MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the discrimination against young girls in Pakistan, in particular the case of Malala Yousafzai
23.10.2012 - (2012/2843(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure
Charles Tannock; Marina Yannakoudakis; Paweł Robert Kowal on behalf of the ECR Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0477/2012
B7‑0485/2012
European Parliament resolution on the discrimination against young girls in Pakistan, in particular the case of Malala Yousafzai
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on women's and girls rights and to its previous resolutions on Pakistan, in particular its resolution of 15 December 2011 on the situation of women in Afghanistan and Pakistan,
- having regard to the statement on 10 October 2012 by the Spokesperson of the HR/VP on the shooting of a young Human Rights Defender in Pakistan,
- having regard to the Commission Communication entitled "a special place for children in EU external action"[1],
- having regard to the statement of the Executive Director of UN Women of 10 October 2012 condemning the attack on Malala Yousafzai,
- having regard to the statement of UNICEF of 10 October 2012 condemning the attack on a schoolgirl in Pakistan and calling on all parties to respect children's rights,
- having regard to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in particular article 13 on the right to education, signed and ratified by Pakistan,
- having regard to Rule 122(%) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. Whereas on 9 October 2012 Malala Yousafzai, a 14 year old Pakistani girl from Mingora in the Swat district was shot in the head and neck and severely wounded, while leaving her school; whereas at least one other girl was also hurt in the attack;
B. Whereas responsibility for the attack was claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who announced it would attempt to kill Yousafzai again if she recovers from her injuries;
C. Whereas Malala Yousafzai has been active since the age of 11 as a blogger and the reason for the attack is believed to be her outspokenness and support for girls to attend school;
D. Whereas across a number of cities in Pakistan, men, women and children have gathered to protest against the shooting and show their solidarity for Miss Yousafzai;
E. Whereas in 2011, 11 incidents were reported of children being used by armed groups to carry out suicide attacks, children continued to be victims of indiscriminate attacks, including by improvised explosive devices and suicide bombings, a total of 57 children were killed during the reporting period from landmines, explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices, bomb blasts, shelling and targeted attacks and, on 13 September 2011, TPP allegedly attacked a school bus in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, killing four children;
F. Whereas in 2012 and according to government figures, as a result of the conflict with the Taliban, 246 schools (59 girls’ schools, 187 boys’ schools) were destroyed and 763 damaged (244 girls’ schools, 519 boys’ schools) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, depriving thousands of children of access to education;
G. Whereas the situation for women and girls in Pakistan remains acute with the country being labeled the third most dangerous place in the world for women by the Global Gender Gap Index;
H. Whereas, in most cases, violence against women and girls remains unpunished;
1. Strongly condemns the violent attack on Malala Yousafzai noting that her attack constitutes a severe violation of the Rights of the Child
2. Welcomes the strong and public condemnation and outcry in Pakistan by many media outlets, politicians, clerics and other individuals including men, women and children;
3. Believes that every Pakistani girl has the same rights as every Pakistani boy to education and schooling and calls on the Pakistan authorities to ensure that access to schooling for girls is a political priority;
4. Is concerned about the health and safety of Miss Yousafzai and her family; welcomes the swift medical action that was taken by Pakistan military medics and medics in the UK; urges the Pakistani authorities to address the fundamental problem of Taliban violence in the country
5. Recognises and praises the Government of Pakistan for their cooperation with international partners and urges the Government of Pakistan to work closely with the UN and EU on delivering on the Millennium Development Goals, namely Goal 2 which states that "by 2015 all children, girls and boys, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling."
6. Calls on the Commission to act upon its pledge to children in its communication "A Special Place for Children in the EU External Action" and to ensure that the EU does all it can to promote and safeguard the rights of children
7. Strongly urges the Government of Pakistan to address the dangerous and growing trends of violence and discrimination against women and girls and calls on the Government of Pakistan to ensure that all perpetrators of violence against women and children are brought to justice
8. Urges the Government of Pakistan to use the current momentum to concretely improve women's and girls rights, repealing parts of the Hudood Ordinances and the Law of Evidence, the Child Marriage Restraint Act and other pieces of legislation that violate the status and rights of women, making them subordinate in law;
9. Reminds the Government of Pakistan that in December 2011 the Ambassador of Pakistan to the EU wrote to the European Parliament reiterating Pakistan's commitment to the rights of women and minorities and guaranteed full participation of women in all spheres of national life;
10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the Government and Parliament of Pakistan.
- [1] COM(2008) 55 final