Speech by Tasos Georgiou, Head of the European Parliament Office in Cyprus
Workshop on "How to Guarantee Women's Rights in the Political transitions in the Arab World: Developing Joint Strategies",
Holiday Inn, 26 April 2012 at 17:30 hrs
Your Excellency Madam Minister of Foreign Affairs, distinguished guests,
Women’s voices and their participation in all aspects of society are more important than ever, as witnessed in the context of the political transitions in the Arab world. Despite the steps taken forward and the progress made in many Arab States, women are demanding and entitled greater progress. There is no doubt that the democratic processes and women's rights in the countries affected by the Arab Spring should be supported and promoted.
The countries affected by the Arab Spring, such as Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia and Libya, are experiencing major political and social upheaval. At times of such political transition, there is a danger of regression in the enjoyment by women of their human rights, while women participating in public life are often exposed to violence. Gender equality and the empowerment of women are gaining ground worldwide and the Arab world should be no exception. Ways should be found to eliminate existing discrimination practices against women in this part of the world. We must take the opportunity of political transition to improve women’s constitutional and political position, adopting positive measures to eliminate discrimination and to promote the empowerment of women.
The situation concerning women's position today in many societies, especially in developing countries and some countries undergoing political transition in the Arab world is dramatic. The absence of real gender equality and respect of women's human rights is evident in all aspects of society, in all aspects of the personal, business and social lives of women. The statistics are shocking. Women are being treated as sexual tools for the enjoyment of the strong gender. Women in the sub-Sahara area and in some Arab countries are subjected to a barbaric genital mutilation of their organs with the justification that they are not entitled to enjoy sex. Three million young women a year, more than 150 million young women until now, have experienced this inhumane practice. In some Arab countries, the fate of a woman who was raped could have possibly been her strangulation by her own father who though that she would wash off, in this way, the shame brought to the family. What is worse is that the international organizations, the alleged modern and developed societies and their governments have not done enough to eliminate such practices and guarantee the full respect of the basic human rights of women.
The EU has long been trying to draw international attention to the need to ensure the full respect of women's rights and their active participation in the political processes worldwide, including in North Africa and the Arab world. The European Parliament itself has a long-lasting and strong commitment to women’s rights and gender equality in all aspects of society.
To this end, the European Parliament has set up a permanent Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality. The work of this committee is amazing and touches upon every aspect of the rights of women and gender equality such as equal pay, poverty among women, the sexual exploitation and trafficking of women, maternity leave, equal representation of women in the political and business life and so many more.
Within the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, theEU, since 2006, committed itself to the ‘Istanbul Process’ which promotes gender equality. While the EU’s response to events in the Arab Spring countries was outlined in the two communications: ‘A partnership for democracy and shared prosperity with the southern Mediterranean’ of 8March2011 and ‘A new response to a changing Neighbourhood’ of 25May2011.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Arab Spring has opened up a new relationship between the Arab world and Europe. We need this new dimension, this new approach.After the Arab Spring, and based on the interest that is now focused on the Arab world, I think that we can be proud of the Arab people because they are very much in favour of universal values of respect for human dignity.Human rights are universal. We all value human dignity, freedom of thought and expression, as well as responsible and accountable government, and we are all entitled to it.
TheEU has been supporting and encouraging the efforts to bring about democracy and reform in the Arab world through its foreign policy, based on the universality of human rights. In particular, theEU supports and promotes women’s rights and gender equality in these countries. While fundamental human rights issues such as female genital mutilation and violence against women in general have not been open to discussion in the majority Arab countries so far, we believe that these times of political transition will also bring around a huge social transition leading to positive progress in those areas as well.
The EU recognises that a thriving civil society can help uphold human rights, including women’s rights, and contribute to democracy building and good governance, playing an important role in checking government excesses. That is a key element for building deep democracy.
On the path towards that deep democracy, women have made huge sacrifices in the Arab world. They have laid down their lives. They have seen their nearest and dearest, their children die, to try to get rid of this totalitarian regime under which they suffered for so long. In many places the struggle is ongoing as we speak. In Syria protestors’ demands are met by bullets, tear gas, tanks, arbitrary detention and torture. The death toll is in many thousands, including women and children.
Dear friends,
Among the most recent Sakharov prize winners, which is given every year by the European Parliament to honour fighters of democracy, we have two young ladies, representatives of a new generation, Asmaa Mahfouz, from Egypt and Razan Zaitouneh from Syria.
Asmaa Mahfouz is a young Egyptian blogger whose Youtube videos brought thousands of people onto the streets to protest against the repressive regime of President Hosni Mubarak, while Razan Zaitouneh is a Syrian human rights lawyer who went into hiding after being accused by the government of being a foreign agent because of her daily reports on her website and to foreign media of the atrocities against civilians in Syria.
Both ladies are shining examples and symbols of how individuals can make a difference, leading by inspiration and by the strongest possible conviction of human rights, despite the risks of intimidation by the authorities.
They deserve not only our admiration and respect, but better prospects for their future. Their nomination by the European Parliament represents a tribute to the decisive role played by women during the Arab Spring. Yet a lot more needs to be done. This shall be done through our support and exchange of know-how all throughout the way, not just for these two exceptional ladies but also for all the exceptional ladies of the Arab Spring.
We hope that their courageous involvement is a sign that geopolitical changes will also bring about improvement in women’s rights in this region.I would like to commend the exceptional courage ofthe women and reiterate the fact that the European Parliament is decisive to support Arab women during their intensive journey to stability and equality.