Text tabled : A7-0065/2011

  Liam Aylward (ALDE), in writing. – (GA) The international community must implement a cross-border approach to combat violence against women. There is no doubt that violence against women violates their basic rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular the right to security and human dignity. Member States must implement CEDAW (UN Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women), which aims to ensure the rights and freedoms of women. Under the Treaty of Lisbon the EU can introduce criminal law provisions, and the Treaty makes particular reference to human trafficking and to the sexual exploitation of children and women. I voted in favour of this report because I believe it is time that the EU faced this issue and gave good example by means of the legislation and support required to bring an end to violence against women. A multi-faceted approach must be adopted to ensure the effectiveness of the political, social and legal measures being applied.