ASSEMBLEIA DA REPÚBLICA
JOSÉ MENDES BOTA
Deputado à Assembleia da República em representação da Região do Algarve
Palácio de S. Bento 1249-068 Lisboa
Telef: 213 917 282 Mail: [email protected]
RELATÓRIO Nº 72
Lisboa, 29/04/2013
ÂMBITO: ASSEMBLEIA PARLAMENTAR DO CONSELHO DA EUROPA
(APCE)
LOCAL: ESTRASBURGO
PARTIDA: 21 de Abril de 2013
REGRESSO: 26 de Abril de 2013
OBJECTIVO: Participação na 2ª parte da sessão parlamentar de 2013 da
Assembleia Parlamentar do Conselho daEuropa (APCE)
No dia 22 de Abril de 2013, comecei por participar numa reunião do Grupo do PPE,
durante a qual fiz uma intervenção num debate sobre a situação política na Hungria.
Durante a tarde, participei numa reunião da Comissão da Igualdade e Não
Discriminação, durante a qual fiz uma intervenção a interpelar a delegação da Argélia
composta pelas senhoras:
- Louisa Chachoua, do Conselho da Nação;
- Saadia Nouara Djaafar, do Conselho da Nação;
- Hafida Hamedi, da Assembleia Nacional Popular;
- Nora Gharshallah, da Assembeia Nacional Popular.
Nesta minha intervenção, questionei a situação das mulheres argelinas, face às seguintes
questões: casamentos forçados, casamentos de menores, mutilação genital feminina,
direitos de herança, poligamia, participação das mulheres em lugares de decisão
representação política e sistema de quotas no processo eleitoral.
Manifestei, também, o desejo de ver a Argélia a adoptar o estatuto de Parceiro para a
Democracia, à semelhança do que já fizeram Marrocos e a Autoridade Palestiniana.
Ao fim da tarde participei em mais uma reunião do Grupo do PPE.
No dia 23 de Abril de 2013, logo pela manhã, comecei por participar numa reunião da
Subcomissão do Prémio da Europa, durante a qual fiz uma intervenção no sentido de
considerar que qualquer das cinco candidaturas selecionadas tinha elevado mérito mas
que, havendo que fazer escolhas, estas deveriam ser sustentadas nalguns critérios
objectivos.
Para mim, contam sobremaneira o número de anos que um determinado município vem
apresentando candidaturas e relatório sobre as suas acções em prol do espírito europeu,
o número de geminações com outros municípios ponderado pelo número de habitantes
e, finalmente, pelo número de distinções já recebidas anteriormente.
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Fazendo este exercício, cheguei à conclusão que os municípios de Altotting
(Alemanha), Tata (Hungria) e Slupsk (Polónia) estavam em pé de igualdade. Propus que
se atribuíssem dois prémios “ex-aequo” o que foi aceite, e propus que fossem premiados
os municípios de Altotting e de Tata, o que mereceu a preferência da votação entre os
membros da Subcomissão.
Participei também numa reunião da Comissão da Igualdade e Não Discriminação.
Ainda na sessão plenária da manhã, fiz uma intervenção a questionar o Primeiro
Ministro da Geórgia, Bidzina Ivanishvili, que consta do Anexo A do presente relatório.
Durante a hora do almoço participei numa conferência sobre “Freedom of Consciente:
the tensions between laicity and religious minorities in State/families issues”,
organizada pelo European Interreligious Forum for Religious Freedom”, durante o qual
fiz uma intervenção sobre a necessidade de se conhecerem mais dados estatísticos
sobre a existência de situações de intolerância, discriminação e marginalização na
Europa, baseadas nas opções religiosas dos cidadãos.
Ao início da tarde, participei noutra reunião da Comissão da Igualdade e Não
Discriminação, durante a qual fiz uma intervenção, questionando o Chefe do
Departamento, Igualdade e Direitos dos Cidadãos da Agência para os Direitos
Fundamentais da União Europeia, Ioannis Dimitrakopoulos sobre o inquérito levado a
efeito por esta entidade acerca da violência contra as mulheres nos 27 Estados membros
da União e na Croácia.
Sobre este inquérito, que abrangeu entrevistas individuais com 40.000 mulheres,
formulei as seguintes perguntas:
- Quais os tipos de violência contra as mulheres incluídos no questionário,
designadamente os crimes cometidos em nome da dita “honra”, os casamentos forçados,
os casamentos com menores, etc?
- Porque razão, tendo o trabalho de campo terminado em Outubro de 2012, os
resultados só serão divulgados no princípio de 2014, durante a presidência grega da
União Europeia?
- Qual o tipo de cooperação da FRA com o EIGE – European Institute for
Gender Equality?
No plenário, fiz uma intervenção no debate sobre o relatório Ghiletchi sobre o tema
“Fighting child sex tourism”, cujo texto consta do Anexo B do presente relatório.
No dia 24 de Abril de 2013, comecei por participar numa reunião do Grupo do PPE.
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Seguidamente, fiz uma intervenção em plenário, no debate do relatório Volonté (doc.
13157) sobre “Violence against religious communities”, cujo texto consta do Anexo C
do presente documento.
No início da tarde, presidi a uma reunião conjunta da Rede Parlamentar “Women Free
From Violence” e da Comissão das Migrações, Refugiados e Pessoas Deslocadas,
durante a qual teve lugar uma audição sobre “Prostituição e Tráfico”, durante a qual se
ouviram os testemunhos de:
- Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, Secretária Geral Adjunta do Conselho da Europa;
- Tatiana Pârvu, Embaixadora, Representante Permanente da Moldávia e
Coordenadora Temática sobre Igualdade e Tráfico no Comité de Ministros do Conselho
da Europa;
- Simon Haggstrom, funcionário da Unidade de Prostituição da Polícia de
Estocolmo, na Suécia;
- Ilonka Stakelborough, fundadora do Stichting Geisha, sindicato de trabalhores
do sexo, na Holanda;
- Testemunho de Iva e Mary, jovens vítimas da Bulgária, traficadas e forçadas à
prostituição;
- Giacomo Santini – presidente da Comissão das Migrações, Refugiados e
Pessoas Deslocadas.
Fiz as intervenções inerentes à função.
Finalmente, tive reuniões bilaterais com:
- David Fieldsend, da ONG Care for Europe;
- Deborah Diallo, finalista de Direito na Universidade de Estrasburgo.
No dia 25 de Abril de 2013, participei numa reunião da Comissão da Igualdade e Não
Discriminação, durante a qual fiz uma intervenção no debate sobre “Adressing age
discrimination on the labour market”, tendo referido a situação dramática em que ficam
as pessoas desempregadas na meia idade, numa sociedade que, tal como diz o filme,
“não é para velhos”, e onde a experiência profissional deixou de ser o capital mais
precioso e reconhecido das pessoas.
Dirigindo-me à especialista da OCDE, Anne Sonnet, a questão que se coloca é a de
saber como contrariar os clichés e os estereótipos que tendem a glorificar a juventude e
a aparência, e as novas capacidades relacionadas com a sociedade da informação, em
detrimento dos mais velhos, julgados incapazes e acompanhar os tempos de inovação e
modernidade, desmotivados e desabilitados.
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Não é por acaso que o desemprego de longa duração permanece como um dos
problemas insolúveis, situação agravada pela crescente precarização do trabalho.
Durante toda a semana, participei em oito sessões plenárias, de manhã e de tarde, nos
dias 22, 23, 24 e 25 de Abril de 2013.
Assembleia da República, 29 de Abril de 2013
José Mendes Bota
ANEXO A
Question of Mr. Mendes Bota to the Prime Minister of Georgia, Mr. Bidzina
Ivanishvili
Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Strasbourg, 23rd April 2013
As General Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, I visited Georgia last year, right
before your election, and witnessed the efforts, commitment and progress on this matter.
I hope your government will remain committed to this cause, and sign and ratify the
Istanbul Convention, as soon as possible.
This would contribute to raise awareness and could also help preventing acts of violence
as the one we saw against a member of this Assembly, Mrs. Chiora Taktakishvili,
brutally assaulted by a demonstrator as the police stood passive.
ANEXO B
Speech by Mr. Mendes Bota, on the debate of report GHILETCHI (doc.
13152), about «Fighting “child sex tourism”»
Plenary of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Strasbourg, 23rd April 2014
Mr. President,
Dear Colleagues
I congratulate both rapporteurs and address to Mr. Ghiletchi’s report, to tell I
totally agree with his proposals.
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To talk about the problem of child sex tourism is to inevitably address the
values crisis of our modern society. Indeed there is something quite paradoxal about
a ‘plague’ of which we are everyday more aware of, toward which we channel more
and more money, and resources to fight it – doesn’t however stop extending.
Let us be clear about one thing: the globalized problem of child abuse isn’t
merely a question of opportunity and mobility. It stems from a deeper issue of
values crisis.
Of course, child molesting per se wasn’t born yesterday. Its roots lie deep in
tradition’s misapprehensions, ages of oppression and social caste. Yet, never as
today has it been such a widespread problem. Almost like a plague of locusts that,
like Mr. Ghiletchi’s report states at one point, moves from one field of exploitation
to the next once the spring runs ‘dry’.
Yes, technology has made it accessible to everyone and anyone.
Yes, travelling, as well as the gap between rich and poor, has brought it to
our very doorsteps.
But, if anything, it has also laid bare the immense challenges our society
faces today. A society that excels in its push for further inclusion, equality and
dialogue, never fearing to tackle the issues of our time and propose solutions to
them, and at the same time a society that lets fall through the cracks such monsters
as a Marc Dutroux or a Josef Fritzl – amplified in the eyes of our own morals, and
yet ample proof of our own shortcomings as lawmakers.
I say, if we truly want to be serious about combating this plague, we must
start by asking the painful questions it evokes. Is it not to wonder that more and
more of these famed ‘travelling sex offenders’, more and more child molesters
everywhere, are some of our more unsuspecting and reputable citizens in our
society, the high-profile businessmen, lawyers, doctors, priests, often celebrities,
sometimes politicians, etc; people with high-profile jobs, successful careers, college
educations; cultured and informed people, often parents and husbands themselves?
Not by chance, according to Mr. Ghiletchi’s report, most travelling sex
offenders originate from Europe, North America, Russia, Australia, New Zealand,
Japan and Taiwan – highly developed countries and regions, therefore.
How often do we turn on the news to find yet another wealthy ‘westerner’
caught abusing underaged minors in Thailand or posing as the ringleader for some
internet child pornography network?
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And it’s not just that, but over recent years how many cases can we recall of
celebrities in our own countries, reputable personalities, at odds with the law on
shameful charges of child molestation.
At one point one starts wondering if it’s not something inprinted in our
cultural genes, the culmination of a long history of patriarchate and taboo practices.
But surely, one comes to think, this is not a problem restricted to one certain
region or other. No place on the planet is immune to these modern day predators.
And yet one cannot help discerning a growing trend among the profile of
these aggressors. They are all too often the well-to-do in life, our civil and sociable
neighbors, the very people we ask our children to behold as role models when taking
into account their future lives and adulthood.
Everything, from the dwindling influence of religion, the growing pressures
of modern life, to the constriction of personal expression in cities more and more
overpopulated and insensitive, is a factor in the formation of the monstrous
mentality of the sex offender.
Despite an ever widening propagation and liberalization of sexuality, in the
same way many men and women have come to grow wary of its commons
standards, almost desensitized to its aesthetic vulgarity, and, in overcompensating
for their asphixiating individualities, prone to channel their instincts into ever more
marginal and distorted ways of sexual expression.
In this context, the growing predominance as well of careers in detriment of
family space, more and more centered in abstract concepts of success and often
occurring within the perimeter of oppressive and de-humanized employing entities,
plays an important part in subverting the way people perceive others and their place
in the world.
Thus, it’s the development of a healthy sexuality that’s jeopardized, having
only to offer in its place condensed parcels of feeling, devoid of its humane
components, which, like the willow tree, needs time and care to fully develop.
Let me say that it is no surprise that so many of our modern sex offenders
come from such unsuspecting walks of life.
The upholders of gender equality usually boast of the exclusive to work place
ethics and awareness actions – it’s one of their prioritary antics –, but in my opinion
it would probably be an interesting idea to extend the scope of those actions and
courses so that it includes the theme at hand – the theme of child abuse.
Of course, this is not a suggestion to take lightly.
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Of course, many will argue – and rightly so – that paedophilia and child sex
tourism are problems liable to happen in any part of the world, involving a diversity
of protagonists.
But when one thinks that prostitution is still seen in many of our countries as
something tolerable, and even glorifying from a male perspective; something of a
ritual and a hallmark for manliness; and at the same time when one realizes that a
significant part of the victims of prostitution is comprised of underaged girls,
mostly, and boys.
Such a phenomenon resorted by people from all classes and social castes;
when we add it all up the chips start to fall into place and the global picture becomes
more clear: we need to take vigorous and sometimes exceptional measures!
This is a fight on bias and traditional view as well.
It makes sense to tackle gender equality, violence against women and
children abuse in the same coordinated approach.
Because many times the frontier lines blur with one another.
Because the historical perception still prevails among some men that a girl of
16 or 17 is to be held in the same footing as a woman of 35, and therefore fully
accountable for her actions. But they are not. A girl of 16 and 17 is an underaged
minor. And the forceable intercourse with a fully adult man is what it is – a crime
punishable by law.
A dirty spot on Tourism image!
There is no doubt that we are facing an epidemic that will not simply go
away on account of any legislative actions.
Surely, such initiatives as the Lanzarote Convention, the reinforcement of
current laws and creation of others, the development of employment opportunities –
as the report suggests – for the children at risk, the investment in training programs
for stakeholders, etc, will certainly help to somewhat mitigate the problem.
But the main issue will remain. And until we don’t put the focus back on the
bulwark of family institution, the core values of brotherhood, caring, solidarity – the
binds that humanize us all –, instead of the mere transaction of affections, then we’ll
forever be coming home to a sour tune on the tv, a sad note – yet another murder or
rape or kidnapping of a child – and the future will be a degree less appealing.
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ANEXO C
Speech by Mr. Mendes Bota on the debate of report VOLONTE (doc. 13157),
about “Violence against religious communities”
Plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Strasbourg, 24th April 2013
Mr. President,
Dear Colleagues,
On behalf of the EPP Group, I congratulate Mr. Luca Volonte for the excellent report
presented to this Assembly, and salute him for the great work he developed in the last ??
years.
We share with him the notion of indivisibility of Human Rights, upholding them all, but
conscient of the hierarchy: Right to life, first; Right to freedom, second; Right to
freedom of thought, conscience and religion, third; Right to freedom of opinion and
expression, fourth!
We might feel comfortable with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the
European Convention on Human Rights on each hand, invoking articles 9th and 10th on
this last one.
But we cannot remain indifferent when the Observatory on Intolerance and
Discrimination Against Christians in Europe reported 821 cases of intolerance,
discrimination and marginalization in 5 years.
Or ignore the denounciations of the United States Commission on International
Religious Freedom, the work of ECRI, OSCE and ODHIR.
We know there is islamophobia in Europe, as well as anti-semitism. We know other
religions communities suffer attacks attacks around the globe.
But let me quote paragraph 45 of Mr. Volonte’s report: “There is a general feeling that
religious communities, including muslims, are better protected in Europe, than the
Christians in Africa, Asia ou Middle East.”
That’s why the “democracy clause”, in European agreements with third countries is so
important, and should include religious freedom.
In addressing this issue, let me begin by expressing first and foremost my unwavering
belief in the fundamental goodness of men. I do not mean to say this as an adornment of
speech. Rather it is my firm conviction that, given the right conditions of freedom of
thought and religion, a man’s first impulse towards one’s neighbour will be one of
acceptance and solidarity.
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Every so often we find ourselves murmuring the words “how can this happen in the 21st
century?” before news reports of religious related persecutions taking place roughly in
every corner of the world. We are easily embroiled in the common feeling – particular
to westernized society – that in an age that eventually saw Man master the forces of
nature in favour of technology, saw the stereotypes of patriarchate smothered and
overcome by a fresh wave of tolerance, saw the Berlin wall fall and much more, there
can be place for such demonstrations of backwardness and intolerance.
We forget however that this was also an age where that our very genius, put in the
service of war and destruction, promoted mass murder to heights never thought
possible.
If that teaches us anything is that the power of rhetoric is a dangerous weapon when
enforced on the weak by the powerful. This is particular true in societies where liberties
are limited, resources sparse and poverty generalized, but not only that. Also in
developed countries there are marginal groups, often victims themselves of
discrimination and social pressure, who become easy prey for some false prophets and
swank ideologues.
When seen up close these tensions as well – frequently promoted for political gain –
may look unpleasant to the sight, and for the oppressed masses who coexist daily with
such reality, for whom the sole horizon of living begins and ends in some hopeless
ghetto, the temptation of channeling disappointment into violence against other who
might not share the same convictions and beliefs may often be too great.
But it’s when we add religiousness to this equation that the pilars of our democracies
become the most endagered.
To put these freedoms in question is to jeopardize Man’s place in the world. The
question of religious expression is therefore one we must addres with caution. With
sensitivity.
Never as with the issue of religious freedoms has Man felt so harassed before the
perspective of their restriction. To ensure his freedom of believe a man will to such
lengths and he will not regarding any other aspect of life. He may sell his home and
move to another country. He may endure humiliation and sometimes kill. Because a
man’s religion is in fact his actual home.
The place where he comes in contact with his inner self, where he is allowed to express
to his Iman, his priest, his guide impressions of himself that the world rejects as futile
and impractical, but which are in fact the core essence of one’s existence – a manna
more powerful than even love or friendship.
That is why we must actively take steps to ensure any type of religious intolerance and
discrimination anywhere in the world is condemned. I agree with Mr. Volontè who
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urges in his report we take action against this menace. I have already referred to the
intrinsic laudable values of the human being.
These are the same ones that allowed different communities, cultures and even religions
to cohabit peacefully even in eras when far off places like Istambul weren’t at the
distance of a 3-hour airline flight – in times when wars were often sparked by religious
interests.
It’s true that in recent decades the rise of globalized communication, globalized
information, has done much to bridge the understanding gaps between peoples, cultures
and religions. At the distance of a click a young person in Faro, Portugal, can now
establish meaningful conversations about art, tastes and other interests with another
youth in Amman, Jordan, regardless of creed, sexual orientation or language
differences.
In this willingness to converse, to understand and share, resides the ‘glue’ that binds us
as Humanity, which is also the main underlying message of any important religion at its
best.
But too often the bortherly way in which these lines of communication are established
are smothered with even greater sophistication, by those rogue States and leaders who
are all too willing to pervert canonical interpretation to push their own purposes.
Radical agendas are then promoted and these only come too handy in the blame game
between civilizations and cultures. Because religious feeling is at the core of Man’s
experience as a conscient being, this rhetoric of hatred becomes even more dangerous
when pitted against the minds of the weak and ignorant – they who are often to be found
at the frontline of some of the most vicious attacks perpetraded in the name of extreme
radicalism.
In this political game no one is safe from being influenced. Even here in Europe, with
our long tradition of tolerance and democracy, an unsuspecting person can be led to
commit the worst atrocities in the name of faith.
In this case, as in all the cases of terrorist massacres, ignorance is to be found at the base
of these actions. But one must not discount the machiavelian thoroughness with which
certain factions are prepared to recruit the new ‘crusaders’ of their cause – although the
paradigms of ‘equal treatment’ and ‘equal opportunities’ taught from an early age
within our borders.
No one is immune to a fallback in life. No one is immune to traumatic events that might
sever one’s ability to relate with his fellow brothers and sisters. It is up to us to help
identify the ‘prophets of hate’ that undercover of the internet, or sometimes the
respectable outfit of ‘political parties’, prey on our weakest and youngest, with skills
and abilities worthy of a hypnotist.
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Here, in the heart of this continent, Anders Breivik murdered 77 people to push his own
agenda of madness and cultural hatred.
Just recently in France we saw the effects extreme religious intolerance can have on our
society, with the shootings of 7 people perpetraded by a Salafist radical.
Examples abound in Eastern Europe, where the persecution of Jews is an all too
dreadful reality.
Yet we have all signed the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, whose Article 18
states clearly “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.”
This very Assembly has passed numerous Recommendations and Resolution aiming for
the protection of religious freedom.
But are these but vapid words from nothing but a well intended Council of Europe? Do
we go to exercise them in our daily lives, in the smallest contact with our muslim,
christian, jewish acquaintances – black, white and yellow? Maybe not to the full extent
we could...
Yet, I look at the desperate situation around the world to which some Christian
communities are subjected, the targets for all kind of radical hatred and aggression, and
I wonder to what extent such political statements of tolerance and communication are
applied in some not so distant parts of the world. Can it be compared to the ongoing
efforts of this Union in promoting religious dialogue as part of its prioritary agenda?
The answer is no.
When we take the time to look at the attacks against the Egyptian Copts, the Kaduna
massacre in a Catholic church, the first thing that comes into view is the sensation of
impunity and institutionalized coverage the criminal benefit from.
It is hard to deem as even remotely acceptable that any of our leaders should deliver
such a tirade against Muslims as Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah delivered recently
against Christians. Yet, this type of rhetoric is an all too frequent reality even in
countries we, in the West, consider our friends and allies. It’s a widespread ideology of
discrimination, often conducted for political gain, and one that is legitimized everytime
we avoid to push these painful issues for debate.
There is no comparison between the outrage some ‘caricatures’ of the Prophet
Mohammed cause in the muslim world against the next to insignificant coverage we
dedicate to – for instance – the Staines’ murders in Orissa.
No doubt that no person is safe, either here, in Europe, or in Asia, from any form of
religious aggression, whether in the form of verbal abuse, physical attacks or even
terrorism.
I would like therefore to join Mr. Volontè’s calls on the Council’s member states, as
stated on his report, in pushing for greater dialogue between communities and religions,
and stronger condemnations where religion related attacks take place.
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I would especially like to urge this Assembly to lay particular emphasis on the
systematic persecution of Christian communities around the world, especially in
countries of non-Christian majorities, as well, of course, as any form of discrimination
or aggression practiced against any religious community in Europe and the world.
Into religion we pour the hopes and expectations, the fear and primal feelings, that make
us human in the first place. Religion is often seen as the ultimate haven, where society
offers no hope. The rule of law is powerless here. The political process impotent.
Everywhere, in his mosque, in his church, in his temple, Man frequently runs to find the
answers society doesn’t provide. The confirmation of his moral virtue, heritage, culture
– in sum, a sense of communion with ‘something’ that transcends the ‘secular’ and
‘immediate’ of everyday life.
It is a Human Right. Nobody has the right to destroy it.
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