A motion calling for the right to abortion in all EU member-states, gender quotas in the workplace, and the promotion of “diversification of career choices, especially for girls”, is set for a vote in the European Parliament tomorrow.
The motion also calls on member-states to launch campaigns that “ highlight men’s role in better sharing of family responsibilities and in work-life balancing”.
The motion, drafted by Marc Tarabella, a Belgian Socialist MEP, on behalf of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, says women must have “easy access to contraception and abortion”, that they “must have access free of charge to consultation on abortion” and member states must “improve women’s access to sexual and reproductive health services”.
Critics point out that the motion’s call for free access to abortion is contrary to the principle that abortion is a competency of Member States, rather than the EU.
The motion also calls on member state to “take effective steps, notably through legislation, to encourage gender balance in corporate, administrative and political positions of responsibility, therefore calls for binding targets to ensure the equal representation of women and men”.
It also urges member-states to “run awareness-raising campaigns in schools, workplaces and the media in order to promote diversification of career choices, especially for girls”.
