Brussels, 14/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - On International Women's Day on 8 March, 80 MEPs called on the European Council to adopt concrete guidelines on women's rights, said a press release from the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament.
The signatories (MEPs from the GUE/NGL, Greens/EFA, ALDE, PES and EPP-ED groups) highlight the fact that, despite the efforts of the international community and the commitment of the vast majority of states in combating discrimination against women, particularly through the ratification of the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), women continue to suffer violence and discrimination in all regions of the world. They argue that only concerted and systematic action, as already undertaken within the framework of the guidelines on torture, the death penalty, human rights defenders and children's rights, would see any real political progress on this issue.
The call was the initiative of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), points out the Greens/EFA press release, and it was promoted by human rights and gender equality committee deputy chairman Raül Romeva I Rueda (Greens/EFA, Spain). Information: http: //http://www.fidh.org (G.B.)