Activities of Frances FITZGERALD related to 2020/2215(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Sexual and reproductive health and rights in the EU, in the frame of women’s health (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the situation of sexual and reproductive health and rights in the EU, in the frame of women’s health
Amendments (70)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation -1 (new)
Citation -1 (new)
-1 having regard to Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU),
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1
Citation 1
— having regard to Articles 5, 6 & 168 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
- having regard to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) of 18 December 1979,
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 b (new)
Citation 7 b (new)
- having regard to Article 6 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) of 3 May 2008,
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
Citation 16 a (new)
- having regard to the report of the Council of Europe’s Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination of 18 October 2017 on promoting the human rights of and eliminating discrimination against intersex people,
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
Citation 16 a (new)
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 b (new)
Citation 16 b (new)
- having regard to the report of the Council of Europe’s Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination of 22 April 2015 on discrimination against transgender people in Europe,
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 a (new)
Citation 24 a (new)
- having regard to the European Commission's communication of the 25th of November 2020 on the Gender Action Plan III,
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 b (new)
Citation 24 b (new)
- having regard to the Commission communication of 5 March 2020 entitled ‘A Union of Equality: Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025’ (COM(2020)0152),
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 31 a (new)
Citation 31 a (new)
- having regard to the report of the European Institute for Gender Equality of 22 November 2019 on Beijing +25 – The 5thReview of the Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action in the EU Member States,
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 31 b (new)
Citation 31 b (new)
- having regard to the WHO/Europe, its Action Plan for SRH and Rights 2017-2021, which has three closely interlinked goals: ‘Enable all people to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and ensure that their human rights are respected, protected and fulfilled’, ‘Ensure that all people can enjoy the highest attainable standard of sexual and reproductive health and well-being’, and ‘Guarantee universal access to sexual and reproductive health and eliminate inequalities’,
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an umbrella term for various issues affecting men, women, boys and girls alike, and representing four separate areas: sexual health, sexual rights, reproductive health and reproductive rights, based on the rights of all individuals to have their bodily integrity and personal autonomy respected; define their sexual orientation and gender identity; decide whether, with whom and when to be sexually active; decide whether, when and who to marry and when, whether and by what means to have a child or children; have access to the information and support necessary to achieve all of the above9 ; _________________ 9 Guttmacher-Lancet Commission, Executive Summary on sexual and reproductive health and rights, The Lancet, London, 2018, https://www.guttmacher.org/guttmacher- lancet-commission/accelerate-progress- executive-summary
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are based on the rights of all individuals to have their bodily integrity and personal autonomy respected; definhave their sexual orientation and gender identity fully respected; decide whether, with whom and when to be sexually active; decide whether, when and who to marry and when, whether and by what means to have a child or children; have access to the information and support necessary to achieve all of the above9 ; _________________ 9 Guttmacher-Lancet Commission, Executive Summary on sexual and reproductive health and rights, The Lancet, London, 2018, https://www.guttmacher.org/guttmacher- lancet-commission/accelerate-progress- executive-summary
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas the concept of SRH was put forward at the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994, where reproductive health was defined as a “state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system, and to its functions and processes” and the reproductive rights as ‘Certain human rights that are already recognised in national laws, international human rights documents and other consensus documents’;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
C b. whereas health is not a direct competence of the European Union but cooperation between Member States takes place through the Open Method of Coordination;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
C c. whereas the European Union has direct competence to act in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights in external action; whereas the European Union does not have direct competence to act in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights within the Union; whereas the European Parliament invites and encourages Member States to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights for all;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas violations of SRHR constitute breaches of human rights, specifically the right to life, physical and mental integrity, equality, non- discrimination, health and education; whereas violations of women’s SRHR are a form of violence against women and girls;1a; _________________ 1a OHCHR, Information Series on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/ Women/WRGS/SexualHealth/INFO_Abo rtion_WEB.pdf
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas SRHR challenges and obstacles include: a lack of access, denial of medical care based on personal beliefs, gender-based violence, gynaecological and obstetric violence, a lack of comprehensive sexuality education, denial of access to information/education, a lack of available contraception methods, limited access to medically assisted reproduction treatments, forced sterilisation, including in the context of legal gender recognition, high rates of STIs and HIV, disparities in maternal mortality, high adolescent pregnancy rates, harmful gender stereotypes and practices such as female and intersex genital mutilation, early, forced and child marriages and honour killings; , honour killings and so-called “conversion therapy” practices, which can take the form of sexual violence such as “corrective rape” on lesbian and bisexual women and girls, as well as transgender persons; whereas the enjoyment of SRHR for LGBTI persons may be severely hindered due to the omission in sexual education curricula of the diversity of sexual orientation, gender identity, expression and sex characteristics;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas SRHR challenges and obstacles can include, among others, obstacles of a legal, financial, cultural and information nature, such as: a lack of access, denial of medical care based on personal beliefs, gender-based violence, gynaecological and obstetric violence, a lack of comprehensive and age appropriate sexuality education, denial of access to information/education, a lack of available contraception methods, limited access to medically assisted reproduction treatments, difficulties accessing goods necessary for SRHR, forced sterilisation, high rates of STIs and HIV, disparities in maternal mortality, high adolescent pregnancy rates, harmful gender stereotypes and practices such as female genital mutilation, early, forced and child marriages and honour killings;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Amendment 168 #
G. whereas the unavailability of scientifically accurate information violates the rights of individuals toand is damaging in makeing informed choices about their own SRHR;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the essential package of SRH measures includes: comprehensivaccess to information, healthcare services, and confidential and unbiased counselling; comprehensive and age appropriate sexuality education; modern contraceptives; antenatal, childbirth and postnatal care; midwifery; obstetric and newborn care; safe and legal abortion services; the prevention and treatment of HIV and other STIs; services aimed at detecting, preventing and treating sexual and gender-based violence; treatment for reproductive cancers; and fertility and infertility services;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas comprehensive sexuality education facilitates informed reproductive choicesand age appropriate sexuality education is a rights based and gender focused approach to sexuality education, including scientifically accurate information about human development, anatomy and reproductive health which facilitates informed reproductive choices and helps to combat gender-based violence;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas some Member States still have laws prohibiting abortion except in strictly defined circumstances, forcresulting in women having to seek clandestine abortions, to travel to other countries or to carry their pregnancy to term against their will, which is a violation of human rights and a form of gender-based violence; 1a; _________________ 1a OHCHR, Information Series on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/ Women/WRGS/SexualHealth/INFO_Abo rtion_WEB.pdf
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas abortion laws are based on national legislation; whereas even when abortion is legally available, there are often barriers to accessing it;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas no woman should die in childbirth and evidence-based maternity, pregnancy and birth-related care is a human right;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas SRHR issues are often instrumentalised by opponents of reproductive rights who appeal to national interests in order to achieve demographic objectives, thus contributing to the erosion of democracy and personal freedoms;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital N a (new)
Recital N a (new)
N a. whereas, according to the Charter, the ECHR and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, women’s sexual and reproductive health is related to multiple human rights, including the right to life and dignity, freedom from inhuman and degrading treatment, the right to access healthcare, the right to privacy, the right to education and the prohibition of discrimination;
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital N b (new)
Recital N b (new)
N b. recalls that sexual health is fundamental to the overall health and wellbeing of individuals, couples and families, in addition to the social and economic development of communities and countries, and that access to health, including sexual and reproductive health, is a human right; whereas providing some form of sexuality and health education is already mandatory in a majority of Member States;
Amendment 247 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Forging a consensus andin addressing SRHR challenges as EU challenges
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls upon the EU, its bodies and agencies to support and promote access to SRHR services within the exercise of its policies and competences and with due regard to subsidiarity, and calls upon the Member States to ensure access to a full range of SRHR, and to remove all barriers impeding full access to SRHR;
Amendment 255 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Recalls the EU commitment to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of the right of every individual and of every woman and girl to have full control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality and sexual and reproductive rights, free from discrimination, coercion and violence 1a’; _________________ 1a EU Council conclusions ‘EU priorities at the United Nations and the 75th United Nations GeneralAssembly, September 2020-September 2021'
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Stresses the need for a positive and proactive approach to healthcare throughout the lifecycle;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity and in line with national competences and national legislation in the field of health, calls upon the Member States to safeguard the right of all persons to make their own informed choices with regard to SRHR;
Amendment 271 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Calls in that context for regular exchanges and promotion of good practices between Member States and stakeholders on the gender aspects of health to be facilitated, including on sexual and reproductive health and rights;
Amendment 289 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Stresses the importance of guaranteeing sufficient budgetary provision for women’s sexual and reproductive health and ensuring the availability of adequate human resources and necessary goods across all levels of the health system, in both urban and rural areas;
Amendment 291 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. While the Union´s action in the field of health is limited, the Union should support Member States in reducing health inequalities and in achieving health coverage in the provision of sexual and reproductive health services, while addressing the challenges of vulnerable groups;
Amendment 293 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Emphasises that the Union can support the Member States in preparing their health systems for emerging technologies to ensure the most cutting- edge and emerging treatments and diagnostic methods are available, allowing patients to fully benefit from the digital revolution; Stresses the need to fully utilise Horizon Europe and Digital Europe to further these priorities;
Amendment 294 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5 d. Highlights that the European Union can support Member State actions to ensure access to sexual and reproductive health services and related medicinal products, including in the global market, and to support integrated and intersectional approaches to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care;
Amendment 300 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls upon the Member States to establish effective strategies and monitoring programmes that guarantee access to a full range of SRHR services in line with international health standards;
Amendment 303 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses that equity in access, quality of care and accountability in regards to healthcare, including SRH related illness such as STIs, HIV/AIDS, reproductive cancers and hepatitis among others, are fundamental in respect of human rights; further emphasises that services, commodities and facilities need to be of quality, sufficiently available and respect medical ethics, and to be culturally appropriate and responsive to gender and life course requirements; stresses the need to cater to the specific needs of diverse population groups, with respect for confidentiality and informed consent, and that services should be scientifically and medically appropriate and of good quality;
Amendment 305 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Emphasises the importance of illness prevention through education; Further stresses the importance of vaccinations in illness prevention where vaccinations exist; calls therefore for the Member States and the European Commission to extend the EU purchase of vaccines to combat COVID-19 to the purchase of the HPV vaccine, ensuring that every young person in Europe can avail of this vaccine;
Amendment 315 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recalls that all medical interventions related to SRHR must be undertaken with prior, personal and fully informed consent;
Amendment 319 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Reaffirms its call on Member States to adopt legislation ensuring that intersex persons are not subjected to non- vital medical or surgical treatment during infancy or childhood, and that their right to bodily integrity, autonomy, self- determination and informed consent is fully respected;
Amendment 320 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Stresses the need to take into consideration specific health needs related to SRHR such as infertility, menopause, specific reproductive cancers; Calls on the Commission to provide information as to the contribution of EU programmes to advancing and supporting reproductive health;
Amendment 322 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Amendment 323 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Stresses the importance of close examination of fertility in the EU and the prevalence of infertility, which for many families and persons is a difficult and painful reality; stresses the need to take a holistic approach, taking fertility and infertility into consideration jointly, including prevention (incidence of STIs and tubal infertility, the roles of comprehensive and age appropriate sexuality education and SRH services, combined with public awareness) and equality of access to services (ensuring the removal of barriers to treatment within countries leading to an increase in cross-border reproductive care, where necessary, and the further development of safe and cost-effective new technologies, based on ethical medicine);
Amendment 325 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Emphasises that environmental change can be detrimental to future fertility; stresses the need to consider the impacts of environmental change on SRHR, including pollution of water and air, and an increase in the consumption of chemicals; asks that this be further examined through Horizon Europe and addressed through the European Green Deal;
Amendment 339 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Stresses the need for universal access to quality and affordable comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information and education, including comprehensive and age appropriate sexuality education, with respect of the Member States’ competences and practices; emphasises that this can significantly contribute to reducing sexual violence and harassment, complemented through EU funding and projects enhancing cooperation and coordination of public health policies, and the development and dissemination of good practices;
Amendment 341 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Recalls that the imparting of information should reflect the diversity of sexual orientations, gender identities, expressions and sex characteristics, so as to counter misinformation based on stereotypes or biases; calls on Member States to develop age-appropriate sexual education curricula inclusive of the former;
Amendment 343 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Strongly reiterates that access to comprehensive and age-appropriate information about sex and sexuality and access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, including sexuality education, family planning, contraceptive methods, is essential for the creation of a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, in addition to the possibility of having safe sexual experiences, free from coercion, discrimination and violence; encourages all Member States to introduce comprehensive age-appropriate sexuality and relationship education for young people in schools;
Amendment 349 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls upon the Member States and the media to combat the spread of discriminatory and unsafe misinformation on SRHR;
Amendment 360 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls upon the Member States to ensure access to a range of contraceptive methods, allowing women in collaboration with their doctors to choose the method that best suits them, thereby safeguarding the fundamental right to health and the right of choice;
Amendment 400 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Urges the Member States to regulateaddress obstacles to legal abortion and recalls that they have a responsibility to ensure that women have access to the rights afforded to them by law;
Amendment 410 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading d
Subheading d
Maternity, pregnancy and birth-related care for all
Amendment 414 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls upon the Member States to adopt measures to ensure that all women and pregnant persons have access to affordable, evidence-based maternity, pregnancy and birth-related care;
Amendment 415 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls upon the Member States to adopt measures to ensure that all women have access to quality, affordable, evidence-based maternity care, based on respect;
Amendment 419 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Recalls that the WHO European region has the lowest instance of breastfeeding in the world; Highlights the need for greater awareness and information on the benefits of breastfeeding; calls on the Member States and the European Commission initiate high-profile campaigns to stress the benefits of breastfeeding;
Amendment 422 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Calls on the Commission to develop common EU standards in maternal healthcare and to facilitate best practice sharing amongst experts in the field;
Amendment 427 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls upon the Member States to combat physical and verbal abuse, including gynaecological and obstetric violence, which constitute forms of gender-baseddo their utmost to ensure the respect of women's rights and their dignity in childbirth, and to combat any associated gender based violence, including physical and verbal abuse such as gynaecological and obstetric violence;
Amendment 431 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls upon the Member States to ensure that maternity, pregnancy and birth-related care must be equally accessible to all persons undergoing pregnancy without discrimination of any kind, notably on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity;
Amendment 434 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Stresses that the EU4Health should be gender mainstreamed, to take into account gender bias and to develop a gender sensitive approach to disease awareness, screening, diagnosis and treatment;
Amendment 459 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls upon the Member States to exercise their competence in SRHR by striving to protect human rights, specifically the right to health, and implement a wide range of SRH services, ensuring that the principle of non- retrogression is respected;
Amendment 465 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Stresses the highly damaging and diverse health consequences of gender- based violence, which has been shown to have the potential to lead to severe physical and mental health consequences, including gynaecological disorders and adverse pregnancy outcomes;
Amendment 482 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls upon the Commissioner for Equality to promote and protect SRHR and to include them in the nextfacilitate and promote the exchange of best practices between Member States and stakeholders on gender aspects of health, including SRHR and to facilitate the synergies between EU4Health and in the EU gGender eEquality sStrategy;
Amendment 484 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls upon the Commissioner for Equality to promote and protect SRHR and to include them in the next EU gender equality simplementation of the EU gender equality strategy and the EU LGBTIQ Equality Strategy;
Amendment 486 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Amendment 487 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Stresses the importance of sexual and reproductive health providers in the provision of a comprehensive range of sexual and reproductive health services, including both physical and mental health; encourages the Member States to take their unique circumstances into consideration when planning the provision of healthcare overall;
Amendment 492 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls upon the Commissioner for International Partnerships to uphold the European Consensus on Development and the SDGs, in particular targets 3.7 and 5.6, to ensure that SRHR remain a development priority in all EU external activities and relations, in particular in the new Gender Action Plan III;
Amendment 500 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls upon the Commission to strengthen its actions to counter the backlash against women’s rights and SRHR;