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(2004/C 33 E/045)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0523/03

by Miet Smet (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 February 2003)

Subject:   Women's rights in Zambia

Cooperation between the EU and Zambia takes place on the basis of ACP-EU partnership. In the Cotonou Agreement, which outlines the general framework for ACP-EU relations for the next 20 years, respect for human rights and the equality of women and men are stressed repeatedly by both parties.

In spite of the fact that Zambia subscribes to these principles, the rights of women in Zambia are not always respected. According to a report of 28 January 2003 by Human Rights Watch, girls in Zambia are five times more likely to be infected with the HIV virus than boys, because they are the victims of widespread sexual abuse.

Has the EU yet reacted to these grave infringements of women's rights? If not, does it intend to do so?

Is there any provision for a mechanism to systematically monitor and enforce respect for women's rights in Zambia? Is there provision for the possibility of suspending cooperation between Zambia and the EU if women's rights, and human rights in general, are continually violated in Zambia?

If not, will the EU make provision in future for such possibilities?

If there is provision for the monitoring and enforcement of respect for human rights and for the possible suspension of cooperation between Zambia and the EU, does this apply to all the countries which have signed the Cotonou Agreement?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2003)

The higher rate of human immundeficiency virus (HIV) infection in girls rather than boys in Zambia and in the Southern African region is due to a number of factors of which sexual abuse is one, but there are others including earlier age of sexual intercourse and greater susceptibility of females to infection.

The Commission, in the framework of the Budget line B7-6211, announced in September 2002 a call for proposals aimed at combating poverty-related diseases, including HIV/acquired immundeficiency syndrome (AIDS), in all developing countries. The activities funded by these grants would improve care and treatment for persons already infected but would also cover projects addressing the needs of young women vulnerable to infection. The Human Rights Watch Report on Women's Rights in Zambia, mentioned by the Honourable Member refers to this European Community Programme (1).

Zambia has received a grant of USD 19 858 000 from the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, to which the Community has contributed EUR 120 million.

Gender and HIV/AIDS are also the main crosscutting issues in the current Zambia National Indicative Programme (NIP).

The Human Rights Watch Report notes that among the key problems in the state response are both the weakness and the failure of the criminal justice system to deal appropriately with complaints of sexual abuse and the need for special training in gender violence and child abuse for the police. During the visit of the Member of the Commission responsible for Development to Zambia in January 2003, violence against women and the need for special training for judges were discussed with President Mwanawasa. Following that dialogue, the Commission is working with the Ministry of Legal Affairs to prepare special training programmes for judges and police officers within the framework of an Institutional Development and Capacity Building programme foreseen in the 9th European Development Fund NIP mentioned above.

The Cotonou Agreement provides in article 8 for comprehensive political dialogue with all African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States, including a regular assessment of developments concerning the respect for human rights.

The Community and the Member States are monitoring very closely and discussing with the government the impact of HIV/AIDS and violence against women in the framework of the continuous political dialogue established under article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement.

Where there are failures to respect the essential elements, set out in article 9 of the partnership, any Party to the Agreement can invite the other Party to hold consultations in conformity with article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement. Respect for human rights is one of the essential elements of the Agreement and applies to all signatories. Article 96 provides that if the consultations do not lead to a solution acceptable to both parties, appropriate measures may be taken. The suspension of the Agreement would be a measure of last resort.

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