MEPs united this month to condemn the restrictive attitude towards women of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Commissioner Bonino shared the concern of MEPs. She pointed out that women who played a key role in running the country during the 10-year civil war, especially in the health and education services, were now being denied basic civil rights by the Kabul regime. Algeria and Iran were other countries singled out where a strict interpretation of Islam was being used to discriminate against women although Mrs van Dijk pointed out that western religions were not free from criticism. She drew attention to the influence of Roman Catholicism in the Philippines in denying access for women to contraception.
Other MEPs were concerned about the situation facing women in Europe. Lissy Groner (D, PES) pointed out that one in four women would be subject to violent abuse from men. The debate, marking International Women's Day on March 8th, 1998, heard calls for 1999 to be designated as a special year to combat violence against women.