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Wtorek, 8 października 2013 r. - Strasburg

15. Konwencja w sprawie zapobiegania i zwalczania przemocy wobec kobiet (konwencja stambulska) (debata)

  El Presidente. − El punto siguiente en el orden del día es el debate sobre:

- la pregunta con solicitud de respuesta oral al Consejo sobre el Convenio sobre prevención y lucha contra la violencia contra las mujeres (Convenio de Estambul): situación y acciones futuras, presentada por Roberta Angelilli, Mikael Gustafsson, Antonyia Parvanova, Sonia Alfano, Martina Anderson, Francesca Barracciu, Paolo Bartolozzi, Elena Băsescu, Regina Bastos, Sandrine Bélier, Jean-Luc Bennahmias, Phil Bennion, Sergio Berlato, Mara Bizzotto, Franco Bonanini, Emine Bozkurt, Jerzy Buzek, Antonio Cancian, Maria Da Graça Carvalho, Michael Cashman, Nikos Chrysogelos, Minodora Cliveti, Sergio Gaetano Cofferati, Lara Comi, Anna Maria Corazza Bildt, Ricardo Cortés Lastra, Silvia Costa, Emer Costello, Andrea Cozzolino, Corina Creţu, Vasilica Viorica Dăncilă, Rachida Dati, Francesco De Angelis, Susy De Martini, Marielle de Sarnez, Anne Delvaux, Agustín Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Leonidas Donskis, Isabelle Durant, Sari Essayah, Rosa Estaràs Ferragut, Tanja Fajon, Mariya Gabriel, Pat the Cope Gallagher, Iratxe García Pérez, Dolores García-Hierro Caraballo, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, Nathalie Griesbeck, Marian Harkin, Satu Hassi, Nadja Hirsch, Salvatore Iacolino, Sophia in 't Veld, Vincenzo Iovine, Liisa Jaakonsaari, Lívia Járóka, Sidonia Elżbieta Jędrzejewska, Teresa Jiménez-Becerril Barrio, Filip Kaczmarek, Seán Kelly, Nicole Kiil-Nielsen, Mojca Kleva Kekuš, Jürgen Klute, Lena Kolarska-Bobińska, Jan Kozłowski, Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Eduard Kukan, Giovanni La Via, Jean Lambert, Jörg Leichtfried, Barbara Lochbihler, Sabine Lösing, Petru Constantin Luhan, Astrid Lulling, Ulrike Lunacek, Marusya Lyubcheva, Jiří Maštálka, Clemente Mastella, Barbara Matera, Véronique Mathieu Houillon, Iosif Matula, Erminia Mazzoni, Edward McMillan-Scott, Roberta Metsola, Willy Meyer, Louis Michel, Claude Moraes, Claudio Morganti, Elisabeth Morin-Chartier, Tiziano Motti, Cristiana Muscardini, Norica Nicolai, Ria Oomen-Ruijten, Rolandas Paksas, Alfredo Pallone, Pier Antonio Panzeri, Antigoni Papadopoulou, Aldo Patriciello, Sirpa Pietikäinen, Jacek Protasiewicz, Evelyn Regner, Raül Romeva i Rueda, Licia Ronzulli, Oreste Rossi, Potito Salatto, Nikolaos Salavrakos, Marie-Thérèse Sanchez-Schmid, Amalia Sartori, Helmut Scholz, Giancarlo Scottà, Olga Sehnalová, Joanna Senyszyn, Sergio Paolo Francesco Silvestris, Nicole Sinclaire, Renate Sommer, Dimitar Stoyanov, Claudiu Ciprian Tănăsescu, Marc Tarabella, Salvatore Tatarella, Rebecca Taylor, Britta Thomsen, Silvia-Adriana Ţicău, Patrizia Toia, Giommaria Uggias, Oldřich Vlasák, Manfred Weber, Angelika Werthmann, Cecilia Wikström, Iva Zanicchi, Andrea Zanoni, Tadeusz Zwiefka, Doris Pack, Marco Scurria, Othmar Karas y Gianni Pittella (O-000083/2013 - 2013/2876(RSP) - B7-0511/2013), y

- la pregunta con solicitud de respuesta oral a la Comisión sobre el Convenio sobre prevención y lucha contra la violencia contra las mujeres (Convenio de Estambul): situación y acciones futuras, presentada por Roberta Angelilli, Mikael Gustafsson, Antonyia Parvanova, Sonia Alfano, Martina Anderson, Francesca Barracciu, Paolo Bartolozzi, Elena Băsescu, Regina Bastos, Sandrine Bélier, Jean-Luc Bennahmias, Phil Bennion, Sergio Berlato, Mara Bizzotto, Franco Bonanini, Emine Bozkurt, Jerzy Buzek, Antonio Cancian, Maria Da Graça Carvalho, Michael Cashman, Nikos Chrysogelos, Minodora Cliveti, Sergio Gaetano Cofferati, Lara Comi, Anna Maria Corazza Bildt, Ricardo Cortés Lastra, Silvia Costa, Emer Costello, Andrea Cozzolino, Corina Creţu, Vasilica Viorica Dăncilă, Rachida Dati, Francesco De Angelis, Susy De Martini, Marielle de Sarnez, Anne Delvaux, Agustín Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Leonidas Donskis, Isabelle Durant, Sari Essayah, Rosa Estaràs Ferragut, Tanja Fajon, Mariya Gabriel, Pat the Cope Gallagher, Iratxe García Pérez, Dolores García-Hierro Caraballo, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, Nathalie Griesbeck, Marian Harkin, Satu Hassi, Nadja Hirsch, Salvatore Iacolino, Sophia in 't Veld, Vincenzo Iovine, Liisa Jaakonsaari, Lívia Járóka, Sidonia Elżbieta Jędrzejewska, Teresa Jiménez-Becerril Barrio, Filip Kaczmarek, Seán Kelly, Nicole Kiil-Nielsen, Mojca Kleva Kekuš, Jürgen Klute, Lena Kolarska-Bobińska, Jan Kozłowski, Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Eduard Kukan, Giovanni La Via, Jean Lambert, Jörg Leichtfried, Barbara Lochbihler, Sabine Lösing, Petru Constantin Luhan, Astrid Lulling, Ulrike Lunacek, Marusya Lyubcheva, Jiří Maštálka, Clemente Mastella, Barbara Matera, Véronique Mathieu Houillon, Iosif Matula, Erminia Mazzoni, Edward McMillan-Scott, Roberta Metsola, Willy Meyer, Louis Michel, Claude Moraes, Claudio Morganti, Elisabeth Morin-Chartier, Tiziano Motti, Cristiana Muscardini, Norica Nicolai, Ria Oomen-Ruijten, Rolandas Paksas, Alfredo Pallone, Pier Antonio Panzeri, Antigoni Papadopoulou, Aldo Patriciello, Sirpa Pietikäinen, Jacek Protasiewicz, Evelyn Regner, Raül Romeva i Rueda, Licia Ronzulli, Oreste Rossi, Potito Salatto, Nikolaos Salavrakos, Marie-Thérèse Sanchez-Schmid, Amalia Sartori, Helmut Scholz, Giancarlo Scottà, Olga Sehnalová, Joanna Senyszyn, Sergio Paolo Francesco Silvestris, Nicole Sinclaire, Renate Sommer, Dimitar Stoyanov, Claudiu Ciprian Tănăsescu, Marc Tarabella, Salvatore Tatarella, Rebecca Taylor, Britta Thomsen, Silvia-Adriana Ţicău, Patrizia Toia, Giommaria Uggias, Oldřich Vlasák, Manfred Weber, Angelika Werthmann, Cecilia Wikström, Iva Zanicchi, Andrea Zanoni, Tadeusz Zwiefka, Doris Pack, Marco Scurria, Othmar Karas y Gianni Pittella (O-000084/2013 - 2013/2876(RSP) - B7-0512/2013).

  Roberta Angelilli, Autore. − Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, ringrazio innanzitutto il presidente Gustafsson e l'on. Parvanova che con me hanno proposto quest'interrogazione, ma ringrazio soprattutto i 134 colleghi di tutti i gruppi politici che hanno voluto, firmando quest'interrogazione, sottolineare che la lotta alla violenza contro le donne è un'assoluta priorità di questo Parlamento.

Il nostro obiettivo è quello di accelerare il processo di ratifica della convenzione del Consiglio d'Europa sulla prevenzione e la lotta contro la violenza nei confronti delle donne e la violenza domestica affinché la convenzione possa entrare in vigore il più presto possibile. Come è noto la convenzione di Istanbul è stata aperta alle firme l'11 maggio 2011 e rappresenta il primo strumento internazionale giuridicamente vincolante volto ad istituire un quadro legislativo completo per proteggere le donne contro qualsiasi forma di violenza.

L'obiettivo è ovviamente la tolleranza zero verso questo tipo di violenza: prevenire e contrastare la violenza familiare e altre forme specifiche di violenza contro le donne; proteggere e fornire sostegno alle vittime di questa violenza e, ovviamente, perseguire efficacemente gli autori. È importante osservare che la convenzione non si applica solo alle donne, le parti contraenti sono altresì esortate ad applicare tale quadro anche agli uomini, ai minori e agli anziani esposti alla violenza domestica.

Qual è l'obiettivo della convenzione? Innanzitutto, un invito a mutare atteggiamento culturale, a promuovere una maggiore uguaglianza tra donne e uomini, perché la violenza sulle donne ha soprattutto profonde radici nella disparità tra i sessi all'interno della società ed è perpetuata da una cultura che di fatto tollera, o comunque giustifica, la violenza di genere. La convenzione inoltre individua una serie di tipologie di reato quali le mutilazioni genitali femminili, il matrimonio forzato, gli atti persecutori e quindi lo stalking, l'aborto forzato, la sterilizzazione forzata e la violenza domestica.

La convenzione entrerà in vigore solo quando sarà ratificata da almeno 10 paesi, 8 dei quali devono essere Stati membri del Consiglio d'Europa. Qual è la situazione attuale delle firme e delle ratifiche? Abbiamo 26 firme non seguite da ratifica, 5 sole le ratifiche: 2 Stati membri dell'Unione europea – Italia e Portogallo – insieme ad Albania, Montenegro e Turchia. Alcuni Stati membri stanno completando il processo di ratifica.

La nostra domanda è: quali misure possono essere adottate per velocizzare il processo di firma e ratifica della convenzione da parte degli Stati membri e da parte dell'Unione europea nel suo insieme? Il Parlamento ha più volte chiesto un approccio politico globale contro la violenza di genere che comprenda misure per trattare le cosiddette 6 P del quadro sulla violenza contro le donne e cioè: politica, prevenzione, protezione, procedimento giudiziario, provvedimenti e partenariato.

In conclusione, ricordo che le istituzioni europee sono molto attive su questi temi, ricordo che in questi ultimi quattro anni noi abbiamo approvato importantissime direttive: quella sulle vittime di reato, quella contro la tratta degli esseri umani, quella sull'ordine di protezione europeo e quella contro pedopornografia – ed è in corso, tra l'altro, una relazione del Parlamento europeo proprio specifica sulla lotta alla violenza contro le donne che verrà adottata nel corso della legislatura.

Quindi le istituzioni sono sensibili, stiamo facendo molto, ci sono leggi importanti, è indispensabile il recepimento, la ratifica di questa convenzione di Istanbul perché è assolutamente aggiornata e all'avanguardia, mi sento però di concludere dicendo che il primo obiettivo deve essere quello di cambiare la mentalità. Buone leggi senza un cambiamento di cultura e di sensibilità purtroppo ci fanno registrare soltanto un aumento continuo delle vittime di violenza di genere.

  Vytautas Leškevičius, President-in-Office of the Council. − Mr President, we all agree on the urgent need to tackle the scourge of violence against women. The Council of Europe and its members have done excellent work in this field. But within the EU, there has also been excellent cooperation between the Commission, Parliament and the Council. We have established the Daphne Programme, the Directive on trafficking, the European Protection Order and the Directive on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime.

Last year, the Council addressed the issue of domestic violence and called for more to be done to support victims and to bring perpetrators to justice. It asked the Commission and the Member States to consider designating 2015 the European Year on Zero Tolerance for Violence against Women. It is important to remember that, in this field, the Member States are responsible for many of the key policy areas where action needs to be taken. And of course at EU level, the Commission has the right of initiative.

For too long, violence has remained a hidden phenomenon. But the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), a body jointly created by the Council and Parliament, has included ‘Violence’ as one of the focus areas in its recently launched Gender Equality Index.

I welcome the opportunity this afternoon to respond to the issues raised in your question. Allow me to begin by underlining that the adoption of the Istanbul Convention was a major step forward in our efforts to eradicate all domestic violence, including violence against women. As far as ratification of the Convention is concerned, the Council has already called upon the Member States to ‘[c]onsider signing, ratifying and implementing’ this crucial instrument. To date, 17 Member States have already signed it and two have ratified it. As regards the possibility of EU accession to this Convention, it would be up to the Commission to propose such a step. The Council would then examine this in accordance with the Treaty rules.

On the issue of implementation, the Council has already called for action on a number of occasions. Last year, the Council asked the Member States and the Commission to develop action plans, programmes and strategies to combat violence against women and girls. The Council explicitly called for measures aimed at the prevention and elimination of violence, the provision of protection and support to victims, and the prosecution of perpetrators. The Council also called for appropriate and sustainable funding.

As for networks, communication and support for Member States, the Council has repeatedly invited the Commission to consider developing a European Strategy in this area. Here, we must of course respect the Commission’s right of initiative, as well as the Member States’ competences in key areas, including justice and home affairs. But no one, I believe, questions the value of European cooperation and mutual learning in this difficult field.

Violence against women has to be tackled. It is a complex and broad-ranging issue. The Council has therefore also called on the Member States and the Commission to strengthen and support multi-agency and multidisciplinary cooperation involving all relevant stakeholders. These include women’s organisations and NGOs, which play an important role in combating violence against women and providing services to victims of such violence and their children.

The Council has also called for the registration and handling of complaints to be improved. Here, too, we can benefit from cooperation, mutual learning and shared practices. In addition, the Council has stressed the importance of improving the collection and dissemination of data. Cooperation in this area is vital. The Member States and the Commission have the key competences and resources. National and European statistical offices will all have a role to play. So will EIGE, with its newly launched Gender Equality Index.

Mr President, domestic violence has no place in a civilised society. To rid Europe of this scourge, we need data. We need cooperation. And we need an unflinching political commitment and will. It is pleasing to note that this is an area where the Council and Parliament share the same values, the same goals. We have long pursued the same goals. Let us continue along the same path.

  Karel De Gucht, Member of the Commission. − Mr President, violence against women constitutes a violation of human rights and must stop. Since 2011 the Council of Europe Convention has set legally binding standards to prevent violence against women and domestic violence in order to protect the victims and punish the perpetrators. The approach taken by this Convention is similar to ours. References to the Council of Europe Convention now appear in a growing number of EU instruments and initiatives, including in the recently adopted directive on victim support. This is a first step in its successful promotion.

The Commission has already stressed in previous debates before this House the importance of the ratification of the Convention by all Member States. Let me assure you that the Commission continues to use all relevant opportunities to call on Member States to progress with ratification. Recent examples include the lunch debate on femicide and gender violence with the G6 Ministers of the Interior on 12 September in Rome, or the meeting of the European Network of EU Ministers for Gender Equality organised on 30 September in Brussels by the French and Belgian Ministers for Gender Equality.

EU accession to the Convention will be possible only in the areas where the EU has competence. The EU is not competent for provisions of the Convention requiring harmonisation of definitions and criminal sanctions relating to the forms of violence. It is up to the Member States to implement these specific provisions. So far only two Member States – Portugal and Italy – have ratified the Convention, so let us continue encouraging the others to complete their ratification processes.

At EU level we address violence against women in a solid and comprehensive framework of concrete actions. We are achieving tangible results and making full use of EU competences to support Member States in eliminating all forms of violence against women. We have made significant progress in adopting concrete legislative proposals to support women against violence. We worked well together on the directive for victim support, as well as on a civil and criminal European Protection Order. It will make a difference on the ground.

It is now up to the Member States to implement these measures effectively and in a timely manner. The Commission is assisting Member States in this respect and will monitor the effective implementation of these important tools, which will particularly protect women victims of gender-based violence. The Commission is also committed to continuing to support projects at grass roots level to combat violence against women. This is currently done by the Daphne III Programme and should continue with the future rights, equality and citizenship programme.

In the field of prevention and awareness-raising, the Commission launched this year a restricted call for proposals for EUR 3.7 million in funding to support Member States’ activities. A further EUR 11.4 million will be awarded for NGOs to put in place actions to be adapted to national contexts, tailored to the specific needs of the targeted groups. Improving EU-wide data collection, based on reliable national data on all forms of violence against women, is a must and is still a challenge. This work requires strong involvement and close cooperation with the Member States. A systematic registration and common recording of complaints need to be assured. The Commission is participating in the work of the Fundamental Rights Agency and the European Institute for Gender Equality to get more reliable EU figures.

The Commission is actively involved in the campaign to eliminate female genital mutilation. A round table was hosted earlier this year which gave input in a possible initiative. All these measures, be they legislative, awareness-raising campaigns, work on reliable data or support for grass roots projects, complement each other in order to bring about real change on the important matter of violence against women.

The Commission thanks this House for the support it gives in continuing on this path. I am doing this in the name of Vice-President Viviane Reding who could not be present in this debate.

  Mariya Gabriel, au nom du groupe PPE. – Monsieur le Président, Monsieur le Commissaire, chers collègues, tout d'abord je voudrais féliciter Roberta Angelilli et remercier tous les collègues qui ont soutenu cette question orale, parce qu'en effet, il était grand temps de la poser.

J'insisterai sur trois aspects. D'abord, la ratification nous met face à nous-mêmes, parce que la question que nous posons ici, c'est la question de l'engagement de l'Union européenne et des États membres pour la défense des droits de la femme, pour la protection des femmes victimes de violence. La ratification de la convention d'Istanbul ne devrait être qu'une formalité pour les États membres de l'Union européenne, qui, eux, adhèrent pleinement au principe d'égalité entre les hommes et les femmes. Or, la violence basée sur le genre est un obstacle à cette réalisation de l'égalité hommes-femmes. Les États membres doivent montrer qu'ils sont prêts à briser le tabou de la question de la violence faite aux femmes. Et comment ? En ratifiant la convention d'Istanbul.

Ensuite, la ratification permet de s'attaquer à des formes de violence, par exemple la violence domestique. C'est souvent une dimension cachée. Nous devons montrer que nous sommes capables de briser des tabous.

Troisièmement, je voudrais insister sur le principe de cohérence entre les affaires intérieures de l'Union et notre action extérieure. En effet, dans l'action extérieure, l'Union européenne met en avant un certain nombre de priorités, de valeurs, dont les droits de la femme, la lutte contre les violences. Dans un souci de cohérence et de crédibilité, l'Union européenne et les États membres ne peuvent laisser en suspens plus longtemps la ratification de la convention d'Istanbul. Ce serait laisser la porte ouverte à la critique du donneur de leçons à laquelle les pays européens sont souvent confrontés.

Je crois qu'en soutenant cette question orale, le Parlement européen envoie un message fort à la Commission et au Conseil sur la priorité de la ratification, parce qu'après tout, c'est à la fois un pas concret et une réponse au niveau interne de l'Union européenne, mais aussi au niveau externe dans le monde, que les femmes attendent de nous.

  Iratxe García Pérez, en nombre del Grupo S&D. – Señor Presidente, la verdad es que me parece insólito que, a día de hoy, tengamos que estar manteniendo este debate en el Parlamento Europeo, sobre un Convenio que data de 2011 y que todavía no ha sido ratificado por la mayoría de los Estados miembros de la Unión Europea.

He escuchado con atención al Consejo, he escuchado con atención a la Comisión y creo que se ha acabado el momento de discursos complacientes, porque mientras nosotros escuchamos estos discursos, día a día miles de mujeres ven truncadas sus vidas a manos de hombres que acaban con ellas por el mero hecho de ser mujeres.

Estamos hablando de una violación de derechos humanos, de la necesidad de que se ratifique este Convenio para que los Estados miembros asuman responsabilidades jurídicas, que tienen que aplicar para luchar contra la mayor lacra social que existe en estos momentos en el mundo y en la Unión Europea.

Aprovecho también esta intervención para exigir al Gobierno de España que ratifique, que agilice todos los trámites para ratificar este Convenio. No es de recibo que un país que fue pionero en la Unión Europea con la puesta en marcha de la Ley contra la violencia de género a día de hoy todavía no lo haya ratificado.

Por último, desde el Grupo de socialistas y demócratas llevamos tiempo pidiendo y exigiendo a la Comisión que se emprendan todas las iniciativas necesarias para que haya un marco jurídico legislativo en la Unión Europea para luchar contra la violencia sobre las mujeres.

  Antonyia Parvanova, on behalf of the ALDE Group. – Mr President, as a rapporteur on the legislative initiative report on violence against women and one of the main advocates for the adoption and implementation of the Istanbul Convention, I am pleased that we are having a discussion on this oral question. Violence against women is a violation of human rights and a major impediment to achieving gender equality. It affects women and girls in all parts of the world, irrespective of factors such as age, class or economic background. Today’s debate is of great importance in addressing not only the rights and health of EU citizens, but also regarding the values and principles on which the Union is based and the actual financial cost of violence to EU economies. The estimated annual cost of violence against women in Europe alone is about EUR 34 billion.

An EU vision is still lacking. We are still waiting for the Commission to develop and adopt a comprehensive strategy on violence against women. Today in the EU there is still no directive on violence against women. Indeed, the European Parliament has been insisting for years that the Commission propose a directive on combating violence against women. In 2009 we had already called for a directive. In 2010 the International Women’s Day event in the European Parliament was dedicated to it. The Svensson report, adopted on 5 April 2011, called for ‘a new comprehensive policy approach against gender-based violence, including a criminal law instrument in the form of a directive against gender-based violence’. In 2012 we once again called for action in the in ’t Veld report. We said that there was a need for the Commission to present an EU-wide strategy to end violence against women, including a legislative criminal law instrument to combat gender-based violence as requested by Parliament in several resolutions. We also called on the Commission to establish 2015 as the EU Year to end violence against women.

Since the Lisbon Treaty, the European Parliament can adopt what is known as a legislative initiative report, in which we request the Commission to propose a piece of legislation. Now the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) has prepared a legislative initiative report on this topic.

Decisive action is needed in terms of signing and ratifying and, most importantly, implementing, the Council of Europe Convention on Violence against Women and Domestic Violence by individual states and on behalf of the Union. The Istanbul Convention is the most far-reaching legal instrument on violence against women and has the potential to effectively prevent and combat violence against women in Europe and beyond. The European Union should therefore become the leading international actor in preventing gender-based violence and serve as a successful example for those who are legislatively, culturally and politically-speaking fighting violence against women.

  Raül Romeva i Rueda, en nombre del Grupo Verts/ALE. – Me enfrento a este debate hoy conmocionado tras conocer la muerte de una chica de catorce años, en Tárrega, a manos de un chico de dieciocho.

No es un hecho inusual, por desgracia, en la Unión Europea: en España, desde el año 2003, más de 600 mujeres han perdido la vida a manos de los hombres por culpa, precisamente —como decía mi colega Iratxe García— de la única condición de ser mujer. Y esto no es solamente algo que debamos condenar: es algo que debemos atajar; es algo con lo que debemos acabar; es algo que debemos, de una vez por todas, eliminar de nuestras realidades, en Europa y en el resto del mundo.

No es un problema que se pueda reducir a una cuestión de edad, a una cuestión geográfica, ni siquiera de estatus social. Es un problema universal, es una cuestión universal, es un reto y una obligación universal que hay que afrontar. Por lo tanto, el Convenio de Estambul es un instrumento, entre muchos otros, que es necesario liderar, pero también es necesario tener en cuenta que es insuficiente.

Es incomprensible, en cualquier caso, que todavía haya tantos países, entre ellos España, que no hayan ratificado el Convenio de Estambul, y que solo dos de la Unión Europea hayan dado este paso. Es necesario, urgente, fundamental que se resuelva esta cuestión, pero también es muy necesario ―y aquí le pido al Comisario De Gucht que le transmita a la Comisaria Reding nuestra petición― que nos dotemos, en el ámbito europeo, del marco jurídico necesario para poder combatir con todos los instrumentos posibles esta lacra.

Si no tenemos los instrumentos básicos para poder combatir esta cuestión, muy difícilmente vamos a pasar de la retórica a los hechos. Y por eso es tan importante que sí ratifiquemos cuanto antes el Convenio de Estambul pero, sobre todo, también, que la Unión Europea se dote de los instrumentos necesarios para poder hacer lo que tiene que hacer, que es acabar de una vez por todas con esta cuestión.

  Marina Yannakoudakis, on behalf of the ECR Group. – Mr President, I am happy to support this oral question. We need to put a stop to violence against women and girls. I am pleased the British Government has signed the Istanbul Convention and has expressed its intention to ratify. David Cameron’s government has placed women’s rights high on the political agenda. The British Prime Minister is committed to addressing the question of violence against women. In fact, in its latest review of discrimination against women, the United Nations praised the United Kingdom for a number of positive developments. Since coming into power in 2010, the Conservative-led government has adopted a new equality strategy. We have coordinated the G8’s adoption of the Declaration on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict. We have ratified the conventions on disabilities, child protection and human trafficking. And the UK Government intends to criminalise forced marriage.

The ECR Group wants Member States to make policies which will help eradicate violence against women. However, it is no secret that we are opposed to further legislation at EU level. We believe instead that individual Member States have a responsibility for their own legal systems. It is their responsibility to initiate and implement policy and laws to tackle violence against women and girls. What we must do in this House is to share best practice and encourage each other to support women and eradicate violence.

  Mikael Gustafsson, för GUE/NGL-gruppen. – Herr talman, kära kolleger! Var tredje kvinna i världen utsätts för fysiskt eller sexuellt våld. Problemet är chockerande vanligt i både fattiga och rika länder. Våld mot kvinnor är ett omfattande samhällsproblem som även påverkar ekonomin.

Våld mot kvinnor är grundat i den könsmaktsordning vi lever i. Våld mot kvinnor är ett brott mot de mänskliga rättigheterna. Det är därför som Istanbulkonventionen är så bra för den klargör detta på ett mycket bra sätt.

Konventionen har ett holistiskt perspektiv på bekämpandet av våld; det handlar om prevention, skydd och stöd, åtal och integrerade policies. Huvudfokus är kvinnor och flickor men också andra offer för våld i nära relationer ingår, t.ex. män, barn och äldre.

Jag berömmer därför Istanbulkonventionen för dess dubbla natur, att både vara en människorättskonvention och en straffrättslig konvention.

Europaparlamentet har genom åren flera gånger krävt att kommissionen ska lägga fram ett direktiv som rör våld mot kvinnor. Kommissionen har än så länge vägrat att lägga fram ett förslag som omfattar alla typer av våld mot kvinnor.

I min egenskap av ordförande för FEMM-utskottet har jag ofta bett rådet om hjälp med att få kommissionen att ändra sig. Men vad jag förstår så är inte rådet heller intresserat av att införa ett direktiv på EU-nivå. Men då borde ni verkligen vara intresserade av att medlemsstaterna skriver under denna mellanstatliga konvention. Nu hör inte rådets ordförande eller företrädare vad jag säger, men då ska jag säga så här: Ni vill väl precis som vi bekämpa våld mot flickor och kvinnor? Så min fråga till rådet är: Vad tänker rådet göra för att fler länder ska ratificera och underteckna den här konventionen? Vad tänker det litauiska ordförandeskapet göra för att lyfta upp den här frågan på dagordningen?

  Regina Bastos (PPE). - Senhor Presidente, a Convenção de Istambul é um grande passo. Trata-se do primeiro instrumento jurídico internacional vinculativo para a prevenção e o combate de todas as formas de violência contra as mulheres.

Esta Convenção defende a inscrição do princípio da igualdade entre homens e mulheres nos ordenamentos jurídicos nacionais e a revogação de todas as leis e práticas discriminatórias.

Esta Convenção prevê medidas para sensibilizar e educar e também medidas para criar serviços de apoio especializado e imediato para as mulheres vítimas da violência.

O meu país, Portugal, tem liderado o processo de ratificação da Convenção de Istambul. Foi o primeiro Estado da União Europeia a ratificá-lo no passado mês de fevereiro. Para além dele, só a Itália.

Espero que os outros Estados-Membros rapidamente sigam este bom exemplo porque o combate à violência contra as mulheres continua a ser uma prioridade.

Infelizmente, este fenómeno é universal e afeta todas as culturas e meios sociais com consequências dramáticas para as vítimas, as famílias e a sociedade.

A União tem que se esforçar na sua ação neste domínio. Agradeço as palavras do Sr. Comissário e do Sr. Representante do Conselho mas gostaria de perguntar: primeiro, que medidas concretas vão as instituições europeias adotar de modo a acelerar o processo de ratificação da Convenção de Istambul?

Segundo, a União Europeia deve ser um forte aliado dos Estados-Membros na eliminação de todas as formas de violência contra as mulheres. Como pretende apoiar os Estados-Membros neste combate, sobretudo os países em que este fenómeno é mais marcado?

  Edite Estrela (S&D). - Senhor Presidente, a violência contra as mulheres representa uma grave violação dos direitos humanos e, por isso, pergunto ao Sr. Comissário para quando uma diretiva europeia sobre a violência de género?

Nós sabemos que todos os anos e em todos os países morrem mulheres vítimas de violência. Ora, para combater este crime, é preciso haver legislação mais restritiva, é preciso que seja considerado crime público em todos os Estados-Membros e que haja uma campanha de sensibilização de todos os agentes policiais, judiciais, e também dos profissionais de saúde.

E também não se percebe que a Convenção de Istambul, adotada em 2011, não tenha sido já ratificada pelos diferentes Estados-Membros. É preciso pressionar os Estados-Membros para que o façam rapidamente, uma vez que é necessário que dez países a ratifiquem para que possa entrar em vigor.

No próximo dia 11, vamos assinalar o Dia Internacional da Menina. Também temos um símbolo que é Malala, que é uma forte candidata ao Prémio Sakharov, ou seja, embora tudo isto seja importante, é preciso agir e é preciso legislação adequada para proteger as mulheres.

  Anneli Jäätteenmäki (ALDE). - Arvoisa puhemies, naisiin kohdistuva väkivalta, varsinkin perheväkivalta, perhepiirissä tapahtuva väkivalta, on useissa maissa vieläkin tabu ja toisissa, useimmissa maissa siitä halutaan myös vaieta.

Uhrikin haluaa vaieta kohtaamastaan väkivallasta, koska jos oma lähisukulainen on pahoinpidellyt, niin moni uhri mieluummin vaikenee, kuin kertoo asiasta julkisesti tai vie asian oikeuteen.

Keskustelu asiasta on tärkeää. Tätä kautta ihmiset huomaavat, että hän ei ole yksin uhri, näitä on paljon, ja että tämä on tuomittavaa. Meidän on toki myönnettävä, että myös naiset tekevät väkivaltaa ja tämä on aivan yhtä tuomittavaa, mutta tällä hetkellä naiset ovat maailman mittakaavassa paljon useammin uhreina kuin miehet, mutta molemmat väkivallanteot, kaikki väkivalta pitää tuomita ja taistella sitä vastaan.

  Cristiana Muscardini (ECR). - Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, la violenza sulle donne è un tragico problema ed è tragico che tanti paesi non abbiano ancora né firmato né ratificato. Spesso la mancanza di sufficiente ascolto porta danni irreparabili alle donne, ma anche ai figli e alle famiglie. Chiediamo sia velocizzata l'adesione alla convenzione e che si passi subito alle ratifiche.

Ma non bastano le firme, ci deve essere in ogni paese la necessaria riforma legislativa e culturale che aiuti le donne a denunciare, che porti alla vera prevenzione e quei provvedimenti per accogliere e difendere le donne minacciate e colpite. Solo la denuncia tempestiva può salvare dalle violenze e in molti casi dalla morte. Le donne non devono più sentirsi sole e inascoltate! Occorrono protezioni legali e gratuite, sostegni psicologici, case per accoglierle. Meno parole e più provvedimenti concreti, chiediamo al Consiglio e alla Commissione.

  Anna Maria Corazza Bildt (PPE). - Mr President, domestic violence is not a private issue. It is a serious crime and a global phenomenon. We need to keep violence against women – from honour killings to sexual abuse and all other forms of violence – at the top of our list of priorities. That is why I have been joining and supporting the initiatives of colleagues in this Parliament to ensure that Member States meet their responsibilities to sign and ratify the Council of Europe Istanbul Convention.

We have also adopted concrete instruments in this Parliament: the protection of victims, the European protection order, and the mutual recognition of protection measures in civil matters. These are really helpful to protect more women and to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. They need to be implemented and I call on the Member States to fully and correctly enforce them and respect the deadlines.

As many of you have said, prevention is also very important, including raising awareness and education. We need to do more together on gender stereotypes, on stigmatisation, on discrimination, to empower women and to promote equality. It is about changing the culture, developing a culture of respect for the rights of women and girls. Too many women and children continue to live in fear and uncertainty and the time has come to help them break the silence, break the isolation, break the loneliness. We have the responsibility to make sure that victims – be they men, children, women or girls – feel confident enough to speak up and be heard, and to trust that they will be protected.

I will continue to be committed to zero tolerance for impunity and to encourage Member States and the Commission to come up with a comprehensive and clear strategy for the eradication of all violence against women and children.

  Mojca Kleva Kekuš (S&D). - Nasilje nad ženskami in nasilje v družini spadata med najbolj razširjene in skrite oblike kršitve človekovih pravic, ki vsako leto prizadene na milijone žensk po celi Evropi. Ratifikacija konvencije Sveta Evrope je zato nujno potrebna za vse ženske, ki so bile, ki so ali pa ki bodo še žrtve nasilja.

Vse prevečkrat namreč pozabimo na zaščito žrtev in njihove potrebe, zato je potrebno pozivati države članice skozinskoz k sistematičnemu organiziranju storitev za pomoč žrtvam. Nasilje namreč oblikuje vlogo žensk v družbi, vpliva na njihov dostop do zaposlovanja, na ekonomsko neodvisnost in na sodelovanje v javnem in političnem življenju.

Dokler so ženske še vedno najbolj ogrožene tam, kjer naj bi se počutile najbolj varne – na svojih domovih, ne moremo govoriti o moderni evropski družbi enakih možnosti. Čas je zato, da se države članice prebudijo in ratificirajo konvencijo, ter tako nudijo zaščito in oporo ženskam v Evropski uniji. Zato pozdravljam to razpravo danes in se veselim prihodnjih ratifikacij v naslednjih tednih.

  Barbara Matera (PPE). - Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, la mia voce si unisce a quella di tutti i colleghi che sono intervenuti fino a questo momento. Io, in qualità anche di vicepresidente della commissione per i diritti delle donne e la parità di genere in questo Parlamento, ho firmato con convinzione l'interrogazione della collega Angelilli perché sono convinta della possibilità di un'Europa libera dalla violenza contro le donne e dal maltrattamento domestico, ma questo oggi non basta.

La convenzione è stata firmata da 29 Stati ma solo 5 l'hanno ratificata – alcuni colleghi lo hanno ricordato – tra questi c'è l'Italia, la Turchia, l'Albania, il Portogallo e il Montenegro. Sono orgogliosa che il mio paese figuri tra i primi paesi ad aver ratificato ma, come stipulato, perché sia applicata la convenzione dovrà essere firmata da almeno altri 10 Stati di cui almeno 8 facenti parte del Consiglio d'Europa. Quindi, non è ancora abbastanza, siamo soltanto all'inizio.

Questo documento rappresenta il primo strumento internazionale giuridicamente vincolante che si prefigge di creare un quadro legislativo completo per proteggere le donne contro ogni forma di violenza, grazie a misure di prevenzione, di tutela in sede giuridica e di sostegno per le vittime di abuso e di maltrattamento.

Allora, Presidente, bisogna spronare affinché attraverso questo Parlamento tutti gli Stati membri possano proseguire il percorso di ratifica di questa convenzione. Ma vedere oggi quest'Aula semivuota e soprattutto con una pochissima presenza di colleghi uomini: che rammarico! Davvero è un grande, grande rammarico, non parlo da parlamentare europea ma semplicemente come donna!

  Zita Gurmai (S&D). - Mr President, the Istanbul Convention marks a key milestone towards improving the fight against domestic violence. It makes it clear that domestic violence is not a private matter. It is the responsibility of the state to prevent violence, protect victims and punish perpetrators.

Awareness-raising is important, but it is only by creating such a legislative framework, including close monitoring, that states will be able to effectively fight such violence. EU Member States need to be at the forefront of the crisis and ratify the Convention so that it can enter into force as soon as possible. We are aware that the steps towards ratification require adaption into national legislation, which may take time. However, I would like to hear from the Council and the Member States that this ratification process is a priority and that everything will be done to swiftly comply with its requirement.

The EU and the Council of Europe must be able to send a strong message to other countries saying: ‘This is a fundamental issue and we are stepping up’. It is high time for concrete actions to follow words.

(The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149(8)).

  Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė (PPE), pakėlus mėlynąją kortelę pateiktas klausimas. – Jeigu sutiktumėte atsakyti. Visi sutinkame, kad, aišku, kova su smurtu prieš moteris yra prioritetas, bet aš nesu taip labai įsigilinusi į šį klausimą, tačiau girdint nuogąstavimus iš kai kurių valstybių narių, kodėl ta konvencija nėra ratifikuojama, remiamasi socialinės lyties apibrėžtimi. Ką Jūs galėtumėte pasakyti tiems, kurie nuogąstauja dėl tokio niuanso, t. y. kad tekste atsiranda tam tikrų formuluočių, kurios galbūt kelia tam tikrus nuogąstavimus valstybėms narėms?

  Zita Gurmai (S&D), blue-card answer. – Mr President, the proper reply is that nobody is perfect. We make mistakes, and of course it was a serious mistake. We should be fair to our citizens. Sometimes we do not do the right thing, so that is why I believe that we are responsible for finding the solution for them, because I strongly believe that every fifth woman in Europe is affected by this issue.

What we need is a real awareness campaign and real engagement and real political will. I am sure that when we make mistakes that we are capable of saying, that yes we can do it better. I hope that you will help in that.

  Sergio Gaetano Cofferati (S&D). - Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, signor Commissario Lei ha sentito quali sono le ragioni che inducono questo Parlamento a sollecitare la Commissione perché rapidamente vengano messe in campo azioni efficaci per la ratifica della convenzione. Siamo di fronte ad un fenomeno che si sta estendendo, riguarda le donne – soprattutto le più giovani – e comunque è un fenomeno che va contrastato con azioni immediate come quelle che sono contenute nella convenzione.

Ma io credo che la Commissione debba anche prendere atto dell'esigenza di un'altra necessità, che è quella di promuovere un'azione culturale: la violenza nasce purtroppo nell'ambito familiare, addirittura in alcune circostanze è nei percorsi formativi che riguardano i più giovani; allora bisogna combatterla con tutti gli strumenti che la democrazia mette a disposizione, a partire da un profondo e radicale processo di culturalizzazione delle persone che ancora vivono nei rapporti all'interno della loro comunità senza avere il rispetto dell'altro perché sono prive della cultura necessaria. Queste due cose devono essere fatte in fretta, promuovere la ratifica e, dall'altra parte, spingere tutta la comunità a prendere atto dell'esistenza di un vero e proprio dramma sociale, che può essere affrontato soltanto se tutti convengono sulla necessità di farlo.

  Evelyn Regner (S&D). - Herr Präsident! Viele von uns haben es nun in dieser Diskussion betont: Jede vierte, jede fünfte Frau in Europa ist in einer Beziehung und in dieser Gewalt ausgesetzt. Das heißt, es wirkt sich natürlich auch auf das gesellschaftliche Leben, auf die Einstellung der Menschen aus, wenn sie in einer solchen Beziehung leben. In der Türkei, wo diese Konvention im April 2011 angenommen wurde, sind die Zahlen noch erschreckender: 42 % aller Frauen in der Türkei leiden unter körperlicher oder sexueller Gewalt ihrer Männer. Häusliche Gewalt findet hinter geschlossenen Türen statt. Daher können wir auch davon ausgehen, dass die Dunkelziffer noch wesentlich höher ist.

Und dieses Übereinkommen ist nun geeignet, ein Tabu zu brechen, nämlich das Tabu, das das Mitteilen und die Bekämpfung der Gewalt gegen Frauen letztlich umgibt.

Herr Kommissar, sehr geehrter Vertreter des Rates, der Kampf gegen Gewalt muss weiterhin eine Priorität bleiben. Sie haben es nun vielstimmig von uns Abgeordneten in diesem Haus gehört: Gewalt ist ein No-Go. Wir brauchen verbindliche Rechtsnormen, um Frauen, Kinder und schließlich auch ältere Personen vor häuslicher Gewalt zu schützen!

  Patrizia Toia (S&D). - Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, anche se oggi c'è più attenzione per la drammatica violenza alle donne, i processi legislativi vanno troppo a rilento. Così è per la convenzione di Istanbul, strumento prezioso ma è una vergogna imperdonabile – fatta di inerzia e di distrazione – che troppi pochi paesi l'abbiano firmata e ancor meno l'abbiano ratificata! Dobbiamo reagire!

Chiediamo, signor Commissario e Commissione tutta, che si prenda un'iniziativa forte, per muovere gli Stati membri con tutta la capacità di indirizzo e di influenza che la Commissione ha. Signor Commissario, francamente, quello che Lei ci ha detto è troppo poco e troppo debole! Mi rivolgo a Lei, signor Commissario! Queste cose le sapevamo già. Noi chiediamo cosa si può fare per il futuro e cosa si può fare di più.

Chiediamo che si aumentino i programmi e le disponibilità delle risorse per i servizi, chiediamo che l'Unione valuti l'opportunità di firmare a sua volta la convenzione, chiediamo se non si debba decidere – come molte mie colleghe di tutti i gruppi hanno chiesto – di varare una direttiva specifica contro la violenza alle donne e per mettere tutti gli Stati membri in condizione di avere norme adeguate alla drammaticità del problema.

  Michael Cashman (S&D). - Mr President, Patrizia Toia quite rightly talks about the scandal of only two Member States having actually ratified the Convention. We have heard in this House reasons why we should go ahead, but all I hear from some Member States is that the language does not suit them. This is an excuse to do nothing, rather than a reason to do something.

Continuing violence is happening now against women simply because they are women – often because they are viewed as objects to be owned. We have to stand up and ask whether, if that were happening to us, our daughters, our sisters, it would be right. If not, then it cannot be right for others.

Let us not forget that violence also targets women because they are lesbian, bisexual or transgender. It is scandalous that in many countries in the EU for example, they still require transgender women to undergo forced sterilisation, simply to be who they are. This is unacceptable and, as I said, we need to stand up against any opposition on the basis of the principle of subsidiarity. There can be no such principles when we are dealing with human rights, and women’s rights are human rights.

  Britta Thomsen (S&D). - Hr. formand! Vold mod kvinder er et brud på kvinders fundamentale rettigheder, og problemet er stort i Europa. Én ud af fem kvinder rammes af fysisk vold gennem deres levetid, og én ud af 10 kvinder udsættes for seksuel vold. Når vi ikke sætter aktivt ind, så svigter vi kvinderne. Men vi svigter også samfundsøkonomien. Vold i hjemmet koster hvert år 120 mia. kroner i EU og 500 mio. kroner i mit eget hjemland, Danmark. Det er umuligt at vurdere den voldsramte kvindes personlige omkostninger og hendes livskvalitet, men vi ved, at kvinder, der har været udsat for vold, har næsten tre leveår med langvarig sygdom. Skal vi virkelig finde os i, at voldsforbrydere hvert år koster samfundet flere hundrede millioner euro og samtidig har ret til at ødelægge mange tusind kvinders liv? Det er på tide, vi handler. En start er, at medlemsstaterne underskriver og tiltræder Europarådets Istanbulkonvention. Derudover må Kommissionen træde i karakter og komme med konkrete lovforslag til, hvordan vi på europæisk plan kan bekæmpe volden.

Intervenciones con arreglo al procedimiento de solicitud incidental de uso de la palabra («catch the eye»)

  Γεώργιος Κουμουτσάκος (PPE). - Κύριε Πρόεδρε, το να ζεις χωρίς το φόβο να υποστείς βία αποτελεί κορυφαίο ανθρώπινο δικαίωμα. Είναι θεμελιώδες στοιχείο και έκφραση του ευρωπαϊκού πολιτισμού, του ευρωπαϊκού συστήματος αρχών και αξιών.

Και όμως, όλο και συχνότερα, όλο και περισσότερες γυναίκες στην Ευρώπη πέφτουν θύματα συμπεριφορών βίας, συχνότατα μάλιστα μέσα από το στενό οικογενειακό ή ευρύτερο κοινωνικό τους περιβάλλον. Έτσι, τις περισσότερες φορές, η σιωπή καλύπτει αυτό το νοσηρό φαινόμενο και οι καταδίκες σπανίζουν.

Αυτή την απαράδεκτη κατάσταση φιλοδοξεί να θεραπεύσει η διεθνής συνθήκη της Κωνσταντινούπολης, με πρόληψη, με προστασία των θυμάτων, με δίωξη των παραβατών, με εφαρμογή συντονισμένων πολιτικών.

Ως Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο, ως κράτη μέλη, ως Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, οφείλουμε να κάνουμε ό,τι είναι δυνατόν για την ταχύτατη κύρωση και την αποτελεσματική εφαρμογή αυτής της Συνθήκης. Είναι απαράδεκτο να την έχουν κυρώσει μόνο δύο κράτη μέλη. Φιλοδοξία μας πρέπει να είναι μία Ευρώπη απαλλαγμένη από τη βία κατά των γυναικών και τη βία μέσα στην οικογένεια.

  Seán Kelly (PPE). - A Uachtaráin, cuireann an díospóireacht seo saghas déistine orm i ndáiríre mar is deacair a chreidiúint sa lá atá inniu ann gur gá dúinn an t-ábhar seo a phlé i bParlaimint na hEorpa ach sin mar atá. Agus freisin is deacair a chreidiúint nach bhfuil Coinbhinsiún Iostanbúl daingnithe ag tíortha an Aontais agus a luaithe a tharlaíonn sé sin is fearr. Cuireann sé déistin orm freisin nach bhfuil moltaí curtha ar fáil ag an gCoimisiún faoi conas déileáil leis an bhfadhb uafásach seo. Tá sé an-tábhachtach go mbeadh na moltaí sin againn i dtreo agus go mbeimid in ann dul i ngleic leis an bhfadhb seo agus freisin i dtaca a bheith in ann chun cur in iúl do dhaoine óga go háirithe buachaillí óga gur cheart dóibh meas a bheith acu ar chailíní agus nár cheart dóibh a lámh a ardú i gcoinne cailín riamh. Má thosnaímid ag an gcliabhán, tá an seans ann go gcuirfimid deireadh leis an bhfadhb seo de réir a chéile.

  Angelika Werthmann (ALDE). - Herr Präsident! 12 bis 15 Prozent der Frauen in Europa sind täglich Opfer häuslicher Gewalt. Dabei kommt es nicht auf ein bestimmtes Alter oder die Hautfarbe an. Es kann jede soziale Klasse und jede familiäre Beziehung treffen.

Bis dato ist dieses Übereinkommen von lediglich zwei Mitgliedstaaten der Europäischen Union ratifiziert worden. Wann werden alle anderen folgen? Wie lange wollen wir noch damit warten? Wann wollen wir uns endlich europaweit und weltweit darauf einigen, dass der Grundsatz „null Toleranz für Gewalt“ gelten sollte? Wie viele Frauen und Kinder müssen noch unbeschreibliches Leid erfahren, nur weil sie zu Hause geschlagen oder gar missbraucht werden und die Gesellschaft dabei zuschaut?

Wir haben die Charta der Grundrechte der Europäischen Union. Ich fordere Sie auf, endlich alles zu tun, damit es in unseren Mitgliedstaaten nicht mehr an der Tagesordnung ist, dass Frauen, Kinder und auch alte Menschen Gewalt erleiden müssen.

  Krisztina Morvai (NI). - A legnagyobb valószínűsége annak, hogy valakinek az életét erőszakosan kioltják, a nyílt utcán van, leginkább kocsma környékén. A legvalószínűbb elkövető egy idegen személy, illetve alkalmi ismerős, leginkább ivócimbora. Ez az alapvető kriminálstatisztikai összefüggés igaz akkor, ha az áldozat férfi.

Ha az áldozat nő, akkor úgy módosul az összefüggés, hogy a legvalószínűbb helyszín a saját otthona, a legvalószínűbb elkövetője az erőszakos bűncselekménynek pedig valaki, akit szeret, illetőleg szeretett: partnere, szerelme, élettársa, házastársa vagy volt élettársa, volt házastársa.

Ezek nem derült égből villámcsapásként bekövetkező tragédiák, hanem ezeket a halálozásokat hosszú éveken, sokszor évtizedeken át tartó folyamatok előzik meg. Olyan folyamatok, amelyeket meg lehet és meg kell állítani. Ezért kell a tagállamoknak az ehhez szükséges intézkedéseket meghozni és minél előbb ratifikálni a többek között erről szóló Isztanbuli Konvenciót.

  Licia Ronzulli (PPE). - Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, la violenza sulle donne ha ormai superato ogni limite, lo sappiamo: secondo gli ultimi dati pubblicati dall'Organizzazione mondiale della sanità, solo in Italia – nel mio paese – ogni due giorni viene uccisa una donna, nel primo semestre di quest'anno ci sono stati ben 65 femminicidi!

Lo scenario che si presenta sembra un vero e proprio bollettino di guerra: quasi 7 milioni di donne vittime di abusi fisici o sessuali. Gli atteggiamenti, però, gli stereotipi che spingono alla violenza di genere rimangono ancora largamente sottovalutati. Dobbiamo agire subito sul piano culturale e sociale per poi cambiare quello normativo e istituzionale. A noi, oggi più che mai, compete di occuparci del secondo livello, ma nessuna nuova norma avrà mai senso se non accompagnata da un profondo cambiamento del nostro modo di pensare, parlare, guardare e agire e quest'Aula vergognosamente vuota offre un pessimo esempio del nostro modo di agire!

Concludo dicendo con orgoglio che in questi minuti al parlamento italiano è in discussione un decreto legge proprio sullo stalking e sulle violenze alle donne, che recepisce molte delle misure della convenzione di Istanbul. Spero che altri paesi seguano l'esempio italiano!

  Franz Obermayr (NI). - Herr Präsident! Häusliche Gewalt, Gewalt gegen Frauen und Kinder ist leider eine Realität im europäischen Alltag, eine leider sehr versteckte Realität. Nun gibt es seit 11.5.2011 zwar eine entsprechende Konvention, es gibt auch eine Expertenkommission, aber die Ratifizierung hängt in der Luft. Aber auch aus dem Blickwinkel der versteckten Zuwanderung aus Ländern, in denen die Gleichberechtigung der Frau ein Fremdwort ist, müssen wir feststellen, dass islamisch begründete Zwangsehen, Genitalverstümmelungen bis hin zu Ehrenmorden dramatisch ansteigen. Wir müssen daher nicht länger herumreden und herumplanen, wir müssen handeln!

Ich begrüße als Österreicher alle Aktivitäten, vor allem hinsichtlich eines verbindlichen Rechtsrahmens, weil in meinem Land erfreulicherweise mit den Schutzgesetzen aus den Jahren 1997 und 2009 ein richtiger Weg eingeschlagen worden ist und wir daher sämtliche Aktivitäten in diese Richtung auch unterstützen werden und müssen.

(Fin de las intervenciones con arreglo al procedimiento de solicitud incidental de uso de la palabra («catch the eye»))

  Antonyia Parvanova (ALDE). - Mr President, before the Commission and Council feedback on this debate, I would like to thank the Presidency, on behalf of all of us sitting here, for scheduling – at least once in this parliamentary term – a debate on violence against women for before midnight.

  Karel De Gucht, Member of the Commission. − Mr President, I would like to thank colleagues for this very instructive debate in which a number of practical and political questions have also been put. For example, what is the Commission doing to encourage the signing of the Convention? In April 2013, for example, the Commission organised an exchange on national good practice in Spain on combating violence against women, where a Council of Europe representative promoted the Convention.

But of course all of you come from a Member State, and up to now only two Member States have ratified it. Maybe it would also make sense that, at a national level, you insist that your national parliaments follow the proper procedures and complete the ratification, because in quite a few cases it is not a question of their being against a convention of the Council of Europe but simply that it is not a priority on the agenda of national parliaments. I think you should act on this at a national level as well.

Let me also comment on Mrs Ronzulli’s remark that there are so few people in this room. This is true, and it is a scandal, but maybe Mrs Ronzulli should also ask herself where she is when other topics are being discussed.

The most important political question that was put was of course whether the Commission is going to bring forward a legal instrument aimed at combating violence against women. I have to say that the Commission does not intend to adopt any specific criminal legislation on violence against women, as violence against women is not among the so-called ‘euro-crimes’ that are listed in Article 83 of the Lisbon Treaty, and in principle is not a transnational form of crime.

I will read out Article 83 to you: ‘The European Parliament and the Council may, by means of directives adopted in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, establish minimum rules concerning the definition of criminal offences and sanctions in the areas of particularly serious crime with a cross-border dimension resulting from the nature or impact of such offences or from a special need to combat them on a common basis.

‘These areas of crime are the following: terrorism, trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation of women and children, illicit drug trafficking, illicit arms trafficking, money laundering, corruption, counterfeiting of means of payment, computer crime and organised crime.

‘On the basis of developments in crime the Council may adopt a decision identifying other areas of crime that meet the criteria specified in this paragraph. It shall act unanimously after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament’.

That is the reason why we do not take an initiative in this respect, but the Commission will assist Member States in the implementation of recent EU legal measures adopted in the areas of civil and criminal justice, for example the Victims Directive and the European Protection Order. It will also closely monitor their effective implementation. The Commission will also continue to develop targeted and consistent initiatives to support Member States in achieving tangible results in eradicating all forms of violence against women, making full use of the EU competences.

  Vytautas Leškevičius, President-in-Office of the Council. − Mr President, thank you for this opportunity to discuss this urgent matter. The legal framework for EU Member States joining the Convention is quite clear. I do not need to go over it again.

Instead, I would like to once again highlight the fact that domestic violence does not affect women alone. Nor is it a problem that women can solve on their own. The Council has underlined the important contribution that men and boys can make in speaking out against gender violence and, as has been rightly pointed out by Parliament, the Istanbul Convention not only applies to women but also offers protection for children, men and the elderly.

We must shield all our citizens from domestic violence. Domestic violence is a widespread, persistent and elusive problem but we must succeed in our work. The European institutions and our partners at the Council of Europe stand shoulder to shoulder in the long struggle to make domestic violence a thing of the past.

In order to make a specific contribution to this debate, I would like to repeat the Council’s call to consider the establishment of a European helpline to assist victims of gender violence by identifying and eliminating remaining obstacles at national level. I can assure Parliament of this Presidency’s commitment to tackling violence against women. Indeed, it features prominently on the Trio Programme.

We call on the support of this House and look forward to continuing to cooperate closely with you.

  El Presidente. − Se cierra el debate.

Declaraciones por escrito (artículo 149 del Reglamento)

  Elena Oana Antonescu (PPE), în scris. – Convenţia de la Istanbul a Consiliului Europei reprezintă unul dintre cele mai importante instrumente europene pentru combaterea violenţei împotriva femeilor. Faptul că avem un document legal care arată clar conţinutul conceptelor de „violenţă împotriva femeilor”, de „violenţă domestică”, de „violenţă de gen”, este important pentru toate statele europene şi face posibilă creşterea eficienţei combaterii violenţei şi a discriminării.

Salut în aceste condiţii ratificarea documentului de către un număr din ce în ce mai mare de state şi fac un apel către ratificarea lui de către toate statele membre ale Consiliului Europei sau ale Uniunii Europene. Intrarea în vigoare a acestui document comprehensiv, care incriminează acte de violenţă împotriva femeilor care de multe ori nu sunt prevăzute de diferite legislaţii naţionale, trebuie să fie un obiectiv politic prioritar, mai ales în condiţiile în care combaterea violenţei împotriva femeilor cunoaşte variaţii majore pe continentul european.

  Vilija Blinkevičiūtė (S&D), raštu. – Sveikintina, kad Europos Taryba pateikė pasirašymui Konvenciją dėl smurto prieš moteris ir smurto šeimoje prevencijos ir kovos su juo (Stambulo konvencija). Tai labai svarbus teisės aktas, nes tai pirma Europos teisinė priemonė, siekiant sukurti išsamią teisės aktų sistemą, skirtą moterų apsaugai nuo visų formų smurto. Reikėtų atkreipti dėmesį ir į tai, kad ši konvencija taikoma ne tik moterims, t. y. konvencijos šalys taip pat raginamos taikyti šią apsaugos sistemą smurtą šeimoje patiriantiems vaikams, vyrams ir vyresnio amžiaus žmonėms. Taigi, norėčiau paraginti valstybes nares kuo greičiau ratifikuoti Stambulo konvenciją, nes kova su visų formų smurtu prieš moteris ir mergaites yra vienas iš ES prioritetų. Be to, norėčiau paklausti Tarybos, kokių priemonių būtų galima imtis siekiant plėtoti veiksmingas ir nuoseklias iniciatyvas, pagal kurias būtų remiami valstybių narių smurto prieš moteris panaikinimo veiksmai. Galbūt būtų įmanoma sukurti nacionalinių institucijų tinklus bei užmegzti tarpusavio bendravimą, kad būtų užtikrinta, jog šioje srityje būtų daroma pažanga.

  Lívia Járóka (PPE), in writing. – The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence has so far only been ratified by five countries and only two EU Member States. The Convention could contribute to the development of a comprehensive framework to protect women against all forms of violence, which is necessary to fulfil the same priority of the European Union. The provisions of EU Directive 2011/36 on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings must also be fully transposed, in particular in strengthening the identification, protection and assistance to victims and with a special emphasis on children. Member States must address all forms of violence against women, with special regard to Roma women, and support victims of domestic violence by ensuring proper resources for related public services and by providing assistance also through mainstream services, such as health, employment and education.

  Joanna Senyszyn (S&D), na piśmie. – Przemoc dotyczy kobiet niezależnie od wieku, wykształcenia, zamożności, pozycji społecznej. Kilka milionów Europejek doznaje jej codziennie. Parlament Europejski i organizacje pozarządowe, w tym współorganizowany przeze mnie Sejmik Kobiet Lewicy, w którym uczestniczyło 3 000 Polek, wzywają do jak najszybszego podpisania i ratyfikacji Konwencji Rady Europy z dnia 11 maja 2011 r. w sprawie zapobiegania i zwalczania przemocy wobec kobiet i przemocy domowej. Konwencja uznaje, że kobiety i dziewczęta są narażone na przemoc bardziej niż mężczyźni i chłopcy, ale ma być stosowana do wszystkich ofiar przemocy domowej, niezależnie od płci.

Dotychczas Konwencja została podpisana zaledwie przez 5 państw. Jej podpisanie stwarza ramy prawne dla przeciwdziałania przemocy wobec kobiet. Konwencja zawiera zestaw praktycznych narzędzi służących pomocy ofiarom przemocy, takich jak całodobowe pogotowie telefoniczne, pomoc prawna i sieć schronisk dla ofiar przemocy czy elektroniczny nadzór nad sprawcami przemocy. Obecnie tylko 12 państw członkowskich UE gwarantuje finansowanie specjalistycznych usług pomocowych dla kobiet będących ofiarami przemocy. Brakuje jednak właściwych standardów takich usług. Tylko 4 państwa członkowskie wprowadziły do kodeksów karnych definicję przemocy domowej opartą na kategorii społeczno-kulturowej tożsamości płci. Nakazy ochrony zostały w wielu państwach niewłaściwie wdrożone.