International Women’s Day event: Lunacek enquires about protection of lesbian women’s rights

Today the European Parliament hosted a high-level conference celebrating International Women’s Day 2010. The event investigated EU action in the field of violence against women inside the European Union and in the EU’s external relations.

Ulrike Lunacek MEP, Co-president of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT Rights, intervened in the discussion with Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship.

Ms Lunacek enquired about the protection from violence against lesbian women in the strategy of the European Union after the Commission’s new Women’s Charter. Commissioner Reding replied that the Charter of Fundamental Rights clearly states that women have a right to live without fear, and violence against women is a crime. “A woman is a woman and needs to be respected, no matter how she lives”, Commissioner Reding stated.

Ulrike Lunacek MEP commented: “I take Viviane Reding’s answer as a promise that violence against lesbian women is also part of the strategy of the European Commission, and I will certainly follow up on this commitment!”