14 Amendments of Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ related to 2009/2222(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Recital A (new)
Recital A (new)
A. whereas social services of general interest play an essential role in combating social exclusion and discrimination, protecting human rights and human dignity, and promoting social justice and protection, equality between women and men, solidarity between generations, protection of the rights of the child, the balancing of private and professional life and the achievement of economic, social and regional cohesion,
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas social services of general interest, and in particular access to services for the care of children, the elderly and other dependants, are essential for the equal participation of women and men in the labour market, education and training,
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas the expansion of social services of general interest has been a driving force in drawing more women into the labour market,
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. As social services of general interest are generally driven by the principle of solidarity and are highly dependent on public financing, urges the Member States, so as to ensure equality of access independent of wealth, income, race or ethnic origin, religion or beliefs, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender, to continue with the same level of financial contributions as during the fast- economic- growth period and to facilitate the access of people with fewer resources to social services;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Insists on the need to prevent the current financial and economic crisis and future economic prospects from putting at risk the development of social services of general interest, as this would in the long term harm the growth of employment, economic growth in the EU, the increase in fiscal contributions, the rise in birth- rates and the promotion of equality between women and men;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Member States to carry out a gender-based impact assessment of the various services of general interest and establish modern proactive welfare strategies to ensure effectiveness and efficiency of social spending, also taking into account gender-equality principles; notes that these policies, including the promotion of inclusive labour markets, prevention and rehabilitation, may require more funds initially, but should lead to cost savings and improve quality of delivery in the longer term;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines the fact that it is essential to promote stronger user-orientation and user- empowerment as well as, to take account of the gender perspective and to enhance access to social rights, particularly for disadvantaged groups, including single mothers, disabled women, women who have been victims of gender violence, immigrant women, women belonging to minorities, women with few qualifications and elderly women, in a context where the need for services is becoming increasingly sophisticated and complex;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recommends the Member States, when defining social services of general interest, to take account of gender-specific services, especially advisory and social services particularly designed for women, and important services that contribute to women’s quality of life and to equality, such as health services, particularly sexual and reproductive health services, education and the care of the elderly;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Recommends the Commission and the Member States to consult all the relevant parties, including the representatives of organisations for women, immigrants, minorities, the disabled, the elderly and those for the rights of the child;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Requests that the Commission ensure that the assessment of proposed EU actions and initiatives from a gender-equality perspective becomes a regular and transparent process with discernible results, and that specific gender budgeting is built into all EU and national programmes andthe gender perspective is included in the budget for all EU and national programmes and policies; also calls on the Commission to include in its monitoring reports issues of social inclusion and gender equality, and to mainstream the rights of the child in specific policies;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Member States to ensure the availability of accessible, affordable, high- quality, diversified forms of childcare provision for children, the elderly and other dependants, as an essential step towards equal opportunities in employment for women and men, since childcare services not only facilitate participation by women in the labour market but also offer job opportunities mainly for women;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Believes it necessary to ensure that affordable care services are available for at least 40 % of children from 0 to 3 years of age, and to make education available to all children between the age of 3 and the mandatory school age;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Draws attention to the importance of ensuring that the national, regional and local authorities facilitate access to social housing for women in need or at risk of exclusion, and for women who have been the victims of gender violence, in both cases especially when they have dependent children;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Points out that it is vital to safeguard the access of the most vulnerable women’s groups to training and employment services in order to secure their financial independence and full inclusion in society;