C Explanatory memorandum by Ms Elena
Centemero, rapporteur for opinion
1. The explanatory memorandum
stresses that “[p]oliticians must not indulge in hate speech against refugees”
and that “[n]ational law and policy should take appropriate action
against such hate speech in all contexts, including statements by
the media”. It also refers to the relevant work of the European
Commission against Racism and Intolerance and the Parliamentary
Assembly initiatives in this context.
Note However, there is no corresponding
recommendation in the draft resolution.
2. As parliamentarians, our engagement should go well beyond
“not indulging in hate speech”. We should speak out against the
discrimination and stigmatisation of refugees and asylum seekers,
and migrants in general. This was also the Assembly’s call in its
Resolution 2069 (2015) “Recognising and preventing neo-racism” and
Resolution 2159 (2017) “Protecting refugee women and girls from gender-based
violence”. The Assembly also asked member States to combat discrimination
against refugees and asylum seekers by condemning and punishing
any form of discrimination and violence against them. This recommendation
is all the more relevant for the present draft resolution, considering
that discrimination, racism and xenophobia are significant barriers
to effective integration.
(Amendment
A)
3. The explanatory memorandum acknowledges refugees’ challenging
journey to Europe and the trauma they endure, due to their experiences
of conflict and of fleeing their homes. In this context, it stresses
the importance of having in place proper social and health care
facilities and personnel so that psychological problems can be identified
at an early stage, noting that failure to address such problems
may have wide-ranging consequences, affecting, for example, employment,
language-learning, education and interaction with the authorities.
Note The draft resolution thus recommends
introducing different elements aimed at facilitating integration
at the earliest stages of the asylum determination procedure, including
psychological trauma support.
4. I propose to add a reference to “gender-sensitive approach”
and the provision of female asylum officers and interpreters into
the above-mentioned recommendation. In fact, today, women – together
with children – represent the majority of arrivals in Europe. These
women are often exposed to gender-based violence in their countries
of origin, during the journey and in transit and destination countries.
“[P]roviding protection from gender-based violence to all women,
irrespective of their status, should be a priority, in line with
the provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing
and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (CETS
No. 210, Istanbul Convention). The responsibility to help and protect
asylum-seeking and refugee women is not limited to cases of violence
perpetrated in destination countries. They should receive adequate
assistance to overcome the trauma they have experienced in their
countries of origin or during transit.”
Note This is also the first
step towards ensuring their successful integration, which in turn
will be the most efficient response to gender-based violence in
the long run. For the same reasons, I propose adding the word “women”
into paragraph 6.7.5, which refers to particularly vulnerable groups
deserving protection and assistance.
(Amendments
B, C and F)
5. Women are at the very heart of the integration process, as
in most migrant families they play a major role in educating the
children. Ensuring the social and economic integration of refugee
and migrant women is therefore essential and will have a multiplier
effect on the integration of migrant families.
6. The Assembly has repeatedly emphasised the need to promote
the integration of immigrant women and proposed measures to this
effect. In its
Resolution
1478 (2006) on the integration of immigrant women in Europe, the
Assembly stressed that measures to promote immigrant women’s access
to education, training, employment, social and cultural rights and
health services would lead to greater social cohesion in the host country.
It thus recommended,
inter alia,
ensuring adequate vocational training for immigrant women – aimed at
lifting them out of subordinate positions and professions traditionally
reserved for them (for example in the service, health or restaurant
sectors) – and offering them tailor-made, functional language courses
taking their main interests in life into account and free of charge
if possible.
7. The Assembly also repeatedly condemned harmful traditional
practices such as female genital mutilation, which are acts of violence
against women and children and a flagrant violation of their human
rights. It recommended numerous measures to combat these practices,
including the training for health-care professionals to enable them
to diagnose female genital mutilation and the provision of appropriate
care for women and girls suffering from the consequences of this
mutilation.
Note The
Assembly also called for the provision, in transit and reception
facilities, counselling, psychological support and health care,
including sexual and reproductive health care and specific post-rape
care, for victims of gender-based violence in their countries of
origin and in transit or destination countries.
Note
8. In view of these elements, I would like to add a specific
recommendation on women’s key role for successful integration and
on their specific needs in terms of professional and linguistic
training, as well as in terms of their access to sexual and reproductive
health. (Amendment D)
9. The Assembly has for the last twenty years been recommending
that migrant women be granted an autonomous right of residence that
is not tied to the residence status of their spouse.
Note In
its above-mentioned resolution on the integration of immigrant women
in Europe, the Assembly insisted on granting an independent status
to the spouse and children of the principal right holder at the
earliest opportunity in order to guarantee and fully protect their
rights, facilitate their social integration and avoid confining
them to the domestic sphere. This recommendation has been echoed
in successive resolutions and recommendations
Note and should be reiterated
once again.
(Amendment E)
10. To conclude, I would like to reiterate that the arrival of
asylum seekers in Europe should also be used as an opportunity to
promote and uphold values such as tolerance, diversity and openness,
and to take a strong stance against multiple forms of discrimination.
Note As accurately put forward
by my colleague Ms Gisela Wurm in her report on the protection of
refugee women from gender-based violence,
Note “Europe
can learn and gain a lot from the experience of refugees and put
into practice the respect of its fundamental values when welcoming them
to protect them from the atrocities of war. Helping the social integration
of refugees is therefore crucial to overcome prejudice and ensure
harmonious living together.”
11. The Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination will continue
to address the integration of migrants through a new report on “Migration
from a gender perspective: empowering women as key actors for integration”
which is being prepared by Ms Gabriela Heinrich (Germany, SOC).
