Activities of Mikael GUSTAFSSON related to 2013/2040(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
Sexual and reproductive health and rights (A7-0306/2013 - Edite Estrela) (vote)
Sexual and reproductive health and rights (short presentation)
Shadow reports (2)
REPORT on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights PDF (302 KB) DOC (151 KB)
REPORT on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights PDF (313 KB) DOC (160 KB)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
Amendments (74)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Insists that universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHRs) is a fundamental human right and asks the Commission to ensure that development cooperation and the future global development framework adopt a human rights and gender-based approach and have a strong and explicit focus, concrete targets and measurable indicators on SRHRs, while prioritising women and young people's empowerment and gender equality;
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5
Citation 5
– having regard to the Declaration and Programme of Action of the United Nations International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, 13 September 1994), and the outcome documents of its review conferences, the resolution of the special session of the United Nations General Assembly (ICPD+5) in June 1999, and to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 65/234 on the follow-up to the International Conference on Population and Development beyond 2014 (December 2010),
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)
Citation 15 a (new)
- Having regards to its resolution of 5 April 2011 on priorities and outline of a new EU policy framework to fight violence against women,
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Urges the Commission, in this context, to maintain in its development priorities the removal of all barriers to allow access to quality, affordable, acceptable and accessible sexual and reproductive health services (SRHSs) and education, including voluntary family planning, access to contraception and safe abortion, and youth-friendly services, while combating gender discrimination leading to sex- selective and involuntary abortions and sexual violence, as well as ensuring the provision of SRH supplies, HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, without discrimination;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 32 a (new)
Citation 32 a (new)
- having regard to the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe and BZgA Standards for Sexuality Education in Europe A framework for policy makers, educational and health authorities and specialists, launched in 2010
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on the Member States to ensure the integration of the ICPD+20, Beijing+20 and Rio+20 processes within the post-2015 framework;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 32 b (new)
Citation 32 b (new)
- Having regard to the Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: Discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, A/HR/C/19/41
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas Article 8 TFEU states that in all its activities the Union shall aim to eliminate inequalities, and to promote equality, between men and women;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. Whereas sexual and reproductive health and rights touch every human being at every stage of life and is therefore a lifetime concern for both women and men, and whereas SRHR programmes need to be tailored to the different needs and challenges that face people at different times in their life;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. whereas Article 168 TFEU states that the Union shall act in accordance with a high level of human health protection and to improve public health;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Asks the Commission and the EEAS, and in particular EU Delegations on the ground, to be fully aware of SRHRs, as important factors for inclusive and sustainable development, in the context of human development, governance, gender equality and human rights, economic empowerment of young people and women at country-level, as well as important factors for the current EU programming process for the period 2014-2020;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Urges the organisations receiving EU funds for HIV/AIDS and/or health to develop a clear, concise and transparent strategy how they can integrate SRHR and primary HIV prevention in their interventions;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas women and men should, regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity, class, caste, religious affiliation, marital status, occupation, disability, HIV (or STI) status, national origin, immigration status, language, sexual orientation and gender identity, have the freedomright to make their own informed and responsible choices as regards their sexual and reproductive health;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. Whereas gender inequality is a key cause of the non - fulfilment of women's and adolescents' sexual and reproductive health, and whereas stereotyped perceptions about femininity and masculinity in general, and perceptions about girls' and women's sexuality in particular, is a profound obstacle to the fulfilment of SRHR
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas unintended and unwanted pregnancies are still a problematic reality for many women in the EU, including teenage girls;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
C b. whereas in almost a third of EU member states, contraceptives are not covered under public health insurance, which is a serious barrier to access for certain groups of women, including low- income women, adolescents and women living in violent relationships;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas comprehensive, age- appropriate, evidence-based, scientifically accurate and non-judgemental sexuality education, quality family planning services and access to contraception helps to prevent unintended and unwanted pregnancies, reduces the need for an abortion and contributes to the prevention of HIV and STIs; and whereas teaching youth to take responsibility for their own sexual and reproductive health has long- term positive effects, lasting throughout their lifetime and having positive impact on the society;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
D b. whereas an estimated five million young people aged 15-24 and two million adolescents aged 10-19 are living with HIV[1] and they typically fail to access and utilize sexual and reproductive health and HIV services as these rarely meet the unique sexual and reproductive health needs of young people in a comprehensive way; [1] UNICEF, Opportunity in crisis: preventing HIV from early adolescence to young adulthood, 2011.
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas, despite international commitments, there exists a disparity in the standard of sexual and reproductive health between and within Member States and inequality of sexual and reproductive rights enjoyed by women in Europe, depending on their country of residence, their income, age, migration status and other factors;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
E b. whereas migrant, refugee and undocumented women face insecure economic and social situations, where concerns about sexual and reproductive health are often minimised or ignored;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
F a. whereas women and men should equally bear the responsibility of preventing unwanted pregnancies; whereas contraceptives are mainly used by women;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
F b. whereas preventing unwanted pregnancy is not only about contraceptive services and information but also includes the provision of comprehensive sexuality education as well as material and financial assistance for pregnant women in need;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas access to safe abortion is banned, except in very narrow circumstances, in three EU Member States (Ireland, Malta and Poland) and remains widely unavailable, though legal, throughextremely difficult to access in those countries even in instances when it is legal. Whereas in several other Member States abortion remains legal but is increasingly difficult to access due to regulatory or practical barriers such as the abuse of conscientious objection or overly restrictive interpretat, mandatory waiting perionds of existing limitsand biased counselling;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas sex-related information supplied by mass media can provide both correct and false information; whereas comprehensive sexuality education schemes in school as well as in out-of- school settings are needed to assist adolescents in learning to differentiate between correct and false information, as well as to dispel myths and counterbalance discriminatory and gender stereotyping supplied by the mass media and mass culture;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
H a. whereas sexual violence is a serious human rights violation and has a devastating impact on the sexuality, dignity, psychological wellbeing, autonomy and reproductive health of women and girls, and whereas harmful traditional practices, such as female genital mutilations/cutting, early and forced marriage have a damaging effect on the personal well-being and self- esteem, sexual relations, pregnancies, childbirth and a lifelong risk to women's health, but also to the communities and society as a whole;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)
Recital H b (new)
H b. whereas violence against women, particularly domestic violence and rape, is widespread and rising numbers of women are at risk from Aids and other STIs as a result of high-risk sexual behaviour on the part of their partners; whereas such violence also occurs against pregnant women, increasing the likelihood of miscarriage, still birth or abortion;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
J a. whereas published European Union statistics on sexual and reproductive health indicators are incomplete and hardly comparable because of different methods of collection and compilation between Member States;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
J a. Whereas the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex (LGBTI) persons continue to face discrimination, violence, and judgmental portrayals of their sexuality and gender identities in all EU Member states today;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas the practice of forced or coerced sterilisation of Roma orand disabled women, as well as transgender persons, still occurs in some Member States;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
K a. whereas preventing unwanted pregnancy is about not only contraceptive services and information but also includes the provision of comprehensive sexuality education as well as material and financial assistance for pregnant women in need;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K b (new)
Recital K b (new)
K b. whereas there are examples of Member States combining liberal legislation on abortion with effective sexuality education, high quality family planning services and availability of different contraceptives which combine lower abortion rates and higher birth rates;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Stresses that violations of SRHR have a direct impact on women's and girl's lives, women's economic independence, on women's enjoyment of social services, on women's access to decision-making and participation in public life, on women's vulnerability to male violence, on women's access to education and the enjoyment of private life and therefore affect society as a whole;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Stresses that the empowerment of women and girls is key to breaking the cycle of discrimination and violence and for the promotion and protection of human rights, including sexual and reproductive health;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls that SRHR are an essential element of human dignity to be addressed in the broader context of structural discrimination and gender inequalities; and calls on Member States to safeguard SRHR through the Fundamental Rights Agency and the European Institute for Gender Equality;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls that SRHR are an essential element of human dignity to be addressed in the broader context of structural discrimination and gender inequalities; and calls on Member States to safeguard SRHR through the Fundamental Rights Agency by maintaining vigilance on policies and/or legislation which may infringe sexual and reproductive health and rights;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Emphasises that European Union and Member States policies must ensure that they respect, protect and fulfil the sexual and reproductive health and rights for all by fostering understanding of human sexuality as a positive aspect of life and creating a culture of acceptance, respect, non-discrimination and non- violence;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Stresses that within the EU and where relevant in its external policies, the EU must ensure that laws and policies are amended, enacted or repealed to respect and protect sexual and reproductive health and rights and enable all individuals to exercise them without discrimination on any grounds
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2 c. Underlines that reproductive choices and fertility services should be provided in a non-discriminatory framework, and calls on Member States to ensure access to fertility treatments and assisted medical procreation also for single women and lesbians;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2 d. Underlines that surrogacy motherhood represent a commodification of both women's bodies and children, and represents a threat to women's bodily integrity and human rights;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 e (new)
Paragraph 2 e (new)
2 e. Stresses that forced or coerced sterilisation of any person, including transsexual persons, represents a breach of that persons human rights and bodily integrity, and calls on Member States to abolish any existing laws that imposes sterilisation;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Calls on the Member States to ensure a geographically adequate distribution of quality health service points and quality and safe transportation options to guarantee equal access of their whole population, including women and girls living in rural areas;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Calls on the Member States to provide access to sexual and reproductive health services through a rights-based approach and without any discrimination on the grounds of ethnic origin, housing status, migration status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, health or marital status;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Stresses that SRHR policies must take account of specific groups and the risks linked to their identities or situation, especially minority ethnic, pregnant or lesbian, bisexual or transgender women; children and young people; LGBTI persons; persons in prostitution; prisoners; migrants; and injectable drug users;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Calls on the EU and its Member States to compile and monitor more comprehensive data and statistics regarding sexual and reproductive health indicators (STIs, abortion and contraception rates, unmet need for contraception, adolescent pregnancy, etc.), disaggregated at least by gender and age;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Calls on the Member States to guarantee sustainable funding to public services and civil society organisations providing services in the field of sexual and reproductive health;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Expresses its dissatisfaction that the Commission deleted all findings linked to SRHR (including contraception, reproductive health and sexuality) from the final version of its 2012 report 'The state of men's health in Europe';
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that the current austerity measures have a detrimental impact, particularly for women, on public health services related to sexual and reproductive health, both in terms of quality and accessibility,both in terms of quality, affordability and accessibility on public health services, information and programmes to sexual and reproductive health, as well as on family planning organisations, on NGO service providers, and on women's economic independence;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Calls on the Member States to develop a SRHR strategy with allocated budget, an implementation plan and a monitoring system associated to it;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
As regards unintended and unwanted pregnancy: access to contraception and safe abortion services
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Urges Member States, in view of the impact of the financial and economic crisis on the public health sector, to provide contraceptive information and services and other sexual and reproductive health services free of charge or make them financially accessible to all segments of the population, including young people, ethnic minorities and the socially excluded;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7 c. Calls on the Member States to refrain from preventing pregnant women seeking abortion to travel to other Member States or jurisdictions where the procedure is legal;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recommends that, as a human rights and public health concern, abortion should be made legal, safe, and accessible to all;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recommends that, as a human rights concern, abortionhigh quality abortion services should be made legal, safe, and accessible to all;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Welcomes the fact that several Member States, within their public health systems, also provide safe and high quality abortion services to non resident women and girls from other EU countries, who seek these services because they cannot access them in their own EU country of residence due to restrictive abortion policies;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Underlines that even when legal, abortion is often prevented or delayed by obstacles to the access of appropriate services, such as the widespread use of conscientious objection, medically unnecessary waiting periods or biased counselling; stresses that Member States should regulate and monitorgainst the use of conscientious objection in the key professions, so as to ensure that reproductive health care is guaranteed as an individual's right, while access to lawful services is ensured and appropriate and affordable referrals systems are in place;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Calls on all Member States to ensure that health care professionals that perform abortion and abortion related services are not prosecuted and penalised under any criminal law instruments, for the reasons of having provided these services;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Recommends that the Member States continue providing the information and services necessary to maintain a low level of maternal mortality and make further efforts to lower maternal mortality and to guarantee quality ante- and post-natal care;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Stresses that young people's participation is vital for comprehensive sexuality education to be effective; young people should be included in the development, implementation and evaluation of such programs, in cooperation with other stakeholders, such as parents; encourages the use of peer educators in sexuality education as a good way to lead to empowerment;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13 b. Stresses that sexuality education must be designed and implemented in a holistic, rights-based and positive way, emphasizing the development of life skills and including both the psycho-social and bio-medical aspects of sexual and reproductive health and rights; underlines that sexuality education must be provided in a safe, taboo-free, interactive atmosphere between students and educators;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Calls on Member States to provide adolescent friendly sexual and reproductive health services in accordance with age, maturity and evolving capacities, non discriminatory as regards adolescent girls and boys, and regardless of marital status, disability, sexual orientation/identity, to be accessible without parental or guardians' consent;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Urges the Member States to take measures to remove all barriers hindering adolescent girls and boys access to safe, effective, affordable methods of contraception, including condoms, and provide clear information on contraceptives
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Reminds Member States that they must ensure children and young people can enjoy their right to seek, receive and impart information related to sexuality, including sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, in an age- appropriate and gender-sensitive manner;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses that sexuality education must include the fight against stereotypes and prejudices, shed light on and denounce gender and sexual orientation discrimination, and on violence against women and girls, and structural barriers to substantive equality, in particular equality between women and men/ girls and boys, as well as emphasise mutual respect and shared responsibility;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Underlines that sexual education must include non-discriminatory information and convey a positive view of LGBTI persons, in order to effectively underpin and protect the rights of young LGBTI people;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Calls on the Member States to maintain and increase the quality and the level of information made available to the general public (particularly to those most vulnerable or marginalized) on STIs, particularly HIV/AIDS, the ways in which diseases are transmitted, the sexual practices which facilitate transmission, and prevention methods;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to address the specific SRHR of people living with HIV/AIDS, with a focus on the needs of women and at-risk populations including men who have sex with men, persons in prostitution, prisoners, migrants and injectable drug users, notably by integrating access to testing and treatment and reversing the underlying socioeconomic factors contributing to the risk to women and at-risk populations of HIV/AIDS, such as gender inequality and discrimination;
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Calls on the EU to promote and invest in research and development of new and improved acceptable, affordable, accessible and quality prevention technologies, diagnostics and treatments, targeting HIV & AIDS and other STIs as well as neglected tropical diseases in order to reduce the burden of these diseases on maternal and child health;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Calls on Member States to put in place effective, inclusive strategies for HIV prevention, and removing regulations and laws that penalises and stigmatises people living with HIV/AIDS, such as laws that make transmission or exposing someone to HIV prosecutable, as these laws have been deemed ineffective and even counter productive to HIV prevention;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Recommends the Member States to ensure that women and men of all social and ethnic groups must give their fully informed consent to all medical services and procedures such as contraceptive services, sterilization and abortion; calls on the Member States to establish procedures that guarantee the freedom from inhuman and degrading treatment in reproductive health care settings, with a particular focus on detention centres, prisons, and mental health and elderly care institutions;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Member States to address the need to protect women and girls, young people, children and men from any abuse, including sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, smuggling, trafficking and violence, including female genital mutilation and early/child marriage, and provide services to victims of sexual abuse, supported by educational programmes at both national and community levels, and focus on measures to do so with severe penalties for perpetrators of abuse;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Calls on Member States to sign and ratify the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Recalls that all forms of sexual violence against women, such as rape, including marital rape, sexual abuse, incest, prostitution and sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, are violations of women's and girls' sexual health because they breach women's and girls' right to positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships; sexual violence has a damaging long-term impact on women's and girls' sexual and reproductive health, as well as on their self-esteem and empowerment; therefore calls on the EU and its Member States to develop comprehensive strategies to end all forms of violence against women and girls;
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Urges the Commission and EEAS to, in human rights dialogues, address the barriers people face when trying to access reproductive health services and exercise their Sexual and Reproductive Rights;
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. The EU should fund gender transformative programs to overcome harmful social norms and empower girls/women through comprehensive SRHR education. In order to provide adequate funding for these initiatives, during the negotiations on the next MFF and drafting of the next MIPs, the EU should prioritize child rights and gender equality programmes and ensure that 20% of the DCI and of the EDF will be dedicated to health and basic (primary and lower secondary) education.