Women's safety in Europe after Cologne

[DavidTCDaviesMP]

I have been invited onto Mumsnet to discuss the situation for women in Europe following the attacks in Cologne, and the challenge we face in Europe in trying to help millions of mainly young men, who are arriving in Europe from cultures which treat women very differently. I believe this is an issue which needs open discussion by political leaders yet is swept under the carpet. David Davies MP

Do you think Mrs Merkel will be forced to resign over this?

Further to rumbleinthejungle, why does the government think that the UK's poorer people should have to welcome mass immigration at all? The refugees from Syria are one thing: but many of those coming are economic migrants, and we simply cannot house all those wanting to come.

We have a known housing shortage already: there are people dying in this country on benefit sanctions, more in work who are struggling to feed themselves and rely on foodbanks. Homelessness is up a third since 2009 (statutory homelessness that is, the real figure will be higher).

If government do not listen, do they realise there will indeed be an entirely justified backlash? I can see the UK and even England splitting up over this.

we should all reject suggestion that it is "racist" to discuss this. We all want help most vulnerable but they will usually be women. Why are most of these refugees men? If they are genuinely fleeing violence why have they left there wives sisters girlfriends and mothers behind?

Thanks for answering my (unreasonably long - sorry!) question. Do you know of any current discussions among MPs/ MEPs about the possibility of formalising this kind of cross-party group/ enquiry? Are others approaching you to talk about this issue? What was the response to your excellent speech in Europe? Thanks.

morehsabbythanchic probably not but in any case it is too late. across the world millions are now on the move.

Mr Davies - At the risk of sounding like someone who likes conspiracies, is this the beginning of a One World govt? Let loads of unchecked people in, mix them all up and whatever happens is just collateral damage? In my opinion, no PM would invite such a sudden and huge influx of people unless all EU nations are in agreement, because it is essentially working against your own people's welfare.

Yes, the leaflets are a joke.

The 'integration training' in Norway was stopped because of lack of funding, and in Finland and Belgium is still very new.

I am not aware of any other countries who have quantifiable data on the success or otherwise of 'awareness of women's rights training' and the reports I have read suggests lip service at best and absolute amusement and dismissal from some migrants at worst.

Are you aware of any co-ordinated European-wide plans to implement such cultural education?

And do you realistically think that a seminar will affect a 360 change in attitudes which are both inculcated by and fully endorsed by both sexes of one's birth culture, plus, if we continue to allow ghettoes to grow, the surrounding culture of the host country?

'Inkata - yes they said they would welcome everyone who could make to to Germany, they unleashed a wave of illegal migration and now they want everyone else in the EU to share the burden. Crazy.'

Again - thank you for your honesty! We thought we were going crazy to feel compelled to go along with this.

we need to tackle the assumption with some cultures that women who are not covered and chaperoned by a male guardian are "easy" and "available".

'we should all reject suggestion that it is "racist" to discuss this.'

And again

Rushing so really regret I can't take part in this. Just wanted to thank David Davies for having the nerve to stick his head over the parapet on this very serious issue.

JaniuaryBrown As far as I am aware the EU and the Council of Europe are actively trying to discourage any cultural education. The trouble is that we have got this belief that "all cultures are of equal worth" and that we must not push our own western culture onto others. I beg to differ. A country that recognises equal rights for women and gays is better than a country which does not. End of story.

We too are wondering why so many young men are coming, is this part of a bigger plan or are they really coming here for benefits and hoping to bring their families too?

The 'integration training' in Norway was stopped because of lack of funding, and in Finland and Belgium is still very new.

And as many women here have commented in the thousands of posts on this subject, none of them felt they could be educated into accepting misogyny and patriarchy through a short training course, so it is hardly likely that migrants could be educated into liberal beliefs.

Surely this needs to be framed as 'this is the law' - because it is. We cannot have a case of 'this is the law unless you come from a cultural situation that trumps all other considerations'. My MP assures me all sexual assaults will be thoroughly prosecuted - I don't find that comforting, I don't want to be assaulted in the first place!

Just want to say I hope David Cameron sticks to his position of taking refugees from camps in Syria.

A country that recognises equal rights for women and gays is better than a country which does not. End of story.

Exactly this! How have we ended up with public policy based on anything else? It's insane.

A country that recognises equal rights for women and gays is better than a country which does not. End of story.

Thank you!! Finally a politician who is willing to say this!

The assumption that uncovered women are available is a problem in the UK already (as with the Somalis and the rape case in Manchester) so needs addressing in a wider sense, not just with new arrivals.
I am feeling quite depressed abut this and wonder if we have been so tolerant in our pursuit of multiculturalism that we have become the proverbial turkeys who voted for Christmas!

I have to go to work now but just wanted to thank you for listening and supporting. Good luck in taking this forward and please let us know if/how we can help

actively trying to discourage any cultural education

Thats one of the most chilling things I have heard for some time.

A country that recognises equal rights for women and gays is better than a country which does not. End of story.
Hurrah!

x-post with Jo and Huge

Why is it not possible for an MP to bring this question up at PM question time?

I don't know how it works, and the few times I've tried to watch it without throwing something at the TV, because of the ridiculous school ground jeering, and "haha I owned you" speeches.
It seemed that the conservatives and Priminister have rehearsed the questions and answers

any culture which supports the idea that women who are raped or victims of sexual violence or in some way to "blame" and should be punished (some countries in the ME actually imprison rape victims) is a backward culture. We have a right to ask question of those coming here, especially the men who have supported this state of affairs.

Kummerspeck Yes, that's a very accurate way to put it. I've been banging on about this for years to friends. We are indeed the turkeys who continue to vote for Christmas!

Hi Mr. Davies
Thank you for coming onto mumsnet. I think the single most important thing we need to do is to talk openly about all the issues. The attempted cover up is the thing I find most worrying.

I know in order to get this discussed in parliament we need to get a lot more signatures on the petition. Is that the only thing we can do?
As someone 'in the know' is there any other way we can get it discussed? Anyone we could specifically contact that could raise the issue? Any other MPs you know who may be sympathetic?
What would you suggest as the best way of promoting it?

I think, like others have said, the reluctance to sign or even talk about this in some circles is due to being uncomfortable about being labelled as 'racist'. Which makes me despair slightly.