Governments must fight double discrimination

8.51.24am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 24th Oct 2006

As the European Parliament debates the 'double discrimination' faced by immigrant women based on origin and gender, Liberal Democrat European justice spokesperson and a vice-chair of the European Parliament's anti-racism and diversity Intergroup Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP commented:

"Women immigrants in the EU need education, training, language courses and employment possibilities, as well as a general feeling that Europe is a place of welcome and opportunity."

"Concentrating on the question of what women wear, such as the Muslim veil, as has been the case in the UK over the last weeks, risks being a distraction from more fundamental questions about women's opportunities for equality and respect."