57 Amendments of Julie WARD related to 2015/2095(INI)
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that the current migratory challenge needs a holistic and integrated approach with multilevel cooperation involving the EU, the Member States, and regional and local authorities, including coordination with, and the involvement of, all stakeholders; reaffirms the need to distinguish the situation of migrants, from that of refugees and asylum seekers currently escaping war and persecution, whilst providing a dignified and humane response to both challenges;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the current crisis is first and foremost a humanitarian crisis and the EU response must be based on solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas a co-ordinated and EU-wide resettlement mechanism is required to resettle refugees within all Member States;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that migrants and refugees should not only be considered a humanitarian phenomenon but also an opportunity for the EU to enhance economic and social development; asks the Member States, along with regional and local authorities, to promote a sustainable set of measures, such as access to the labour market and social services;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that migrants and refugees tend to arrive and often – despite the efforts of the authorities to promote even distribution – tend to settle in urban areas; recognises the important role of cities in the short, medium and long term with regard to the reception, accommodation and integration of migrants and refugees, with dignity;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
- Having regard to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child z\on 20 November 1989 and to the European Parliament resolution of 27 November 2014 on the 25th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child,
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas there exist disparities across the Member States in the treatment of women seeking asylum and a holistic EU approach to asylum and immigration must ensure that consistent and gender-sensitive procedures are in place;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas children generally, and girls specifically, face unique challenges and are especially vulnerable in conflict, on their journey to Europe, and as they are received by Member States;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
- having regard to the Commission Communication 'Action Plan on Unaccompanied Minors',[1]and the European Parliament Resolution of 12 September 2013 on the situation of unaccompanied minors in the EU [1] COM 82010)0213 def Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council - Action Plan on Unaccompanied Minors (2010-2014)
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas organised criminal groups are taking advantage of the current volatile situation in the Mediterranean and the MENA region to exploit women and girls through smuggling, sexual violence and trafficking;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Supports the allocation of the designated amounts from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) during 2014- 2020 programming period to help with the integration of migrants and refugees, in particular, the use of the ERDF for emergency measures concerning their accommodation; also supports the use of ESF for access to health and care-giving services, as well as formal, non-formal and informal education and training;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Highlights the important role that social enterprises, including, cooperatives, mutuals, and alternative business models play in including and socially and economically empowering incoming refugees and asylum seekers; Calls on the Commission to make European cohesion funds available for such social enterprises to fulfil their potential;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to be flexible in using existing programmes to address the current additional challenges for cohesion policy; welcomes the Commission’s readiness to examine proposals by the Member States to make use of EU support, and its willingness to examine and rapidly approve amendments to the 2014-2020 Operational Programmes in order to better integrate migrants and refugees; urges the Member States accordingly to take advantage of the funding available through the ESI Funds;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 48 a (new)
Citation 48 a (new)
- having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 26 November 2015 on education for children in emergency situations and protracted crises (2015/2977(RSP));
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Recalls UNHCR’s guidelines on gender-related persecution within the context of the 1951 Refugee Convention calling for a gender-sensitive interpretation of the Convention and determination of grounds for refugee or asylum claims;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Emphasises that gender-sensitive procedures, guidelines and support services should be incorporated into asylum and refugee processes, including separate interviewing of male and female refugees and asylum-seekers, the option of same-sex interviewers, and referrals to psychosocial and trauma counselling;
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Encourages Member States to use detention sparingly and not systematically, to employ robust monitoring processes and to permit access for NGOs and other competent bodies to visit and inspect reception conditions and minimum standards including women’s rights at places of detention;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Is of the opinion that the ESI Funds, in synergy with the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), are useful tools for addressing the scale of the migratory and refugee challenges in areas such as accommodation, relocation, skills training, and issues relating to poverty and social and cultural exclusion;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Believes that radical and long-term changes in Europe’s approach to migration are required; further believes any long-term and sustainable strategy must cover all aspects of migration and asylum including diplomatic and foreign policy, the global criminal economy, provision of humanitarian aid and better assistance to those who are already in Europe; further believes gender must be mainstreamed into all areas;
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 e (new)
Paragraph 1 e (new)
1e. Expresses deep concern at the level of people smuggling which is exacerbating the current crisis and forcing vulnerable people, including children, into inhumane and life-threatening travelling conditions; recognises that people smuggling is distinct from human trafficking which does not require crossing of international borders, involves violence, coercion, exploitation of a position of vulnerability, and is aimed at the exploitation of the victim; notes that, in practice, the distinction between smuggling and trafficking can become blurred when people who are smuggled also become victims of violence and exploitation;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 f (new)
Paragraph 1 f (new)
1f. Stresses the importance of creating safe and legal routes into the EU; believes this will help ensure migrants, refugees and asylum seekers do not have to resort to criminal networks;
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 g (new)
Paragraph 1 g (new)
1g. Underlines that search and rescue operations must be stepped up and maintained to minimise the number of deaths at sea;
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 h (new)
Paragraph 1 h (new)
1h. Calls on Member States to implement specific measures to facilitate the labour market participation of women refugees and migrants such as training, self- employment, language classes, life-long learning and volunteering; believes that the education, skills and training of women asylum seekers, migrants and refugees should be recognised and valued and that transparent procedures for the recognition of qualifications obtained abroad should be set up;
Amendment 64 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls Article 12 of CEDAW requiring states parties to guarantee access to appropriate services in connection with women’s health including pre-natal and post-natal care and menstrual hygiene;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas in 2015, over 3.771 persons are reported dead or missing in the Mediterranean sea, according to the International Organisation for Migration8 ; whereas children represent 30 per cent of all recorded deaths in the Aegean Sea[1]; whereas according to recent Europol data at least 10 000 unaccompanied children have disappeared after arriving in Europe [1] IOM and UNICEF, Data Brief: Migration of Children to Europe, http://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/press _release/file/IOM-UNICEF-Data-Brief- Refugee-and-Migrant-Crisis-in-Europe- 30.11.15.pdf __________________ 8 IOM, Missing Migrants Project, http://missingmigrants.iom.int/.
Amendment 71 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the additions made by the Recast Reception Conditions Directive, namely the inclusion of victims of human trafficking and FGM as separate categories of vulnerable persons; expresses its deep concern that only 12 Member States have applied vulnerable person status to victims of human trafficking; believes that victims and those at risk of child, early and forced marriage should be given vulnerable person status;
Amendment 74 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls for extra consideration to be given to the needs of migrant and refugee mothers traveling with children, both their own and orphaned children, by ensuring the provision of safe access to food, water, shelter, changing facilities, appropriate medicine, sanitation and other needs at all stages of traveling and after arrival;
Amendment 85 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that, notwithstanding fluctuation in migration flows which may put pressure on reception facilities, the needs of vulnerable people including women and girls shouldmust be prioritised at all times;
Amendment 93 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Highlights the need for women refugees and migrants to have access to female advocates at all times in order to express their concerns in a safe and confidential environment. This is to include, but not limited to, health concerns, reproductive concerns, maternal concerns, sexual harassment and violence and any other issues or information;
Amendment 97 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses that measures should be taken to facilitate protection of female migrants and asylum seekers, including through provision of separate shelter and sanitation facilities for unrelated men and women;
Amendment 106 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Encourages the UNHCR and IOM to ensure that the highest possible standards are in place for recruitment, that efforts are made to recruit and place female staff at all facilities, and that training which promotes a gender-based approach is providedmandatory for all staff.
Amendment 111 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Urges all Member States to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (the Istanbul Convention) and to apply its provisions in full; urges Member States to apply Article 59 of the Convention which requires states parties to take necessary measures to suspend expulsion proceedings against and/or to grant an autonomous residence permit in the event of a dissolution of marriage to those women migrants whose residence status depends on their spouse.
Amendment 114 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Highlights that a coordinated EU response to the refugee crisis must include specific measures to address the vulnerability and needs of children and specifically young girls, including their right to education.
Amendment 115 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on Member States to establish effective coordinated mechanism for the reception, processing, relocation and resettlement of incoming refugees, taking into account gender-sensitive issues; calls on EU agencies and Member States to ensure that public sector and civil society staff are provided training on a gender- based approach to work with incoming refugees.
Amendment 116 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Recalls the Communication from the Commission ‘A European Agenda on Migration’ (COM (2015) 240 final); notes the Commission’s intention to strengthen the safe country of origin provisions of the Asylum Procedure Directive; strongly believes that any decision to harmonise safe country of origin provisions, including the possible establishment of a common EU list of safe countries of origin, must mainstream gender; notes that no country of origin or third country can truly be deemed safe when gender- based violence occurs in all countries; believes claims based on fear of gender- based violence or discrimination should never be subjected to accelerated asylum procedures.
Amendment 118 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Recognises that women’s organisations and refugee women must participate in decision-making on their treatment, including priorities in distribution of aid, as well as in peace- building initiatives in their countries of origin.
Amendment 119 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Stresses that childcare must be provided during asylum appointments and interviews in order to ensure a fair opportunity to make an asylum claim; notes that lack of childcare provision for asylum seekers and refugees presents major access barriers to mainstream service provision and that this has a disproportionate impact on women who overwhelmingly bear responsibility for childcare; underlines that frontline services must consider the childcare needs of families.
Amendment 120 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5d. Believes that undocumented women migrants and their dependents are particularly vulnerable to becoming victims of violence, exploitation and intersectional discrimination based on race and gender; notes that the legal status of undocumented women migrants may limit access to appropriate services such as women’s shelters.
Amendment 121 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)
Paragraph 5 e (new)
5e. Expresses deep concern at the prevalence of negative stereotypes about women migrants, refugees and asylum seekers; urges Member States to redouble their efforts to protect all migrants, refugees and asylum seekers from right- wing extremism and violence.
Amendment 122 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 f (new)
Paragraph 5 f (new)
5f. Regrets that the Commission’s European Agenda on Migration does not aim to ease restrictions on family reunification; notes the importance of enabling those already present in the EU to reunite with family members, including unaccompanied children; encourages a more inclusive definition of the family to include underage siblings, customary law spouses and extended family members where there is a special relationship of dependence.
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
Recital M a (new)
M a. whereas all EU Member States have a duty to protect and promote the rights of all children and ensure that migrant children are treated first and foremost as children and that the principle of the child's best interests takes precedence over migration management objectives;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
Recital M a (new)
M a. whereas the large majority of refugees and migrants are young people under 35 years (81% according to Eurostat) with increasing numbers of children, highlights that education and training policies are crucial for well- managed reception and integration of refugees and migrants;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Suggests, in that respect, that search and rescue capacities must be strengthened, and that Member States’ governments must deploy more resources – in terms of financial assistance and assets – in the context of a Union-wide humanitarian operation, dedicated to finding, rescuing and assisting migrants in peril and bringing them to the closest place of safety, recommends that, in planning such search and rescue operations, child specific measures be taken, such as child safeguarding policies in manuals on search and rescue, child protection trainings and child-focused care at disembark;
Amendment 431 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Believes that the preferences of the applicant should, as much as practically possible, be taken into account when carrying out relocation; recognises that this is one way of discouraging secondary movements and encouraging applicants themselves to accept relocation decisions, but that it should not stop the relocation process; further recalls that the best interest of the child must be a primary consideration should always guide any decision on relocation involving children;
Amendment 650 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)
Paragraph 40 a (new)
40 a. Emphasises the crucial role played by education and training policies, lifelong learning and intercultural dialogue, as well as youth and sports policy, to foster the integration and social inclusion of refugees and migrants in Europe thus contributing to building a more cohesive and inclusive society. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase the profile of culture and education in those operational measures undertaken as part of the European Agenda for Migration, in particular by supporting integration through access to education and training systems, the creation of a platform for the recognition of competences and the development of effective actions supporting intercultural dialogue and understanding;
Amendment 673 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Takes the view that, where those persons granted international protection in the Union have an offer of employment or to follow an educational path, including access to universities in a Member State other than the one in which they have been granted international protection, they should be able to avail themselves of such an offer;
Amendment 700 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 a (new)
Paragraph 44 a (new)
44 a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to examine the possibility of establishing 'education corridors' to ensure that students from countries in conflict, in particular Syria, Iraq and Eritrea, can have access to those European universities, which make available places and scholarships also through agreement among Member States, the European Commission and UNIMED;
Amendment 705 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Encourages the Member States to seek to keep families together, which will assist integration prospects in the long-term as the focus can be directed towards the establishment of a new life instead of concerns towards family members that are still in insecure situations; urges Member States to take all measures necessary to prevent the separation of a child from his/her parents;
Amendment 723 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)
Paragraph 47 a (new)
47 a. On Unaccompanied Minors (new title)
Amendment 724 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 b (new)
Paragraph 47 b (new)
47 b. Recalls that refugee and migrant children should be provided with information on their right to family reunification and how to claim it in a child-friendly way; Recalls that support and protection should be extended to unaccompanied and separated children, in line with their best interests, and that applications for family reunification filed by unaccompanied and separated children should be expedited;
Amendment 725 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 c (new)
Paragraph 47 c (new)
47 c. Calls on Member States to fully apply the specific provisions of the Common European Asylum System concerning unaccompanied minors, including access to legal assistance, guardianship, access to healthcare, accommodation and education, the right to be spoken in a language they understand, to have interviews with trained officials not in a uniform, etc.; calls on the Member States to end detention of children because they are migrants.
Amendment 726 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 d (new)
Paragraph 47 d (new)
47 d. Calls on the Member States to ensure that refugee and migrant children enjoy rapid and non-discriminatory access to national services, including child protection systems, in line with the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child with the same level of care and support recognised to national children deprived of parental care; calls on Member States to gather disaggregated data on the situation of refugee and migrant children in order to improve the ability of systems to integrate refugee and migrant children;
Amendment 727 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 e (new)
Paragraph 47 e (new)
47 e. Believes that age assessment should be carried out in a manner that is multi- disciplinary, safe and in respect of children's physical integrity and human dignity, with particular attention to girls and should be performed by independent, qualified practitioners and experts; calls for legal guardians to be appointed to support unaccompanied and separated children immediately upon identification and calls on the Member States to speed up procedures for appointing legal guardians
Amendment 773 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
Paragraph 50
50. Believes that the return of migrants should only be carried out safely, in full compliance with the fundamental and procedural rights of the migrants in question, and where the country to which they are being returned is safe for them; reiterates, in that regard, that voluntary return should be prioritised over forced returns; recalls no child should be returned without a thorough risk assessment, conducted by independent child protection officer, and based on Country of Origin Information reports in cooperation with non-governmental, local and international organisation to ensure protection and reintegration after their return;
Amendment 1027 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 85
Paragraph 85
85. Calls on the Union to help third countries build up their asylum systems and integration strategies through the offer of educational services and assistance already in refugee camps and in emergency situation in order to allow third country nationals in need of international protection to seek protection there; believes that the Union must adopt a win-win approach to cooperation with third countries, that is, an approach that is beneficial to the Union, to the third country in question and to the refugees and migrants in that third country;
Amendment 1030 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 85 a (new)
Paragraph 85 a (new)
85a. Welcomes the commitments taken at the Valletta summit which recognise the need to give hope and opportunities to young people, and to protect children from violence and abuse;
Amendment 1102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 93 a (new)
Paragraph 93 a (new)
93a. Calls on the EU Member States to support the Commission's objective of increasing the share of humanitarian funds dedicated to education in emergencies to 4% of the EU humanitarian aid budget by 2018 in order to increase the investments for granting access to high-quality education for all children, boys and girls, in emergency situations and protracted crises, including child refugees;