Brussels, 19/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 15 January, the European Parliament adopted Teresa Riera Madurell's report (PES, Spain) by a large majority (537 votes for, 22 against, with 31 abstentions). The report focuses on implementation of the 2002/73/EC directive on gender equality in the workplace. It highlights transposition problems of the directive and illustrates how the most frequent problems regarding the definition of discrimination involve application of the directive and the bodies responsible for equal opportunities (EUROPE 9815).
By adopting the report by Teresa Riera Madurell, Parliament requests: 1) that the European Commission: - actively monitors directive transposition and respect for legislation stemming from it, and continues to exert pressure on member states, - and verifies that member states are guaranteeing that victims and associations and organisations affected by this directive are not being obstructed by legal or other constraints (e.g. deadlines that are too short) from taking legal action for breaches of rules on discrimination and equal opportunities, or in the case of victims, from claiming full respect for their rights under this directive in other administrative procedures; 2) that member states: - take action encouraging employers to promote working conditions that prevent sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination, and create specific procedures to prevent such behaviour, - put a stop, through targeted measures, to discrimination against girls and young women at school and going into vocational training, as well as when returning to the labour market following absences used to care for children or close family members. (G.B./transl.rh)