Opening the Plenary Session on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola explained how Parliament has stood with all mothers, daughters and sisters: not only with speeches and symbolism but with legislation.
Colleagues,
We meet here on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
It is a day, every year, when we remember all those women we have lost. When we recommit to all those who are beaten but who remain unbroken. When we stand with those abused, traumatised, bullied and brutalised.
When we double down on our efforts to eradicate and prevent violence against women and girls. When we understand all those faced with new forms of violence on and offline as technology develops.
I will always be proud of how this Parliament has stood with all mothers, daughters and sisters: not only with speeches and symbolism but with legislation. In May, we passed laws combating violence against women and domestic violence, criminalising more forms of abuse offline and online at a European level. Now, in this legislature we need and we must go even further. Strengthening protection across Europe and ensuring those who prey on these women are prosecuted.
We will be having a debate on this later today. We are also flying the orange flag next to our European one and will be illuminating our Strasbourg building in orange - shining a light on the urgency of our commitment.
End violence against women. Now.