Activities of Eleonora MELETI
Plenary speeches (6)
Persistent problems of anti-Semitism in Europe and of other forms of hate speech and hate crimes(debate)
The deteriorating situation of women in Afghanistan due to the recent adoption of the law on the “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice”
Need to fight the systemic problem of gender-based violence in Europe (debate)
Iraq, notably the situation of women’s rights and the recent proposal to amend the Personal Status Law
World Mental Health Day - need for a comprehensive EU strategy on mental health (debate)
Abuse of new technologies to manipulate and radicalise young people through hate speech and antidemocratic discourse (debate)
Shadow opinions (1)
Opinion on General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025 – all sections
Institutional motions (2)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION The deteriorating situation of women in Afghanistan due to the recent adoption of the law on the “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice”
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the deteriorating situation of women in Afghanistan due to the recent adoption of the law on the “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice”
Written questions (5)
Lethal fires in Attica
Verbal violence and online abuse
Upsurge in violent incidents among young people
EU support for Thessaly’s tourism sector, which is suffering the effects of the climate crisis
The urgent need to control children’s access to the internet
Amendments (34)
Amendment 24 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the rise in authoritarianism, illiberalism and populism threatens the global rules-based order, the protection and promotion of human rights in the world, the defence of equal opportunities, as well as the values and principles on which the EU is founded;
Amendment 28 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. Whereas the Istanbul Convention, which the European Union recently joined, despite being ratified by only some Member States, affirms that armed conflicts result in repeated human rights violations affecting civilian populations, especially women, who are subject to widespread or systematic rape and sexual violence, as well as the potential intensification of gender-based violence during and after conflicts; whereas the above mentioned Convention defines violence against women as a human rights violation;
Amendment 32 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas human rights defenders (HRDs), activists for women rights, and civil society organisations (CSOs) are crucial partners in the EU’s efforts to safeguard and advance human rights, equal opportunities, democracy and the rule of law, as well as to prevent conflicts globally; whereas governments around the world are increasingly censoring, silencing and harassing HRDs and CSOs in their work; whereas this behaviour includes measures encompassing strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), restrictive government policies, defamation campaigns, discrimination, intimidation and violence, including extrajudicial killings, abductions, and arbitrary arrests and detention; whereas attacks on HRDs are increasingly extending to their families and communities;
Amendment 35 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas, in a joint statement on the occasion of the International Day of Women Human Rights Defenders, several United Nations special rapporteurs emphasized that "women human rights defenders face additional barriers of economic and structural discrimination, as well as unique challenges rooted in deep-seated discrimination against women and stereotypes related to gender and sexuality embedded in patriarchal societies", and thus that ensuring their safety should be a priority; whereas in the UN Women statement on the International Day of Women Human Rights Defenders on 29 November 2022, it is stated that we must urgently protect the lives and work of women human rights defenders, that their right to participate and express their independent opinions is non-negotiable, and that it is essential to ensure an enabling environment for their work, including legislation that protects and supports them and ensures accountability for those who attack them;
Amendment 40 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas new technologies, including social media, have been shown to significantly impact the realm of democracy and human rights, influencing, for example, the outcomes of democratic elections or providing a platform for activists otherwise unable to pursue their causes and civic engagement; whereas artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and machine learning will increasingly impact democratic status and human rights, posing new challenges but also providing important opportunities that should not be underestimated;
Amendment 41 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J b (new)
Recital J b (new)
Jb. whereas the Council of Europe adopted in May 2024 the first legally binding international treaty aimed at ensuring respect for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in the application of artificial intelligence (AI) systems; whereas this treaty, open to non- European countries as well, establishes a legal framework covering the entire life cycle of AI systems and addresses associated risks while promoting responsible innovation; whereas the convention adopts a risk-based approach to the design, development, use, and deactivation of AI systems, requiring careful examination of all potential negative consequences arising from the use of such technologies;
Amendment 47 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the EU must be fully prepared to counter the rise of authoritarianism, illiberalism and populism, as well as the increasing attacks on the universality of human rights, democracy and international humanitarian law; whereas they have disproportionate negative impacts on women, as illiberal gender policies undermine the rights of vulnerable people, including victims of violence;
Amendment 56 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Condemns the increasing trend of violations and abuses of human rights and democratic principles and values across the world, such as arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture, female genital mutilation, clampdowns on civil society and political opponents, excessive use of violence by public authorities, censorship and threats to independent media, political attacks against international institutions, and increasing use of unlawful methods of war in grave breach of international humanitarian law and human rights law, among others; deplores the weakening of the protection of democratic institutions and processes, and the shrinking space for civil societies around the world;
Amendment 68 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes with satisfaction that there are also ‘human rights bright spots’ within this context of major challenges to human rights worldwide; underlines the need for a more strategic communication on human rights and democracy by spreading news about positive results, policies and best practices; supports the Good Human Rights Stories initiative9 as a way of promoting positive stories about human rights; supports the awarding by the European Parliament of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, noting that in the last two editions it has been awarded to women activists for democracy and human rights, such as Jina Mahsa Amini and the Iranian protest movement "Woman, Life, Freedom" in 2023, and María Corina Machado, leader of the Venezuelan democratic forces, in 2024; _________________ 9 https://goodhumanrightsstories.net/.
Amendment 74 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recalls the fundamental role of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) – Global Europe, including its thematic programme on human rights and democracy, as a flagship EU instrument in promoting and protecting human rights and democracy around the world; highlights the need to engage with civil society in all the EU’s relevant external activities; reiterates the importance of streamlining a human- rights based approach in the EU’s external action instruments; underlines Parliament’s role in the instrument’s programming process and calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to share all relevant information in a timely manner in order to enable Parliament to play its role accordingly, in particular during high-level geopolitical dialogues with the Commission; recalls that NDICI – Global Europe promotes gender equality, the rights and empowerment of women and girls, and non-discrimination on any grounds, through targeted and integrated actions, at least 85% of which should have gender equality as a primary or significant objective as defined by the OECD Development Assistance Committee’s gender equality policy marker;
Amendment 86 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates its concern regarding the increasing attacks by authoritarian and illiberal regimes on democratic principles and values; stresses that the defence and support of democracy around the world is increasingly becoming of geopolitical and strategic interest; emphasises the importance of Parliament’s efforts, also thanks to the role of its Delegations, in capacity-building for partner parliaments, promoting mediation and encouraging a culture of dialogue and compromise, especially among young political leaders, and empowering women parliamentarianthe promotion of women's access to political participation, both within institutions and in the public, associative, and civic spheres, HRDs and representatives from civil society and independent media; reiterates its call on the Commission to continue and expand its activities in these areas by increasing funding and support for EU bodies, agencies and other grant-based organisations; stresses the critical importance of directly supporting civil society and persons expressing dissenting views, particularly in the current climate of growing global tensions and repression in increasing numbers of countries; reiterates the importance of EU election observation missions and Parliament’s contribution to developing and enhancing their methodology; calls for enhanced collaboration between Parliament’s Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group, the relevant Commission directorates-general and the EEAS;
Amendment 89 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Is extremely concerned by the continuing restriction of civil society space and rising threats to the work of HRDs, particularly women, as well as their families, communities and lawyers, and finds particularly concerning the increasingly sophisticated means used to persecute them; supports wholeheartedly the work of HRDs and EU action to ensure their protection worldwide; calls for the complete and consistent application of the EU Guidelines on HRDs by the EU and its Member States; calls for efforts to strengthen the visibility of EU actions and channels for the protection and support of HRDs:
Amendment 102 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Recognises the potential for stronger alignment in approaches to human rights protection and promotion between Member States’ embassies and EU delegations in non-EU countries; emphasises the opportunity for Member States’ embassies to take an increasingly active role in advancing and safeguarding human rights, while also supporting civil society in these countries; highlights the importance of shared responsibility between Member States and EU delegations, supported by the Delegations of the European Parliament, in these efforts; calls for the EU and its Member States to intensify their collective efforts to promote the respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights and to support democracy worldwide;
Amendment 118 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls for a systematic and consistent approach to promoting and defending children’s rights through all of the EU’s external policies; calls for more concerted efforts to promote the respect, protection and fulfilment of children’s rights in crisis or emergency situations; condemns the decline in respect for the rights of the child and the increasing violations and abuses of these rights, which statistically affects girls and young women more frequently, including through violence, early and forced marriage, sexual abuse including genital mutilation, trafficking, child labour, recruitment of child soldiers, lack of access to education and healthcare, malnutrition and extreme poverty; further condemns the increase in death of children in situations of armed conflict and stresses the need for effective protection of children’s rights in active warfare; reiterates its call for a systematic and consistent approach to promoting and defending children’s rights through all EU external policies;
Amendment 133 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Stresses that women’s rights and gender equality are indispensable and indivisible human rights, as well as a basis for the rule of law and inclusive resilient democracies; stresses that gender-based violence against women and girls is the most widespread but least visible human rights violation in the world; deplores the fact that millions of women and girls continue to experience discrimination and violence, especially in the context of conflicts, and are denied their dignity, autonomy and even life; calls for the EU, its Member States and like- minded partners to step up their efforts to ensure the full enjoyment and protection of women’s and girls’ human rights; condemns in the strongest terms the increasing attacks on sexual and reproductive health and rights around the world, as well as gender-based violence; welcomes the accession of the EU to the Istanbul Convention and urges Member States that have not yet adhered to do so; calls for the EU and its international partners to strengthen their efforts to ensure that women fully enjoy human rights and are treated equally to men; stresses the need to pursue efforts to fully eradicate the practice of female genital mutilation;
Amendment 164 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Is concerned by the challenges to the full enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities; reiterates its calls for the EU to assist partner countries in the development of policies in support of carers of persons with disabilities, drawing on recent legislative initiatives such as the European Disability Card for EU citizens and residents of third countries; calls for the EU, in its external policy, to make use of the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030 as a tool to improve the situation of persons with disabilities, particularly concerning poverty and discrimination, but also problems with access to education, healthcare and employment, and participation in political life, issues that, in the case of women with disabilities, result in a severe situation of multiple discrimination;
Amendment 190 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. Highlights that in many regions of the world, micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are often the driving force of local economies; underlines that MSMEs account for 90 % of businesses, 60 to 70 % of employment and 50 % of gross domestic product worldwide; highlights the importance of MSMEs in their contribution to the 2030 Agenda and the achievement of the sustainable development goals, namely those on the eradication of poverty and decent work for all; stresses the difficulties faced by MSMEs, particularly those led by women, in maintaining competitiveness in the global market and ensuring adequate access to loans and credit, which should be promoted through EU programs and funds, as well as through the European Investment Bank for access to microfinance;
Amendment 195 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Is concerned by the threat that artificial intelligence (AI) can pose to democracy and human rights, especially if it is not duly regulated, but also looks optimistically at the opportunities for participation and expression that AI could foster through its ethically sound and legally regulated use ; welcomes the Council conclusions on Digital Diplomacy of 26 June 2023 to strengthen the EU’s role and leadership in global digital governance, in particular its position as a shaper of the global digital rulebook; welcomes, in this regard, the adoption of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act which aims to harmonise the rules on AI for protecting human rights, and the advantages that AI can bring to human wellbeing; notes with concern the adverse effects of the ‘fake content industry’ on the right to information and press freedom, including the rapid development of AI and the subsequent empowerment of the disinformation industry12 ; _________________ 12 Reporters Without Borders, ‘2023 World Press Freedom Index – journalism threawhich primarily affects women, victims of unauthorized sharing of altenred by fake content industry’ https://rsf.org/en/2023-world-press- freedom-index-journalism-threatened- fake-content-industry.contents and sexually explicit and/or pornographic "deepfakes";
Amendment 198 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)
Paragraph 42 a (new)
42a. Welcomes the adoption in May 2024 of the first Convention on “Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law” by the Council of Europe, aimed at ensuring that activities within the entire life cycle of AI systems are fully consistent with human rights, democracy, and the rule of law; reiterates the need for greater legislative attention to the profound changes arising from activities within the life cycle of AI systems, which have the potential to promote human prosperity, individual and social well-being, sustainable development, gender equality, and the empowerment of all women and girls, but also the risk to create or exacerbate inequalities and incentivise cyber and physical violence, including violence experienced by women and individuals in vulnerable situations;
Amendment 201 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 b (new)
Paragraph 42 b (new)
42b. Reiterates the need to establish a globally applicable legal framework setting out general principles and common rules to govern activities throughout the life cycle of AI systems, effectively preserving shared values and harnessing the benefits of artificial intelligence to promote such values in a manner conducive to responsible innovation; encourages the European Union to champion such legislative innovation, and therefore calls on the European Commission to focus more closely on the risks and opportunities of such machine learning systems in the fields of human rights, democracy, as well as equal opportunities and violence against women.
Amendment 19 #
2024/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas the UN Assembly agreed in 2017 on a global indicator framework to standardise data collection, a key element for the comparability of data;
Amendment 22 #
2024/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas just six years in advance of the 2030 deadline for the UN’s SDGs, not a single indicator under Goal 5 has been fully achieved; whereas the UN estimates that radicalstrong actions are needed in order to accelerate progress and to avoid taking 286 years to close gaps in legal protection and remove discriminatory legislation for women;
Amendment 23 #
2024/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas gender equality is a cross cutting principle, to be mainstreamed across the SDGs;
Amendment 34 #
2024/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas the summit of the future adopted document includes a specific action for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls as a crucial contribution to progress1a _________________ 1a https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/ sotf-pact_for_the_future_adopted.pdf
Amendment 51 #
2024/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b
Paragraph 1 – point b
(b) ensure that gender equality and women’s rights are fully and proudly implemented in all aspects of EU external action through an adequately funded, gender-transformatresponsive, inclusive and intersectional approach;
Amendment 64 #
2024/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f
Paragraph 1 – point f
(f) reiterate that the EU has an important role to play in achieving a gender-equal world through supporting partner countries in addressing gender discrimination; ensure that the EU leads by example by urging the remaining five Member States that have still not ratified and implemented the Istanbul Convention to do so in the shortest possible timeframe; recalls of the importance of this Council of Europe instrument, and calls as well its other countries to make progress towards signing and ratifying it;
Amendment 81 #
2024/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g
Paragraph 1 – point g
(g) press for equal opportunities for all in all areas of life, to allow women in all their diversity to fulfil their potential, notably in decision-making, whether political, economic, academic or cultural, this also being essential for good governance and policymaking; within this context, express opposition to semioticall types of violence against women in politics, which sustains and reinforces negative stereotypes about women and discourages young women from entering politics and the public sphere;
Amendment 83 #
2024/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
(g a) stresses the importance of combatting gender stereotypes, attitudes and prejudices in all their dimensions, through all kinds of media, including social media;
Amendment 84 #
2024/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point g b (new)
(g b) stresses the importance of addressing the economic empowerment of women, through all means available, such as for example an enabling environment for their economic activities, or through supporting women entrepreneurship and women led businesses;
Amendment 85 #
2024/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g c (new)
Paragraph 1 – point g c (new)
(g c) points out the importance of promoting women’s empowerment through education, training, life-long learning, which are of vital importance in order to fight stereotypes and combat persisting inequalities together with addressing women’s employment rate and underrepresentation in certain sectors like STEM and AI;
Amendment 90 #
2024/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h
Paragraph 1 – point h
(h) emphasise that weak political leadershipdirection, lack of commitment, data gaps, insufficiently targeted investment, hate speech and hate campaigns and the rise of anti-rights movements have been identified as obstacles; thus making it necessary to promote more women in politics and leadership, increase dedicated investments, and implement comprehensive policy reforms to overcome these systemic barriers and achieve a truly equal society;
Amendment 97 #
2024/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i
Paragraph 1 – point i
(i) apply gender mainstreaming and gender budgeting in allrelevant EU policy areas, including external action, and lead by example in this regard;
Amendment 136 #
2024/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point o
Paragraph 1 – point o
(o) take note of and implement the recommendations of Parliament’s resolution of 10 March 2022 on the EU GAP III, and thus prioritise GAP III in every aspect of EU external action through a gender-transformatresponsive and intersectional approach, both in terms of GAP III’s geographical coverage and areas of action, as well as gender mainstreaming in all areas of external action, whether trade, development policy, humanitarian aid, security or sectors such as energy and agriculture;
Amendment 173 #
2024/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point s
Paragraph 1 – point s
(s) enhance the EU’s response, resources and toolkit, both internally and externally, regarding gender-based violence, both online and offline, including domestic, sexual, physical, psychological, verbal and economic violence, including in war zones, taking account of migration, prostitution and sexual exploitation;