The #MeTooEP movement is continuing its crusade against sexual harassment. At a conference in Brussels on Wednesday 6 February, the movement - composed of workers from the European Parliament - appealed to MEP candidates to take an active stand against sexual harassment in the European Parliament during the next parliamentary term (2019-2024).
The appeal was made at a conference on sexual harassment and abuse both in the institutions and society as a whole, which was attended by the European Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, and by representatives of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Council of Europe. It takes the form of a statement to be signed by MEP candidates, which contains 10 key commitments, including a commitment to “actively combat, prevent and denounce sexism and sexual harassment”.
The statement also addresses the issue of mandatory training, which largely divided MEPs during the vote on Richard Corbett's (S&D, UK) report on the European Parliament's Rules of Procedure (see EUROPE 12184). The European Parliament has been offering a training course on respect and dignity at work for several months, but it is not mandatory and only 45 MEPs have taken it. During the vote on the Corbett report, the Socialists tabled an amendment to make the course compulsory, but failed to obtain a qualified majority (350 in favour, 266 against and 28 abstentions) (see EUROPE 12184). Consequently, the amendment was rejected. The #MeTooEP appeal therefore asks MEP candidates to commit to attending the course and to “strive to make it mandatory for all”. The #MeTooEP movement has assured that it will closely monitor the ratification and implementation of the appeal. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)