It is common knowledge that every third European woman is a survivor of violence. It's an inconvenient truth of course but it's a fact. It's a known fact and it's evidence-based and because of that we can react. You can act. We can decide about laws or measures that tackle the issue. For instance, implementing this simple Convention.

For many of us, this resolution was really an eye-opener. Thank you once again very much for that because many of us were not aware that also in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology, violence is widespread. It's a reality for many women. It is clandestine and it is hidden, and it is very often ignored.

What is not clandestine, what is not hidden, are the root causes. Nevertheless, they are known and they are often ignored as well. The root causes for every form of gender-based violence, the basis of all of that, are patriarchal structures, lack of equality, weak social status of women, less resources, less respect, less dignity, less self-determination, less independence, less freedom and in some cases even fewer rights for women.

We have to eradicate all these root causes of gender-based violence including in the field of obstetrics and gynaecological violence. We have to encourage women to talk about their respective experiences and destigmatise the disclosure of this human rights violation. We have to protect and support the survivors and avoid that they undergo double discrimination and stigmatisation. We have to prosecute the perpetrators even if they are medical doctors or medical personnel. Especially important from a political point of view is to secure equal rights, equal social status, equal resources and equal dignity for women under all circumstances and everywhere.

I also once more want to thank Ms Maryvonne BLONDIN for this wonderful report, which really was for many of us the first time that we were confronted with this problem. I think it's really worth it to, with a broad majority, adopt this resolution and the amendments.

Thank you.