BRUSSELS – Before the new College of Commissioners can take office, the European Parliament exercised its power of scrutiny and held public hearings to assess the commissioners-designates suitability for the job. Many members of MEPs for SRR, the European Parliament’s Working Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) quizzed the candidates about their commitments and plans for future actions to promote SRHR.
The designate for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen confirmed that “Sexual and reproductive health will be a central focus of our work for gender equality, that’s very clear for me.” Moreover, she promised to develop a new Gender Action Plan: “I can promise you, here in front of the Parliament, that we are going to make a Gender Action Plan III. This is something I will propose and I’m very committed to preparing, so I think that is one tool for us to provide and promote gender equality.”
Commissioner-designate for Equality, Helena Dalli stressed during her hearing that: “women’s rights are human rights. I am a committed feminist and you have my word that I will do all possible in order to protect sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). So I will work with the task force to mainstream SRHR, especially in dialogue with the Health Commissioner, and we will stay strong with each and every step if I encounter resistance. But I believe that when you stand your ground you do find allies to build coalitions for the willing. We also need to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on women’s health and universal access to sexual and reproductive care and family planning and education. So you have my word that this is a guarantee that sexual and reproductive rights – without exception.”
A vote by the European Parliament on the full Commission is set for 27 November 2019, so that the new College of Commissioner can officially start its work on 1 December 2019.