Brussels, 01/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - The European Union should place more attention on the question of gender in its migration policy, according to the Women's Rights' Parliamentary Committee.
In a draft report adopted on Thursday 20 January, MEPs called for a ban on the detention of children, pregnant women who have submitted a request for asylum and all victims of rape, sexual violence or human trafficking.
They also suggest that the procedure for taking in asylum seekers is improved by: (1) training personnel on gender questions, particularly by providing training on the question of sexual violence, trafficking and genital mutilation; (2) setting up different health centres and different dormitories for men and women; (3) facilitating the use of women interpreters and liaison officers; (4) providing gender sensitive health services for patients, including pre-and postnatal care; (5) providing care for pre-nursery school age children during assessments and interviews; (6) providing quality legal services; (7) informing women of their right to submit requests that are independent to those submitted by their partners.
MEPs would also like the publication of a list of “safe” countries not to lead to less favourable treatment for women who are victims of gender-related violence. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)