Address in Council of Europe, Carina Hägg (SocDem)

Throughout history, women in flight from danger have suffered sexual harassment and rape during armed conflicts. Even though we do not yet know enough about the mechanisms underlying the systematic use of sexual violence, we do know that they are triggered in some conflicts but not in others. The actions of individuals are crucial. We know that discipline can be strong in the police and the military. Officers can use their authority to stop unacceptable behaviour. We need the power of good examples. UN resolution 1820 focuses specifically on sexual violence towards civilians in armed conflicts. Rape and other forms of sexual violence may constitute a war crime or a crime against humanity. Cooperation within the UN is improving and we can see the emergence of a more unified response towards the use of sexual violence. In 1997 the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg established that the term torture also comprises rape. The Rwanda tribunal in Arusha subsequently established that rape can constitute a strategy in genocide. Sexual violence has been included among the charges in cases tried by the International Court in the Hague. In the same way the Court will be able to try crimes committed in the currently ongoing conflict in Libya. Refugees are affected. I call for stronger political commitment and for unified measures such as the following: - women must be assigned to conflict prevention work and peace negotiations by means of a quota system; - women who suffer sexual violence and rape in connection with armed conflicts must have their cases investigated by public courts rather than by military courts or customary law; - women who suffer sexual violence and rape must be able to bring class action suits in court; - women who suffer sexual violence and rape must be eligible for damages; - women who suffer sexual violence and rape must be provided with health and medical care; - women who suffer sexual violence and rape must be offered morning-after-pills, abortion pills and protection against infection. det talade ordet gäller

Från debatten om religiös dialog Europarådet

We meet in Europe, uncertainty and ignorance about Muslims. One example is France's ban on wearing the burqa or niqab comprehensive on the bus. Hungary is concerned. Denmark is another example where the moderate voices have disappeared from the debate. Danish People's Party and Muslim extremists set the agenda. We have no longer any opposition, said the Danish writer Carsten Jensen when he received the Olaf Palme Prize 29 / 1 2010. Denmark has become an experiment in a democracy without political leadership, a pure populist democracy. In many European countries we see examples of the political leaders' inability to deal with Islam's position in Europe. Instead populists exploit people's anxiety. It is high time for democratic forces to jointly tackle the issue. Political parties should clearly distance themselves from the attacks on Muslims and to distinguish between regular practicing Muslims and Islamists with a political objective of a society based on Islamic texts. Just as obvious as it is for us to defend everyone's right to believe what you want, it is also important to combat the political forces of oppression and segregation. Kristina, muslim oand judth xtremist has long experience of oppressing women. We have to forcefully take away from intolerance, segregation and all the groups that create unfounded suspicion among people, Please find below Ms Hägg (SOC), member of the Swedish Delegation, intervention in the debate on The Religous Dimension of the Intercultural Dialogue. (det talade ordet gäller)

Mitt bidrag till debatt om Nordafrika - Europarådet

The Situation in North Africa Dear Colleagues, North Africa is in turmoil. We follow the situation closely, as those countries are our neighbours and the developments there have an impact to our continent. But also because we feel closer than ever to the people of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, who are struggling to conquer freedom and to create new, democratic systems. Freedom and democracy should be for all. This means that we should not lose sight of the situation of women. During these months we have seen women taking active part in the uprisings, alongside men, in Tunisia and Egypt and a number of other countries of the Arab world, in North Africa and beyond. In Libya, women seemed to be less visible than in their neighbouring countries. This reflect the social and political role they have in their country, even more limited than in Tunisia and Egypt. Unfortunately, there are negative signals which are of great concern to me and which I would like to share it with you. Although women have had an important role in the revolutionary movements in North Africa, their engagement seem to lose momentum, or to be less welcome. The press reported that women were attacked in Cairo on March 8, while marching to commemorate International Women’s Day: gangs of men told women to go back home. The same had happened in Tunisia in January, when women’s groups manifested to demand equality. These might be just isolated episodes. Or they could be a sign that also emerging democratic forces disregard gender equality altogether and envisage to place women in the subordinate position that they have occupied for a long time, especially in that region. If we really support democracy and human rights, we cannot let it happen. The democratic change should benefit men as well as women. The Council of Europe and other organisations have offered their help to assist countries in democratic transition. They should ensure that the contribution of women to the fight for human rights in North African countries is not wasted. The wonderful opportunity that North African countries have to establish democracy is also an unmissable chance for women to have their rights recognised. We must do our utmost to support them. We are asked to share our expertise in the field of constitutional and legislative reforms. That is exactly where gender equality must be enshrined. I hope that more parliaments, besides those of Morocco and the Palestinian Authority, will apply for the status of Partner for Democracy with our Assembly. This would give us a chance to cooperate and support the development of democracy and human rights in those countries for all citizens. women and men. Recognising the right of women to fully participate in the social, political, cultural and economic life of their countries on an equal footing with men is perhaps the greatest challenge for new democracies in North Africa. We must stand ready to help them reach this goal. min text till tal i Europarådets debatt under fm. Det talade ordet gäller. mvh CH