Sexual discrimination has a major impact on people’s health and on the health system in general. Differences in gender have an impact on society just like differences in economic condition and age. These convictions lie at the basis of a Report adopted by the Commission for Women’s Rights of the European Parliament on 14 July. The Report will be examined by the Parliament on 1st September. According to the authors of the report, education on sexual disparities is needed, and special staff trained to provide adequate support for women victims of violence. The Commission also thinks it necessary to formulate a programme for the prevention of female sexual mutilations still being perpetrated in various parts of the world. Among the other questions addressed by the report is the campaign to protect women from breast cancer, with an appeal to EU member states to provide a breast-screening programme for all women aged between 50 and 69 every two years. Surveys have in fact shown that regular checks reduce breast cancer fatalities by at least 35% among women in this age group.
