Doc. 9092
7 May 2001

Situation of Maghrebi women in Europe

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mrs Aguiar and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.       Since 1973-1974, when European countries decided to admit the members of families of workers who wished to stay in Europe, the proportion of women in the resident immigration population has significantly increased. At the beginning of the 1990s, women represented almost 40 percent of the Maghrebi population in Europe. Many Maghrebi women are coming to Europe to escape the difficulties and constraints, which they faced in their countries of origin.

2.        The Assembly is concerned by the situation of Maghrebi women and in particular by the problems of their integration in European society. The integration policies and immigration laws of Council of Europe member states do not correspond to the needs and problems of immigrant women and sometimes even create obstacles to the enjoyment of their rights.

3.       The situation of Maghrebi women living in Europe often depends on the legal status of their husbands and women often lose their legal status as a result of the practice, still existing in their native countries, of the repudiation of wives. The discriminatory character of Family Codes of countries of origin creates many serious problems for Maghrebi women depriving them of their rights. They also face many obstacles in finding qualified jobs that correspond to their education.

4.       Therefore, the Assembly recommends that the member states of the Council of Europe:

- improve the legal status of immigrants;

- prevent the isolation of immigrants and encourage different integration programmes including cultural exchanges;

- teach immigrant children their language of origin;

- encourage the media to give correct information on the situation of Maghrebi women and to allow Maghrebi women to express themselves;

- create special services responsible for providing information to immigrants on their rights and legal status.

Signed : ¹

Aguiar, Portugal, EPP/CD

Cryer, United Kingdom, SOC

Err, Luxembourg, SOC

Holovaty, Ukraine, LDR

Jones, United Kingdom, SOC

Mikutienė, Lithuania, LDR

Shakhtakhtinskaya, Azerbaijan, EDG

Shaklein, Russia, UEL

Urbanczyk, Poland, SOC

Vermot-Mangold, Switzerland, SOC

Zwerver, Netherlands, SOC

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group