Approximately one in seven MEPs is officially committed to actively combatting and preventing sexual harassment in the European Parliament. According to a final count, 111 MEPs from 18 Member States signed the MeTooEP declaration launched in February 2019 (see EUROPE 12188/5).
The MeTooEP collective was created in October 2017, following the adoption by the European Parliament of a non-legislative resolution on combatting sexual harassment and abuse in the EU. It has set up a blog reporting anonymous testimonies from victims of sexism, sexual harassment or sexual assault in the European Parliament.
In February 2019, the movement asked all MEPs to sign a declaration with ten commitments, including the commitment to “actively combat, prevent and denounce sexism and sexual harassment”, to participate in training on respect and dignity at work and to “strive to make it mandatory for all”. A total of 405 candidates in the European elections signed this declaration, and as of today, 111 current MEPs have signed it. The president of the institution, David Sassoli, is among the signatories.
The movement intends to continue its activities under the new mandate, despite the departure of its main activist, Jeanne Ponté, who left the European Parliament in May 2019 following the decision of her MEP not to run again. Link to the statement: https://bit.ly/2oWVIQa (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)