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NON EU WESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Holy See, Andorra, Monaco and San Marino) 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword by Federica Mogherini...................................................................... 3 THEMATIC PART 1. Introduction ............................................................................................... 5 2. The EU Human Rights Approach to Conflicts and Crises .........................11 3. Addressing the Main Human Rights and Democracy Challenges ............18 4. Human Rights throughout EU External Policies ..................................... 36 GEOGRAPHICAL PART I. Candidate countries and potential candidates ........................................ 39 II. EEA/EFTA Countries ................................................................................ 46 III. European Neighbourhood Pocy .............................................................. 49 IV. Russia and Central Asia ........................................................................... 84 V. Africa ....................................................................................................... 97 VI. Arabian Peninsula.......................... ........................................................ 172 VII. Asia .........................................................................................................182 VIII. Oceania .................................................................................................. 227 IX. The Americas ........................................................................................ 247 List of Acronyms and Initialisms ................................................................ 292 2 EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2016 Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2016 Foreword by Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the Commission The promotion and the protection of human Progress is possible, and is happening. But rights and democracy require a constant the good trends will not prevail without our engagement, day by day. Our world is facing constant commitment. For this reason, the opposing trends, some of them worrisome. European Union has put human rights at the On the one hand, we witness a return of core of our external action. In June 2016, authoritarian tendencies and a widespread I launched a Global Strategy for the European attack against civil society. Conflicts, political Union’s Foreign and Security Policy – Shared instability, but also global phenomena such Vision, Common Action: A Stronger Europe as migration, pose new challenges to human – which sets out the EU’s core interests and rights worldwide. The multilateral institutions principles for engaging in the wider world. established to protect rights and freedom With the Strategy, all of the European – such as the International Criminal Court – Union – the institutions in Brussels together are put into question more than ever before. with Member States – have recommitted to working together for progress. We have And yet, the picture is not all bleak. The number made the Sustainable Development Goals our of girls with access to quality education is still guiding light, and we have confirmed that only too low, but it is the highest in human history. through multilateralism and international Last year, Colombia turned the page after a cooperation we can strengthen the cause of 50-year long conflict: it showed to the entire human rights worldwide. world that peace is always possible, although it may require time, courage and political This report is a testimony of what has been leadership. In Nigeria, over one hundred girls done in practice to implement the Global kidnapped by Boko Harm were freed and went Strategy. It maps out a wide range of activities back to their homes: it was a glimmer of hope implemented by the EU in 2016, from informal that all the kidnapped girls will eventually bilateral meetings to large-scale financial aid. return to their families and finally take their It shows that throughout the year the EU lives back into their hands. worked relentlessly – in Brussels, New York, 3 EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2016 Geneva and thanks to our embassies across go back to their lives. My hope is that in the the world – to expand rights, protect human next year’s report we can start talking about rights defenders, and make sure that all good stories born out of the end of this our global activities always include a strong tragedy. human rights component. In this regards the role of the EU Special Representative Civil society organisations and human rights for Human Rights, Stavros Lambrinidis, who defenders in general, are a pillar of every travels the world for high level human rights well-functioning state, and key players to dialogues and for keeping human rights high improve the situation of human rights across on the global agenda, has been essential. the globe. But civil society organisations are having hard times in many parts of the world. This report shows that human rights are a Unfortunately, there are not so many global living issue: our engagement can transform powers who are ready stand on the side of individual lives and give hope to entire civil society. communities. But for every positive story, there is one that still needs to be told. If you We, Europeans, will not follow a certain spirit look at Syria, the European Union is working of the times. We will continue to listen and not only to bring humanitarian aid and relief to empower. We will continue to stand by to those affected by the war: we are also human rights defenders, providing them with engaged to re-create and protect the space legal support or helping them escape a threat for civil society, and with Syrian women who against their life. We will keep working with are trying to make a difference in public life civil society, whether to support migrants or and to contribute to peace-building in their to rebuild a country. We believe civil society country. is an indispensable partner for our foreign policy. In Spring 2018 we will gather a new international conference in Brussels on the And the European Union will continue to be an future of Syria and the region: it will be yet indispensable partner for strong, resilient and another contribution to help the Syrians and free societies – all around the world. Federica Mogherini 4 EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2016 1. Introduction 2016 was a challenging year for human rights and democracy, with a shrinking space for civil society and complex humanitarian and political crises emerging. A number of countries also announced their intention to leave the International Criminal Court. In this context, the European Union showed leadership and remained strongly committed to promote and protect human rights and democracy across the world. In June 2016, the EU adopted the Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy, Shared Vision, Common Action: A Stronger Europe, which sets out the EU’s core interests and principles for engaging in the wider world1, and seeks to make Europe an even more united and influential actor on the global arena. The Global Strategy reaffirms an agenda for EU external action with human rights and democracy at its core; States and societies can only be resilient when democracy is strong and human rights are respected. The Strategy also calls for systematic mainstreaming of human rights and gender equality issues – a founding principle of the EU Action Plan Human Rights and Democracy (2015 – 2019)2. 20 July 2016 marked the first anniversary of the adoption of the EU Action Plan, which establishes the EU’s main policy on human rights in external action. The Action Plan addresses the protection of human rights and support to democracy in all aspects of the EU’s external action, and is the EU’s key implementing tool of the 2012 EU Strategic Framework for Human Rights and Democracy3. 2016 was also the start of the second cycle of the Human Rights and Democracy Country Strategies. The strategies are of key importance in the implementation of human rights at country level. In 2016, all the strategies were updated to meet current challenges and take into account developments since the introduction of the Country Strategies in 2011. This report gives a broad picture of the EU’s human rights efforts towards third countries in 2016, and encompasses two parts: The first part is thematic, and pays particular attention to the human rights approach to conflicts and crises, main human rights challenges and human rights throughout EU external policies. The second part is geographical and covers EU actions in third countries, thus mapping in detail the human rights situation across the globe. 1. Council conclusions on the Global Strategy on the European Union’s Foreign and Security Policy, 13202/16, 17 October 2016 2. Council conclusions on the Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2015 – 2019, 10897/15, 20 July 2015 3. EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy, 11855/12, 25 June 2012 5 EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2016 EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS The EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Human Rights, Stavros Lambrinidis, appointed in 2012, continued to work, under the authority of the HR/VP, to increase the effectiveness and visibility of human rights in EU foreign policy. His key emphasis in 2016 was on strengthening the EU’s human rights engagement with strategic partners who
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