Brussels, 11/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - At the initiative of Commission Vice-President responsible for administrative reform Neil Kinnock, the European Commission organised, on 8 March, International Women's Day, a conference on the theme: "Muslim Women in Europe: voices to be heard in the intercultural dialogue". On this occasion, Equal Opportunities Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou appealed for Muslim women living in Europe to benefit from the same rights and obligations as European women, and for European governments to guarantee these rights and obligations, for example, access to education.
Furthermore, Walter Schwimmer, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, marked this day, the 8th March, by condemning the death penalty pronounced against Safiya Hussaini, which he said was a flagrant violation not only of women's rights but also of the rights of the human person as such. In his fight to save the life of the young Nigerian woman, Mr Schwimmer called for the support of European Commissioner Chris Patten, EU Council Secretary General Javier Solana, the UN Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, and Commonwealth Secretary General Donald McKinnon.