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A #MeToo Moment for the European Parliament A #MeToo Moment for the European Parliament
(about 17 hours later)
BRUSSELS — The #MeToo movement reached the European Parliament on Wednesday, when several members spoke about their experiences with sexual harassment during a debate over ways to combat the abuse of women.BRUSSELS — The #MeToo movement reached the European Parliament on Wednesday, when several members spoke about their experiences with sexual harassment during a debate over ways to combat the abuse of women.
“Me too” said Terry Reintke, 30, a German member of the European Parliament for the Greens. “I have been sexually harassed, just like millions of other people in the European Union.” “Me too,” said Terry Reintke, 30, a German member of the European Parliament for the Greens. “I have been sexually harassed, just like millions of other people in the European Union.”
The open discussion of sexual harassment spread to Europe last week, after the torrent of allegations against Harvey Weinstein, the Hollywood producer, the television host Bill O’Reilly and others.The open discussion of sexual harassment spread to Europe last week, after the torrent of allegations against Harvey Weinstein, the Hollywood producer, the television host Bill O’Reilly and others.
The session in Strasbourg, France, lasted for only 90 minutes and had been hastily scheduled after European news outlets published a series of anonymous reports about sexual harassment allegations against members of the Parliament and in the European Union’s offices in Brussels. About 45 female and 5 male members spoke for one to two minutes each to a mostly empty auditorium. The session in Strasbourg, France, lasted for only 90 minutes and had been hastily scheduled after European news outlets published a series of anonymous reports about sexual harassment allegations against members of the Parliament and in the European Union’s offices in Brussels. About 45 female and five male members spoke for one to two minutes each to a mostly empty auditorium.
“At least one in every three women has been victim of some sort of physical or sexual violence,” Cecilia Malmstrom, the European Commissioner for Trade, said during the session. “But these statistics do not tell enough personal stories, and the reason we are debating this today is of course because of the global movement of #MeToo.” “At least one in every three women has been victim of some sort of physical or sexual violence,” Cecilia Malmstrom, the European commissioner for trade, said during the session. “But these statistics do not tell enough personal stories, and the reason we are debating this today is of course because of the global movement of #MeToo.”
Several lawmakers called for the ratification of the Istanbul Convention, which would require member states to adopt a comprehensive legal framework to combat violence against women. As of today, the convention has been ratified by only 15 of the European Union’s 28 member states.Several lawmakers called for the ratification of the Istanbul Convention, which would require member states to adopt a comprehensive legal framework to combat violence against women. As of today, the convention has been ratified by only 15 of the European Union’s 28 member states.
Several of the lawmakers also called for the adoption of a resolution put forward during the debate on combating sexual harassment. The measure will be voted upon on Thursday. Several of the lawmakers also called for the adoption of a resolution put forward during the debate on combating sexual harassment. The measure will be voted on on Thursday.
Ms. Reintke demanded measures to “improve the mechanisms for fighting sexual harassment” in the European Parliament after the “shocking reports about the events” there.Ms. Reintke demanded measures to “improve the mechanisms for fighting sexual harassment” in the European Parliament after the “shocking reports about the events” there.
Harassment has also been reported to be widespread throughout the European Union bureaucracy in Brussels, especially among junior assistants, interns and trainees. Such assistants usually have precarious work contracts, making them particularly vulnerable.Harassment has also been reported to be widespread throughout the European Union bureaucracy in Brussels, especially among junior assistants, interns and trainees. Such assistants usually have precarious work contracts, making them particularly vulnerable.
Grainne Hutton, 24, a former intern from Leeds, England, is one of dozens of women who decided to speak out over the past week about sexual harassment in the “Brussels bubble.”Grainne Hutton, 24, a former intern from Leeds, England, is one of dozens of women who decided to speak out over the past week about sexual harassment in the “Brussels bubble.”
After earning a degree in international affairs, Ms. Hutton said in an email, she was thrilled to land a six-month internship in Brussels at “one of the top consultancies.”After earning a degree in international affairs, Ms. Hutton said in an email, she was thrilled to land a six-month internship in Brussels at “one of the top consultancies.”
But in the course of her internship, she said, her supervisor began to behave in ways that made her increasingly uncomfortable.But in the course of her internship, she said, her supervisor began to behave in ways that made her increasingly uncomfortable.
“Lewd sexual comments were made in meetings, over the company messenger and over Facebook,” she said. “He would message me after midnight, extremely crude and disgustingly sexual things. He would also use our internal messaging channels to send me messages about his favorite animals having sex, asking me about my sex life and other perturbing and intrusive questions. He would even say things in internal meetings in front of others. This went on for over a month.”“Lewd sexual comments were made in meetings, over the company messenger and over Facebook,” she said. “He would message me after midnight, extremely crude and disgustingly sexual things. He would also use our internal messaging channels to send me messages about his favorite animals having sex, asking me about my sex life and other perturbing and intrusive questions. He would even say things in internal meetings in front of others. This went on for over a month.”
Ms. Hutton put up with her boss, she said, because she was worried about missing out on a possible job offer and then not finding work elsewhere. But when he did offer to hire her at the end of her internship, she declined.Ms. Hutton put up with her boss, she said, because she was worried about missing out on a possible job offer and then not finding work elsewhere. But when he did offer to hire her at the end of her internship, she declined.
“I have suffered from sexual harassment, but this does not define me,” she said. “Brussels was and will always be one of my favorite places in the world. This being said, there is a systemic problem of sexual harassment within the Brussels bubble.”“I have suffered from sexual harassment, but this does not define me,” she said. “Brussels was and will always be one of my favorite places in the world. This being said, there is a systemic problem of sexual harassment within the Brussels bubble.”