speech, and gender-based violence in the EU, which severely limits their ability to enjoy their rights and to participate on an equal footing in society; whereas the report published in March 2014 by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights entitled ‘Violence against women: an EU- wide survey’ shows that one-third of all women in Europe have experienced physical or sexual acts of violence at least once during their adult lives, 20 % have experienced online harassment, one in twenty have been raped and more than one-tenth have suffered sexual violence involving the use of force;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls in this regard on EU Member States to consider six main areas of intervention to step up their commitment to safeguarding the dignity and rights of women and girls, as suggested in the FRA report : empowering equality bodies to deal with the entire range of issues that impacts on women’s rights, from gender equality to violence against women; improving safety online; promoting gender equality in education and life-long learning more effectively; introducing gender quotas as a bold step towards positive action; mainstreaming gender equality in the coordination of economic policies across the EU through the European Semester; improving data collection and dissemination of knowledge onin order to eradicate all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls; Calls for gender equality strategy and its mainstreaming to become part of the European Semester;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the signing of the EU’s accession to the Istanbul Convention on 13 June 2017, despite the limitation to only two mandates namely the first comprehensive legally binding instrument on preventing and combating violence against women and gender-based violence, including domestic violence, at international level; regrets that, to date, only 1920 Member States have ratified the Conventionit, to date and calls on the remaining Member States to do so without delay; recognises that when it comes to determining European standards for the protection of women against violence, the Istanbul Convention is the most important point of reference; calls on the Council to swiftly agree on the Code of Conduct, which will govern the implementation of the Convention by the EUurges Member States and the Council Presidency to speed up the EU ratification process;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. ExpStresses concern about the risk of misogyny in European societies and its that sexism and gender stereotypes, that have led to domination over and discrimination against women, have a severe impact on women’s fundamental rights in all spheres of life; calls on Member States to address the key obstacles to gender equality in economic empowerment and political participation, including sexual harassment which hampers women’s full participation in the labour market; highlights the fact that gender stereotypes must be tackled from an early age to effectively address the under- representation of women in work, decision making and politics; calls on Member States to appropriately address this issue in school curriculaeducation at all levels and for all ages on equality between women and men, on non-stereotyped gender roles and on the respect for personal integrity is required to effectively address all forms of discrimination; calls on Member States to appropriately address this issue in school curricula; deplores that women still suffer from inequalities at work, such as lower participation rates in employment, the pay gap, the greater incidence of part-time employment, poorer pension entitlements, career segregation and poorer levels of progression; structural barriers to women’s economic empowerment are the result of multiple and intersecting forms of inequalities, stereotypes and discrimination in the private and public spheres;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Strongly condemns all forms of violence against women (VAW) and therefore calls, once again, the Commission to propose a Directive that introduces common definitions and legal standards on criminalizing VAW with dissuasive sanctions for perpetrators, including measures to tackle effectively sexual harassment and violence in public spaces, at workplace, offline and online; calls on Member States to offer victims full support to report cases of violence against women safely and without fear of consequences, and to ensure appropriate training for professionals dealing with the victims; notes that cases of obstetric violence are more and more reported and that this issue should also be addressed by Member States, in full cooperation with adequate partners such as physicians’ and gynaecologists’ unions and organisations, hospitals and universities;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Encourages EU Member States to take effective sSupports demonstrations that took place in several Member Stateps to respect and protect women’sin2017, following retrogressions related to sexual and reproductive health rights, including a range of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the rights to life, to health, to be free from torture and ill-treatment, to privacy, equality and non-discrimination; recand strong mediatisation of sexual harassment cases; strongly affirms that the denial of sexual and reproductive health and rights services, including safe and legal abortion, is a form of violence against women and girls; reiterates that women and girls must have control over their bodies and sexualities; calls on alls thate Member States have the obligation, under international human rights law, to provide all women with accessible, affordable, good quality sexual and reproductive healthcare and services; notes that this should include the elimination of laws, policies and practices that infringe upon these rights as well as the pto guarantee comprehensive sexuality education, ready access for women to family planning and the full range of reproductive and sexual health rights services, including modern contraception and safe and legal abortion; calls every Member State to refrain from adopting any legislative reform that would amount to a retrogression of already restrictive legislation on women’s access to safe and legal abortion; strongly reaffirms its support for women’s rights organisations, as they have revcention of the erosion of existingly been the target of legal protsecutions; ;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that public deliberation and debate are the lifeblood of a healthy and functioningvital to democracy and encourages, in this context, the EU and the Member States to take further steps to safeguards and protect freedom of speech and assembly as basic principles of democratic processes; strongly condemns in this regard the increasingany restrictions on freedom of assembly, which the authorities have enforced in some cases with violence against protesters; reaffirms the crucial role of these fundamental freedoms in the functioning of democratic societies and calls on the Commission to take an active role in promoting these rights in line with international human rightsEU standards;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Underlines the fact that whistle- blowing is an essential element in investigative journalism and press freedom, and; denounces the threats, retaliations and condemnations that whistle-blowers still face in the EU; in this context, recalls its resolution of 24 October 2017 on legitimate measures to protect whistle-blowers acting in the public interest when disclosing the confidential information of companies and public bodies3; points out that, according to the Communication from the Commission on Strengthening whistle-blowers protection at EU level in April 2018, only ten Member States have introduced comprehensive legislation to protect whistle-blowers; welcomes the Commission’s proposal for a horizontal Directive on the protection of persons reporting on breaches of Union law, and calls on co-legislators to swiftly pursue and end negotiations in that regard; __________________ 3 Texts adopted, P8_TA(2017)0402.
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the Commission’s decision to establish a High Level Expert Group on fake news and online disinformation; expresses its concern about the potential threat the notion ofat fake news could pose to freedom of speech and expression and to the independence of the media, while underlining the negative effects that the spread of false news might have on the quality of political debate and on the well- informed participation of citizens in democratic society; stresses that political profiling, fake news and manipulation of the information may be used by parties and private or public entities inside and outside the EU, and may hinder EU and national democratic processes, such as the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal; calls on the Commission and co- legislators to work on legislations that would prevent political profiling and manipulation of the information and that would guarantee data protection, transparency and cybersecurity;
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Urges EU Member States to address the complex phenomenon of radicalisation through a holistic, multidimensional approach going beyond security and law enforcement measures. For this, Member States should establish programmes that promote citizenship and the common values of freedom, tolerance and non-discrimination, in particular in educational settings
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. CIs concerned by the increased levels of racial violence and hatred, such as Afrophobia, anti-Gypsyism, anti- Semitism, Islamophobia, or other forms of hatred based on intolerance whether expressed in the form of hate crimes, messages spread on social networks, protests or political propaganda, that have come to be seen as normal in some Member States; calls on the Member States to continue their efforts to ensure the effective practical enforcement of the Race Equality Directive (2000/43/EC) 4 and to ensure effective enforcement of the Framework Decision on Racism and Xenophobia to tackle persisting discrimination against Roma, anti- Semitism, Islamophobia, Afrophobia and anti-Gypsyism; points out that the Member States should put forward or review their national integration strategies to ensure that all people regardless of race, ethnicity, religion gender or any other status are empowered to engage actively in the process of inclusion by promoting their social, economic, political and cultural participation in society; __________________ 4calls for the adoption of the proposed 2008 Equal Treatment Directive which is still pending for approval by the Council; considers it a condition to secure a consolidated and coherent EU law framework against discrimination; __________________ 4 OJ L 180, 19.7.2000, p. 22. OJ L 180, 19.7.2000, p. 22.
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Condemns firmly the promotion and the practice of LGBTI conversion therapies and pathologisation of trans identities; urges all Member States to criminalise LGBTI conversion therapies and to adopt measures that respect and uphold the right to gender identity and gender expression; denounces the fact that several Member States keep imposing requirements on transgender people such as medical intervention in order to have the changed gender recognised and forced sterilisation as a condition for legal gender recognition; notes that such requirements are clearly human rights violations; calls on the Commission to provide guidance to Member States on the best models for legal gender recognition in Europe; calls on Member States to recognise change of gender and to provide access to quick, accessible and transparent legal gender recognition procedures without medical requirements such as surgery or sterilisation or psychiatric consent;
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Condemns all forms of discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity; calls on the European Commission to systematically monitor the correct transposition of the legislation on LGBTIQ rights
Amendment 265 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Recalls that the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) is a legally binding international treaty, signed and ratified by the EU, currently implemented with the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020, to ensure equal opportunities, regarding: accessibility, participation, equality, employment, education and training, social protection, health, and EU external action; underlines that, in its implementation report of the European Disability Strategy in February 2017, the Commission noted that although progress was made, particularly with the European Accessibility Act proposed in 2015, persons with disabilities are still disadvantaged and discriminated regarding employment, education and social inclusion; in that regard, stresses that the objectives of the Strategy remain, that accurate actions should be taken between 2017 and 2020 and that the European Parliament Resolution of 30 November 2017 recommended: compulsory requirements regarding accessibility in public space, minimum percentage for employment of persons with disabilities, guarantees for an inclusive education, including access to initiatives such as Erasmus +, and a particular attention for women and children with disabilities;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Encourages the EU and Members States to ensure they deliver on the commitments included in the European Pillar of Social Rights to protect children from poverty, provide access to affordable early childhood education and care of good quality without discrimination. They should also ensure the right of girls and boys from disadvantaged backgrounds to specific measures to enhance equal opportunities. The implementation of the Pillar requires concrete legislative proposals, action plans, budgetary allocation and monitoring systems in all areas that affect children and their families, such as employment, gender equality, and access to health services, education and affordable housing
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3 a (new)
Subheading 3 a (new)
Rights of the child
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15c. Calls on EU Member States to fight against severe housing deprivation as a political priority and ensure that families with children, especially those living at risk of poverty, have priority access to social housing or are provided with adequate housing assistance. Relevant authorities should address homelessness and implement measures that include the prevention or delay of evictions of families with children, especially during winter. While doing so, Member States should make use of the various housing funding programmes that the EU offers.
Amendment 269 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15c. Regrets multiple and intersectional discriminations faced by elderly people in an ageing European society; calls on all level of governments to better integrate this dimension when drafting and implementing policies, including in the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)
Paragraph 15 d (new)
15d. Insists that the UK Withdrawal Agreement and any Future Relationship Agreement between the EU27 and the UK must comply with fundamental human rights obligations, specifically in relation to those EU nationals’ resident in the UK who may no longer have these rights protected by the CJEU; Calls for the fundamental rights of EU citizens who moved within the union under freedom of movement to have these rights upheld after Brexit; calls for guarantees to be included in any Future Relationship Agreement; demands legal protection ensuring these rights cannot be removed in the future;
Amendment 271 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)
Paragraph 15 d (new)
15d. Calls on Member States to promote the right of all children to protection and care. The EU and its Member States should develop credible and effective non- custodial alternatives that would make it unnecessary to detain children during asylum procedures or for return purposes, regardless of whether they are in the EU alone or with their families.
Amendment 355 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23b. Calls on Member States to effectively ensure the right to asylum and to accept relocation of asylum seekers, as agreed in the Council’s decisions in September 2015; calls on the Council to swiftly move on with the Dublin Regulation reform, that it currently blocks, and that prevents the European Common Asylum System from working properly; Stresses that Commission should initiate and Member States should implement a combination of protection- related schemes, such as resettlement and humanitarian admission, and regular mobility schemes to promote legal pathways to the EU for persons in need of protection; recalls that any action undertaken by a Member State, when acting within the scope of EU law, must respect the rights and principles of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights; also calls on Member States to respect the principle of non-refoulement and introduce adequate procedural safeguards to their asylum and border procedures, including safeguards against collective expulsion;
Amendment 367 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Is concerned over the specific needs and vulnerabilities of asylum seekers from marginalised groups, such as LGBTI, and of women asylum seekers; calls upon Member States to ensure that the specific needs for safety and healthcare of both groups, and legal recognition of trans asylum seekers, are met;
Amendment 399 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Calls on Member States to introduce specific safeguards to guarantee, if large-scale IT systems are to be made interoperable, that it should not lead to adverse effects on the rights of children or vulnerable persons, such as applicants for and beneficiaries of international protection, or to discriminatory profiling; calls on Member States to ensure that the implementation of interoperability aims at fulfilling a child protection objective, such as identifying missing children and assisting family reunification;
Amendment 403 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5 a (new)
Subheading 5 a (new)
Information society, data and data protection
Amendment 404 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Believes that the data protection authorities should ensure that all data controllers pay specific attention to children and older EU citizens to guarantee equal awareness of data protection and privacy rights, and to reduce the vulnerability caused by digital illiteracy