Full Minutes of the Meetings

SESSION OF TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2004

Reduction of poverty

Karamanou (PSE), Rapporteur of the Opinion of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality . – Madam President, Commissioner, I would like to present on behalf of the Women’s Committee, of which I am the chair, our opinion on the excellent report prepared by Mrs. Sandbaek. I am presenting it myself due to the absence of Mrs. Valenciano.

Unfortunately, Commissioner, after half a century of promises, analyses, and plans for development aid, most of the so-called developing countries are not only not on the path of development, but are sinking deeper into poverty and the deadly diseases of our century. Victims of this situation are, of course, women, the population group that still has no access to even basic healthcare services and sexual and reproductive health.

Of course, Commissioner, as you said, the contribution of women is very significant, even in countries where they are not recognized with fundamental freedoms and human rights. However, Commissioner, I believe that if women were in charge, the world would be much more humane. I consider it a disgrace for our civilization that 30,000 people in developing countries die every day from diseases that are treatable in our civilized world. Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death for women of reproductive age, surpassing even maternal mortality. The number of women infected with the HIV virus is high and continuously increasing, with consequences not only for the women themselves but also, in case of pregnancy, for their children. As Mrs. Sandbaek mentioned, 13 million children have been orphaned, and this number, to the glory of our civilization, is expected to reach 25 million by 2010.

As the Committee on Women, we ask both the governments of developing countries and the Union, as well as other international organizations active in this field, to ensure the full integration of the gender dimension into all health policies, taking into account the primary role that women play.

I would also like to commend the agreement reached by the WTO members in August 2003, despite the disagreements and the lengthy procedures or delays that occurred, as well as the efforts of the UN to provide high-quality medicines to patients with the HIV virus and the decision of the Council of the Union regarding increased incentives for pharmaceutical companies, aiming to sell pharmaceutical products at reduced prices. I believe that we must intensify our efforts to address this great scourge, Commissioner.