Yesterday evening, the Bureau of the Socialists and Democrats Group established a working group to ensure the timely and concrete follow-up of the European Parliament resolution on sexual harassment, voted on 26 October. Joining the voices of women breaking the silence all over Europe, the S&D Group re-stated their firm commitment to promote respect and dignity at the work place.
Edouard Martin, S&D MEP and initiator of the working group, said:
"The S&D Group already has the most advanced practices to combat moral and sexual harassment in its secretariat. Years ago, we established prevention mechanisms such as a network of confidential counsellors and mandatory training on mobbing and sexual harassment. However, there is always room for improvement and we want to do things even better to ensure the same protection for all. This is why we decided to boost prevention and protection and set out clear red lines. We will also engage all forces in the European Parliament to ensure zero tolerance for these outrageous practices' and make sure our internal rules leave no room for exception."
S&D Group spokesperson for women’s rights and gender equality, Iratxe García Pérez MEP, added:
"For years, the Socialists and Democrats have been fighting against discrimination, sexual harassment and violence. We pushed for the ratification of the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and we have requested several times that the Commission presents a European Strategy that includes a legal binding instrument to prevent and fight gender-based violence. We will continue to speak with one voice to combat sexist speech, inappropriate behaviour and sexual harassment, in work places and also in politics. This means, we also have to clean up our own house. The European Parliament has systems to deal with sexual harassment and abuse, but they are clearly not working. We want the European Parliament to serve as a role model for all assemblies around Europe."
Notice to the editor:
The S&D working group is a gender-balanced working group composed of S&D MEPs, political group staff, and representatives from parliamentary assistants and trainees, which will put forward proposals to ensure that the administration and the leadership of the European Parliament deliver and implement the resolution adopted in plenary.
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