Sittings · Document

OPINION (2025/2085(INI)) 2025-10-20

On humanitarian aid in a time of polycrisis – reaffirming our principles for a more effective and ambitious response to humanitarian crises

Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality · Rapporteur: Lina Gálvez

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AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality submits the following to the Committee on Development, as the committee responsible :

Amendment 1

Motion for a resolution

Citation 2 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), ratified by the EU and all of its Member States,

Amendment 2

Motion for a resolution

Citation 5 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the EU Gender Action Plan III (GAP III) for 2021-2025,

Amendment 3

Motion for a resolution

Citation 6 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the EU Strategic Approach to Women, Peace and Security (WPS),

Amendment 4

Motion for a resolution

Citation 6 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo, its Programme of Action and the outcomes of its review conferences,

Amendment 5

Motion for a resolution

Citation 6 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcomes of its review conferences,

Amendment 6

Motion for a resolution

Citation 6 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the Council conclusions of 10 December 2018 on Women, Peace and Security,

Amendment 7

Motion for a resolution

Citation 7 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to its resolution of 24 June 2021 on the situation of sexual and reproductive health and rights in the EU, in the frame of women’s health1a,

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1a OJ C 81, 18.2.2022, p. 43.

Amendment 8

Motion for a resolution

Citation 9 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security,

Amendment 9

Motion for a resolution

Citation 19 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to its resolution of 29 November 2018 on the situation of women with disabilities1a,

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1a OJ C 363, 28.10.2020, p. 164.

Amendment 10

Motion for a resolution

Recital -A (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

-A. whereas societies that are gender equal are healthier, safer, more just and prosperous for all; whereas gender equality and the achievement of equal rights for women are preconditions for democracy and upholding the rule of law;

Amendment 11

Motion for a resolution

Recital A a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

A a. whereas women and girls living in humanitarian aid contexts face severe gender inequalities, such as limited access to resources, including food, a lack of education, work, health, including sexual and reproductive health rights, and an increased risk of gender-based and reproductive violence; whereas living in these situations also makes children more vulnerable; whereas women with disabilities facing humanitarian crises are at increased risk of exclusion, discrimination and violence;

Amendment 12

Motion for a resolution

Recital A b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

A b. whereas the situation in Afghanistan is putting even greater pressure on already stretched humanitarian resources and worsening the plight of millions, including women and girls, struggling to survive;

Amendment 13

Motion for a resolution

Recital B

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B. whereas the humanitarian system is facing a massive funding crisis; whereas the dismantling of US Agency for International Development (USAID) programmes6 and the reduction in foreign aid from other key donors, including several EU Member States, have led to an unprecedented decline in global funding for humanitarian, health, gender equality and climate initiatives; whereas the decline in humanitarian aid is only aggravating humanitarian crises; whereas these cuts are having a devastating impact on global health – further increasing the risk of infectious disease outbreaks, unwanted and underage pregnancies, maternal mortality and morbidity – and food security; whereas these cuts disproportionately affect women and girls and LGBTIQ+ people; whereas these cuts further endanger the safety and well-being of refugees; whereas the US funding freeze has severely disrupted humanitarian efforts, hindering project implementation, staffing and the ability to support women and girls, with an especially negative effect on women’s involvement in the humanitarian response; whereas investing in gender equality saves lives in humanitarian settings; whereas there is evidence that gender-responsive humanitarian programming delivers high returns, namely USD 8 for every USD 1 invested6a; whereas the current EU global health strategy, adopted by the Commission in 2022, makes global health an essential pillar of EU external policy and an investment priority under the Global Gateway;

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6 The White House, ‘Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid’, 20 January 2025.

6a https://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/facts-and-figures/facts-and-figures-humanitarian-action.

Amendment 14

Motion for a resolution

Recital B a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B a. whereas comprehensive systems exist at EU and international level to provide humanitarian aid; whereas although gender-responsive humanitarian assistance is in place, many increasing challenges nevertheless persist with regard to prioritisation; whereas ‘polycrisis’ refers to a complex and interconnected set of crises occurring simultaneously1a; whereas women, girls and LGBTIQ+ people worldwide, and in specific contexts migrants and refugees, are disproportionately affected by poverty, humanitarian crises, climate change, conflicts, wars, extremism, terrorism, and by conflict-related sexual violence, including rape as a weapon of war, sexual exploitation, sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies and limited access to critical resources such as safe shelter, nutrition and water, and are more likely to face other human rights violations, which according to reports from some NGOs are perpetrated with impunity; whereas the persistence of the practice of female genital mutilation remains a matter of serious concern, particularly in the context of a polycrisis, that exacerbates the vulnerabilities of women and girls, and necessitates unwavering solidarity with its victims; whereas in times of polycrisis it is important to provide targeted humanitarian aid for women and girls to protect them and ensure their survival, including protection from gender–based violence, general risk mitigation, ensuring access to healthcare services, livelihood support, and participation in social life and decision–making;

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1a https://policy-lab.ec.europa.eu/news/unraveling-polycrisis-foresight-and-innovation-2025-03-26_en.

Amendment 15

Motion for a resolution

Recital B b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B b. whereas cuts in foreign aid and humanitarian assistance have a devastating impact on global health, gender equality and human rights; whereas local and national women-led and women’s rights organisations are among the most severely impacted, as they are key actors in crisis situations and face repression, violence and increasing restrictions in many parts of the world; whereas, at the same time, these cuts have a disproportionate impact on women, girls, persons with disabilities, and those living in rural and remote areas, further exacerbating existing inequalities and hampering their access to health services, safe shelter and basic infrastructure; whereas these cuts mainly target sexual health-related projects, disproportionately affecting marginalised groups, especially women and girls, and thereby increase, inter alia, the risk of infectious disease outbreaks, notably the risk of a renewed global HIV crisis; whereas reinstating the Mexico City Policy (Global Gag Rule) in the US will take a dramatic toll on sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide, affecting millions, especially those in marginalised situations; whereas the previous Global Gag Rule (2017–2021) resulted in approximately 108 000 maternal and child deaths and 360 000 new HIV infections1a;

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1a https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2123177119.

Amendment 16

Motion for a resolution

Recital B c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B c. whereas violence against women in all its forms (physical, sexual, psychological, economic or cyber) is a violation of human rights, an extreme form of discrimination against women and one of the main obstacles to achieving gender equality;

Amendment 17

Motion for a resolution

Recital B d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B d. whereas women and LGBTIQ+ people facing multiple and overlapping forms of discrimination based on race, disability, migration status, gender identity, sexual orientation or socio-economic background are often overlooked in humanitarian interventions and more exposed to violence and exclusion;

Amendment 18

Motion for a resolution

Recital B e (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B e. whereas anti-gender movements are increasingly instrumentalising humanitarian crises to push back against gender equality and to delegitimise women’s organisations, including in EU partner countries;

Amendment 19

Motion for a resolution

Recital B f (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B f. whereas, according to the UN, in 2023 more than 600 million women and girls lived within 50 kilometres of a conflict zone, which is more than 50 % higher than a decade ago;

Amendment 20

Motion for a resolution

Recital B g (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B g. whereas physical inaccessibility, including the lack of safe transport and infrastructure, significantly limits the ability of women and girls to access humanitarian aid, healthcare and protection;

Amendment 21

Motion for a resolution

Recital C

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

C. whereas conflict and climate change are the two main drivers of the increase in humanitarian needs, and are both human-caused and reversible with concerted and collective action; whereas climate change and environmental degradation lead to increased instability and conflicts, climate-related hazards, natural disasters, resource scarcity including water and food insecurity, internal displacement and forced migration;

C. whereas conflict and climate change are the two main drivers of the increase in humanitarian needs, are both human-caused and reversible with concerted and collective action, and have a greater impact on the poorest countries and populations; whereas climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation lead to increased instability and conflicts, climate-related hazards, natural disasters, resource scarcity including water and food insecurity, internal displacement and forced migration, thereby disproportionately affecting women and vulnerable groups;

Amendment 22

Motion for a resolution

Recital C a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

C a. whereas the humanitarian situation in Sudan is not just a catastrophe for its people, it is a global failure of action, accountability and humanitarian aid, with women and girls bearing a large proportion of this ongoing tragedy;

Amendment 23

Motion for a resolution

Recital D

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

D. whereas there is an alarming lack of humanitarian access in many contexts, compounded by the rise in dangerous and corrosive tendencies in the interpretation and application of international humanitarian law (IHL);

D. whereas there is an alarming lack of unhindered humanitarian access to people in need, including during conflict, natural disasters, climatic events, health outbreaks and along migrant routes, compounded by the rise in dangerous and corrosive tendencies in the interpretation and application of international human rights law (IHRL), humanitarian law (IHL) and humanitarian principles; whereas UN rights workers have pointed to the inaction of the international community; whereas there is an unprecedented number of attacks against humanitarian workers and civilian populations and civilian infrastructure in crisis- and conflict-affected settings; whereas women, girls, LGBTIQ+ people, migrants and refugees are disproportionately affected by numerous humanitarian crises worldwide1a, including the world’s largest humanitarian, displacement and hunger crisis in Sudan, the ongoing conflict and displacement in Gaza, the aftermath of the earthquake in Myanmar, cholera outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo, severe food and water shortages in the Horn of Africa, protracted conflicts in Syria and Yemen, and the refugee crisis in South Sudan;

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1a https://www.oxfam.org.uk/documents/715/Rights_Resilience_Response.pdf.

Amendment 24

Motion for a resolution

Recital D a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

D a. whereas more than 18 per cent of Afghan women and girls have no or only limited access to women aid workers; whereas only women aid workers are allowed to speak to women and girls for needs assessments and the provision of aid;

Amendment 25

Motion for a resolution

Recital D b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

D b. whereas EU humanitarian aid should continue to be both gender and age-sensitive, and aim to be gender and age-responsive, taking into account the specific needs, vulnerabilities and capacities of all;

Amendment 26

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1. Insists on the need for all parties to a conflict to respect and ensure respect for IHL and international human rights law; insists on the need to reinforce the centrality of the humanitarian principles in the EU’s external action;

1. Insists on the need for all parties to a conflict to respect and ensure respect for IHL and international human rights law; notes that rape and other forms of sexual violence are used as weapons of war and constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity and acts contributing to genocide; stresses the role of women’s rights organisations in providing victims with access to justice and support services; insists on the need to strongly reinforce the centrality of the humanitarian principles in the EU’s external action;

Amendment 27

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1 a. Recalls that the EU is a value-based Union, with gender equality as one of its core principles, as enshrined in Article 2 TEU; stresses, furthermore, that Article 8 TFEU enshrines the EU’s responsibility to promote gender equality in all of its actions;

Amendment 28

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1 b. Stresses the importance of promoting access to sexual and reproductive health and rights globally and the EU’s commitment to ensuring access to reproductive and maternal healthcare services, including emergency contraception, post-exposure prophylaxis, sexually transmitted infection treatments and access to safe and legal abortion for everyone, including survivors of rape, as part of their protected right to essential medical care and their equitable integration into primary and secondary healthcare systems, as well as clinical management of rape for women and girls affected by humanitarian crises and other vulnerable populations, including those experiencing intersectional discrimination; urges the EU and its humanitarian partners to include and effectively deliver safe abortion services in the minimum initial service package (MISP);

Amendment 29

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1 c. Stresses the importance of ensuring a gender-responsive perspective as an integral part of all EU humanitarian aid and crisis management actions, including in foreign policy; recalls the EU’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular focus on SDG 5 on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, which are essential for building resilient and inclusive societies; stresses that the achievement of SDG 5 is crucial to achieving all other SDGs and therefore instrumental to achieving the results set out in the 2030 agenda;

Amendment 30

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1 d. Is concerned about the backlash against gender equality and the international human rights framework that sets out to protect women and girls in vulnerable or marginalised situations across the world, including LGBTIQ+ people; calls for the EU and all EU Member States to step up their efforts to protect the EU’s fundamental values and strengthen respect for human rights and international law;

Amendment 31

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 e (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1 e. Points out that humanitarian crises often exacerbate pre-existing gender inequalities and discriminatory social norms, further limiting women and girls’ access to essential services, the full exercise of their rights and personal autonomy;

Amendment 32

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 f (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1 f. Is concerned that human rights violations and gender-based violence remain pervasive in conflict settings, while efforts towards prevention and survivor support, and access to justice, remain insufficient; expresses concern that, amid shrinking services, women-led and women’s rights organisations fear that gender-based violence may go unaddressed or intensify in severity;

Amendment 33

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 g (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1 g. Expresses its deep concern about the destruction of health infrastructure and the systematic blocking of humanitarian aid in Gaza; calls for the EU and the Member States to ensure unrestricted access to sexual and reproductive health and maternal health services for all women and girls affected by the conflict;

Amendment 34

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2. Is alarmed by the increase in IHL violations in recent years – some of which have been reported as strategic methods of warfare – in particular in Sudan, Gaza, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine and Haiti; calls for immediate international action to put an end to the intolerable humanitarian crisis in Gaza, against the backdrop of the blockade enacted by the Israeli Government;

2. Is alarmed by the increase in IHL violations in recent years – some of which have been reported as strategic methods of warfare – in particular in Sudan, Gaza, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine and Haiti; underlines the exceptional gravity of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, especially for women, children and other vulnerable groups, brought about by the prolonged blockade and repeated large-scale attacks on civilians, hospitals, schools and humanitarian infrastructure carried out by the Israeli Government; expresses great alarm at the catastrophic humanitarian situation, especially for women and girls, in the Gaza Strip, notably the lack of food and widespread malnutrition resulting from insufficient access to humanitarian aid; reiterates that distribution sites, civilians, humanitarian workers and medical staff must be protected and must not become targets of military action; underlines the urgent need for all experienced international humanitarian bodies to have full, rapid, safe and unhindered access to and throughout the entire Gaza Strip, with a focus on providing essentials such as food, water, medical supplies and shelter, in line with international law, and demands the immediate restoration of vital infrastructure; emphasises the obligations of the parties to the conflict, under international humanitarian law, with regard to the provision of humanitarian assistance; highlights that the EU’s priority is clear, namely an immediate and permanent ceasefire; calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all Israeli hostages being held in Gaza, both living and deceased; notes, however, that the continued deaths of civilians are unacceptable, and that vital aid must be allowed in, including aid specific to women and girls;

Amendment 35

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 a. Notes that rising food, energy and fertiliser prices, caused by the war in Gaza, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and other conflicts, are significantly increasing the need for humanitarian aid; stresses that complex geopolitical crises have a direct impact on the availability of essential goods on global markets, which particularly affects the most vulnerable populations, including children and women;

Amendment 36

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 b. Calls also for EU humanitarian assistance for the civilian population affected by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine to be maintained and stepped up, with a particular focus on the needs of internally displaced persons, refugees, elderly people and children, including victims of forced deportation to the Russian Federation and occupied territories;

Amendment 37

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 c. Deplores the lack of international attention and action with regard to the crises in African and other developing countries, resulting in a situation where 6.7 million people in Sudan are at risk of gender-based violence (GBV); calls, therefore, on global actors to better ensure access to food, clean water, medical care and psychological support, especially for women and children; stresses the importance of advancing women’s rights and gender equality worldwide, which are crucial to the realisation of human rights; emphasises that, despite some progress, women and girls continue to suffer from discrimination and gender-based violence;

Amendment 38

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 d. Regrets that aid has been weaponised by many countries, which disproportionately harms women and girls; points out that we have obligations, as an international community, to uphold IHL, which is undeniably being challenged in some regions, further exacerbating vulnerabilities among women and marginalised populations;

Amendment 39

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3. Deplores the shrinking of the humanitarian space and the erosion of humanitarian principles, which present significant obstacles to the provision of life-saving assistance in several conflict-affected settings; strongly condemns the alarming increase in attacks against civilian populations and the infrastructure necessary for their survival and against humanitarian aid workers; calls for the perpetrators to be held accountable;

3. Deplores the shrinking of the humanitarian space and the erosion of humanitarian principles, as well as non-compliance with international institutions and the arrest warrants of the International Criminal Court, which present significant obstacles to the provision of life-saving assistance in several conflict-affected settings; strongly condemns the alarming increase in attacks against civilian populations and the infrastructure necessary for their survival and against humanitarian aid workers; calls for the perpetrators to be held accountable;

Amendment 40

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Deeply regrets the intention of some EU Member States to withdraw from the 1997 Ottawa Convention and the 2008 Oslo Convention;

4. Deeply regrets the de-prioritisation of humanitarian aid, in particular for women and girls, by some EU Member States, and their intention to withdraw from the 1997 Ottawa Convention and the 2008 Oslo Convention;

Amendment 41

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5. Calls on the Commission to strengthen actions to prevent IHL violations and to address gaps in monitoring IHL violations through data collection and more effective, evidence-based advocacy;

5. Calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to strengthen actions to prevent IHL violations and to address gaps in monitoring IHL violations through data collection and more effective, evidence-based advocacy; reiterates the need for the EU to play a leading role at multilateral level in promoting women’s rights in foreign and humanitarian policy; calls for the EU, its Member States, the Commission and the EEAS to commit to advancing towards a development and humanitarian policy that entails a gender-responsive and intersectional vision, and to further promote gender equality in their external action; welcomes, in this regard, the growing number and formalisation of gender focal persons (GFPs), with 99 % of EU delegations and 87 % of headquarters services now having GFPs; points out that humanitarian gender-age focal points help maintain focus on gender-based violence prevention and response;

Amendment 42

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6. Reiterates its call on the Commission to develop an EU humanitarian diplomacy strategy, together with the Member States and the European External Action Service (EEAS), so as to boost efforts and ensure a more systematic and coordinated approach to humanitarian diplomacy;

6. Reiterates its urgent call on the Commission to develop an EU humanitarian diplomacy strategy, together with the Member States and the European External Action Service (EEAS), so as to boost efforts and ensure a more systematic and coordinated approach to humanitarian diplomacy;

Amendment 43

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 a. Stresses the need for independent humanitarian access to all migration-related facilities, including detention centres, hotspots, and informal border zones, where women and LGBTIQ+ persons face heightened risks of violence, exploitation and denial of essential services, including sexual and reproductive healthcare; calls for transparent monitoring and accountability mechanisms in such settings;

Amendment 44

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop reparation schemes, including symbolic, material and psychosocial measures, for survivors of sexual and reproductive rights violations in humanitarian contexts, in line with international human rights obligations; emphasises the need to include affected communities, particularly women and girls, in the design of such mechanisms;

Amendment 45

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to significantly increase humanitarian funding in the next multiannual financial framework (MFF), especially in the light of the growing gap between humanitarian needs and funding;

7. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to significantly increase their humanitarian funding, including in the next multiannual financial framework (MFF), especially in the light of the growing gap between humanitarian needs and funding, and calls for specific, sustainable, flexible, multi-annual funding to be allocated to ensuring that the needs of women and girls, including their sexual and reproductive health needs, are met in humanitarian responses, including through funding women’s rights organisations, which have the greatest access to crisis–affected communities;

Amendment 46

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7 a. Calls on the Commission to ensure that humanitarian aid funding prioritises those projects and organisations supporting women and girls who are victims of conflict and climate change, refugees or in situations of humanitarian need that are most at risk of having their funding cut1a;

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1a UN Women, April 2025, 'At a breaking point: The impact of foreign aid cuts on women’s organizations in humanitarian crises worldwide'.

Amendment 47

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7 b. Calls for all EU-funded humanitarian projects to include gender-responsive indicators and monitoring mechanisms to ensure that aid reaches women and girls effectively, responds to their specific needs and contributes to advancing gender equality; underlines the importance of developing tailored humanitarian responses that take into account the needs and realities of women living in rural areas affected by multiple crises;

Amendment 48

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7 c. Stresses that it is important that efforts to support innovative approaches to humanitarian funding specifically consider those that empower women and girls economically and socially; stresses the importance of transparent reporting and independent evaluations in assessing the gender impacts of EU-funded humanitarian action;

Amendment 49

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7 d. Urges the Commission to reject the growing trend towards de-funding humanitarian aid, and emphasises that support is not a question of capacity but of political will and moral responsibility; insists that the Commission, and the wider EU, must lead by example and ensure robust, sustained funding for humanitarian efforts;

Amendment 50

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 e (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7e. Deplores the fact that development and humanitarian aid provided by the EU in the form of grants to NGOs recognised as being of common public interest are being instrumentalised and criticised by reactionary movements and nationalist parties within the European Parliament itself;

Amendment 51

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 f (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7 f. Stresses that increasing defence spending must not come at the cost of humanitarian aid, particularly in the face of global crises that disproportionately impact women and girls; highlights that cuts to humanitarian funding risk deepening gender inequalities and undermining critical support for women's health, safety and livelihoods in conflict and disaster settings;

Amendment 52

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11. Calls on the Member States to deliver on their collective commitment to provide at least 0.7 % of gross national income (GNI) as official development assistance (ODA) and to devote 10 % of their ODA to humanitarian action; calls on the Commission to ensure regular, adequate and sustainable funding; calls for humanitarian aid to be primarily funded by public resources, including organisations working for gender equality and women’s rights, as reducing assistance will severely undermine access to life-saving services provided by women-led and women’s rights organisations; reiterates the importance of investing in women and girls as a strategic investment with long-term positive impacts for all, affecting societal and economic prosperity for generations to come; regrets the withdrawal of funding by USAID and recognises its devastating impact on the global community’s aim of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls; deplores its detrimental effect on maternal mortality rates as a result of decreased access to sexual education and reproductive healthcare; stresses that investing in gender equality saves lives in humanitarian settings; calls on the Commission and the Member States to urgently address the gaps left by the US, including by stepping up the EU’s contribution to supporting organisations that are providing key life-saving services in humanitarian contexts, including in the area of sexual and reproductive health and rights;

Amendment 53

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 a. Alerts about the increasing de-prioritisation of women’s rights funding and about the fact that grassroots movements and women’s rights organisations continue to be systemically underfunded, receiving less than 1 % of global ODA1a; highlights that at the same time there is a worrying rise in anti-gender financing that aims to counteract the progress made with regard to women’s and LGBTIQ+ rights in the past decades; calls on the Commission to commit to allocating 85 % of ODA funding to projects that incorporate gender as a significant or principal objective and at least 20 % to projects supporting actions for gender equality and women’s and girls’ rights and empowerment as a principal objective within the next MFF; calls for dedicated EU protection and relocation mechanisms to be set up for women’s rights defenders and feminist organisations that are targeted because of their work in the field of sexual and reproductive rights and gender equality, particularly in the context of authoritarianism, conflict and occupation;

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1a ODI policy brief, ‘Where next for feminist foreign policy on funding feminist movements?’, https://media.odi.org/documents/ODI-ET-FundingMovements-PB-EN-May24-Final.pdf.

Amendment 54

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

12. Highlights that the diversity of fragile contexts requires tailored approaches and specific financial instruments that foster concerted action among humanitarian, development and peace actors, with a particular focus on engaging with and empowering local actors;

12. Underlines the deep connection between armed conflicts and humanitarian and climate crises, the increase in forced migration and human trafficking, and the risk of exploitation, which disproportionately affect women and girls; highlights the need to strengthen measures to prevent, identify, protect and support victims, ensuring that all humanitarian actions include a gender perspective and promote the rights of the most vulnerable, through effective coordination between relevant EU institutions, Member States and international organisations; expresses concern about the heightened risk of human trafficking in humanitarian settings, where traffickers exploit the vulnerable and the desperate circumstances of displaced populations, particularly women and girls; stresses the need for gender-responsive protection measures, including safe reporting mechanisms, access to essential services, and the integration of anti-trafficking efforts into all stages of humanitarian response; highlights that the diversity of fragile contexts requires tailored approaches and specific financial instruments that foster concerted action among humanitarian, development and peace actors, with a particular focus on engaging with and empowering local actors; stresses that in humanitarian crises women and girls are disproportionately affected by the collapse of essential services, and their basic needs are often the first to go unmet, even though they are expected to fill service gaps, for example, by taking on increased caregiving responsibilities and securing food and water; emphasises that humanitarian strategies must consider the specific needs of both young women and elderly women, who often face distinct vulnerabilities, including exclusion from planning processes, limited access to tailored services, and increased risk of abuse or neglect; calls for specific programmes tailored to young people, particularly women and girls, that guarantee their access to education, menstrual health, sexual and reproductive health and psychosocial support;

Amendment 55

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

12 a. Calls for ensuring the economic empowerment of women and girls and ensuring that they have sustained access to income, education, food and safe spaces, and for recognising that the absence of these essentials significantly increases the risk of gender-based economic violence, exploitation and harmful practices such as early marriage, sexual exploitation and migration via unsafe routes;

Amendment 56

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

12 b. Highlights, in particular, the situation in Afghanistan, which is facing a severe and complex humanitarian crisis, with over 23.7 million people in need of assistance; notes that the situation is likely to deteriorate further owing to the expulsion of refugees from Pakistan and Iran and ongoing regional instability; welcomes the EU's pledge of EUR 266 million in support, and calls for targeted local actions to assist women and girls;

Amendment 57

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13. Calls on the Commission to present an ambitious and integrated approach to fragility without delay, and to consult Parliament on the preparation and implementation of this approach;

13. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to present an ambitious and integrated fragility strategy, taking account of the gender dimension, without delay, and to consult Parliament on the preparation and implementation of this strategy; highlights that women in humanitarian contexts should be recognised not merely as victims, but as agents of change who actively drive positive transformation and shape their own destinies; stresses that their full potential, knowledge, and capacity must be meaningfully considered and integrated into the reform of humanitarian and security policies and practices, to ensure more inclusive, effective and sustainable responses;

Amendment 58

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13 a. Stresses the urgent need to embed a gender-responsive and inclusive design in all humanitarian planning, with a particular focus on the specific needs of women and girls, including pregnant women and marginalised groups, such as LGBTIQ+ persons, people with disabilities and people facing intersectional discrimination, and to ensure their meaningful participation in humanitarian decision-making; underscores that humanitarian responses must prioritise the safety and dignity of, and access to services for, women and other vulnerable groups often overlooked in crisis settings; considers in this regard that the collection of data broken down by age, gender and disability is key to planning and evaluating an effective humanitarian response;

Amendment 59

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13 b. Recalls the Commission’s Gender-Age Marker for humanitarian action, and stresses the importance of the guidance provided on how to integrate gender and age concerns into humanitarian action and on how to apply the marker to humanitarian projects;

Amendment 60

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13 c. Stresses the importance of the EU continuing to develop policies and guidelines in relevant areas of humanitarian aid, building on the impact that its thematic policies have had in areas such as protection, gender, disability, food, nutrition, health – including mental health and psychosocial support – shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, education in emergencies, the environment and aid delivery methods; calls for increased investment in mental health support, including trauma-informed care for women, girls and LGBTIQ+ persons in humanitarian settings, recognising the long-term psychological consequences of armed conflict, displacement and gender-based violence;

Amendment 61

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13 d. Encourages the Commission to issue guidelines calling for the provision and financing of sexual and reproductive health supplies and services as outlined in the MISP for sexual and reproductive health to be systematically included in humanitarian responses, including HIV/AIDS prevention, reproductive, maternal and new-born health and family planning, addressing specific nutritional needs and vulnerabilities;

Amendment 62

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 e (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13 e. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to continue making the promotion of gender equality and women's rights and empowerment, including implementation of SDG5, a priority throughout all external action initiatives of the EU, including by leveraging diplomacy and strategic partnerships to promote gender equality on the global political agenda, and to adopt an Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in External Action IV;

Amendment 63

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14. Calls for the EU to advance in the implementation of the HDP nexus by supporting local organisations and ensuring their full involvement in the humanitarian programme cycle;

14. Calls for the EU to advance in the implementation of the HDP nexus by supporting local organisations and ensuring their full involvement in the humanitarian programme cycle; calls on the Commission to include women in all decision-making, particularly at the local level; calls on the Commission to maintain existing partnerships with local women-led and women’s rights organisations and, where changes are essential, to ensure timely and transparent communication to support dignified, harm-reducing transitions and continuity of services; is strongly opposed to the use of humanitarian aid for the purposes of security or migration control, including the externalisation of borders; stresses that such practices undermine the principles of humanitarian action and disproportionately harm women, girls, LGBTIQ+ persons and displaced communities; recalls that pushbacks and policies of stopping asylum-seekers and migrants in need of protection at or before they reach the EU’s external borders erode EU values as enshrined in the EU Treaties, and violate international and European humanitarian and human rights laws;

Amendment 64

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15. Calls on the Commission to deliver on its commitment to channel at least 25 % of its humanitarian funding to local actors by 2027;

15. Calls on the Commission to deliver on its commitment to channel at least 25 % of its humanitarian funding to local actors by 2027 as directly as possible, with a particular focus on local women’s rights organisations; calls on the Commission to facilitate, simplify and harmonise local and national actors’ access to funds in line with the Grand Bargain commitments;

Amendment 65

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

16. Notes that anticipatory action in crisis-prone settings in advance of humanitarian crises is an efficient way of preventing or mitigating future humanitarian needs;

16. Notes that anticipatory action in crisis-prone settings in advance of humanitarian crises is an efficient way of preventing or mitigating future humanitarian needs; emphasises that such anticipatory approaches must systematically integrate a gender perspective, ensuring that the specific needs, capacities, and leadership of women and girls are addressed and supported;

Amendment 66

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

16 a. Calls for ensuring safe shelters, protected spaces and psychological support for women and girls who are victims of violence in humanitarian settings, while providing adequate and sustainable resources;

Amendment 67

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

18. Encourages the Member States to significantly scale up their investment in locally led and integrated anticipatory action;

18. Calls for the EU to develop gender-responsive humanitarian action to align with the HDP nexus, moving beyond short-term relief towards long-term investment in community resilience against future crises, involving people of all genders in response planning, and taking better account of and addressing root causes; recalls that the EU must bridge the humanitarian and development nexus to respond to the impact of crisis and conflict on the most vulnerable students, such as girls and young women; encourages the Member States to significantly scale up their investment in locally led and integrated anticipatory action; points out that investing in humanitarian aid enables us to avoid both future humanitarian crises and the need to make larger investments; calls on the Commission to provide more concrete proposals on specific expenditures, programmes, tracking and assessment of gender-related activities in humanitarian crises; points out that the accessibility of information, services and humanitarian assistance is essential for ensuring an inclusive and effective response for all people affected by crisis, particularly for groups in vulnerable situations, such as people with disabilities, children and the elderly;

Amendment 68

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

18 a. Reaffirms that the EU global health strategy focuses on addressing the root causes of ill health, with a special emphasis on the needs and rights of women, children and young people, including universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights; reiterates that ensuring women’s access to healthcare and psychosocial support is a key component of relief and recovery efforts and a priority within the humanitarian-development-peace nexus;

Amendment 69

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

18 b. Stresses the importance of facilitating the inclusion of crisis-affected women in contributing to the crisis response and recovery plans that affect themselves, their families and their wider communities;

Amendment 70

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

18 c. Welcomes the provision in the Gender Action Plan III for humanitarian assistance on supporting preparedness, prevention and response in relation to sexual and gender-based violence;

Amendment 71

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

18 d. Calls, too, for safe access to education for children affected by humanitarian crises, including through the provision of support for temporary schools and nutrition programmes, and of psychological support;

Amendment 72

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 e (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

18 e. Calls on the Commission to ensure that its response to humanitarian crises includes menstrual hygiene kits as a standard element in all of its emergency responses;

Amendment 73

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19. Welcomes the progress made in the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) and the Women, Peace and Security agenda, as an essential tool in ensuring that the rights of women and girls are observed at all times; stresses, however, that gender-based and sexual violence remains a scourge frequently used in conflicts as a weapon of war, even though women and girls are the most likely to suffer the consequences of armed conflict and global warming;

Amendment 74

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19 a. Calls for the EU and the Member States to prioritise the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda; highlights the importance of renewing the EU’s Women, Peace and Security action plan and of openly tackling any pushback against this agenda worldwide1a while giving priority to ensuring access to essential sexual and reproductive health services for all women affected by conflict and guaranteeing accountability and reparations for sexual and reproductive health and rights violations in line with international human rights standards and recommendations;

_________________

1a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2025/769691/IUST_BRI(2025)769691_EN.pdf.

Amendment 75

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19 b. Calls on the Commission, the EEAS and the Member States to enhance efforts to take into account the specific needs and contributions of women and girls in strategies for conflict prevention, mediation and peacebuilding;

Amendment 76

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19 c. Calls on the Commission to step up efforts to ensure that EU-funded humanitarian aid adequately addresses the needs of women, girls, men and boys and to ensure that the EU continues to enhance gender mainstreaming, increase gender-targeted actions, and ensure a gender-responsible review process for all Global Gateway and Team Europe initiatives;

Amendment 77

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19 d. Calls for the EU and all EU Member States to become signatories to, and report on commitments made under, the WPS–Humanitarian Action Compact as part of a collaborative and cohesive approach to building long-term stability and peace;

Amendment 78

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20. Calls on all parties to armed conflicts to take measures to protect women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence and all other forms of violence in situations of armed conflict, as well as to promote their sexual and reproductive health and rights;

20. Calls on all parties to armed conflicts to incorporate protection strategies in all aspects of humanitarian assistance and to take measures to protect women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence and all other forms of violence, poverty, and forced displacement in situations of armed conflict, including early marriages and teenage pregnancies in the context of humanitarian crises, which lead to a disruption in education and exacerbate multidimensional poverty, as well as to promote their sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly in the case of Ukrainian women who have fled to countries with more restrictive sexual and reproductive health and rights policies and who deserve access to safe and legal abortion after experiencing sexual violence as an act of war; recognises that such violence often intensifies during conflicts and can be systematically used as a weapon of war;

Amendment 79

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20 a. Recalls that peace agreements reached with the participation of women have a better chance of being sustainable and effective; calls on the Commission to include women in all stages of decision-making in humanitarian and post-conflict settings;

Amendment 80

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21. Highlights the crucial role played by women in humanitarian settings; regrets that local women-led organisations are among the hardest hit by the recent cuts to foreign aid, and encourages better engagement with them in humanitarian programming7 ;

21. Highlights the crucial role played by women as frontline responders in humanitarian settings; regrets that local women-led and LGBTIQ+ organisations are among the hardest hit by the recent cuts to foreign aid, and encourages full, equal and meaningful engagement with them in humanitarian programming7, including increased flexible and direct funding; notes with regret that almost half (47 %) of women-led and women’s organisations surveyed expect to shut down within six months if current funding levels persist, while more than a third (35 %) remain trapped in uncertainty, unable to plan or sustain their work, and only 18 % report that they anticipate being able to remain operational for more than a year7a; stresses the importance of ensuring safety and access to need-based services in refugee camps and reception centres, including adequate sanitation, healthcare, psychosocial support, maternity care, legal aid and safe spaces; underlines that women and girls often face heightened risks in such settings, and that their meaningful participation in the design, planning and management of refugee shelters is essential to ensure that services are accessible, appropriate and responsive to their specific needs; calls on the Commission and humanitarian actors to address mobility and transport-related barriers that prevent women and girls from accessing aid, including safe transportation to health centres, distribution points and shelters;

_________________

7 UN Women, ‘Humanitarian funding cuts threaten women’s rights: What’s at stake and how to help’, 13 May 2025, https://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/explainer/humanitarian-funding-cuts-threaten-womens-rights-whats-at-stake-and-how-to-help.

7a https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2025-05/at-a-breaking-point-the-impact-of-foreign-aid-cuts-on-womens-organizations-in-humanitarian-crises-worldwide-en.pdf.

Amendment 81

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21 a. Highlights the specific vulnerabilities of women in rural, remote and conflict-affected areas, who often face additional barriers in accessing humanitarian aid, including health services and psychological support; calls for targeted funding and inclusive programming that addresses these intersectional challenges;

Amendment 82

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21 b. Emphasises the importance of safeguarding the dignity of all individuals in humanitarian settings, with particular attention to women and girls, by ensuring equitable access to essential services and supplies, including sanitary pads and menstrual hygiene products, safe and private spaces for breastfeeding and maternal care, gender-sensitive sanitation facilities, and adequate lighting to enhance safety in the evenings;

Amendment 83

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22. Encourages the Commission, the EEAS and the Member States to promote gender-sensitive approaches in humanitarian interventions and to increase their support for women’s participation in humanitarian decision-making processes, ensuring that their perspectives and needs are prioritised in the design and delivery of aid, in line with the objectives of UN Security Council Resolution 1325;

22. Encourages the Commission, the EEAS and the Member States to promote gender-responsive approaches in humanitarian interventions and to increase their support for women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation and leadership at all levels in humanitarian decision-making processes, while developing gender-responsive development strategies at national and international level that enable women to safely emerge and take on leadership in crisis settings, ensuring that their perspectives and needs are prioritised in the design and delivery of aid, in line with the objectives of UN Security Council Resolution 1325; calls for women’s full, equal and meaningful participation to be ensured at all stages of a peace process, including mediation efforts, prevention and resolution of armed conflicts, peacebuilding, post-conflict reconstruction and ceasefire negotiations, while strengthening the protection of all women universally;

Amendment 84

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22 a. Expresses serious concern about the growing influence of ultra-conservative, anti-gender and religious fundamentalist movements – both within and outside the EU – that aim to undermine the fundamental rights of women and girls, including in humanitarian settings; stresses that such movements often spread disinformation, stigmatise sexual and reproductive health services, and weaken the protection of women against gender-based violence; calls on the Commission, the EEAS, and the Member States to ensure that EU-funded humanitarian programmes remain firmly grounded in international human rights standards and gender equality, and to actively support civil society organisations targeted by anti-rights actors;

Amendment 85

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

23. Reiterates its call for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 by the EU Member States;

23. Reiterates its call for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 by the EU Member States; encourages the Member States to update their National Action Plans (NAPs) in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1325;

Amendment 86

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

23 a. Warns against institutional violence and negligence by humanitarian actors, including gender-blind programming, unsafe environments for women and LGBTIQ+ people, and a lack of accountability for abuses; calls for binding gender-sensitivity standards, comprehensive reporting systems and zero-tolerance policies across all humanitarian operations funded by the EU;

ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT

The rapporteur declares under her exclusive responsibility that she did not include in her report input from interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register1, or from representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies, to be listed in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted

13.10.2025

Result of final vote

+ : 25

- : 8

0 : 1

Members present for the final vote

Margarita de la Pisa Carrión, Valérie Devaux, Heléne Fritzon, Lina Gálvez, Alexandra Geese, Chiara Gemma, Fernand Kartheiser, Arba Kokalari, Elena Kountoura, Sebastian Kruis, Judita Laššáková, Eleonora Meleti, Carolina Morace, Maria Noichl, Sirpa Pietikäinen, Giusi Princi, Emma Rafowicz, Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus, Benedetta Scuderi, Laurence Trochu, Marko Vešligaj, Maria Walsh, Lucia Yar

Substitutes present for the final vote

Christine Anderson, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral, Elisabeth Grossmann, Billy Kelleher, Katrin Langensiepen, Manuela Ripa, Beatrice Timgren, Marianne Vind

Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote

Peter Agius, Daniel Caspary

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

PPE

Caspary Daniel, Do Nascimento Cabral Paulo, Kokalari Arba, Meleti Eleonora, Pietikäinen Sirpa, Princi Giusi, Ripa Manuela, Walsh Maria

Renew

Cifrová Ostrihonová Veronika, Devaux Valérie, Kelleher Billy, Yar Lucia

S&D

Fritzon Heléne, Gálvez Lina, Grossmann Elisabeth, Noichl Maria, Rafowicz Emma, Scheuring-Wielgus Joanna, Vesligaj Marko, Vind Marianne

The Left

Kountoura Elena, Morace Carolina

Verts/ALE

Geese Alexandra, Langensiepen Katrin, Scuderi Benedetta

ECR

Gemma Chiara, Timgren Beatrice, Trochu Laurence

ESN

Anderson Christine

Kartheiser Fernand, Lassáková Judita

PfE

Kruis Sebastian, de la Pisa Carrión Margarita

PPE

Agius Peter

Key:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstentions