Activities of Frances FITZGERALD related to 2021/2003(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
Gender mainstreaming in the European Parliament – annual report 2020 (debate)
EU Gender Action Plan III (debate)
Amendments (72)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
— having regard to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its entry into force in the EU on 21 January 2011 in accordance with Council Decision 2010/48/EC of 26 November 2009 concerning the conclusion, by the European Community, of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 b (new)
Citation 1 b (new)
— having regard to the EU Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030,
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8
Citation 8
— having regard to the Generation Equality Forum held in March 2021 in Mexico City and from 30 June to 2 July 2021 in Paris, as well as the "Global Acceleration Plan for Gender Equality" and the new "Compact on Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action" launched as a result of the Forum,
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 a (new)
Citation 25 a (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 21 January 2021 on the gender perspective in the COVID-19 crisis and post-crisis period,
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 b (new)
Citation 25 b (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 21 January 2021 on closing the digital gender gap: women’s participation in the digital economy,
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas equal representation and influence of women and men in political life is a precondition for a democratic society;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas women’s and girls’ rights are still under threat and the space for civil society organisations, especially women rights, feminists and grassroots organisations is shrinking in many countries in the world;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas more countries are in emergency situations as a result of conflicts, natural disasters and climate change and whereas women and girls are affected in a disproportionate manner;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas violence in all its forms is the most extreme form of gender inequality;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic is having a serious impact on women and girls and has exacerbated existing gender inequalities, particularly in terms ofmpacting the access to education and healthcare, including access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, and is resulting in increasing gender-based violence and economic inequalities;
Amendment 101 #
E. whereas measures to combat inequalityies will be of fundamental importance to the upcoming post COVID- 19 pandemic recovery;
Amendment 109 #
Ea. whereas there is no country in the world close to achieving gender equality up to 2030;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Welcomes the new EU Gender Action Plan III for 2021 - 2025 and its call for a gender equal world;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Welcomes GAP III as a continuation and building on the work and the achievements of GAP II;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Stresses that gender equality is crucial to human rights, sustainable development and smart economies, and that empowering women and girls across the world is crucial to global progress;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Points out that the EU has an important role to play in achieving gender equal world, through supporting partner countries to address gender discrimination, by establishing a more enabling environment for empowering women and girls and the fulfilment of girls’ and women’s rights to achieve real and tangible improvements in gender equality;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
More effective EU commitment and efficient implementation
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for full implementation of GAP III in every aspect of EU external action through a gender-transformative and intersectional approach, including in non-social sectors such as trade, energy, agriculture; reiterates that actions to implement GAP III have to be guided by the ambition of addressing the root causes of gender inequalities;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the need for an annual assessment of GAP results, as foreseen, at every level and every stage, against the targeted and measurable objectives set;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on EU missions and delegations and on the Member States and local and regional governments to cooperate closely in the implementation of GAP III through proper guidance developed and shared through the delegations;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for close ties to be established with organisational networks and ministries in partner countries and calls for an annual policy and political dialogue regarding GAP III implementation, encompassing stakeholders and, in particular, local authorities and civil society;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Strongly encourages Member States and EU delegations to consider local and regional governments as key actors in development policy as they are the democratic level closest to the citizens and are best placed to promote gender equality and sustainable development;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for funding for local girl, youth-led and women’s organisations to be increasand networks in all their diversity to be adequately funded; condemns all moves to clamp down on women’s rights activists and urges all governments to protect, support and cooperate with civil society;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls strongly for GAP III to be coordinated with other initiatives, such as the Spotlight Initiative, whose effectiveness needs to be improved and budgetevaluated and accordingly improved and thus the budget adequately increased;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the fact that 85% of all new external actions will be required to incorporate gender as a significant or principal objective by 2025 and calls for 20% of actions to have gender as a principal objective; stresses that the objectives set should also be quantified in terms of dedicated funding and not just a percentage of the overall programmes; calls for the set-up of a specific target of 85% of EU’s ODA funding dedicated to gender equality as a principal or significant objective;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Reiterates the need for gender considerations to be appropriately integrated across all sectors of EU external action and that the priorities of Global Europe in partner countries as well as Team Europe Initiatives are gender transformative, as per the GAP III and at least gender sensitive in the case of humanitarian aid;
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls for action to combat femicide and all types of violence against women to be stepped up; and girls online and offline to be stepped up, particularly in conflict and emergency situations where women and girls are in more vulnerable situations and focusing on women and girls who are more likely to be victims of violence such as women and girls with disabilities;
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Points out that the victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation are mainly women and girls; calls for increased international cooperation to end the above mentioned harmful practices resulting in such forms of enslavement, recalling that vulnerability of women to trafficking and sexual exploitation is exacerbated during economic hardship, armed conflict and emergency situations.;
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Stresses that women’s human rights defenders are in an extremely vulnerable position, especially in conflict areas and in conflict and post-conflict situations;
Amendment 265 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Welcomes the call to collaborate with and promote a safe environment to women’s human rights defenders and calls on the Commission to protect them through adequate actions and mechanisms together with allocating dedicated resources to EU delegations and reminds that the EU’s actions could include, as a matter of priority, alternative programs involving legal pathways;
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Expresses concern at the backlash against gender equality and women’s rights rise of conservative rhetoric and organised religious and other groupings, which is threatening to undermine sexual and reproductive rights inside and outside the Union;
Amendment 287 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls for GAP III to attach greater importance to these rights andWelcomed the promotion of GAP III to these rights, their inclusion to the key thematic areas of engagement and calls for adequate funding to be coordinated and allocated to them when programming the ‘Europe in the World’ instrument;
Amendment 297 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses the importance of sexual and reproductive rights with regard to women’s bodies and their autonomy and urges that they be treated as public health issues; calls for universal access to sexual education, contraception and safe and legal abortion; highlights the need to age- appropriate SRHR-related actions, for example by ensuring accessible, youth- friendly information and services;
Amendment 312 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls for measures to prevent girls from missing school during their periods by improving menstrual hygiene facilities on school premises and by combating stigmatisation in this area, calls for greater synergies between programmes addressing health, SRHR and WASH and personal support for girls in this regard;
Amendment 322 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Draws attention to the inequalities and disparities between women and men regarding access to healthcare and the quality of healthcare provided; calls for universal access to facilities for the prevention, diagnosis, care and treatment of female and sexually transmitted diseases; , taking into account the lack of gender responsive healthcare and services, adding the importance of the provision of relevant information and development of gender responsive diagnostics; calls for universal access to facilities for the prevention, diagnosis, care and treatment of female and sexually transmitted diseases, taking into account the specific needs of young people, LGBTI+ people, with the set up of youth-friendly health facilities and the gender disparities in midlife and older women’s unmet health needs;
Amendment 331 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Notes that GAP III must further improve women’s rights, by increasing awareness of and access to sexual and reproductive health for women and girls, and enabling them to maintain and improve it, free from coercion, violence, discrimination and abuse;
Amendment 338 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5
Subheading 5
Promoting economic and social rights and equality
Amendment 345 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Reiterates that the current ongoing COVID-19 crisis is affecting women’s access to the labour market; stresses the importance and the need for the inclusion of a intersectional gender dimension in the economic all recovery plans of the countries concerned;
Amendment 355 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls for GAP III to promote women’s access and participation to the economic activity and their access to the necessary resources and social protectioneconomic as well as social tools and resources; calls for measures to help make women more employable and provide them with business opportunities; highlights the need to consider the complementarity of other actions to ensure effectiveness, such as the freedom from gender-based violence and access to decent work;
Amendment 374 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls for a comprehensive effort to provide girls and women with access to high quality education and quality training tailored to the needs of the labour marketboth girls and boys learning preferences and to the needs of the labour market thus providing also the girls and women the effective tools to benefit from and shape the modern economy;
Amendment 383 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Ensuring girls and women’s access to education and training is particularly important in emergency and displacement settings, including support to local women-led organisations that know best how to answer to the needs of their communities;
Amendment 388 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Stresses the importance of gender appropriate education and training on the necessary technologic and digital tools and the promotion of digital literacy and skills according;
Amendment 390 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)
Paragraph 19 c (new)
19c. Highlights the importance of boosting the access to, for example, micro credit in view of facilitating and motivating women’s creativity and entrepreneurship at a smaller scale;
Amendment 391 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 d (new)
Paragraph 19 d (new)
19d. Emphasises the need for a gender- sensitive response to COVID-19 in the implementation of the GAP III to take account of the unique circumstances of women and girls and to stimulate post- crisis opportunities;
Amendment 392 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 e (new)
Paragraph 19 e (new)
19e. Stresses the importance of female participation in the economy worldwide for sustainable development and economic growth, intrinsically linked to the global goal of eradicating poverty as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals;
Amendment 393 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 f (new)
Paragraph 19 f (new)
19f. Acknowledges the crucial importance of education of girls for their advancement later in life, yet emergencies, such as economic crises and armed conflict puts this advancement at risk and therefore stresses the importance of necessary funds allocation to education in emergencies;
Amendment 394 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 g (new)
Paragraph 19 g (new)
Amendment 396 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 h (new)
Paragraph 19 h (new)
19h. Reiterates that women’s access to livelihoods and labour opportunities is seriously affected during emergencies and thus call for measures to improve the structures that ensure that they can develop their education, skills and access to jobs in long term;
Amendment 398 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6
Subheading 6
Encouraging participation and leadership by women and girls
Amendment 405 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Notes that women are under- represented at every level of political and public life; calls for programme funding to promote the training and participation of womenthe inclusion of women in all levels of decision-making and positions of power from civil servants to elected officials and other politicians;
Amendment 413 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. calls for programme funding to promote the training and participation of women in all their diversity, to public life, all levels of political decision-making and leadership;
Amendment 418 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Stresses that the diversity, equal participation of women, as citizens and in the public service, is essential to good governance and policy-making and underlines the importance of having women represented in both sides of the negotiation table in all levels of external action;
Amendment 422 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 c (new)
Paragraph 20 c (new)
20c. Calls for the further promotion of women's equal representation and influence in decision-making roles, particularly in all spheres of government, from local to national levels;
Amendment 423 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 d (new)
Paragraph 20 d (new)
20d. Emphasises the value of activities such as networking, exchanges, mentoring and sponsorship to support elected women at all levels;
Amendment 424 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 e (new)
Paragraph 20 e (new)
20e. Calls for the inclusions of girl- and youth-led organisations and networks working on gender equality in consultations with civil society in partner countries;
Amendment 425 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 f (new)
Paragraph 20 f (new)
20f. Emphasises the importance of safe, meaningful and inclusive youth participation, particularly young women and girls’ empowerment and participation in dialogues with partner countries and decision-making platforms;
Amendment 426 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 g (new)
Paragraph 20 g (new)
20g. Stresses the importance of women and girls' leadership and participation in all decisions that affect their lives and reiterates that when women and girls lead equally, the entire communities’ benefit from better and more durable solutions; calls for the EU to ensure women and girls, as well as women's rights and grassroots organisations participate and lead in the implementation of GAP III in their countries;
Amendment 427 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 h (new)
Paragraph 20 h (new)
20h. Calls for programme funding to promote the training and participation of women in public life as well as to advocate for the inclusion of local women rights organisations and women led frontline humanitarian responders in humanitarian coordination and decision- making structures;
Amendment 431 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Stresses the importance of the contribution made by women to promoting dialogue, forging coalitions and mediating for peace; calls on the EU to promote greater participation by women in peacekeeping and further peacebuilding and to recognise young women and girls as key drivers of change as well, alongside adult women;
Amendment 444 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Stresses the need to ensure that women and girls who have suffered sexual violence in conflict zones receiveaffected zones and countries receive appropriate and holistic care and treatment;
Amendment 447 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Reiterates the need to combatDeplores the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and to combat impunitycalls on the urgent need to combat it as well as to combat impunity by bringing perpetrators to justice and calls for commitment to zero- tolerance to gender based violence;
Amendment 452 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Recalls the opportunity presented by the humanitarian-development-peace triple nexus approach to protect women and girls rights and promote gender equality in all contexts;
Amendment 461 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Appreciates the EU’s determination to address gender issues in the context of the green transition, given the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and girls especially in the developing countries concerned where they are confronted to it in their everyday life;
Amendment 466 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Reiterates that gender equality is a prerequisite for sustainable development and that in order to achieve a fair and just transition which leaves no one behind, all EU external climate related action must include a gender and an intersectional perspective;
Amendment 473 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Points out that women and girls’ organisations are at the forefront when it comes to expertise in the fields of agriculture, climate and biodiversity; calls for them to be given support in the form of adequate and flexible funding, legislative framework provisions and access to resources;
Amendment 489 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Stresses the need for digital platforms to be suitably regulated in order to combat gender-based online violence and cyberbullying; recognising that this is a major barrier for women and girls’ access to digital spaces and their participation online and severely hinders girls’ and women’s political participation, and even more so if they belong to structurally disadvantaged groups; calls for greater involvement of women in the design, manufacture and development of artificial intelligence applications in order to combat the perpetuation of gender stereotyping and prejudice;
Amendment 511 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Reiterates the need for the EU to play a leading role at multilateral level in promoting feminist diplomacyexternal policies that put forward gender equality and women empowerment as a core part of their external actions and priorities;
Amendment 516 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Reiterates that any effort to achieve the goals of GAP III must take into account the diversity of women such as: older women, girls, non-binary and lesbian women, trans and bisexual women, women with disabilities, migrants and the intersections of their identities;
Amendment 521 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Welcomes the EUR 33 billion pledged at the Generation Equality Forum in Paris; calls for the annual monitoring of agreed actionan international efficient accountability system and calls for the Commission to monitor annually its agreed commitments and their implementation in practice;
Amendment 525 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Recalls the Commission’s commitment to earmark EUR 4 billion from the external budget for women and girls and to increase funding for women’s organisations; calls for these commitments to be clarified and adequately monitored;
Amendment 537 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Points out once again that intergenerational dialogue and the inclusion of as well as the commitment on the part of men and boys to advance gender equality are crucial to bringing about societal change and creating a true Generation Equality;