Sexist speech by Commission officials
1.9.2023
Question for written answer E-002521/2023/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 138
Carles Puigdemont i Casamajó (NI), Antoni Comín i Oliveres (NI)
The Commission has launched a campaign to challenge gender stereotypes[1], which tackles stereotypes affecting both men and women in various areas of life, as part of the gender equality strategy 2020-2025[2]. The political guidelines for the strategy state that ‘Too many people still violate the principle of gender equality through sexist hate speech and by blocking action against gender-based violence and gender stereotypes.’
On 23 August 2023, the Commission Vice-President / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR), the Spaniard Josep Borrell Fontelles, added fuel to the sexism storm that has clouded Spain’s victory in the Women’s World Cup, saying that ‘our women are learning to play football as well as men, and that in itself is already very good news’[3].
FIFA has suspended Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales from office while its Disciplinary Committee investigates his conduct at the Women’s World Cup final[4].
- 1.Does the Commission approve of Mr Borrell Fontelles’s opinion comparing women’s and men’s football teams?
- 2.How is its gender equality strategy being implemented by the EEAS?
- 3.What internal training and measures on sexist speech has it put in place for its staff and will it investigate and suspend anyone who is guilty of sexist speech?
Submitted: 1.9.2023
- [1] https://end-gender-stereotypes.campaign.europa.eu/index_en.
- [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52020DC0152.
- [3] https://www.politico.eu/article/spain-eu-foreign-policy-chief-joseph-borrell-women-world-cup-final-sexism.
- [4] https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/fifa-opens-disciplinary-proceedings-against-spanish-fa-president-rubiales-2023-08-24.