27 Amendments of Karen MELCHIOR related to 2023/2066(INI)
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Observes that crises are not gender-neutral and that disparities across the EU have been exacerbated by the COVID- 19 pandemic, the war of aggression against Ukraine and climate change1a. Observes that the current rise in living and energy costs and have negatively affected children and their families in terms of income, access to employment, living conditions, healthcare, education and skills and access to care; _________________ 1a https://commission.europa.eu/energy- climate-change- environment/topics/climate-change_en
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Highlights that climate change disproportionately affects women who face higher risks and burdens from the effects of climate change and environmental and natural factors as a result of their unequal access to resources, education, job opportunities and land rights, to prevailing social and cultural norms and their diverse intersectional discrimination experiences;2a _________________ 2a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/doc ument/B-9-2022-0099_EN.html
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that, in order to reduce these inequalities and promote social inclusion, it is crucial to support women’s access to childcare facilities, the equal sharing of childcare between parents and, family- friendly working time arrangements; and facilitate equal opportunities for parents to return to work; Calls the Member States to strive to achieve and provide Universal Health Coverage to all, as defined by the WHO, guaranteeing pre- and post-natal care for all mothers;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Observes that gender stereotypes related to the division of care responsibilities can be harmful for women and their career growth and that stereotypical masculinity norms can prevent men from fully participating in parenthood, and in caregiving in a wider sense;3a _________________ 3a https://commission.europa.eu/strategy- and-policy/policies/justice-and- fundamental-rights/gender- equality/women-labour-market-work-life- balance/womens-situation-labour- market_en
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Stresses that, as outlined in the Work-life Balance Initiative, as part of the European Pillar of Social Rights, there should be protection against discrimination and dismissal for parents and carers. Encourages a gender- balanced use of family-related leaves and flexible working arrangements;4a _________________ 4a https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId =1311⟨Id=en
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Notes that those with care responsibilities also have the right to request flexible working time arrangements such as a reduction of working hours, flexitime and telework;5a _________________ 5a https://commission.europa.eu/strategy- and-policy/policies/justice-and- fundamental-rights/gender- equality/women-labour-market-work-life- balance/womens-situation-labour- market_en
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 e (new)
Paragraph 2 e (new)
2e. Points out that the rise in women’s employment will contribute to addressing the challenge of demographic ageing and ensuring Member States’ financial stability; Reminds that gender imbalances in care and employment can result in a gender gap in pensions and high differences in poverty rates in older age;7a _________________ 7a https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId =1311⟨Id=en
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Reminds that SRHR are a precondition for gender equality; therefore condemns that due to a wide range of legal, financial, practical, social, and cultural barriers and restrictions, access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) varies widely within and between EU Member States; regrets that the access is particularly limited for women and key population groups, and for specific healthcare services, such as abortion care which is banned or de facto banned in Malta and Poland, or is impeded in various EU countries such as Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, Italy; points out that access to SRHR care, particularly abortion, may be restricted by the requirement for parental consent for girls up to the age of 18 undermining their human rights and putting them at risk;8a _________________ 8a https://reproductiverights.org/wp- content/uploads/2022/06/15381_CRR_Eu rope_V8.pdf
Amendment 73 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Highlights that crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic or the war in Ukraine have exacerbated existing inequalities and have particularly affected women and marginalized groups, weakening even more access to healthcare, including SRHR services or leading to a critical situation in meeting the SRHR needs of those displaced, notably in the case of the war in Ukraine and the resulting populations displacements;
Amendment 76 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Amendment 86 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out the importance of education for girls and women as a factor in reducing gender inequalities and social exclusion;
Amendment 87 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Emphasises that sexuality education for all is an essential measure in ending inequalities and working towards a violence-free society as it challenges harmful gender stereotypes, promotes diversity, bodily autonomy, and physical and mental integrity; Notes that sexuality education sheds light on the social taboo of sexuality and addresses it as an integral part of our lives related to our health and well-being;
Amendment 89 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Highlights that there are disparities in access to health and education for the poorest and most vulnerable children. Roma children and an estimated 11 million children with disabilities are among the most disadvantaged when it comes to access to quality education. Notes that while Roma children in Europe are more likely to drop out of school at either primary or secondary level without having acquired foundational skills, children with disabilities remain excluded from school and high-quality learning altogether;10a _________________ 10a https://www.unicef.org/eca/media/27346/f ile/Report.pdf
Amendment 94 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Amendment 97 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Amendment 99 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5d. Stresses that Member States need to allocate further funding to treat mental health and psychosocial problems and improve regional infrastructures through the European Social Fund Plus and the European Regional Development Fund, including targeted programmes for the LGBTQIA+ community;14a _________________ 14a https://www.unicef.org/eu/stories/mental- health-burden-affecting-europes-children
Amendment 100 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)
Paragraph 5 e (new)
Amendment 101 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 f (new)
Paragraph 5 f (new)
5f. Notes that children with migrant backgrounds, refugees, asylum-seekers, undocumented and unaccompanied children are among the hardest hit by poverty. Notes that children living in single-parent families, large- disadvantaged families, children with disabilities, children belonging to ethnic minorities are also at risk of poverty;16a _________________ 16a https://www.savethechildren.net/news/ove r-200000-more-children-are-risk-poverty- european-union-save-children-report
Amendment 103 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recalls that many Ukrainian women refugees fleeing the war of aggression live in different Member Statesand non-Member States in Europe and have specific needs related to childcare that need to be addressed in order to facilitate their access to the job market;
Amendment 105 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on Member States to address the challenges that Ukrainian women refugees face such as language barriers, greater likelihood of social isolation and limited social networks;17a Notes that Ukrainian refugees may be at further risk of poverty and social exclusion; _________________ 17a https://www.oecd.org/ukraine- hub/policy-responses/what-are-the- integration-challenges-of-ukrainian- refugee-women-bb17dc64/
Amendment 106 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Notes that care obligations are a barrier to employment for Ukrainian women (33%) compared to Ukrainian men (9%). Calls on Member States to address these challenges by offering help with childcare costs, providing childcare subsidies and opening new childcare centres;18a _________________ 18a https://www.oecd.org/ukraine- hub/policy-responses/what-are-the- integration-challenges-of-ukrainian- refugee-women-bb17dc64/
Amendment 127 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Points out that there is a lack of high quality, accessible, available and affordable care services in all Member States, including in rural regions;19a _________________ 19a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/doc ument/TA-9-2022-0278_EN.pdf
Amendment 130 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Notes that the EU’s cohesion policy, which aims at reducing regional disparities, benefits high-skilled, richer households more than low-income households and exacerbates socio- economic and gender inequalities within EU regions;20a _________________ 20a https://www.euractiv.com/section/econom y-jobs/news/holdcohesion-funds-increase- inequality-within-eu-regions-study-finds/
Amendment 135 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Notes that young female asylum seekers are facing gender-based violence, particularly on their journey to Europe.; Calls for Member States to have mechanisms to report such incidents, training for staff in charge of recognising gender-based violence and procedures to identify such cases;21a _________________ 21a https://fra.europa.eu/en/content/thematic- focus-gender-based-violence
Amendment 138 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 d (new)
Paragraph 8 d (new)
8d. Points out that women asylum seekers and the LGBTQIA+ community are more likely to be victims of violence due to patriarchal structures, cultural factors, and their socioeconomic status in their countries of origin as well as in the post-migration period;22a _________________ 22a https://rm.coe.int/ipol-stu-2021- 691875-en-1-/1680a23902
Amendment 140 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 e (new)
Paragraph 8 e (new)
8e. Notes that there is a high prevalence of mental health disorders among unaccompanied refugee migrant children and adolescents, ranging from 4.6 % to 43 % for (PTSD), 2.9 % to 61.6 % for depression, 32.6 % to 38.2 % for anxiety and 4 to 14.3% for behavioural problems;23a _________________ 23a https://bettercarenetwork.org/sites/default/ files/2022-10/1-s2.0-s0145213422003994- main.pdf