European Parliament 2014-2019
Plenary sitting
A8-0344/2015
30.11.2015
REPORT
on the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2014 and the European Union’s policy on the matter (2015/2229(INI))
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Rapporteur: Cristian Dan Preda
RR\1080184EN.doc PE567.654v03-00
EN United in diversityEN PR_INI
CONTENTS
Page
MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION...... 3
OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON DEVELOPMENT ...... 35
OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY39
ANNEX I ...... 48
ANNEX II...... 66
RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE ...... 69
PE567.654v03-00 2/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION on the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2014 and the European Union’s policy on the matter (2015/2229(INI))
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and other United Nations (UN) human rights treaties and instruments, in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted in New York on 16 December 1966,
– having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and to the European Parliament resolution of 27 November 2014 on the 25th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child1,
– having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,
– having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights,
– having regard to Articles 2, 3, 8, 21 and 23 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU),
– having regard to the EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy as adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council on 25 June 20122,
– having regard to the European Union’s Human Rights Guidelines,
– having regard to the EU Human Rights Guidelines on Freedom of Expression Online and Offline, adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council on 12 May 20143,
– having regard to the EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief4,
– having regard to the Guidelines for EP Interparliamentary Delegations on promoting human rights and democracy in their visits outside the European Union5,
– having regard to the EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2014, adopted by the Council on 22 June 20156,
– having regard to the Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2015-2019, adopted
1 Texts adopted, P8_TA(2014)0070. 2 http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11855-2012-INIT/en/pdf 3 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/142549.pdf 4 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/137585.pdf 5 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/document/activities/cont/201203/20120329ATT42170/20120329ATT42170EN.p df 6 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/pdf/st10152-en15_pdf/
RR\1080184EN.doc 3/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN by the Council on 20 July 20151,
– having regard to the Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment: Transforming the Lives of Girls and Women through EU External Relations 2016-2020 (GAPII), adopted by the Council on 26 October 20152,
– having regard to the Council conclusions of 14 May 2012 on ‘Increasing the impact of EU development policy: an agenda for change’3,
– having regard to the Council conclusions of 5 December 2014 on the promotion and protection of children's rights4 ,
– having regard to Council Decision 2015/260 of 17 February 2015 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for Human Rights5,
– having regard to the Council conclusions of 26 May 2015 on Gender in Development6,
– having regard to UN Security Council resolution 1325 of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security7,
– having regard to its urgency resolutions on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law,
– having regard to its resolution of 17 June 2010 on EU policies in favour of human rights defenders8,
– having regard to its resolution of 7 July 2011 on external policies in favour of democratisation9,
– having regard to its resolution of 11 December 2012 on a Digital Freedom Strategy in EU Foreign Policy10,
– having regard to its resolution of 13 June 2013 on the freedom of press and media in the world11,
– having regard to its resolution of 8 October 2013 on corruption in the public and private sectors: the impact on human rights in third countries12,
1 http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-10897-2015-INIT/en/pdf 2 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/fac/2015/10/st13201-en15_pdf/ 3 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/130243.pdf 4 http://register.consilium.europa.eu/doc/srv?l=EN&f=ST%2015559%202014%20INIT 5 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32015D0260 6 http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-9242-2015-INIT/en/pdf 7 http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/1325(2000) 8 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2010)0226. 9 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2011)0334. 10 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2012)0470. 11 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2013)0274. 12 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2013)0394.
PE567.654v03-00 4/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN – having regard to its resolution of 10 October 2013 on caste-based discrimination1 ,
– having regard to its resolution of 13 March 2014 on the EU’s priorities for the 25th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)2 ,
– having regard to its resolution of 12 March 2015 on the EU’s priorities for the UNHRC in 20153 ,
– having regard to its recommendation to the Council of 2 April 2014 on the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)4 ,
– having regard to its resolution of 11 March 2014 on the eradication of torture in the world5 ,
– having regard to its resolution of 12 March 2015 on the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2013 and the European Union’s policy on the matter6,
– having regard to its resolution of 18 June 2015 on the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy7,
– having regard to its resolution of 8 September 2015 on human rights and technology: the impact of intrusion and surveillance systems on human rights in third countries8,
– having regard to its resolution of 10 September 2015 on migration and refugees in Europe9,
– having regard to its resolution of 8 October 2015 on the renewal of the EU Plan of Action on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in Development10,
– having regard to its resolution of 8 October 2015 on the death penalty11,
– having regard to the communication of 8 October 2014 from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of Regions on the enlargement strategy and main challenges 2014-201512,
– having regard to the Joint Communication of 8 March 2011 of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Commission to the
1 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2013)0420. 2 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2014)0252. 3 Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0079. 4 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2014)0259. 5 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2014)0206. 6 Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0076. 7 Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0272. 8 Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0288. 9 Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0317. 10 Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0350. 11 Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0348. 12 http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/key_documents/2014/20141008-strategy-paper_en.pdf
RR\1080184EN.doc 5/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN European Council, the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a partnership for democracy and shared prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean1 ,
– having regard to the Joint Communication of 25 May 2011 of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a new response to a changing Neighbourhood2 ,
– having regard to the Commission staff working document of 30 April 2014 on a rights- based approach, encompassing all human rights for EU development cooperation3 ,
– having regard to the UN Human Rights Council Resolution of 26 June 2014 calling for the establishment of an open-ended intergovernmental working group with the aim of drawing up an international legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights4,
– having regard to its report of 9 July 2015 on the EU’s new approach to human rights and democracy – evaluating the activities of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) since its establishment5,
– having regard to the 2014 annual report of UNFPA-UNICEF on the Joint Programme on Female Genital Mutilation6,
– having regard to Rule 52 of its Rules of Procedure,
– having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the opinions of the Committee on Development and the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (A8-0344/2015),
A. whereas Article 21 TEU commits the EU to developing a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) guided by the principles of democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principle of equality and solidarity and compliance with the UN Charter, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and international law;
B. whereas under Article 6 TEU the European Union is to accede to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;
C. whereas respect for, and the promotion, indivisibility and safeguarding of, the universality of human rights must be cornerstones of the EU’s external action;
1 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52011DC0200 2 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2011:0303:FIN:en:PDF 3 http://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/10102/2014/EN/10102-2014-152-EN-F1-1.Pdf 4 http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/082/52/PDF/G1408252.pdf?OpenElement 5 Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0274. 6 http://www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub- pdf/Joint%20Programme%20on%20FGMC%20Summary%20Report.pdf
PE567.654v03-00 6/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN D. whereas increased coherence between EU internal and external policies, as well as between the EU’s external policies stands as an indispensable requirement for a successful and effective EU human rights policy; whereas improved consistency should enable the EU to respond more rapidly in the early stages of human rights violations;
E. whereas the EU’s commitment to effective multilateralism, with the UN at its core, is an integral part of the Union’s external policy and is rooted in the conviction that a multilateral system founded on universal rules and values is best suited to addressing global crises, challenges and threats;
F. whereas respect for human rights is being challenged and is under threat worldwide; whereas the universality of human rights is being seriously challenged by a number of authoritarian regimes, notably in multilateral forums;
G. whereas more than half the world’s population is still living under non-democratic and repressive regimes and global freedom has continuously declined over the past few years; whereas non-respect of human rights has a cost for society and for the individual;
H. whereas there are numerous attempts worldwide to shrink the space of civil society, including in the UN Human Rights Council;
I. whereas, in addition to the holding of free elections, features of democratic regimes include transparent governance, respect for the rule of law, freedom of expression, respect for human rights, the existence of an independent judicial system , and respect for international law and international agreements and guidelines on respecting human rights;
J. whereas the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) stated, when the New Joint Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy was proposed, that human rights would be one of the overarching priorities of her mandate, a compass in all relations with EU institutions as well as with third countries, international organisations and civil society; whereas in 2017 a mid-term review of the Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy is to be performed which will coincide with the mid-term review of external financing instruments, which should contribute to greater coherence of the EU’s external action;
K. whereas the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Commission, the Council and the Member States are responsible for implementing the new Action Plan; whereas the EU missions and EU representations in third countries can play a significant supplementary role in the success of the Action Plan;
L. whereas appropriate resources need to be ensured, and those resources need to be deployed in the most efficient manner, in order to enhance the promotion of human rights and democracy in third countries;
M. whereas more should be done by the EU to measure the human rights impact of its own policies, maximise the positive impacts and prevent and mitigate the negative impacts, and reinforce access to remedies for affected populations;
N. whereas engaging with third countries' leaders and authorities, in all bilateral and
RR\1080184EN.doc 7/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN multilateral forums, is one of the most effective tools for addressing human rights issues in third countries; whereas civil society organisations in third countries are key interlocutors in shaping and implementing the EU's human rights policy;
O. whereas the EU considers close cooperation with civil society and human rights defenders in third countries to be one of its main priorities in tackling human rights abuses;
P. whereas international cooperation should play an increased role in reinforcing respect for fundamental rights and effective parliamentary oversight of intelligence services using digital surveillance technology;
Q. whereas the EU and its Member States have been close allies of the International Criminal Court since its inception, providing it with financial, political, diplomatic and logistical support while promoting the universality of the Rome Statute and defending its integrity with the purpose of strengthening the Court’s independence;
R. whereas human rights and democracy support policy should be mainstreamed across all other EU policies with an external dimension, such as development, migration, security, counter-terrorism, enlargement and trade, in order to continue the promotion of respect for human rights;
S. whereas Article 207 TFEU stipulates that the EU’s commercial policy is to be based on the principles and objectives of the European Union’s external action;
T. whereas the various forms of migration represent an important EU external policy challenge requiring immediate, effective and sustainable solutions in order to ensure that the human rights of people in need, such as those fleeing war and violence, are respected in line with European values and international human rights standards;
U. whereas the world economy is going through a major crisis, the impact of which, alongside certain measures, in particular drastic budget cuts, is having an adverse effect on human rights, especially economic and social rights, on people’s living conditions (increases in unemployment and poverty, inequality and insecure employment, and lower quality of and restricted access to services), and therefore also on people’s wellbeing;
V. whereas on the basis of universal and indivisible values, freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief should become one of the priorities of the EU and must be unconditionally supported; whereas these rights remain widely under threat, as the number of related violations has significantly risen;
W. whereas the universal abolition of the death penalty remains one of the EU’s priorities in its external human rights policy; whereas in June 2016 the 6th World Congress against the Death Penalty is to take place in Oslo, Norway;
X. whereas children, women and persons belonging to minorities face increasing and specific threats, acts of violence and sexual violence, especially in war zones;
Y. whereas the Sakharov Prize for 2014 was awarded to Dr Denis Mukwege for his
PE567.654v03-00 8/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN unremitting efforts, as a doctor and human rights defender, on behalf of victims of sexual violence and genital mutilation; whereas female genital mutilation is a fundamental violation of the rights of women and children and whereas it is absolutely necessary to assign efforts to combat genital mutilation and sexual violence a central role in the EU’s external policy and human rights policy;
Z. whereas in 2014 230 million children currently living in countries and areas affected by armed conflicts were estimated to be exposed to extreme violence and trauma, being forcibly recruited or deliberately targeted by violent groups;
AA. whereas Article 25 of the UDHR recognises the right of every person to a 'standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family', in which motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance, and which includes medical care; whereas UNHRC Resolution 26/281 calls for the next UNHRC Social Forum meeting to focus on access to medicines in the context of the right of everyone to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; whereas the Constitution of the World Health Organisation (WHO) states that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition;
AB. whereas climate change is undermining the most basic human rights such as access to water, natural resources and food;
AC. whereas the deliberate and systematic destruction of valuable archaeological sites which form part of the world heritage by terrorist organisations and warring groups has the aim of destabilising populations and depriving them of their cultural identity, and should be regarded not only as a war crime but also as a crime against humanity;
General considerations
1. Expresses its deep concern that human rights and democratic values, such as freedom of expression, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and freedom of assembly and association, are increasingly under threat in many parts of the world, including under authoritarian regimes; also expresses its deep concern that the public space for civil society is shrinking and a growing number of human rights defenders are under attack worldwide;
2. Calls for the EU and its Member States to enhance their efforts to effectively place human rights and democratic values at the heart of their relations with the wider world, as they committed to so doing in the TEU; notes that the EU should use appropriate measures when dealing with serious human rights breaches in third countries, in particular in the case of authoritarian regimes, including through trade, energy or security relations;
3. Reiterates the crucial importance of ensuring increased coherence between the EU’s internal and external policies with regard to respect for human rights and democratic values; emphasises in this context that, while this report deals with the EU’s external policies for advancing human rights, Parliament also adopts an annual report on the
1 http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/086/06/PDF/G1408606.pdf?OpenElement
RR\1080184EN.doc 9/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN situation of fundamental rights in the European Union, drawn up by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs; equally stresses the importance of greater consistency, of coherence, and of avoiding double standards in the EU's external policies and all its instruments;
4. Calls on the EU and its Member States to effectively address internal human rights challenges, such as the situation of Roma, the treatment of refugees and migrants, discrimination against LGBTI persons, racism, violence against women, detention conditions and media freedom in the Member States, in order to maintain credibility and consistency in its external human rights policy;
5. Insists on the importance of ensuring coherence of EU policy towards situations of occupation or annexation of territory; recalls that international humanitarian law should guide EU policy towards all such situations;
6. Expresses its firm opposition to the annexation, occupation and settlement of territories, and insists on the inalienable right of peoples to self-determination;
7. Considers that, in order to live up to their commitment to advancing human rights and democracy in the world, the EU and its Member States need to speak with a consistent, single voice and ensure that their message is heard;
8. Emphasises, moreover, the importance of enhanced cooperation between the Commission, the Council, the EEAS, Parliament and the EU Delegations with a view to improving the overall coherence of the EU’s policy on human rights and democracy and its centrality among all EU policies with an external dimension, particularly in fields relating to development, security, employment, migration, trade and technology;
9. Calls the EU to improve and systematise the full extent of the human rights impact of its own policies, and ensure these analyses serve to reframe its policies in consequence; calls for the EU to develop more efficient mechanisms to maximise the positive human rights impacts of its policies, prevent and mitigate the negative ones and reinforce access to remedies for affected populations;
10. Draws attention to its long-term commitment to promoting human rights and advancing democratic values, as reflected, inter alia, in the annual award of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, in the work of the Subcommittee on Human Rights and in the monthly plenary debates and resolutions on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law;
11. Expresses its deep concern at the deliberate and systematic destruction and looting of valuable archaeological sites which form part of the world heritage carried out with the aim of destabilising populations and undermining their cultural identity by terrorist organisations and warring groups which finance their violent activities by means of illegal trade in stolen artworks; calls, therefore, on the Commission, in cooperation with the UN and UNESCO, to combat illegal trading in art treasures from war zones and to devise initiatives to protect the cultural heritage in such zones; calls on the Commission to classify the deliberate destruction of the collective human heritage as a crime against humanity and to take legal action against it accordingly;
PE567.654v03-00 10/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN EU policy instruments for advancing human rights and democracy worldwide
EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World
12. Welcomes the adoption of the EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2014; considers that the Annual Report is an indispensable tool for scrutiny, communication and debate regarding the EU’s policy on human rights, democracy and the rule of law in the world; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to ensure comprehensive follow-up to the issues raised in the Annual Report, including specific proposals tailored to resolving these problems, as well as greater coherence of the various reports on the EU's external human rights and democracy policy;
13. Reiterates its invitation to the VP/HR to debate with the Members of the European Parliament in two plenary sessions per year, one at the time the EU Annual Report is presented, and the other in response to Parliament’s report; underlines that written answers from the Commission and the EEAS to Parliament's resolution on the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy play an important role in interinstitutional relations, as they allow for a systematic and in-depth follow-up to all the points raised by Parliament;
14. Commends the EEAS and the Commission for their exhaustive reporting on the activities undertaken by the EU in the area of human rights and democracy in 2014; considers nevertheless that the current format of the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy could be improved by offering a better overview of the concrete impact of the EU’s actions on human rights and democracy in third countries, and of progress made, as well as a more reader-friendly format; calls, furthermore, for reporting on steps taken in response to resolutions of Parliament on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law;
15. Recommends in this respect that the EEAS adopt a more analytical approach in the drafting of the Annual Report, while continuing to report on the implementation of the EU Strategic Framework and the Action Plan; considers that the Annual Report should not only underline the EU’s achievements and best practices in the field, but also indicate what challenges and limitations the EU encounters in its efforts to promote human rights and democracy in third countries, and what lessons can be drawn for concrete action in the years ahead;
16. Maintains its view that the country reports presented in the Annual Report should be less descriptive and less static, and should instead better reflect the implementation of the human rights country strategies and give an overview of the impact of the EU’s action on the ground;
EU Strategic Framework and the (new) Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy
17. Reiterates its view that the adoption of the EU Strategic Framework and of the first Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy in 2012 constituted a major milestone for the EU in integrating human rights and democracy without exception in its relations with the wider world;
18. Welcomes the adoption by the Council in July 2015 of a new Action Plan on Human
RR\1080184EN.doc 11/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN Rights and Democracy for 2015-2019; commends the EEAS for consulting the Commission, Parliament, the Member States, civil society and regional and international organisations during the evaluation of the first Action Plan and the drafting of the new one;
19. Welcomes the EU’s renewed commitment to promoting and protecting human rights and supporting democracy worldwide; notes that the Action Plan aims to allow the EU to take a more focused, systematic and coordinated approach in the area of human rights and democracy, as well as to reinforce the impact of its policies and tools on the ground; supports, in this regard, the prioritisation of five strategic areas of action;
20. Calls on the VP/HR, the EEAS, the Commission, the Council and the Member States to ensure an efficient and coherent implementation of the new Action Plan; draws attention, in particular, to the importance of increasing the effectiveness and maximising the local impact of the tools used by the EU to promote respect for human rights and democracy in the world; highlights the need to ensure a rapid and appropriate response to human rights infringements; reiterates the importance of intensifying efforts to mainstream human rights and democracy in all EU external action, including at a high political level;
21. Stresses that in order to fulfil the ambitious objectives set out in the new Action Plan, the EU must set aside sufficient resources and expertise, both in terms of dedicated human resources in Delegations and in Headquarters and in terms of funds available for projects;
22. Reiterates its view that a solid consensus and enhanced coordination between Member States and the EU institutions is needed in order to coherently and consistently advance the human rights and democracy agenda; recalls that the Action Plan concerns both the EU and the Member States; firmly stresses, therefore, that Member States should, without exception, take on greater ownership of the implementation of the Action Plan and of the EU Strategic Framework and use them as their own blueprint in promoting human rights and democracy bilaterally and multilaterally; takes positive note of the foreseen interim evaluation of the new Action Plan, and highlights the importance of inclusive consultations in order to consistently reflect the results achieved in human rights mainstreaming;
23. Urges the Foreign Affairs Council, in this respect, to regularly discuss democracy and human rights topics; reiterates its call on the Foreign Affairs Council to hold an annual public debate on EU action in the area of human rights and democracy;
24. Commends the EEAS and the Commission on their reporting on the implementation of the first Action Plan, and expects such reporting to continue in the framework of the new Action Plan; recalls, moreover, its determination to be closely associated with and consulted on the implementation of the new Action Plan;
25. Calls on the VP/HR, in coordination with all the other Commissioners, to draft a programme that mainstreams human rights in various EU activities, particularly in the areas of development, migration, environment, employment, internet data protection, trade, investment, technology and business;
PE567.654v03-00 12/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN Overview of other EU policy instruments
Mandate of the EU Special Representative for Human Rights
26. Recalls the importance of the mandate of the EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Human Rights in enhancing the EU’s visibility and effectiveness in protecting and promoting human rights and democratic principles around the world; commends the current mandate holder for his significant achievements and for engaging in regular exchanges with Parliament and with civil society;
27. Welcomes the extension of the EUSR’s mandate until February 2017, and reiterates its request for this mandate to be turned into a permanent one; calls, therefore, for the revision of the mandate, so as to grant the EUSR own-initiative powers, adequate staff and financial resources, and the ability to speak publicly, to report on achievements of visits in third countries and to communicate the EU’s position on human rights issues, in order to reinforce the EUSR’s role by improving its visibility and effectiveness;
28. Reiterates its call for the Council to stipulate in the mandate of the geographical EUSRs the requirement to collaborate closely with the EUSR on Human Rights;
Human rights country strategies and the role of the EU Delegations
29. Notes that 132 human rights country strategies (HRCSs) have been endorsed by the Political and Security Committee, following concerted efforts by the EU Delegations, EU institutions and Member States; reiterates its support for the objective of the HRCSs, which is to tailor the EU’s action in each country to its specific situation and needs; points to the need to continuously assess the HRCSs and adjust them if necessary, and calls for further improvement in cooperation, communication and exchange of information between EU Delegations, Member States’ embassies and EU institutions in drawing up and implementing the HRCSs;
30. Reiterates its call for the Members of the European Parliament to have access to the content of the strategies in a proper format, so as to fulfil their duties properly and transparently; recommends that the EEAS and the Commission communicate externally the objective of each strategy in order to enhance the transparency of HRCSs; insists that the EEAS include clear and measurable progress indicators for each individual strategy;
31. Strongly underlines the importance of taking into account the HRCSs at all levels of policymaking vis-à-vis individual third countries, including during the preparation of high-level political dialogues, human rights dialogues, country strategy papers and annual action programmes;
32. Welcomes the designation of human rights and/or gender focal points by all Delegations and by the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions; notes, however, that the information publicly available online is in many instances out of date, and calls, therefore, for its swift revision;
33. Recalls its recommendation to the VP/HR and the EEAS to develop clear operational guidelines as to the role of focal points in Delegations, in order to empower them to act
RR\1080184EN.doc 13/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN as true human rights advisors and enable them to efficiently carry out their work with coherence and inclusiveness, so as to optimise the work of the Delegations; believes that the work of the human rights focal points should be equally supported by Member States’ diplomatic staff; takes the view that the work of the human rights focal points should be fully independent and free of political interference and harassment from national authorities of third countries, especially in their contacts with human rights activists and civil society;
Human rights dialogues and consultations
34. Acknowledges that human rights dialogues with third countries can be an efficient tool for bilateral engagement and cooperation in the promotion and protection of human rights, provided they do not constitute an end in itself but a means to secure specific commitments and achievements from the counterparts; welcomes and encourages, therefore, the establishment of human rights dialogues with a growing number of countries, such as Myanmar/Burma; takes positive note in this context, for example, of the sixth round of the EU-Moldova human rights dialogue;
35. Urges the VP/HR and the EEAS to conduct their human rights dialogues and the corresponding civil society seminars with a clear, results-oriented focus mirroring the HRCSs; urges the EEAS to consistently include a preparatory dialogue with civil society organisations, which should automatically feed into the dialogue proper; further insists that the VP/HR, the EUSR on Human Rights and the EEAS systematically raise individual cases of human rights defenders at risk or in jail, of political prisoners, and of human rights infringements in an accountable and transparent manner during human rights dialogues; considers it essential that the EEAS systematically ensure that all the commitments made during each of the human rights dialogues are honoured;
36. Reiterates its call on the EEAS to develop a comprehensive mechanism for monitoring and reviewing the functioning of human rights dialogues, in cooperation with civil society and human rights organisations, with a view to improving their impact; believes that if such dialogues persistently fail political conclusions should be drawn and alternative tools for supporting the advancement of human rights in the country concerned should be used; notes, in this respect, that the human rights dialogue with Russia was suspended in 2014, and also notes the lack of results from the human rights dialogues with China and Belarus; urges, therefore, that the EEAS profoundly rethink its human rights strategy vis-à-vis Russia and China;
37. Calls for the EU and its delegations to increase their political dialogue with governments in breach of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, together with civil society, and insists that the political dialogue on human rights between the EU and third countries must include a more inclusive and comprehensive definition of non- discrimination, inter alia with regard to LGBTI people, religion or belief, sex, racial or ethnic origin, age, disability and sexual orientation; underlines that, particularly in countries which have poor records on both development and respect for human rights, development aid should be maintained and even strengthened, but should preferably be channelled through civil society organisations and non-governmental local partners, and should be systematically monitored and accompanied by governmental commitments to improve the human rights situation on the ground;
PE567.654v03-00 14/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN 38. Acknowledges the importance of additional measures against individuals (targeted sanctions such as freezing of assets or travel bans) in dealing with authoritarian regimes should dialogues persistently fail;
EU Human Rights Guidelines
39. Welcomes the Council’s adoption in May 2014 of the EU Human Rights Guidelines on Freedom of Expression Online and Offline; recalls, however, its request to the EEAS to clarify the selection process for the topics covered by the EU Guidelines and also to consult Parliament and civil society on this matter prior to selecting the topics;
40. Reiterates its call on the VP/HR and the EEAS to effectively and consistently implement the EU Guidelines on International Humanitarian Law (IHL),1 including in relation to conflicts and humanitarian crises in countries such as Syria, Iraq, Libya and Ukraine; recommends, in this context, that the EEAS support civil society organisations that promote respect for IHL by state and non-state actors; urges, moreover, that the EU actively use all instruments at its disposal to enhance compliance of state and non-state actors with IHL; calls for the EU and its Member States to contribute to the ongoing Switzerland/International Committee of the Red Cross initiative on strengthening compliance with IHL;
41. Underlines strongly the importance of systematically assessing the implementation of the EU Guidelines on Human Rights, including the implementation of the EU Guidelines for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of the Child, by using well- defined benchmarks; considers that, in order to ensure proper implementation of the Guidelines, further measures aimed at raising awareness of their content among EEAS and EU Delegation staff and Member State representations abroad must be taken; reiterates its call for civil society and human rights organisations to be more actively involved in the selection, development, evaluation and review of the Guidelines;
Human rights and democracy in EU external policies and instruments
42. Recalls that the EU has committed itself to placing human rights and democracy at the centre of its relations with third countries; stresses, therefore, that the advancement of human rights and democratic principles needs to be supported through all EU policies and appropriate financial instruments which have an external dimension, such as enlargement and neighbourhood policy, the Common Security and Defence Policy, and development, trade, migration and justice and home affairs policies; highlights in this context the EU's recent efforts to include human rights infringements in its early warning matrix linked to crisis prevention;
43. Underlines the EU’s treaty-based obligation to ensure that all its external policies and activities are designed and implemented in a manner which consolidates and supports human rights and the rule of law;
44. Considers the EU's external financial instruments an important tool for promoting and defending the values of democracy and human rights abroad; reiterates its calls for improvements in the coherence of different thematic and geographical instruments;
1 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/hr/news53.pdf
RR\1080184EN.doc 15/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN 45. Notes the Commission’s efforts to fulfil its commitment to including human rights provisions in its impact assessments for legislative and non-legislative proposals, implementing measures and trade agreements; urges the Commission to improve the quality, comprehensiveness and follow-up of the impact assessments, so as to ensure the systematic incorporation of human rights issues; highlights the role which civil society could play in this process;
Enlargement and neighbourhood policy
46. Recalls that EU enlargement policy is one of the strongest tools for reinforcing respect for human rights and democratic principles; regrets the explicit freeze on enlargement decided by the Juncker Commission, but welcomes the implementation of the new approach in accession negotiations to the chapters covering the judiciary and fundamental rights and justice, freedom, and security, which duly takes into account the time needed for the reforms concerned to be properly implemented;
47. Expresses its concern at the deterioration of freedom of expression and media in certain enlargement countries and in a number of countries of the European neighbourhood; emphasises the urgent need to improve the independence and transparency of ownership of the media in those countries and to address the political and economic pressures on journalists, which often lead to censorship and self-censorship; calls on the Commission to continue monitoring and prioritising respect for freedom of expression and of the media in the accession negotiation process;
48. Deplores the fact that the proper implementation of legal frameworks for the protection of minorities remains a challenge, as stated in the Commission’s Enlargement Strategy for 2014-20151; invites the enlargement countries to step up their efforts to forge a culture of acceptance of minorities by improving their involvement in decision-making processes and their enhanced inclusion in the education system, with a special focus on Roma children; urges the EU to follow closely the implementation of provisions protecting human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities and the fight against all forms of discrimination, including hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation, throughout the enlargement process;
49. Notes with concern the deterioration of democratic political cultures in some candidate and potential candidate countries and in a number of European neighbourhood countries; recalls that good governance, respect for the rule of law, freedom of opinion and human rights, political dialogue, achievement of compromise and inclusiveness of all stakeholders in the decision-making process are at the heart of democratic regimes; notes with equal concern the weak progress made by enlargement countries in improving the independence of the judiciary and fighting corruption; joins the Commission in urging the enlargement countries to build up credible track records of investigations, prosecutions and final convictions;
50. Recalls, in the context of the ongoing review of the European Neighbourhood Policy, that the TEU stipulates that the EU shall develop a special relationship with neighbouring countries founded on the values of the EU, which include respect for
1 http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/key_documents/2014/20141008-strategy-paper_en.pdf
PE567.654v03-00 16/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN human rights and democracy1; also recalls that, following the 2011 Arab Spring, the EU has redefined its policy towards the neighbourhood on the basis of the principle of ‘more for more’, meant to reinforce democratic institutions and the advancement of human rights; underlines the fact that with the significant challenges the EU’s neighbourhood has faced in the last few years, such as the spreading of instability and conflict in the Middle East and North Africa, with extremists and jihadist groups exploiting those situations, as well as the human suffering caused by Russia’s actions, respect for human rights and democratic principles has been significantly affected;
51. Expresses, therefore, its conviction that the revised European Neighbourhood Policy should continue to have the promotion of human rights and democratic principles at its core; reiterates that the promotion of human rights and democracy are at the same time in the interest of both partner countries and the EU;
52. Stresses that the EU should continue to actively support democratic and effective human rights institutions, civil society and free media in the neighbouring countries; positively notes in this context the continued substantial support under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights and the Civil Society Facility; welcomes equally the consistent and efficient engagement of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) in the eastern and southern neighbourhood in favour of the promotion of democracy and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, as stated in Parliament's first evaluation report on the EED2; strongly encourages the EU and the Member States to continue offering strong incentives and know-how from their own transition processes to support democratic reform processes in the EU’s neighbourhood;
53. Maintains that it is absolutely essential to end the Russian aggression in Ukraine and ensure stability and respect for human rights;
Human rights through trade
54. Reiterates its support for the systematic introduction of human rights clauses in all international agreements between the EU and third countries, taking into account, inter alia, the European social dialogue and ILO labour standards; calls on the Commission to effectively and systematically monitor and assess the implementation of the human rights clauses and to report regularly to Parliament on partner countries’ respect for human rights; welcomes the more systematic use by the Council of restrictive measures towards third countries which are deliberately violating human rights; in this regard recommends that, whenever a gross breach of human rights occurs in a third country with which an agreement has been concluded, the EU take concrete steps in carrying out the appropriate measures as stipulated in the human rights clauses;
55. Welcomes the entry into force of the new Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) (Regulation (EU) 978/2012) on 1 January 2014; positively notes that 14 countries had been granted GSP+ preferences by the end of 2014, and recalls that countries are required to maintain the ratification of the 27 core international conventions, as well as to monitor their effective implementation, in line with the criteria stipulated by those conventions as well as by the EU; looks forward to the Commission assessing matters in
1 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2014:077:0027:0043:EN:PDF 2 Texts adopted, P8_TA-PROV(2015)0274.
RR\1080184EN.doc 17/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN a genuine and transparent manner and reporting back to Parliament and the Council on the status of ratification and the effective implementation of the conventions by the beneficiaries of the GSP+ preferences by the end of 2015; reiterates its recommendation that the Rome Statute be added to a future list of conventions;
Business and human rights
56. Considers that trade and human rights can go hand in hand and that the business community has an important role to play in promoting human rights and democracy; believes that the promotion of human rights should be built on cooperation between government and private sector; reaffirms in this context that European companies should undertake adequate measures to ensure that their operations in third countries respect human rights standards; reaffirms, moreover, the importance for the EU to promote corporate social responsibility and for European enterprises to play a leading role in promoting international standards on business and human rights; calls, moreover, for the EU to take an active role in the 12th session of the UN Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, and to support efforts to align their policies with the OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises; recommends that the EU and its Member States engage in the debate regarding a legally binding international instrument on business and human rights within the UN system;
57. Believes, in view of the above, that the EEAS should require that EU Delegations engage with EU companies operating in third countries in order to ensure respect for human rights in their business-related activities; recalls, furthermore, its request that EU Delegations include respect for human rights in business operations as a priority in local calls for proposals under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), and that EU delegations take all necessary action to protect human rights defenders, in line with the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders;
58. Reiterates its call on the Commission to report on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights1 by the EU Member States, by the end of 2015;
59. Calls for concerted EU action to address the problem of land-grabbing through the promotion of adequate safeguards, in order to prevent this phenomenon in the countries concerned and among EU and other European companies present in those countries;
60. Calls for the EU to develop a pilot project on the indivisibility of human rights, land issues (land-grabbing and forced evictions) and the coherence of EU policies in that regard; calls for the EU to report on its consideration of accession to the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in line with the commitment made in the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2015-2019;
Human rights and development
61. Considers that development cooperation and the promotion of human rights and
1 http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/GuidingPrinciplesBusinessHR_EN.pdf
PE567.654v03-00 18/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN democratic principles should go hand in hand; recalls in this context that the UN has stated that in the absence of a human rights-based approach development goals cannot be fully achieved; also recalls that the EU has committed itself to supporting partner countries, taking into account their development situation and their progress as regards human rights and democracy; encourages the inclusion of clearly defined results frameworks in all instruments in order to ensure the inclusion of marginalised and vulnerable groups, as well as to mainstream a human rights-based approach;
62. Welcomes the Commission’s staff working document on a rights-based approach (RBA), encompassing all human rights, including women's and girls' rights, for EU development cooperation, published in April 2014 and welcomed by the Council; encourages the Commission to monitor the implementation of the RBA and to ensure that human rights and development cooperation are mutually reinforcing on the ground; calls on the Commission to provide transparent and public assessment of the implementation of the RBA EU toolbox; urges that the EU reinforce its role as a strong promoter of human rights in the world, by the effective, consistent and considered use of all available instruments for the promotion and protection of human rights and their defenders and the effectiveness of our development aid policy, in line with the new Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16;
63. Welcomes the adoption of the ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the special UN summit in New York, as well as the leading role played by the EU in this process, and in particular regarding the inclusion of fundamental EU values such as human rights and good governance; positively notes that the new agenda is clearly anchored in human rights commitments and that its 17 goals and 169 targets seek to realise human rights for all; shares the vision underpinning this document of a world of universal respect for human rights and human dignity, the rule of law, justice, equality and non-discrimination, as well as of respect for race, ethnicity and cultural diversity and of equal opportunity, permitting the full realisation of human potential and contributing to shared prosperity; stresses the need to ensure that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, its monitoring measures and its future implementation by all stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector, are underpinned by human rights- and gender equality-based approaches, as well as by the goals of eradication of poverty, reduction of inequalities and social exclusion and democratisation of the economy;
64. Underlines the importance of policy coherence for development (PCD) in achieving the new sustainable development agenda; points out that the human rights-based approach should lead to a deepened understanding of PCD, since without addressing the obstacles to the realisation of rights there can be no progress towards sustainable development and the eradication of poverty;
65. Reaffirms the urgent need to address the global burden of poverty-related and neglected diseases; calls for an ambitious long-term political strategy and plan of action on global health, innovation and access to medicines that includes, inter alia, investment in research and development, so as to safeguard the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and wellbeing of every human being, without discrimination on grounds of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition, gender identity or sexual orientation;
RR\1080184EN.doc 19/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN 66. Insists that the Addis Ababa Action Agenda means a commitment to deliver a universal social protection floor, universal health coverage and essential public services for all, including health and education;
67. Takes positive note of the counter-terrorism guidance document drafted by the EEAS and the Commission and endorsed by the Council with the aim of ensuring respect for human rights in the planning and implementation of counter-terrorism assistance projects with third countries; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to ensure effective implementation of the document, starting with its wide dissemination; recalls, in this context, that respect for fundamental rights and freedoms is the foundation of successful counter-terrorism policies, including the use of digital surveillance technologies; supports the international efforts to stop the human rights violations being perpetrated by ISIS/Da'esh;
Rights of indigenous peoples
68. Calls on the EEAS, the Commission and the Member States to support the review of the mandate of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, in line with the Outcome Document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (UN General Assembly Resolution 69/21), with a view to monitoring, evaluating and improving the implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; urges the Member States to request that all Special Procedure mandate holders pay special attention to issues affecting indigenous women and girls, and systematically report such issues to the UNHRC; urges the EEAS and the Member States to actively support the development of the system-wide action plan on indigenous peoples, as requested by the UN General Assembly in its September 2014 resolution, especially as regards the organisation of regular consultation of indigenous peoples as part of that process; deeply regrets that in some areas of West Africa individuals affected by mental disorders are chained to trees in the forests or abandoned in the streets, these being widespread practices approved by local communities;
EU action on migration and refugees
69. Expresses its deep concern and solidarity with regard to the large number of refugees and migrants who suffer grave human rights violations as the victims of conflicts, persecution, governance failures, and networks of illegal immigration, trafficking, smuggling, extremist groups and criminal gangs; also expresses its deep regret at the tragic loss of lives among people trying to reach the EU’s borders;
70. Stresses the urgent need to tackle the root causes of migration flows and, therefore, to address the external dimension of the refugee crisis, including by finding sustainable solutions to conflicts in our neighbourhood, through building cooperation and partnerships with the third countries concerned and through EU external policies; underlines the need for a comprehensive human rights-based approach to migration, and calls on the EU to reinforce its collaboration with the UN, including its agencies, as well as with regional organisations, governments and NGOs, in order to address the root causes of migration flows and improve the situation in refugee camps located near conflict areas; reiterates its call on the EU to ensure that all migration cooperation and
1 http://wcip2014.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/N1446828.pdf
PE567.654v03-00 20/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN readmission agreements with non-EU states comply with international law; recalls that a global strategy on migration is closely linked with development and humanitarian policies, including setting up humanitarian corridors and delivering humanitarian visas, as well as other external policies; takes note of the operation of the European Union Naval Force – Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR Med) against smugglers and traffickers in the Mediterranean; also stresses the urgent need to develop stronger policies at Union level in order to deal with the pressing issues related to migrants and refugees and find an effective, fair and sustainable mechanism for burden-sharing among Member States; highlights the measures proposed by the Commission on 9 September 2015 to address the refugee crisis, such as the foreseen revision of the Dublin regulation;
71. Calls on the EU and the Member States to increase their support for the fight against trafficking of human beings through external policies, with a particular focus on the protection of victims and especially minors; strongly considers that the EU should strengthen cooperation with third countries and other relevant actors in order to exchange good practices and contribute to the dismantling of international trafficking networks; reiterates the need for all EU Member States to implement the EU directive on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims1 and the Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings 2012-20162;
72. Points out that 17.5 million people were displaced in 2014 as a result of climate-related disasters; points out that these displacements chiefly affect regions in the South, which are those most exposed to climate change impacts; points out that 85 % of these displacements occur in developing countries, primarily within one country or within parts of countries; points out that under the Millennium Development Goals the EU Member States have committed themselves to earmarking 0.7 % of GDP for development aid financing;
73. Requests the EU to participate actively in the debate on the term ‘climate refugee’, including its possible legal definition in international law or in any legally binding international agreements;
74. Reiterates its call for an EU common position on the use of armed drones which upholds human rights and international humanitarian law and should address issues such as legal framework, proportionality, accountability, protection of civilians and transparency; urges once again that the EU ban the development, production and use of fully autonomous weapons which enable strikes to be carried out without human intervention; calls for the EU to oppose and ban the practice of extrajudicial and targeted killings and to commit to ensuring appropriate measures, in accordance with domestic and international legal obligations, where there are reasonable grounds for believing that an individual or entity within its jurisdiction may be connected to unlawful targeted killings abroad;
International cultural and sports events and human rights
1 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2011:101:0001:0011:EN:PDF 2 https://ec.europa.eu/anti- trafficking/sites/antitrafficking/files/eu_strategy_towards_the_eradication_of_trafficking_in_human_beings_201 2-2016_1.pdf
RR\1080184EN.doc 21/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN 75. Is seriously concerned that some major sports events are being hosted by authoritarian states where human rights and fundamental freedoms violations occur; emphasises the need for awareness-raising campaigns among the general public concerning the need to ensure human rights provisions in regard to sports events, including the problem of forced prostitution and trafficking in human beings; calls for the EU and its Member States to engage with the UNHCR and other multilateral forums, as well as with national sports federations, corporate actors and civil society organisations to ensure full compliance with human rights in such events, including by being one of the determining awarding criteria for major international sports events; in this regard, pays particular attention to the upcoming FIFA World Cups in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022, and the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2022;
EU action in multilateral organisations
76. Reiterates its full support for the EU’s strong engagement in promoting the advancement of human rights and democratic principles through cooperation with the structures of the UN and its specialised agencies, the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the OECD, in line with Articles 21 and 220 TEU; welcomes, therefore, the adoption of the SDGs;
77. Reiterates, furthermore, the importance of the EU actively and consistently engaging in all UN human rights mechanisms, in particular the Third Committee of the UNGA and the UNHRC; acknowledges the efforts of the EEAS, the EU Delegations in New York and Geneva and the Member States to increase EU coherence on human rights issues at UN level; encourages the EU to increase its efforts to make its voice heard, including by intensifying the growing practice of cross-regional initiatives and by co-sponsoring and taking the lead on resolutions;
78. Recalls the importance of keeping the institutionalised practice of sending a parliamentary delegation to the UNGA; welcomes the renewal of the practice in 2015, at the 28th session of the UNHRC;
79. Emphasises that in order to strengthen the credibility and legitimacy of the UNHRC, all its members must uphold the highest human rights standards and fulfil their human rights commitments; considers that human rights must be promoted, developed and consolidated in all international forums; calls on the Commission to publicly report on the activities and actions it is carrying out to advance the human rights agenda and to reinforce the human rights accountability and liability of international organisations such as the WTO and the World Bank (BIRD, IFC, MIGA);
80. Reaffirms its strong commitment to ending impunity for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community and to providing justice for the victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, and reiterates therefore its strong support for the International Criminal Court (ICC); considers it regrettable that no state ratified the Rome Statute in 2014; emphasises the responsibility to put an end to impunity and prosecute those responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, including those related to sexual violence; expresses serious concern that several arrest warrants have still not been executed; urges that the EU continue its strong diplomatic and political support for strengthening and expanding the relationship between the ICC and the UN, in particular in the UN Security Council, as well as in its bilateral relations
PE567.654v03-00 22/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN and all other forums; calls for the EU, including its Delegations, as well as the Member States, to increase their efforts in promoting the universality of the Rome Statute and its ratification and effective implementation; calls on the Member States to provide the ICC with the resources needed, and to enhance their support for the international criminal justice system via, inter alia, financial support to civil society actors through, for example, the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR); calls for the implementation of the 2013 EU toolkit on complementarity between international and national justice;
81. Calls on the EU and the Member States to actively promote the ICC and the need for the enforcement of its decisions in all type of dialogues with third countries;
Enhancing respect for human rights in the world
Freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief
82. Recalls that freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief is a fundamental human right, as recognised in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as guaranteed by Article 18 of the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; equally, recalls its interrelatedness with other human rights and fundamental freedoms encompassing the right to believe or not to believe, the freedom to practise theistic, non-theistic or atheistic belief alike, and the right to adopt, change and abandon or return to a belief of one's choice; expresses its concern that some countries still fail to abide by UN standards and use state repression, which may include physical punishment, prison terms, exorbitant fines and even the death penalty in violation of freedom of religion or belief; is concerned at the increased persecution of religious or belief minorities, including Christian communities, as well as unlawful damage to their places of assembly;
83. Calls on the EU and the Member States to step up their efforts to contribute to the eradication of all form of religious discrimination and to promote inter-religious dialogue when engaging with third countries; requests concrete actions to protect religious minorities, nonbelievers, apostates and atheists who are victims of blasphemy laws, and calls on the EU and its Member States to engage in repealing such laws; welcomes the EU’s commitment to promote freedom of religion or belief in international forums, including by supporting the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief; fully supports the EU practice of taking the lead on thematic resolutions at the UNHRC and the UNGA on this topic; requests concrete action and measures for the effective implementation and improvement of the EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief; considers that action should be taken both in international and regional forums by maintaining an open, transparent and regular dialogue with religious associations and communities, pursuant to Article 17 TFEU, including through EU Delegations; equally draws attention to the need to ensure systematic and consistent training of EU staff, at headquarters and in delegations;
EU action against the death penalty
84. Welcomes the Joint Declaration by the VP/HR and the Secretary-General of the Council
RR\1080184EN.doc 23/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN of Europe1 of October 2014, which reaffirmed their strong and absolute opposition to capital punishment in all cases and under all circumstances; maintains its view that the worldwide abolition of the death penalty should be one of the EU’s central objectives as regards human rights; notes that support for third countries for drug enforcement policy should aim at the abolition of the death penalty for drug-related offences; requests the EU and the Member States, in the context of the Sixth World Congress against the Death Penalty to be held in Oslo, Norway, in June 2016, to speak out unambiguously against the death penalty, to intensify commitments for the abolition of the death penalty and to support public awareness campaigns on this topic;
85. Expresses its concern at the growing number of death sentences and executions worldwide; deeply regrets that some third countries still have capital punishment in their legislations; considers it regrettable that Belarus has resumed executions after a two-year pause; reiterates, therefore, its call on Belarus to implement a moratorium on the death penalty, which should ultimately lead to its abolition; notes that eight states legislate the death penalty for homosexuality;
86. Urges the EEAS, the Commission and the Member States to provide guidance for a comprehensive and effective European death penalty policy with regard to dozens of European nationals facing execution in third countries, which should include strong and reinforced mechanisms in terms of identification, delivery of legal assistance and diplomatic representation;
87. Calls for the EU to continue engaging with retentionist countries, making use of all diplomatic and cooperation tools in order to secure the abolition of the death penalty; reiterates, moreover, its call for the EU to continue monitoring the conditions under which executions are carried out in the countries that still use the death penalty;
Fight against torture and ill-treatment
88. Considers that, following the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention against Torture and given that torture and ill-treatment continue worldwide, the EU should intensify its efforts to eradicate these serious human rights violations; stresses the fact that members of vulnerable groups, such as children and women or ethnic, linguistic or religious minorities, who are exposed to torture or ill-treatment in detention, require special attention; urges, therefore, the EEAS and the VP/HR to engage more strongly in the fight against torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, through increased diplomatic undertakings and a more systematic public positioning, reflecting the values and principles the EU has committed itself to; recommends that the EEAS, the EU Delegations and the Member States make use to their full potential of all existing instruments, such as the EU Guidelines on Torture2; recommends in this context the constant improvement of export control mechanisms for drugs that can be used for executions or torture, including a targeted end-use clause that would suspend or halt the transfer of security-related items that clearly have no practical use other than for the purposes of capital punishment or torture;
89. Underlines that there are countries which have failed to take steps to address the urgent
1 http://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/10-october-against-death-penalty 2 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cmsUpload/TortureGuidelines.pdf
PE567.654v03-00 24/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN need for fully resourced plans to tackle prison conditions; notices that very little progress has been made in ensuring that prison facilities comply with international human rights standards and that prisoners' rights to life, physical integrity and dignity are protected; emphasises the need to improve conditions of detention in order to respect human rights and that incarcerated persons should not be subject to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;
Discrimination
90. Stresses that under no circumstances whatever can discrimination of any kind, violence, punishment by way of reprisal, torture, sexual abuse of women and girls, genital mutilation, child marriage, forced marriage, trafficking in women, discrimination or social exclusion on grounds of social class or origin, or domestic violence be justified on grounds of social, religious or cultural convictions or traditions;
91. Condemns in the strongest terms all forms of discrimination, including those based on race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, language, culture, religion or belief, social origin, caste, birth, age, disability or any other status; urges that the EU intensify its efforts to eradicate all types of discrimination, racism and xenophobia through human rights and political dialogues, the work of the EU Delegations and public diplomacy; further urges that the EU continue to promote the ratification and full implementation of all UN conventions that support this cause, such as the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination or the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
LGBTI rights
92. Considers that the EU should continue its efforts to enhance respect for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people, in line with the EU Guidelines on the topic1; recommends the implementation of the Guidelines, including through training of EU staff in third countries; regrets that 75 countries still criminalise homosexuality, including 8 which provide for the death penalty, and believes that practices and acts of violence against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation should not go unpunished; supports the continuing work of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights to combat these discriminatory laws, as well as the work of other UN bodies; is concerned over restrictions on the fundamental freedoms of LGBTI human rights defenders, and calls for the EU to increase its support for them; notes that the fundamental rights of LGBTI persons are more likely to be respected if they have access to legal institutions, possibly through registered partnership or marriage;
93. Emphasises that minority communities in third countries have specific needs and that their full equality should be promoted in all areas of economic, social, political and cultural life;
Caste-based discrimination
94. Notes with great concern the scale and consequences of caste-based discrimination and the perpetuation of caste-based human rights violations, including the denial of access
1 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/foraff/137584.pdf
RR\1080184EN.doc 25/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN to the legal system or employment, continued segregation, poverty, and stigmatisation; calls for the adoption of an EU instrument for the prevention and elimination of caste- based discrimination; recommends the mainstreaming of the topic in the EEAS and Commission guidelines and action plans, in particular in the EU fight against all forms of discrimination, and in efforts to combat violence against women and girls and all forms of discrimination against them;
Rights of persons with disabilities
95. Welcomes the ratifications of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; reiterates the importance of efficient implementation by both the Member States and the EU institutions; stresses, in particular, the need to credibly mainstream the principle of universal accessibility and all rights of persons with disabilities throughout all relevant EU policies, including in the area of development cooperation, and underlines the prescriptive and horizontal nature of this issue;
96. Encourages the VP/HR to continue to support the process of ratification and implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by those countries which have not ratified or implemented it as yet;
97. Stresses that the international community has identified the situation of women with disabilities as a priority; recalls the conclusions of the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, which stated that policies and programmes to address violence against women and girls with disabilities should be developed in close partnership with those persons who have disabilities, recognising their autonomy, and with disability organisations; underlines the need for regular oversight of institutions and appropriate training for caregivers; calls on the EU to incorporate the fight against disability discrimination into its external action, cooperation and development aid policies, including the EIDHR;
Rights of women and girls
98. Recalls that the 2014 Sakharov Prize was awarded to Dr Denis Mukwege for his strong engagement with victims of sexual violence and continuous promotion of women’s rights, which raised awareness of the use of violence and sexual mutilation of women, girls and children as means of war; strongly condemns all forms of abuse and violence against women, girls and children, especially the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, as well as female genital mutilation, child, early and forced marriage, sexual slavery, marital rape, and other forms of harmful traditional practices; stresses the need for women, girls and children abused in conflicts to have access to health and psychological care, in line with international law; takes note in this context of the VP/HR letter regarding humanitarian aid policy, in particular preventing sexual violence and providing women with appropriate support and access to health and psychological care in case of rape in conflict situations; calls on the Council of Europe member states to sign and ratify the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence;
99. Stresses the need for exchange of good practices on the part of the EEAS to combat the lack of access to justice for victims of crimes related to sexual violence; strongly condemns the lack of access to justice for women in third countries, and specifically
PE567.654v03-00 26/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN when they are victims of gender-based violence; asks the Commission to take an active role in the prosecution of these crimes in third countries and, in some instances, by Member States; urges the Commission to work with the EEAS to improve the support available for victims, to incorporate gender-based violence interventions into EU humanitarian actions and to prioritise EU humanitarian actions targeting gender-based violence and sexual violence in conflict; welcomes the EU’s commitment to give a follow-up to the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict held in London in June 2014, and therefore urges the Commission to take concrete action;
100. Deplores the lack of prevention policies on gender-based violence, the lack of victim support and the high rate of impunity for offenders in a large number of countries; asks the EEAS to exchange good practices with third countries on law-making procedures and training programmes for police, judicial personnel and civil servants; urges the EU to support civil society organisations working to defend human rights and promote gender equality in third countries, and to cooperate closely with international organisations active in the gender equality field, such as the ILO, the OECD, the UN and the African Union, with a view to creating synergies and promoting women’s empowerment;
101. Is deeply concerned about the rise in gender-based violence in many parts of the world and the increasing rates of feminicide in Latin America, which takes place in the context of generalised violence and structural discrimination; strongly condemns gender-based violence in all forms and the abhorrent crime of feminicide, as well as the prevailing impunity for these crimes, which may encourage yet more violence and killings;
102. Expresses its deep concern about possible human rights violations affecting women and girls in refugee camps in the Middle East and Africa, including reported cases of sexual violence and unequal treatment of women and girls; asks the EEAS to push for stricter rules and good practices in third countries in order to put an end to inequality among refugees independently of gender;
103. Deplores the fact that half the world’s population is faced with wage discrimination, and that globally women earn between 60 and 90 % of men’s average income;
104. Invites the Commission, the EEAS and the VP/HR to continue promoting the political and economic empowerment of women and girls by mainstreaming gender equality in all their external policies and programmes, including through structured dialogues with third countries, by publicly raising gender-related issues and by ensuring sufficient resources for this purpose; takes positive note of the new framework for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment for 2016-20201; underlines the need to focus on the horizontal pillar, which aims for the Commission and the EEAS to deliver more effectively on EU commitments to strengthening women and girls' rights through external relations;
105. Deplores the lack of gender equality in the political realm; recalls that women and men are equal and should enjoy the same political rights and civil liberties, and deplores likewise the fact that women are under-represented in economic, social and political decision-making; underlines the need for effective protection mechanisms for women
1 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-5690_en.pdf
RR\1080184EN.doc 27/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN human rights defenders; recommends that a quota system be introduced in order to provide a way of promoting women’s participation in political bodies and the democratic process, primarily as candidates;
106. Calls for the EU to continue to support the economic, social and political empowerment of women as a tool for promoting the proper enjoyment of their rights and fundamental freedoms, and to attach the highest importance to access to quality education for girls, including those from the poorest and most marginalised communities; calls for support to be given to vocational education for women, for a greater take-up of vocational training to be ensured in the fields of science and technology, for gender equality training programmes to be devised for education professionals in third countries, and for steps to be taken to prevent stereotypes from being conveyed through educational materials; urges the EU to include this priority in all its diplomatic, trade and development cooperation activities;
107. Stresses the need for continuity of education for girls in refugee camps, in conflict areas and in areas affected by extreme poverty and environmental extremes such as drought and floods;
108. Encourages the EU to continue mainstreaming support for women and girls within CSDP operations and the UN peacebuilding architecture, and to pursue its efforts for the implementation and strengthening of UN Security Council Resolutions 1325(2000)1 and 1820(2008)2 on women, peace and security; in this regard, calls on the EU to support at international level the recognition of the added value of women’s participation in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, as well as in peacekeeping operations, humanitarian assistance and post-conflict reconstruction and democratic transition processes leading to lasting and stable political solutions; underlines equally the importance of ensuring the full range of human rights for women and of contributing to their empowerment, including in the framework of the post-2015 agenda and through support for the Beijing Platform for Action and the Istanbul Convention; welcomes the EU’s support for UN resolutions on gender issues, especially with regard to the role of freedom of expression and opinion in women´s empowerment; takes positive note of the conclusions of the 59th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women3;
109. Calls on the Commission to systematically include concrete actions to improve women’s participation in electoral processes in all EU election observation missions in line with the EU guidelines in that domain, taking into account the conclusions reached by the senior electoral expert seminar held in Brussels in April 2014 and learning from the experience of past missions;
110. Welcomes the efforts made by the EEAS in third countries to step up the implementation of the obligations and commitments in the area of women’s rights arising from CEDAW, the Beijing Platform for Action, and the Cairo Declaration on Population and Development in the post-2015 development agenda;
1 http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/1325(2000) 2 http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/1820(2008) 3 http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=E/2015/27
PE567.654v03-00 28/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN 111. Stresses the importance of not undermining the ‘acquis’ of the Beijing Platform for Action regarding access to education and health as a basic human right, and the protection of sexual and reproductive rights; emphasises the fact that universal respect for sexual and reproductive health and rights and access to the relevant services contribute to reducing infant and maternal mortality; points out that family planning, maternal health, easy access to contraception and safe abortion are important elements in saving women’s lives and helping them rebuild their lives if they have been victims of rape; highlights the need to place these policies at the core of development cooperation with third countries;
112. Regards underage marriages as fundamental human rights violations that affect all aspects of the lives of the girls involved, jeopardising their education and thus limiting their prospects, endangering their health and increasing the risks of them suffering violence and abuse;
113. Notes with grave concern that since the 1980s the mail-order-bride industry has soared at an alarming rate; notes with concern that there are a number of documented cases of women being attacked and/or murdered after marrying a man as a ‘mail-order bride’; deplores the fact that a significant number of underage girls appear on ‘mail order’ websites, and stresses that where children are used for sexual purposes this must be considered child abuse;
114. Condemns the practice of surrogacy, which undermines the human dignity of the woman since her body and its reproductive functions are used as a commodity; considers that the practice of gestational surrogacy which involves reproductive exploitation and use of the human body for financial or other gain, in particular in the case of vulnerable women in developing countries, shall be prohibited and treated as a matter of urgency in human rights instruments;
Children’s rights
115. Reaffirms the urgent need for universal ratification and effective implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Child and its Optional Protocols; calls on all states to commit themselves to eliminating the worst forms of child labour as defined by Article 3 of ILO Convention No 182, which include child slavery, trafficking, prostitution, and hazardous work affecting a child’s physical and mental health;
116. Welcomes the Council conclusions on the promotion and protection of the rights of the child1, adopted in December 2014, and calls for the EU to continue supporting partner countries in combating all forms of violence against children, including sexual exploitation, and reinforcing their capacities to protect children’s rights; welcomes the global rollout in 2014 of the EU-UNICEF Child Rights toolkit2; takes note of the statement of May 2014 by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the rights of intersex children;
117. Reiterates its request for the Commission to propose a comprehensive Child Rights Strategy and Action Plan for the next five years, in order to prioritise children's rights
1 http://register.consilium.europa.eu/doc/srv?l=EN&f=ST%2015559%202014%20INIT 2 http://www.unicef.org/eu/crtoolkit/downloads/Child-Rights-Toolkit-Web-Links.pdf
RR\1080184EN.doc 29/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN within EU external policies, supporting the EU’s efforts to promote their rights, in particular by contributing to ensuring children’s access to water, sanitation, healthcare and education, by ensuring the rehabilitation and reintegration of children enlisted in armed groups, by eliminating child labour, torture, the issue of child witchcraft, trafficking, child marriage and sexual exploitation, and by assisting children in armed conflicts and ensuring their access to education in conflict zones and refugee camps; calls on the VP/HR to report annually to Parliament on the results achieved with regard to child-focused EU external actions; commends the ‘Children No Soldiers’ campaign, and calls for the EU and the Member States to step up their support in order to reach the target of ending the recruitment and use of children in conflicts by government armed forces by 2016;
118. Welcomes the EU's cooperation with UNICEF, which has resulted in a toolkit for the mainstreaming of children's rights in development cooperation and in support for key MDGs and child protection programmes for realising children’s rights, especially in fragile contexts, as well as with UNRWA;
119. Welcomes the EU’s active cooperation with several UN Special Rapporteurs (UNSRs) working on economic, social and cultural rights (ESCRs), including the SR on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, the SR on the right to education, the SR on the right to food, the SR on extreme poverty and human rights, and the SR on adequate housing; positively notes that the promotion of ESCRs has been reinforced in the EIDHR Multiannual Indicative Programme 2014-2017, which aims, inter alia, to contribute to the strengthening of trade unions, increased awareness of wage-related issues, the protection of land heritage, the promotion of social integration through economic empowerment, and a reduction in economic discrimination and workplace violence;
Strengthening democracy worldwide
120. Emphasises the EU’s engagement in upholding and promoting respect for human rights and democratic values in its relations with the wider world; recalls that democratic regimes are characterised not only by free and fair electoral processes, but also by freedom of speech, the press and association, the rule of law and accountability, the independence of the judiciary, and impartial administration, among other aspects; stresses that democracy and human rights are inextricably linked and mutually reinforcing, as recalled in the Council conclusions of 18 November 2009 on democracy support in the EU’s external relations; welcomes the fact that the new Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy pays enhanced attention to democracy support activities;
Defending freedom of expression and strengthening civil society
121. Reiterates the fact that freedom of expression is a vital component of any democratic society, as it nourishes a culture of pluralism that empowers civil society and citizens to hold their governments and decision-makers accountable, and supports respect for the rule of law; urges the EU, therefore, to intensify its efforts to promote freedom of expression through its external policies and instruments;
122. Reiterates its call for the EU and its Member States to enhance their monitoring of all types of restrictions on freedom of expression and the media in third countries, and to
PE567.654v03-00 30/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN rapidly and systematically condemn such limitations even when imposed with legitimate aims such as counter-terrorism, state security or law enforcement; emphasises the importance of ensuring effective implementation of the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Expression Online and Offline and of regularly monitoring their impact; recalls the EU's goal of ensuring and protecting non-discriminatory access to information and freedom of expression for all individuals, both online and offline;
123. Considers that by making information as accessible as possible information and communication technologies (ICTs) provide opportunities for the enhancement of human rights, democratic practices and for social and economic development; emphasises, moreover, the contribution of ICTs to the efforts of civil society movements, in particular in undemocratic regimes; expresses concern at the uses of ICTs by some authoritarian regimes which increasingly threaten human rights and democracy activists; highlights the need for increased support in the areas of promoting freedom of the media, protecting independent journalists and bloggers, reducing the digital divide and facilitating unrestricted access to information; calls on the Commission to pay particular attention to the human rights aspects of dual-use goods in the framework of the revision of the EU’s export control system;
EU support for human rights defenders
124. Deplores the fact that civil society, including human rights defenders, is increasingly under assault all over the world; is deeply concerned that an increasing number of countries, such as Russia and some of the Central Asian countries, are passing harsh laws to stifle NGOs’ activities by restricting their access to foreign funding and introducing burdensome reporting requirements and severe penalties for non- compliance; recalls that the right to freedom of association and assembly is an essential characteristic of a democratic, open and tolerant society; calls for renewed efforts to challenge the restrictions and intimidation that people working for civil society organisations face worldwide, and for the EU to set an example in protecting and promoting the rights concerned;
125. Positively notes that in the new Action Plan the VP/HR reiterates the EU’s commitment to empowering local actors and civil society organisations, and stresses that, given the significant shrinking of its space, civil society, including in particular human rights defenders, requires increased attention and efforts from the EU; urges that the EU and its Member States therefore elaborate a coherent and comprehensive response to the major challenges that civil society, including human rights defenders, faces worldwide;
126. Calls for the EU and its Member States to constantly monitor and raise, at every level of political dialogue, cases of violations of freedom of assembly and association, including through various forms of bans and limitations on civil society organisations and their activities;
127. Calls, in addition, for the EU and its Member States to use all available means to systematically raise individual cases of human rights defenders and civil society activists at risk, particularly regarding those currently imprisoned; encourages the EU Delegations and the Member States’ diplomatic staff to continue to actively support human rights defenders, by systematically monitoring trials, visiting detained activists, and issuing statements on individual cases, as well as addressing human rights
RR\1080184EN.doc 31/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN violations with their relevant counterparts; insists that senior EU representatives, notably the VP/HR, Commissioners, EU Special Representatives and government officials from the Member States should systematically meet human rights defenders when travelling to countries where civil society is under pressure;
128. Positively notes the EU’s assistance to human rights defenders and civil society around the world through EIDHR funding; emphasises the particular importance of using the EIDHR to protect those human rights defenders most at risk; stresses also that support for human rights defenders at risk should primarily take into account the effectiveness criteria and avoid overly prescriptive conditions; calls on the Commission, the EEAS and the EU Delegations to ensure that the funding available for human rights defenders is properly used;
Supporting electoral processes and enhancing the rule of law, independence of the judiciary and impartial administration in third countries
129. Welcomes the eight Election Observation Missions (EOMs) and the eight Electoral Expert Missions (EEMs) deployed around the globe by the EU in 2014; reiterates its positive view of the EU’s continued support for electoral processes and its provision of electoral assistance and support for domestic observers;
130. Recalls the importance of a proper follow-up to the reports and recommendations of the EOMs, as a way of enhancing their impact and strengthening the EU’s support for democratic standards in the countries concerned;
131. Recommends that the EU step up its efforts to develop a more comprehensive approach to democratisation processes, of which free and fair elections are only one dimension, in order to positively contribute to the strengthening of democratic institutions and public confidence in electoral processes worldwide;
132. Positively notes, in this context, the start of a second generation of pilot projects on democracy support in 12 selected EU Delegations in 2014, following a commitment made in the Council conclusions of November 2009 and in the 2012 Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy; strongly emphasises the importance of these pilot projects for achieving greater coherence in supporting democracy through the EU’s external policies and instruments;
133. Welcomes the commitment made by the Commission, the EEAS and the Member States in the new Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy to engage more firmly and consistently with election management bodies, parliamentary institutions, local NGOs, human rights defenders and civil society organisations in third countries, in order to involve them more intensively in monitoring elections and contribute to their empowerment and, therefore, to the strengthening of democratic processes;
134. Recalls that the experience gained by the European Union, politicians, academics, the media, NGOs and civil society, and the lessons learned from transitions to democracy in the framework of the enlargement and neighbourhood policies, could positively contribute to the identification of best practices that could be used to support and consolidate other democratisation processes worldwide;
PE567.654v03-00 32/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN 135. Recalls that corruption is a threat to the equal enjoyment of human rights and undermines democratic processes such as the rule of law and the fair administration of justice; recalls also that the EU has claimed exclusive competence for the signing of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC);
136. Expresses the view that the EU should emphasise, in all platforms for dialogue with third countries, the importance of transparency and accessibility, integrity, accountability and proper management of public affairs, the public budget and public property, as stipulated in the UNCAC; believes that corruption in all its forms undermines democratic principles and negatively affects social and economic development; calls for follow-up on its request for improved monitoring of the UNCAC and, equally, for proper consideration of OECD recommendations; considers that the EU should support third countries more consistently and systematically in tackling corruption, through expertise in setting up and consolidating independent and effective anti-corruption institutions, including through proactive cooperation with the private sector; equally recommends developing innovative financial mechanisms for strengthening the fight against all types of corruption; notes, in this context, the call for improved regulation of financial transactions at international level;
137. Is of the opinion that the EU should strengthen its efforts to promote the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary at multilateral and bilateral levels; encourages the EU to support the fair administration of justice worldwide by assisting processes of legislative and institutional reforms in third countries; also encourages the EU Delegations and Member States’ embassies to systematically pursue trial monitoring with a view to promoting the independence of the judiciary;
Enhancing the European Parliament’s actions on human rights
138. Welcomes the review of the Guidelines for the European Parliament's Interparliamentary Delegations on promoting human rights and democracy, conducted by the Conference of Delegation Chairs in cooperation with the Subcommittee on Human Rights; recommends, in this context, a more systematic and transparent practice of raising human rights issues, especially the individual cases referred to in Parliament's resolutions, during delegation visits to third countries, and of reporting in writing to the Subcommittee on Human Rights on actions taken and, where politically warranted, through a specific debriefing session;
139. Emphasises the need for continued reflection regarding the most appropriate ways to maximise the credibility, visibility and effectiveness of Parliament's resolutions on breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law;
140. Encourages discussion of the inclusion of the different tools available to Parliament regarding support for and promotion of human rights in a single strategy document, to be adopted by Parliament in plenary;
* * * 141. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the UN Security Council, the UN
RR\1080184EN.doc 33/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN Secretary-General, the President of the 70th UN General Assembly, the President of the UN Human Rights Council, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the EU Heads of Delegation.
PE567.654v03-00 34/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN 12.11.2015
OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON DEVELOPMENT
for the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2014 and the European Union’s policy on the matter (2015/2229(INI))
Rapporteur: Doru-Claudian Frunzulică
SUGGESTIONS
The Committee on Development calls on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions into its motion for a resolution:
1. Stresses that respect for human rights, gender equality, good governance, the rule of law, peace and security are prerequisites for the eradication of poverty and inequalities and are central to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals; recalls that human rights are universal, inalienable, indivisible and interdependent and that cultural diversity cannot in consequence be invoked as a justification for infringing human rights, which are guaranteed by international law and based on natural law;
2. Insists that harmful practices, such as female genital mutilation, early and forced marriages, gendercide including girl infanticide or female foeticide, honour crimes, or denial of a proper education for women should therefore be banned, and violations of such prohibitions severely punished; strongly condemns the continued use of rape of women and girls as a weapon of war; stresses that more needs to be done to ensure respect for international law and access to health and psychological care for women and girls abused in conflicts, including the full range of sexual and reproductive health services for victims of war rape;
3. Stresses the need to ensure that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, its monitoring measures and its future implementation by all stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector, are underpinned by human-rights and gender-equality based approaches as well as that of the eradication of poverty, reduction of inequalities and social exclusion, and democratisation of the economy, and should include women’s rights, including sexual and reproductive health and other rights, LGTBI rights, minority rights, including those of sexual minorities and disabled people, children’s rights, strengthened political participation by citizens, democratic values, good governance, the promotion of democracy, and the fight against corruption, impunity, tax evasion, tax avoidance and tax
RR\1080184EN.doc 35/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN havens;
4. Underlines that the EU should address the external dimension of the migration crisis and both the root causes of poverty in third countries and the root causes of migration from third countries to Europe, while recognising that the nexus between migration, security and development is complex and multi-dimensional and cannot be reduced to a mechanical and simplistic link between more development aid and less migrants; recalls the principle of non-refoulement and urges the EU and its Member States not to cooperate with some third countries, in particular those where civil war is ongoing or where there is no functioning or accepted government; underlines that children and women are particularly vulnerable in the current crisis;
5. Stresses that the Addis Ababa Action Agenda committed to delivering a universal social protection floor, universal health coverage and essential public services for all, including health and education;
6. Urges the EU to reinforce its role as a strong promoter of human rights in the world, by the effective, consistent and considered use of all available instruments for the promotion and protection of human rights and its defenders and the effectiveness of our development aid policy, in line with the new SDG 16; encourages the Commission to monitor the implementation of its toolbox for a rights-based approach and to ensure that human rights and development cooperation are mutually reinforcing on the ground; requests that the EU Annual Report on Human Rights attach more importance to the role of development cooperation;
7. Calls for the EU and its delegations to increase their political dialogue with governments in breach of human rights, democracy and the rule of the law, together with civil society, and insists that the political dialogue on human rights between the EU and third countries must cover a more inclusive and comprehensive definition of non-discrimination, inter alia towards LGBTI people and on the basis of religion or belief, sex, racial or ethnic origin, age, disability and sexual orientation; underlines that, particularly in countries which have poor records in both development and respect for human rights, development aid should be maintained and even strengthened, but should preferably be channelled through civil society organisations and non-governmental local partners, and be systematically monitored, along with governmental commitments to improving the human rights situation on the ground;
8. Recalls the primary importance of the principle of Policy Coherence for Development; urges the Commission and the Member States, therefore, to ensure that human rights are genuinely protected in the remit of any agreements concluded or revised with developing countries, through binding human rights clauses; recommends a procedure for consultation between the parties, detailing the political and legal mechanisms to be used in the event of a request for bilateral cooperation to be suspended, but also a warning mechanism and process for descriptive and evaluation purposes; insists that the Commission conduct systematic human rights impact assessments of trade and investment agreements to help ensure effective enforcement of human rights; urges that the genuine enforcement of GSP Plus be implemented alongside a suitable transparent reporting mechanism and funding for civil society monitoring; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to support legal frameworks and initiatives aimed at transparency and good
PE567.654v03-00 36/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN governance of mining and other resource sectors;
9. Stresses the need for reinforced corporate accountability and transparency mechanisms, and for initiatives aimed at implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; asks the Commission to encourage Member States to report on this implementation; calls on the Commission to take all necessary initiatives to present a legally binding international instrument on business activities and human rights within the framework of the United Nations; in particular, insists upon the need to analyse the consequences of the activities of corporations for human rights in developing countries and to set up effective remedies to sanction corporations in breach of human rights and to provide redress for the victims of such breaches; highlights the obligation to respect international labour standards, in line with the fulfilment of the ILO Decent Work Agenda;
10. Underlines the importance of property rights and land tenure security in protecting small farmers and local communities from inconsequential land acquisitions by state and non- state actors, including corporations or unwarranted claims to land by national governments; calls for stronger protection of property rights in developing countries, with special attention to be given to land tenure security, as well as to intellectual property rights;
11. Calls for the EU and its delegations to increase their political dialogue with governments in breach of human rights, democracy and the rule of the law, stopping all association treaties and agreements currently in force with those countries, and insists that the political dialogue on human rights between the EU and third countries must cover a more inclusive and comprehensive definition of non-discrimination, inter alia on the basis of religion or belief, sex, racial or ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity; reiterates that the involvement of civil society in this dialogue is crucial to promoting the effective enjoyment of human rights, and stresses the key role the EU can have in strengthening the role of civil society in this regard;
12. Recognises that human rights such as freedom of religion, thought or expression play a direct role in the promotion and protection of cultural diversity and that enjoyment of human rights is promoted by a pluralistic society.
RR\1080184EN.doc 37/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION
Date adopted 10.11.2015
Result of final vote +: 22 –: 1 0: 1
Members present for the final vote Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea, Ignazio Corrao, Doru-Claudian Frunzulică, Nathan Gill, Charles Goerens, Enrique Guerrero Salom, Heidi Hautala, Maria Heubuch, Teresa Jiménez-Becerril Barrio, Linda McAvan, Norbert Neuser, Cristian Dan Preda, Lola Sánchez Caldentey, Elly Schlein, Pedro Silva Pereira, Davor Ivo Stier, Paavo Väyrynen, Bogdan Brunon Wenta, Rainer Wieland, Anna Záborská Substitutes present for the final vote Marina Albiol Guzmán, Louis-Joseph Manscour, Paul Rübig, Joachim Zeller
PE567.654v03-00 38/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN 12.11.2015
OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY
for the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2014 and the European Union’s policy on the matter (2015/2229(INI))
Rapporteur: Teresa Jiménez-Becerril Barrio
SUGGESTIONS
The Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality calls on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions into its motion for a resolution:
– having regard to the Joint Staff Working Document on ‘Gender Equality and Women´s Empowerment: Transforming the lives of Girls and Women through EU External relations 2016-2020’1,
– having regard to its resolution of 8 October 2015 on the renewal of the EU Plan of Action on Gender Equality and Women´s Empowerment in Development2,
A. whereas women and girls in many parts of the world continue to be subject to gender-based violence, including rape, enslavement, trafficking in human beings, forced marriage, honour crimes, female genital mutilation (FGM) and cruel and inhuman punishments amounting to torture, violating their fundamental rights to life, liberty, justice, dignity and security, their physical and psychological integrity, and their right of self-determination in sexual and reproductive matters; whereas no attempt should ever be made to justify any form of discrimination and violence against women on political, social, religious or cultural grounds or in relation to popular or tribal traditions;
B. whereas in countries where capital punishment is practised, methods that are equivalent to torture (such as stoning to death) and involve bodily humiliation (such as public hanging) are used to execute women, in order to intimidate other women;
C. whereas violence against women and girls is the world’s most widespread human rights violation, affects all levels of society, regardless of age, education, income, social position
1 SWD(2015)0182. 2 Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0350.
RR\1080184EN.doc 39/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN and country of origin or residence, and represents a major barrier to equality between women and men;
D. whereas the term feminicide is grounded in the legal definition of violence against women which is laid down in Article 1 of the Belém do Pará Convention: ‘violence against women shall be understood as any act or conduct, based on gender, which causes death or physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, whether in the public or the private sphere’;
E. whereas the EU is committed to promoting gender equality and ensuring gender mainstreaming in all of its actions;
F. whereas the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2015-2019 refers to promoting non-discrimination, gender equality and women’s empowerment within and outside the EU;
G. whereas many women and girls are denied access to high-quality education and many are forced to abandon their studies when they marry or have children;
H. whereas, in times of armed conflict, women and children, including female and child refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons, are among the most vulnerable groups in society; whereas, likewise, the risks posed to displaced adolescent girls are significantly heightened during humanitarian crises;
I. whereas three fifths of the billion people living below the poverty line are women1;
J. whereas the World Health Organisation (WHO) Constitution states that ‘the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition’2;
K. whereas women and girls account for two thirds of the 960 million people around the world who are illiterate3;
L. whereas the surge in terrorism and armed conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has led to a significant increase in these forms of violence, with rape and enslavement of women and girls being used systematically as a weapon of war, and trafficking in human beings, especially women and children, as a source of financing terrorist activities; whereas the participation of women in peacebuilding processes and democratic reform is critical to their success;
M. whereas despite the clear obligation to respect, protect and fulfil rights related to women´s and girl´s sexual and reproductive health and rights, violations remains frequent, and widespread in many states;
N. whereas, according to UNICEF, more than 500 000 women die in childbirth each year
1 Source: http://www.aidos.it/files/1226588271Frontes_Introduzione.pdf 2 http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/Factsheet31.pdf 3 Source: http://www.aidos.it/files/1226588271Frontes_Introduzione.pdf
PE567.654v03-00 40/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN around the world1;
O. whereas, despite progress in recent years, girls continue to suffer severe disadvantages and exclusion in education systems in many countries, with girls from the poorest backgrounds being most affected;
P. whereas women continue to be trafficked for prostitution, in most cases under conditions tantamount to slavery, as their identity papers are taken away and they are told that if they attempt to rebel, harsh reprisals will be taken against their families;
Q. whereas women and girls make up 98 % of victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation;
R. whereas women and girls with disabilities are at greater risk of violence, abuse, negligent treatment and multiple forms of discrimination;
S. whereas in some countries around the world women still do not enjoy the same economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights, including the right of assembly, as men and whereas they are also poorly represented in local and national decision-making bodies; whereas the EU gender equality strategy already provides for gender mainstreaming in EU commercial policy;
T. whereas sexual and reproductive health and rights are grounded in basic human rights and are essential elements of human dignity2; whereas, therefore, access to basic health-care services and sexual and reproductive health services are fundamental aspects of equality between women and men; whereas, furthermore, these have not yet been secured in all parts of the world;
U. whereas women and girls from cultural, traditional, linguistic, religious, gender identity or sexual orientation minority groups experience multiple and intersectional forms of discrimination based on both their minority status and their gender;
V. whereas women human rights defenders are more at risk of being subject to certain forms of violence than their male counterparts and face specific challenges;
1. Reiterates that religious, cultural and traditional differences can never justify discrimination or any form of violence, in particular against women and girls, such as female genital mutilation (FGM), sexual abuse of young girls, femicide, early and forced marriages, domestic violence, honour killings and honour-related violence and other forms of torture, such as those that occur when sentences to death by stoning are carried out;
2. Stresses the importance of the authorities undertaking to develop information, awareness- raising and education campaigns, especially in communities in which gender-based human rights violations are practised, with the aim of preventing and gradually eliminating all forms of gender-based violence; underlines in this regard the crucial importance of involving human rights defenders who are already fighting to put an end to these practices in the preparation and implementation of such campaigns; urges all Member States to
1 Source: http://www.unicef.org/factoftheweek/index_52778.html 2 See paragraphs 7(2) and (3) of the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action.
RR\1080184EN.doc 41/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN ratify the Istanbul Convention, to give effect more rapidly to the obligations and commitments regarding women’s rights entered into under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and under the Beijing Platform for Action, and to support civil society organisations working to promote gender equality in third countries;
3. Calls on all Council of Europe member states to sign and ratify the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women without delay; calls, in this connection, for the EU to take steps to accede to the convention in order to ensure coherence between the EU’s internal and external actions as regards violence against women;
4. Notes with grave concern that since the 1980s the mail-order-bride industry has soared at an alarming rate; notes with concern that there are a number of documented cases of women being attacked and/or murdered after marrying a man as a ‘mail-order bride’; deplores the fact that a significant number of under-age girls appear on ‘mail order’ websites, and stresses that where children are used for sexual purposes this must be considered child abuse;
5. Is deeply concerned about the rise in gender-based violence in many parts of the world and the increasing rate of femicide in Latin America, which takes place in the context of generalised violence and structural discrimination; strongly condemns gender-based violence of all forms and the abhorrent crime of feminicide, as well as the prevailing impunity for these crimes, which may encourage yet more violence and killings;
6. Stresses that the international community has identified the situation of women with disabilities as a priority; recalls the conclusions of the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights which stated that policies and programmes to address violence against women and girls with disabilities should be developed in close partnership with those persons who have disabilities, recognising their autonomy, and with disability organisations; underlines the need for regular oversight of institutions and appropriate training for caregivers; calls on the EU to incorporate the fight against disability discrimination into its external action, cooperation and development aid policies, including the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights;
7. Deplores the lack of gender equality in the political realm; recalls that women and men are equal and should enjoy the same political rights and civil liberties and deplores, likewise, the fact that women are under-represented in economic, social and political decision- making; underlines the need for effective protection mechanisms for women human rights defenders; recommends that a quota system be introduced in order to provide a way of promoting women’s participation in political bodies and the democratic process, primarily as candidates;
8. Deplores the breaches of human rights by third countries in the form of government- imposed limits on numbers of children per family;
9. Calls on the Commission to systematically include concrete actions to improve women’s participation in electoral processes in all EU Election Observation Missions in line with the EU guidelines in that domain, taking into account the conclusions reached by the senior electoral expert seminar held in Brussels in April 2014 and learning from the experience of past missions;
PE567.654v03-00 42/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN 10. Reiterates that the EU should lead by example on gender equality; calls on the EU institutions to encourage women’s participation in the European electoral process by including gender-balanced lists in the next revision of the European Electoral Law;
11. Stresses the importance of strengthening women’s role in conflict prevention and in promoting human rights and democratic reform, and of supporting the systematic participation of women as a vital component of the peace process and post-conflict reconstruction through more effective consultation and coordination with civil society and EU institutions, so as to ensure more accurate and systematic impact assessments in the field of human rights; objects to any legislation, regulation or government pressure that unduly curtails freedom of expression, especially that of women and LGBTI;
12. Calls for the promotion of women’s rights, gender equality and the fight against violence against women to be systematically included in the human rights country strategies and in the human rights and political dialogues with third countries and candidate countries; welcomes the appointment of the European External Action Service (EEAS) advisor on gender issues and gender-sensitive training programmes for diplomats and officials who are taking part in EU delegations; recalls the commitment to include human rights in all EU impact assessments so as to ensure that the EU respects, upholds and implements human rights and that its external policies and activities are formulated and implemented in such as way as to consolidate human rights abroad; points out that gender equality is not confined to men and women, but must encompass the whole LGBTI community; points to the need to mainstream gender issues more strongly into EU humanitarian aid;
13. Calls for the EU to ensure that fundamental human rights safeguards, in particular for women and girls, are written into its economic and trade agreements with third countries, and to review such agreements in cases where those rights are not upheld;
14. Expresses its deep concern about possible human rights violations affecting women and girls in refugee camps in the Middle East and Africa, including reported cases of sexual violence and unequal treatment of women and girls; asks the EEAS to push for stricter rules and good practices in third countries in order to put an end to inequality among refugees of whichever gender;
15. Recalls that the EU plan of action on gender equality and women’s empowerment in development is one of the fundamental tools of the EU for improving gender equality in third countries, and therefore believes that GAP2 should take the form of a Commission communication; calls on the Commission to take into account Parliament’s resolution on the renewal of the GAP;
16. Calls for the use of gender-sensitive quantitative and qualitative indicators and systematic and timely collection of gender-disaggregated data as part of the monitoring and evaluation process of the new GAP;
17. Deplores the fact that in some third countries marriages between adults and minors are legal and in some cases involve brides under the age of nine (child brides);
18. Regards under-age marriages as fundamental human rights violations that affect all aspects of the lives of the girls involved, jeopardising their education and thus limiting their prospects, endangering their health and increasing the risk of them suffering violence
RR\1080184EN.doc 43/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN and abuse;
19. Draws attention to the need for women to be afforded proper health care, free of charge, during childbirth, in order to reduce the still extremely high number of mothers and babies who die in childbirth in many third countries as a result of inadequate or non-existent health care;
20. Deplores the lack of prevention policies on gender-based violence, the lack of victim support and the high rate of impunity for offenders in a large number of countries; asks the EEAS to exchange good practices with third countries on law-making procedures and training programmes for police, judicial personnel and civil servants; urges the EU to support civil society organisations working to defend human rights and promote gender equality in third countries and to cooperate closely with international organisations active in the gender equality field, such as the ILO, the OECD, the UN and the African Union, with a view to creating synergies and promoting women’s empowerment;
21. Stresses the need for an exchange of good practices by the EEAS to combat the lack of access to justice for victims of crimes related to sexual violence; condemns firmly the lack of access to justice for women in third countries, specifically when they are victims of gender-based violence; asks the Commission to take an active role in the prosecution of these crimes in third countries and, in some instances, by Member States; urges the Commission to work with the EEAS to improve the support available for victims, to incorporate gender-based violence interventions into EU humanitarian actions and to prioritise EU humanitarian actions targeting gender-based violence and sexual violence in conflict; welcomes the EU’s commitment to give a follow-up to the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict held in London in June 2014, and therefore urges the Commission to take concrete actions;
22. Calls on the Commission to take concrete actions also within the EU to combat violence against women by proposing a dedicated directive in that area;
23. Urges all actors involved in conflicts to provide the victims with all necessary health care, including abortions, with no distinction based on sex in any circumstances and irrespective of local laws, as provided by the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols;
24. Deplores the fact that women and girls are the most affected by extreme poverty, while it is factually proven that investment in women and girls and empowering them through education is one of the most efficient ways of combating poverty; stresses the need to do more to secure the right to education and access thereto, especially for girls, and that action must be taken to prevent them from being forced to abandon their studies, as they often are when they marry and have children; stresses the need for action to include women and girls in investment and growth processes in third countries; maintains that it is essential to continue counteracting the gender pay gap; notes that European companies operating in third countries have a vital role to play in promoting gender equality in those countries, since they act as role models; encourages women to become actively involved in trade unions and other organisations, as this will do much to introduce gender aspects into labour relations and working conditions;
25. Deplores the fact that in some countries extreme and fundamentalist laws and social,
PE567.654v03-00 44/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN cultural and religious ideologies are preventing women from taking up certain occupations;
26. Deplores the fact that half of the world’s population is faced with wage discrimination, and that globally women earn between 60 and 90 per cent of men’s average income;
27. Stresses the need for continuity of education for girls in refugee camps, in conflict areas and in areas affected by extreme poverty and environmental extremities such as drought and floods;
28. Welcomes the efforts made by the EEAS in third countries to step up the implementation of obligations and commitments to women’s rights made in CEDAW, under the Beijing Platform for Action, and in the Cairo Declaration on Population and Development in the post-2015 development agenda;
29. Welcomes the reviewed EU humanitarian aid policy which allows women and girls raped in armed conflict access to safe abortion services under International Humanitarian Law; stresses the need for rapid implementation of this reviewed policy;
30. Calls on the EU to continue to support economic, social and political empowerment of women as a tool for promoting the proper enjoyment of their rights and fundamental freedoms and to attach the highest importance to access to quality education for girls, including girls from the poorest and marginalised communities; calls for support to be given to vocational education for women, for a greater take-up of vocational training to be ensured in the fields of science and technology, for gender equality training programmes to be devised for education professionals in third countries, and for steps to be taken to prevent stereotypes from being conveyed through educational materials; urges the EU to include this priority in all its diplomatic, trade and development cooperation activities;
31. Stresses the importance of combating gender stereotypes and discriminatory socio-cultural attitudes that reinforce women’s subordinate position in society and constitute one of the main causes of inequality between men and women, human rights violations against women and gender violence; emphasises the need to step up efforts to combat the persistence of stereotypes, through awareness-raising campaigns aimed at all levels of society, greater media involvement, strategies to encourage women and involve men, gender mainstreaming in education and in all EU policies and initiatives, in particular external action, cooperation and aid for development and humanitarian aid;
32. Regrets that all too often women are discriminated against by not providing them with easy access to financial resources such as loans by banks as compared to men; underlines the fact that women’s empowerment in the entrepreneurial realm has been proved to be a vital factor in boosting the economy and, in the long term, combatting poverty;
33. Deplores the fact that in some third countries homosexuality is a crime, and one that is in some cases punishable by death;
34. Deplores the frequent violations of women’s sexual and reproductive rights, including the denial of access to family planning services; recalls Article 16 of the CEDAW, which guarantees the right to choose the number and spacing of children and to have access to the information, education and means to exercise this right;
RR\1080184EN.doc 45/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN 35. Stresses the importance of not undermining the ‘acquis’ of the Beijing Platform for Action regarding access to education and health as a basic human right, and the protection of sexual and reproductive rights; emphasises the fact that universal respect for sexual and reproductive health and rights and access to the relevant services contribute to reducing infant and maternal mortality; points out that family planning, maternal health, easy access to contraception and safe abortions are important elements in saving women’s lives and helping them rebuild their lives if they have been victims of rape; highlights the need to place these policies at the core of development cooperation with third countries;
36. Condemns the desperate plight and inhumane living conditions of refugees in Europe, which are particularly dangerous not only for children but also for women, who are more likely to fall prey to violence, abuse and even human trafficking;
37. Calls for the EU to pay proper attention to, and step up protection for, women migrants, to give them the assistance they require and to protect them against human trafficking and exploitation for prostitution by criminal organisations, which occur all too frequently.
PE567.654v03-00 46/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION
Date adopted 12.11.2015
Result of final vote +: 23 –: 6 0: 0
Members present for the final vote Daniela Aiuto, Maria Arena, Catherine Bearder, Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea, Malin Björk, Anna Maria Corazza Bildt, Iratxe García Pérez, Anna Hedh, Teresa Jiménez-Becerril Barrio, Angelika Mlinar, Maria Noichl, Margot Parker, Terry Reintke, Liliana Rodrigues, Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Anna Záborská Substitutes present for the final vote Inés Ayala Sender, Stefan Eck, Eleonora Forenza, Mariya Gabriel, Constance Le Grip, Elly Schlein, Branislav Škripek, Dubravka Šuica, Monika Vana Substitutes under Rule 200(2) present Seb Dance, Davor Ivo Stier, Claudiu Ciprian Tănăsescu for the final vote
RR\1080184EN.doc 47/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN ANNEX I
INDIVIDUAL CASES RAISED BY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT BETWEEN JANUARY AND DECEMBER 2014
COUNTRY ACTION TAKEN BY THE BACKGROUND Individual PARLIAMENT
AZERBAJIAN
Leyla Yunus, Arif Leyla Yunus is the well-known director of the In its Resolution, adopted on 18 Yunus and Rasul Institute for Peace and Democracy. She has September 2014, the European Jafarov been imprisoned together with her husband, Parliament: the historian Arif Yunus, and Rasul Jafarov, the chair of Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Club - Condemns in the strongest on apparent politically motivated charges. possible terms the arrest and Leyla Yunus has been subjected to acts of detention of Leyla Yunus, Arif violence in prison committed by her cellmate, Yunus, Rasul Jafarov, Intigam and no measures have been taken to punish Aliyev and Hasan Huseyni, and the cellmate or to ensure the protection of Ms demands their immediate and Yunus. In addition, Ms Yunus’ health has unconditional release as well as the deteriorated in prison and no suitable medical withdrawal of all charges against care has been provided. them; demands an immediate and thorough investigation into the Intigam Aliyev Intigam Aliyev is the chair of Azerbaijan’s assault on Ilqar Nasibov, and calls Legal Education Society and a human rights for all those responsible to be lawyer who has defended more than 200 cases brought to justice before the European Court of Human Rights in the areas of infringement of freedom of - Calls on the authorities in speech, the right to a fair trial and electoral Azerbaijan to guarantee the law in Azerbaijan, was arrested on 8 August physical and psychological integrity 2014 and subjected to three month’s detention of Leyla Yunus, Arif Yunusov and on criminal charges. all human rights defenders in Azerbaijan, and to ensure the urgent Hasan Huseynli Hasan Huseynli is another prominent human provision of suitable medical care, Rauf Mirkadirov rights activist and head of the Intelligent including medication and Seymur Haziyev Citizen Enlightenment Centre Public Union, Hospitalisation was sentenced to 6 years’ imprisonment on 14 July 2014. Rauf Mirkadirov is an investigative - Calls on the Azerbaijani journalist with the leading Russian-language authorities to cease their harassment newspaper ‘Zerkalo’ who held on pre-trial and intimidation of civil society detention on charges of treason. Seymour organisations, opposition politicians Haziyev is a prominent opposition journalist and independent journalists and to who was charged with criminal hooliganism refrain from interfering in or and held in 2 months' pre-trial custody. undermining their valuable work for the development of democracy Ilqar Nasibov Ilqar Nasibov is a journalist who was in Azerbaijan; also calls on them to viciously beaten in his office on 21 August ensure that all detainees, including 2014 and no prompt, effective and thorough journalists and political and civil investigation has been carried out. society activists, enjoy their full rights to due process, in particular Ilgar Mammadov The European Court of Human Rights access to a lawyer of their (ECHR) has issued numerous rulings in cases choosing, access to their families, of breaches of human rights in Azerbaijan, the and other fair trial norms latest being on 22 May 2014 in the case of Ilgar Mammadov, chair of the Republican
PE567.654v03-00 48/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN COUNTRY ACTION TAKEN BY THE BACKGROUND Individual PARLIAMENT Alternative Civic Movement (REAL); in which despite it being ruled that his detention was politically motivated, the authorities refused to release him.
Anar Mammadli Anar Mammadli is the chair of the Election Bashir Suleymanli Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre (EMDS), and Bashir Suleymanli is the director of the same centre. Both were sentenced to prison terms of, respectively, 5 years and 6 months and 3 years and 6 months, on charges ranging from tax evasion to illegal entrepreneurship.
Omar Mammadov, Omar Mammadov, Abdul Abilov and Elsever Abdul Abilov and Murselli are social media activists and were Elsever Murselli sentenced to between 5 and 5.5 years’ imprisonment on charges of drug possession. None of them is having access to a lawyer of their own choosing and all complaining of ill treatment in police custody.
BAHRAIN
Nabeel Rajab Nabeel Rajab is the President of the Bahrain In its Resolution, adopted on 6 Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and Deputy February 2014, the European Secretary General of the International Parliament: Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). He was convicted to three years in prison in August -Calls for the immediate and 2012 on charges of calling for and unconditional release of all participating in ‘illegal gatherings’ and prisoners of conscience, political ‘disturbing public order’ between February activists, journalists, human rights and March 2011. His sentence was reduced to defenders and peaceful protesters, two years in prison on appeal. Before this including Nabeel Rajab, Abdulhadi imprisonment Mr Rajab was repeatedly Al-Khawaja, Ibrahim Sharif, Naji detained for peacefully expressing criticism of Fateel, and Zainab Al-Khawaja the government during the pro-democracy protests that erupted Bahrain in 2011. - Expresses its grave concern regarding the Bahraini authorities’ On Friday 29 November 2013 Nabeel Rajab treatment of Nabeel Rajab and had served three-quarters of his two year other human rights activists, in sentence and had become legally eligible for addition to their refusal to grant him release. A third request for early release was the early release for which he is submitted on 21 January 2014 to the Court, eligible in accordance with the law but was rejected. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has described the Regarding the situation of Mr detention of Mr Nabeel Rajab as arbitrary. Rajab, a letter of concern was also sent on 2 October 2014. Abdulhadi-al- Abdulhadi-al-Khawaja, who has Danish Khawaja nationality, is the founder of the BCHR and the regional coordinator of Front Line Ibrahim Sharif Defenders and Ibrahim Sharif is the Secretary General of the National Democratic Action Society. On 22 June 2011, they were
RR\1080184EN.doc 49/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN COUNTRY ACTION TAKEN BY THE BACKGROUND Individual PARLIAMENT sentenced to life in prison by a special military court. The legal process came to a conclusion after 3 years of appeals and the sentences were upheld.
Naji Fateel Naji Fateel is a Bahraini human rights activist and a member of the Board of Directors of the Bahraini human rights NGO Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR). He has been imprisoned since 2007, tortured and also under death threats during the period of the Bahraini uprising (dated February 2011)
Zainab Al-Khawaja Zainab Al-Khawaja is a human rights defender and leading social media activist in Bahrain. She has been a crucial figure in the pro-democracy uprising that started in Bahrain in February 2011. She has suffered legal harassment, arrest, imprisonment, denial of procedural rights, and undertaken hunger strikes in defence of human rights in Bahrain.
BANGLADESH
Hana Shams Ahmed Hana Shams Ahmed is the coordinator of the In its Resolution, adopted on , the International Chittagong Hill Tracts European Parliament: Commission (CHTC). On 27 August 2014 she and her friend were brutally attacked by 8 to - Urges the Government of 10 members of Somo Odhikar Andolon during Bangladesh to bring the state a private visit to Shoilopropat in Bandarban in security forces, including the police the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Four members of and the RAB, back within the the police Detective Branch (DB) who were bounds of the law; strongly calls on supposedly providing them with security did the Bangladeshi authorities to put not intervene, and even disappeared while the an end to the RAB’s impunity by assault was taking place. ordering investigations and prosecutions in respect of alleged illegal killings by RAB forces.
BURUNDI
Pierre Claver Pierre Claver Mbonimpa is a leading human In its Resolution, adopted on 18 Mbonimpa rights defender and President of the September 2014, the European Association for the Protection of Human Parliament: Rights and Detained Persons (Association pour la protection des droits humains et des - Firmly condemns the detention of personnes détenues, APRODH) who was human rights defender Pierre arrested on 15 May 2014 and later charged Claver Mbonimpa and calls for his with ‘threatening the external security of the immediate unconditional release; state’ and ‘threatening the internal security of expresses concern about his the state by causing public disorder’ and has deteriorating state of health and been in pre-trial detention since he was taken demands that he be given urgent in for questioning. medical assistance
Mr Mbonimpa’s work in the defence of
PE567.654v03-00 50/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN COUNTRY ACTION TAKEN BY THE BACKGROUND Individual PARLIAMENT democracy and human rights in Burundi over A letter of concern was also sent in the past two decades and more has earned him this regard on 18 December 2014. several international awards and widespread recognition domestically and beyond. The charges against him relate to comments he made on Radio Publique Africaine (RPA) on 6 May 2014 that the youth wing of the ruling party CNDD-FDD, also known as the Imbonerakure, is being armed and sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for military training.
The arrest of Pierre Mbonimpa is representative of the mounting risks facing human rights defenders, the harassment of activists and journalists and the arbitrary arrest of opposition party members, which according to human rights groups and the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights have largely been carried out by the Imbonerakure.
CAMBODIA AND LAOS
Sombath Somphone Sombath Somphone is a human rights and In its Resolution, adopted on 16 (Laos) environmental rights activist, civil society January 2014, the European leader and co-chair of the 9th Asia-Europe Parliament: People’s Forum held in Vientiane in October 2012 ahead of the ASEM 9 Summit. He was - Calls on the Lao Government to allegedly the victim of an enforced clarify the state of the investigation disappearance on 15 December 2012 in into the whereabouts of Sombath Vientiane. Sombath Somphone’s family have Somphone, to answer the many been unable to locate him since that day, outstanding questions around despite repeated appeals to the local Sombath’s disappearance, and to authorities and searches in the surrounding seek and accept assistance from area. foreign forensic and law enforcement experts During the visit of the Delegation for relations with the countries of South East Asia and the - Considers that the lack of reaction Association of South East Nations (ASEAN) from the Lao Government raises to Laos on 28 October 2013 the disappearance suspicions that the authorities could of Sombath Somphone was raised with the be involved in his abduction. Lao authorities. Crucial questions linked to the - Reiterates its call on the Vice- case, including whether or not an investigation President / High Representative to has been carried out, remain unsolved more closely monitor the Lao than a year after his disappearance and the Government’s investigations into Lao authorities declined assistance from the disappearance of Sombath abroad for the investigation into the Somphone disappearance. - Calls on the Member States to On 15 December 2013 62 NGOs called for a continue raising the case of new investigation into his disappearance and Sombath Somphone with the Lao on 16 December 2013 the UN Working Group Government; stresses that enforced on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances disappearances remain a major urged the Government of Laos to do its utmost impediment to Laos joining the UN
RR\1080184EN.doc 51/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN COUNTRY ACTION TAKEN BY THE BACKGROUND Individual PARLIAMENT to locate Sombath Somphone, to establish his Human Rights Council fate and whereabouts, and to hold the perpetrators accountable. There have been - Urges the Cambodian several other cases of enforced disappearances Government to recognise the where the whereabouts of nine other people – legitimate role played by the two women, Kingkeo and Somchit, and seven political opposition in contributing men, Soubinh, Souane, Sinpasong, Khamsone, to Cambodia’s overall economic Nou, Somkhit, and Sourigna – who were and political development; calls on arbitrarily detained by the Lao security forces the Cambodian authorities to in November 2009 in various locations across immediately drop the summonses the country remain unknown. issued to the CNRP leaders, Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha, and union Sam Rainsy and Kem Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha are the Cambodia leader Rong Chhun of the Sokha (Cambodia) National Rescue Party (CNRP) leaders who Cambodia Independent Teachers’ were summoned to appear at the Phnom Penh Association (CITA) and the Municipal Court on 14 January 2014 for Cambodian Confederation of questioning. Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha may Unions (CCFU) be convicted of incitement to civil unrest. The King amnestied Sam Rainsy on 14 July 2013, making it possible for him to return to Cambodia; however, his right to vote and run in the elections was not restored.
EGYPT
Alaa Abdel Fattah, Alaa Abdel Fattah, Mohamed Abdel, from the In its Resolution, adopted on 6 Mohamed Abdel, Egyptian Centre for Economic and Social February 2014, the European Ahmed Maher and Rights and Parliament: Ahmed Douma. Ahmed Maher and Ahmed Douma, leaders of the April 6 movement, are political and civil - Strongly condemns all acts of society activists who were arrested, convicted violence, terrorism, incitement, and held in Tora prison. It has been reported harassment, hate speech and bad conditions of detention and mistreatment censorship; urges all political actors in prison. and security forces to show the utmost restraint and avoid provocation, with the aim of avoiding further violence in the best interests of the country; extends its sincere condolences to the families of the victims
- Urges the Egyptian interim authorities and security forces to ensure the security of all citizens, irrespective of their political views, affiliation or confession, to uphold the rule of law and respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, to protect the freedoms of association, of peaceful assembly, of expression and of the press, to commit to dialogue and non-violence, and to respect and fulfil the country’s international obligations
- Calls for an immediate end to all
PE567.654v03-00 52/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN COUNTRY ACTION TAKEN BY THE BACKGROUND Individual PARLIAMENT acts of violence, harassment or intimidation – by state authorities, security forces or other groups – against political opponents, peaceful protesters, trade union representatives, journalists, women’s rights activists, and other civil society actors in Egypt; calls for serious and impartial investigations in such cases and for those responsible to be brought to justice; calls again on the interim government to guarantee that domestic and international civil society organisations, independent trade unions and journalists can operate freely, without government interference, in the country
Peter Greste The Australian Peter Greste, the Canadian- In its Resolution, adopted on 17 Mohamed Fahmy Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy and the Egyptian July 2014, the European Baher Mohamed Baher Mohamed are three Al Jazeera Parliament: Rena Netjes journalists who were, together and, in absentia, with the Netherlands citizen Rena - Expresses its deepest concern over Netjes, on 23 June 2014 handed down jail a series of recent court decisions in sentences of between 7 and 10 years under Egypt, including the lengthy jail accusations of ‘falsifying news’ and of terms handed down on 23 June belonging to or assisting a terrorist cell. Rena 2014 to three Al Jazeera journalists Netjes was falsely accused of working for Al and 11 other defendants tried in Jazeera. absentia, as well as the confirmation of death sentences Alaa Abdul Fattah Alaa Abdul Fattah is a prominent activist who against 183 people played a leading role in the 2011 revolution who was sentenced on 11 June 2014 with - Calls on the Egyptian authorities others to 15 years’ imprisonment on charges to immediately and unconditionally of violating Law 107 on the Right to Public release all those detained, convicted Meetings, Processions and Peaceful and/or sentenced for peacefully Demonstrations of 2013 (Protest Law). exercising their rights of freedom of expression and association, as well Mohamed Adel, Mohamed Adel, Ahmed Douma, Mahienour as all human rights defenders; calls Ahmed Douma, El-Massry and Ahmed Maher, Yara Sallam on the Egyptian judiciary to ensure Mahienour El- and Sana Seif are prominent human rights that all court proceedings in the Massry, Ahmed activists that continue to be detained. country meet the requirements of a Mahe, Yara Sallam free and fair trial and to ensure and Sana Seif respect for defendants’ rights; calls on the Egyptian authorities to order independent and impartial investigations into all allegations of ill-treatment and ensure that all detainees have access to any medical attention they may require
ETHIOPIA
Andargachew Tsege Andargachew Tsege is a British national and A letter of concern was sent on 7
RR\1080184EN.doc 53/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN COUNTRY ACTION TAKEN BY THE BACKGROUND Individual PARLIAMENT member of the opposition party Ginbot 7, who August 2014 and on 8 October has apparently been held incommunicado and 2014. in an undisclosed location by the Ethiopian authorities since earlier 2014 after being arrested while in transit in Yemen, and then deported to Ethiopia.
IRAN
Ms Reyhaneh Jabbari Ms Jabbari was sentenced to death in the A letter of concern was sent on 8 Islamic Republic of Iran and she is at risk of October 2014. imminent execution despite evidence that she has not been granted a fair hearing during the legal procedures that led to her conviction. The below-mentioned names belong to Iranian Ms Maryam Naghash citizens of the Christian faith that have been A letter of concern was sent on 24 Zargaran, Mr Saeed imprisoned, or continue to languish in prison September 2014. Abedinigalangashi, due to their conversion from Islam to Ms Farhsid Fathi Christianity: Malayeri, Mr Alireza Sayyedian, Mr Ms Maryam Naghash Zargaran who was Behnam Irani, Mr sentenced to four years in prison in 2013; Mr Amin Khaki, Mr Saeed Abedinigalangashi who was sentenced Seyed Abdolreza Ali to eight years in prison in early 2013; Ms Hagh Nejad, and the Farhsid Fathi Malayeri who was arrested at seven members of the her home in Tehran on 26 December 2010 "Church of Iran": along with at least 22 other Christians, and Mohammad sentenced in 2012 to six years in prison; Mr Roghangir, Suroush Alireza Sayyedian who was convicted in Saraie, Massoud November 2011 and sentenced to a six year Rezai, Mehdi (reduced to 3 ½ years in May 2013) Ameruni, Seyed Bijan imprisonment, 90 lashes and a fine; Mr Farokhpour Haghigi, Behnam Irani who was arrested and tried on Eskandar Rezai two occasions (December 2006, April 2010). Shortly before he was due to be released on 18 October 2011, he was informed by letter that he was required to serve a five year prison sentence imposed back in 2008; Mr Amin Khaki who was arrested in early 2014 and reportedly transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence Security Detention; Mr Seyed Abdolreza Ali Hagh Nejad who was arrested on 5 July 2014 and finally; the seven members of the "Church of Iran" who were arrested on 12 October 2012 in Shiraz and condemned on 16 July 2013 to sentences ranging from one year to six years in prison.
MAURITANIA
Biram Dah Abeid Biram Dah Abeid is the son of freed slaves In its Resolution, adopted on 18 and he is engaged in an advocacy campaign to December 2014, the European eradicate slavery. In 2008 he founded the Parliament: Initiative for the Resurgence of the
PE567.654v03-00 54/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN COUNTRY ACTION TAKEN BY THE BACKGROUND Individual PARLIAMENT Abolitionist Movement (Initiative pour la - Condemns strongly the arrest and Résurgence du Mouvement Abolitionniste). ongoing detention of anti-slavery This organisation is seeking to draw attention activist Biram Dah Abeid and his to the issue and to help take specific cases fellow campaigners, and calls for before courts of law. In addition, Biram Dah their immediate release; expresses Abeid was awarded the United Nations concern about reports of violence Human Rights Prize for 2013. used against some of the activists, and urges the Mauritanian On 11 November 2014, Biram Dah Abeid was authorities to prosecute those arrested following a peaceful anti-slavery officials who have been involved in march. He has been charged with calling for a the abuse and torture of prisoners demonstration, participating in a demonstration and belonging to an illegal - Calls upon the Mauritanian organisation. Some reports suggest that he is Government to stop using violence at risk of facing the death penalty. The death against civilians who participate in penalty is still provided for in the Mauritanian peaceful public protests and media Criminal Code, is not restricted to the most campaigns in support of Biram Dah serious crimes, and is imposed following Abeid, to cease its crackdown on convictions based on confessions obtained civil society and political under torture. opposition, and to permit anti- slavery activists to pursue their Biram Dah Abeid was voted runner-up in the non-violent work without fear of 2014 Mauritanian presidential elections. His harassment or intimidation; urges reputation has made him a prime target for the the Mauritanian authorities to allow Mauritanian authorities. In fact, his arrest and freedom of speech and assembly, in those of his colleagues represent a crackdown accordance with international on political opposition as well as civil society. conventions and Mauritania’s own domestic law.
MEXICO
Disappearance of 43 On 26 September 2014, six people, among In its Resolution, adopted on 23 teaching students them three students, were killed when the October 2014, the European police opened fire on protesting teaching Parliament: students from the Escuela Normal (‘Normal School’) of Ayotzinapa in Iguala, Guerrero - Strongly condemns the state. Since then 43 students remain unacceptable forced disappearances disappeared. According to various sources and crimes in Iguala and calls on those students were rounded up and driven the Mexican authorities to away by police officers and handed over to investigate all the crimes, including unidentified armed men linked to a drug the finding of 28 bodies in cartel. clandestine graves; calls on the relevant authorities to take all According to the Mexican Government, 51 necessary steps to act promptly and persons linked to the crimes have been in a transparent and impartial arrested; most of them police agents from the manner to identify, arrest and bring municipalities of Iguala and Cocula. On 14 to justice the perpetrators of the October 2014 the Mexican Attorney-General crimes, and calls for those declared that according to forensic analyses of responsible to be identified and the 28 bodies found in clandestine graves near prosecuted, using all available Iguala on 4 October 2014 the bodies do not information and resources correspond to those of the missing students. internally and externally and with The Mexican authorities have captured the no margin for impunity; calls for suspected main leader of the criminal gang the investigations to be continued Guerreros Unidos (United Warriors), allegedly until the students have been brought involved in the disappearance of the 43 to safety
RR\1080184EN.doc 55/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN COUNTRY ACTION TAKEN BY THE BACKGROUND Individual PARLIAMENT students. - Extends its sympathy and support The Mayor of Iguala, his wife, and the police to the families and friends of the chief of Iguala are fugitives from justice and victims, and to the Mexican people, accused of links to the local Guerreros Unidos whom it encourages to continue to drug cartel. fight by peaceful means to defend democracy and the rule of law
- Takes note of the detentions that have taken place; calls for the search to be continued for the Mayor of Iguala, his wife and the police chief of Iguala; is deeply concerned at the apparent infiltration of local law enforcement and administrative entities by organised crime.
PAKISTAN
Shafqat Emmanuel Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Kausar are a In its resolution, adopted on 17 and Shagufta Kausar Christian couple who was sentenced to death April 2014, the European on 4 April 2014 for allegedly sending a text Parliament: message insulting the Prophet Mohammed, despite of the fact that the couple denied - Expresses its deep concern that responsibility and declared that the phone the controversial blasphemy laws from which the text originated was lost a are open to misuse which can affect while before the message was sent. people of all faiths in Pakistan; expresses its particular concern that Sawan Masih Sawan Masih is a Pakistani Christian from use of the blasphemy laws, which Lahore who was sentenced to death on 27 were publicly opposed by the late March 2014 for blasphemy against the Minister Shahbaz Bhatti and by the Prophet Mohammed. The announcement of late Governor Salman Taseer, is allegations against Masih sparked fierce currently on the rise and targets rioting in Joseph Colony, a Christian Christians and other religious neighbourhood in the city of Lahore, in which minorities in Pakistan many buildings, including two churches, were burnt down. - Calls on the Pakistani authorities to release prisoners who are Asia Bibi Asia Bibi is a Christian woman from Punjab convicted on the grounds of who was arrested in June 2009 and received a blasphemy, and to overrule the death sentence in November 2010 on charges death sentences on appeal; calls on of blasphemy. After several years, her appeal the Pakistani authorities to has finally reached the high court in Lahore; guarantee the independence of the however for the two first hearings in January courts, the rule of law and due and March 2014 the presiding judges appeared process in line with international to be on leave. standards on judicial proceedings; calls furthermore on the Pakistani Rimsha Masih Rimsha Masih is a 14-year-old Christian girl authorities to provide sufficient who was wrongfully accused in 2012 of protection to all those involved in desecrating the Quran. She was acquitted after blasphemy cases, including by being found to have been framed and the shielding judges from outside person responsible was arrested. However, she pressure, by protecting the accused and her family had to leave the country. and their families and communities from mob violence, and by
PE567.654v03-00 56/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN COUNTRY ACTION TAKEN BY THE BACKGROUND Individual PARLIAMENT Mohammad Asgar Mohammad Asghar is a UK citizen with a providing solutions for those who mental illness living in Pakistan. He was are acquitted but cannot go back to arrested after allegedly sending letters to their places of origin various officials claiming he was a prophet, and was sentenced to death in January 2014. - Strongly condemns the application of the death penalty under any Masood Ahmad Masood Ahmad is a 72-year-old UK citizen circumstances; calls on the and member of the Ahmaddiya religious Government of Pakistan as a matter community, who was only recently released of urgency to turn the de facto on bail after having been arrested in 2012 on moratorium on the death penalty charges of citing from the Quran, which is into the effective abolition of the considered as blasphemy in the case of death penalty Ahmaddis who are not recognised as Muslims and are forbidden to ‘behave as Muslims’ - Calls on the Government of under Section 298-C of the criminal code. Pakistan to carry out a thorough review of the blasphemy laws and their current application – as contained in Sections 295 and 298 of the Penal Code – for alleged acts of blasphemy, especially in light of the recent death sentences; encourages the government to withstand pressure from religious groups and some opposition political forces to maintain these laws.
A letter of concern was sent on 6 November 2014 and on 16 December 2014 regarding the case of Asia Bibi.
Shama Bibi and Shama Bibi and Shahbaz Masih are Pakistani In its resolution, adopted on 27 Shahbaz Masih Christian couple from Punjab province in November 2014, the European Pakistan, who have been beaten and then Parliament: burned to death by a mob under accusations of insulating and desecrating the Muslim holy - Is deeply concerned and saddened book. by the Lahore High Court’s decision of 16 October 2014 to confirm the death sentence handed down to Asia Bibi for blasphemy; calls on the Supreme Court to start its proceedings on the case swiftly and without delay and to uphold the rule of law and full respect for human rights in its ruling
- Strongly condemns the murders of Shama Bibi and Shahbaz Masih and offers its condolences to their families, as well as to the families of all the innocent victims murdered as a result of the blasphemy laws in Pakistan; calls for the perpetrators of these acts to
RR\1080184EN.doc 57/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN COUNTRY ACTION TAKEN BY THE BACKGROUND Individual PARLIAMENT be brought to justice; takes note of the decision of the Punjab government to set up a committee to fast-track the investigation into the killings of Shama Bibi and Shahbaz Masih and to order additional police protection for Christian neighbourhoods in the province; underlines, however, the need to end the climate of impunity and for broader reforms in order to address the issue of violence against religious minorities, which remains pervasive in Pakistan
RUSSIA
Bolotnaya Square demonstration took place on In its Resolution, adopted on 13 6 May 2012 in which, as reported by several March 2014, the European international and Russian human rights Parliament: organizations, excessive use of violence and disproportionate measures have been used - Calls on the Russian judicial leading to the arrest and detention of hundreds authorities to reconsider the of "anti-government" protesters. sentences in the appeal process and to release the eight demonstrators, Mikhail Kosenko Mikhail Kosenko is an activist who was as well as Bolotnaya prisoner sentenced to forced psychiatric treatment by a Mikhail Kosenko, who was Russian court due to his involvement at the sentenced to forced psychiatric Bolotnaya Square demonstration. In addition, treatment on 24 February 2014 Russian judicial authorities handed down guilty verdict against - Expresses, equally, its deep eight of those demonstrators, ranging from a concern over the detention of a suspended sentence to four years’ large number of peaceful protesters imprisonment, following three more severe following the Bolotnaya verdicts prison sentences in 2013. and calls for the dropping of all charges against the protesters; calls, Boris Nemtov and Boris Nemtov and Aleksei Navalny are furthermore, on the Russian Aleksei Navalny opposition leaders who were sentenced to 10- Government to respect the rights of day jail terms. Moreover, Aleksei Navalny has all citizens to exercise their been placed under house arrest for two months fundamental freedoms and and on 5 March 2014 was fitted with an universal human rights electronic bracelet to monitor his activities.
Ilya Yashin, Gleb Ilya Yashin is the leader of the Solidarity Fetisov and Yevgeny movement, Gleb Fetisov is the co-chair of the Vitishko Alliance of Greens and Social Democrats, and Yevgeny Vitishko is an ecological activist and pre-eminent member of Yabloko. All of them belong to opposition parties and movements and have been subject to harassment by the Russian authorities and detained under various allegations.
SERBIA
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The case of accused Vojislav Šešelj is the president of the Serbian In its Resolution, adopted on 27 war criminal Šešelj Radical Party who is indicted before the ICTY November 2014, the European for persecutions on political, racial or religious Parliament: grounds, deportation, inhumane acts (forcible transfer) (crimes against humanity), and for - Strongly condemns Šešelj’s murder, torture, cruel treatment, wanton warmongering, incitement to hatred destruction of villages or devastation not and encouragement of territorial justified by military necessity, destruction or claims and his attempts to derail wilful damage done to institutions dedicated Serbia from its European path; to religion or education, plunder of public or deplores his provocative public private property (violations of the laws or activities and wartime rhetoric since customs of war) in Croatia, Bosnia and his provisional release, which have Herzegovina and parts of Vojvodina (Serbia), reopened the victims’ psychological committed between 1991 and 1993. wounds from the war and the atrocities of the early 1990s; On 6 November 2014, after more than eleven stresses that Šešelj’s recent years of detention and while his trial is still statements could have the effect of ongoing, the Trial Chamber of the Tribunal undermining the progress made in issued an order proprio motu for the regional cooperation and provisional release of Šešelj on the grounds of reconciliation and subverting the the deterioration of his health, subject to the efforts of recent years conditions that he: (i) does not influence witnesses and victims; and (ii) appears before - Reminds the Serbian authorities of the Chamber as soon as it so orders. their obligations under the framework for cooperation with the Following his return to Serbia Šešelj made ICTY and of Serbia’s obligations as several public speeches in Belgrade in which an EU candidate country; notes he emphasised that he will not voluntarily with concern that the absence of an return to the Tribunal when requested to do so, adequate political reaction and legal thereby announcing his intention to violate response by the Serbian authorities one of the two conditions under which he was regarding Šešelj’s behaviour released. undermines the trust of the victims in the judicial process; encourages In his public statements Šešelj repeatedly the Serbian authorities and the called for the creation of ‘Greater Serbia’, democratic parties to condemn any publicly stating claims on neighbouring public manifestation of hate speech countries, including EU Member State or wartime rhetoric and to promote Croatia, and inciting hatred against non-Serb the protection of minority and people. In a press release he congratulated the cultural rights; asks the Serbian Serbian Chetniks on the ‘liberation’ of authorities to investigate whether Vukovar, on the 23rd anniversary of the fall of Šešelj has violated Serbian law and that Croatian city to Serbian paramilitary to strengthen and fully apply the forces and the Yugoslav army in 1991 and the legislation outlawing hate speech, associated atrocities, thereby violating the discrimination and incitement to requirement not to influence the victims. violence; supports all political parties, NGOs and individuals in Serbia that fight against hate speech.
SUDAN
Meriam Yahia Meriam Yahia Ibrahim is the daughter of an In its Resolution, adopted on 17 Ibrahim Ethiopian Christian mother and a Sudanese July 2014, the European Muslim father, who was raised as a Christian. Parliament:
RR\1080184EN.doc 59/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN COUNTRY ACTION TAKEN BY THE BACKGROUND Individual PARLIAMENT In 2013 she was accused of adultery by her father’s side of the family after they reported - Condemns the unjustified her to the authorities for her marriage to a detention of Meriam Ibrahim; calls Christian man. In addition, an accusation of on the Government of Sudan to apostasy was added in December 2013. The repeal all legislation that verdict of the court of first instance was discriminates on grounds of gender delivered on 12 May 2014, sentencing Meriam or religion and to protect the Ibrahim, then eight months pregnant, to a religious identity of minority hundred lashes on charges of adultery and to groups death by hanging on charges of apostasy, but giving her three days to renounce Christianity. - Stresses that it is degrading and inhumane for a pregnant woman to Meriam Ibrahim was convicted under Islamic give birth while chained and sharia law, in force in Sudan since 1983, physically detained; calls on the which outlaws conversions on pain of death. Sudanese authorities to ensure that On 15 May 2014 the verdict was reconfirmed, all pregnant women and labouring as Meriam Ibrahim chose not to convert to women in detention receive Islam. On 27 May 2014 Meriam Ibrahim gave appropriate and safe maternal and birth to a baby girl, Maya, in prison. It is newborn health care alleged that Meriam Ibrahim’s legs were kept in shackles and chains while she was in - Reaffirms that freedom of labour, seriously endangering the health of religion, conscience or belief is a both mother and child. On 5 May 2014 her universal human right that needs to case was successfully transferred to the be protected everywhere and for Appeal Court. everyone; strongly condemns all forms of violence and intimidation Meriam Ibrahim was released from that impair the right to have or not Omdurman Women’s Prison on 23 June 2014 to have, or to adopt, a religion of after the Appeal Court found her not guilty of one’s choice, including the use of both charges, but she was arrested again at threats, physical force or penal Khartoum airport as the family was about to sanctions to compel believers or depart for the USA, for allegedly attempting non-believers to renounce their to leave the country with forged travel religion or to convert; highlights the documents issued by the South Sudan fact that adultery and apostasy are Embassy in Khartoum. Meriam Ibrahim was acts which should not be considered freed again on 26 June 2014 and took refuge to be crimes at all. in the United States embassy with her family, and negotiations are ongoing to enable her to leave Sudan, where she faces death threats from extremist Muslims.
Dr Amin Mekki Dr Amin Mekki Medani is a 76 year-old In its Resolution, adopted on 18 Medani renowned human rights activist and former December 2014, the European President of the Sudan Human Rights Monitor Parliament: (SHRM) who was arrested by the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services - Strongly condemns the arbitrary (NISS) on 6 December 2014 at his house in arrest and detention of Dr Medani Khartoum. The NISS allegedly refused to and other peaceful activists as an allow him to take his medication with him unlawful breach of their peaceful when he was arrested despite his poor health. and legitimate political and human rights activities; calls for their Dr Medani symbolises a strong commitment immediate and unconditional to human rights, humanitarianism and the rule release. of law, having held high-level positions within a range of different national and international institutions, including the Sudan judiciary, the
PE567.654v03-00 60/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN COUNTRY ACTION TAKEN BY THE BACKGROUND Individual PARLIAMENT democratic transitional government of Sudan (as Cabinet Minister for Peace), and the UN. He has represented victims of violations and has persistently spoken out against abuse of power, and was awarded the ‘Heroes for Human Rights Award 2013’ by the EU Delegation in Sudan for his local and international efforts in promoting human rights.
Dr Medani was arrested shortly after his return from Addis Ababa, having signed the ‘Sudan Call’ on behalf of civil society organisations – a commitment to work towards the end of the conflicts raging in different regions of Sudan and towards legal, institutional and economic reforms.
Farouk Abu Issa Farouk Abu Issa, the leader of the opposition Farah Ibrahim National Consensus Forum, and Dr Farah Mohamed Alagar Ibrahim Mohamed Alagar were arrested in a similar manner, on 6 and 7 December 2014 respectively, following their involvement with the ‘Sudan Call’.
SYRIA AND IRAQ
James Foley, Steven James Foley and Steven Sotloff were In its Resolution, adopted on 18 Sotloff and David American journalists, and David Haines was a September 2014, the European Haines British aid worker. They were abducted in Parliament: 2013 and in 2012 in the case of Mr Foley in Syria and held hostage by the Islamic State - Strongly condemns the murders of until 2014 when they were murdered. the journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and the aid worker David Haines by IS, and expresses grave concern for the safety of others still being held captive by the extremists; expresses its deep sympathy and condolences to the families of these victims and to the families of all victims of the conflict.
SYRIA
Razan Zeitouneh Razan Zeitouneh is a Syrian human rights In its Resolution, adopted on 6 defender, writer and winner of the Sakharov February 2014, the European Prize in 2011, who was abducted alongside Parliament: her husband and other human rights defenders in Damascus in December 2013 and their fate - Calls for the immediate, remains unknown. unconditional and safe release of all political prisoners, medical personnel, humanitarian workers, Ioan Ibrahim and Ioan Ibrahim and Bulos Jazigi are bishops journalists, religious figures and Bulos Jazigi from Assyrian Orthodox and the Greek human rights activists, including
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Frans van der Lugt Dutch Jesuit Father Frans van der Lugt had In its Resolution, adopted on 17 been living in Syria for many decades and was April 2014, the European well known for refusing to leave the besieged Parliament: city of Homs. He was beaten and shot dead by gunmen on 7 April 2014. - Condemns in the strongest possible terms the killing of Father Frans Van der Lugt, an inhumane Bassel Safadi Bassel Safadi Khartabil is a 34 year-old act of violence against a man who Khartabil fervent defender of a free Internet and stood by the people of Syria amid promoter of open source culture. He has been sieges and growing difficulties; held prisoner since 15 March 2012 by the pays tribute to his work, which Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad. extended beyond the besieged city of Homs and continues to help hundreds of civilians with their everyday survival needs
- Recalls the pressing need to release all political detainees, civil society activists, humanitarian aid workers, religious figures (including Father Paolo Dall’Oglio, Greek Orthodox Bishop Boulos Yazigi and Assyrian Orthodox Bishop John Ibrahim), journalists and photographers held by the regime or by rebel fighters, and to grant independent monitors access to all places of detention; urges once again the EU and its Member States to make all possible efforts to achieve the release of 2011 Sakharov Prize winner Razan Zaitouneh and of all other human rights activists in Syria, including internet activist Bassel Safadi Khartabil.
UKRAINE
Yulya Tymoshenko Yulia Tymoshenko is one of Ukraine's most In its resolution, adopted on 6 high-profile political figures. In 2011 she was February 2014, the European convicted due to a gas deal arranged and Parliament: agreed with Russia and given a seven-year
PE567.654v03-00 62/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN COUNTRY ACTION TAKEN BY THE BACKGROUND Individual PARLIAMENT sentence on charges of abuse of power; - Calls on President Yanukovych to charges that apparently were politically order a stop to these practices and motivated. demands the immediate and unconditional release and political rehabilitation of all the demonstrators and political prisoners illegally detained, including Yulya Tymoshenko; calls for the setting-up of an independent investigative committee under the auspices of a recognised international body, such as the Council of Europe, in order to investigate all the human rights violations that have taken place since the demonstrations began.
UZBEKISTAN
Human rights activists: The exercise of the right to freedom of In its Resolution, adopted on 23 Azam Farmonov, expression has been deteriorated in the October 2014, the European Mehriniso country. The mentioned group of people, Parliament: Hamdamova, fifteen well-known human rights activists, five Zulhumor journalists, four peaceful political opposition - Calls for the immediate and Hamdamova, activists and three independent religious unconditional release of all persons Isroiljon Kholdorov, figures have been imprisoned for no reason imprisoned on politically motivated Nosim Isakov, other than exercising peacefully their right to charges, held for peaceful Gaybullo Jalilov, freedom of expression. expression of their political views, Nuriddin civil society activism, journalistic Jumaniyazov, In addition, peaceful protesters including, activity or religious views. Matluba Kamilova, Dilorom Abdukodirova, Botirbek Eshkuziev, Ganikhon Bahrom Ibragimov, Davron Kabilov, Erkin Mamatkhanov, Musaev, Davron Tojiey and Ravshanbek Chuyan Mamatkulov, Vafoev were shot and killed by governmental Zafarjon Rahimov, forces. Yuldash Rasulov, Bobomurod Razzokov, Fahriddin Tillaev and Akzam Turgunov
Journalists: Solijon Abdurakhmanov, Muhammad Bekjanov, Gayrat Mikhliboev, Yusuf Ruzimuradov, and Dilmurod Saidov
Peaceful political opposition activists: Murod Juraev, Samandar Kukanov, Kudratbek Rasulov and Rustam Usmanov
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Three independents religious figures: Ruhiddin Fahriddinov, Hayrullo Hamidov and Akram Yuldashev
VENEZUELA
Leopoldo Lopez Leopoldo López is the opposition leader who In its Resolution, adopted on 18 was arbitrarily detained on 18 February 2014 December 2014, the European on charges of conspiracy, instigating violent Parliament: demonstrations, arson and damage to property. Since his detention he has suffered physical - Urges the immediate release of and psychological torture and undergone those arbitrarily detained prisoners, solitary confinement. in line with the demands made by several UN bodies and international Daniel Ceballos, Daniel Ceballos and Vicencio Scarano are organisations Vicencio Scarano and opposition mayors and Salvatore Lucchese is Salvatore Lucchese a police office. They have been arrested for - Strongly condemns the political failing to end protests and civil rebellion in persecution and repression of the their cities, and have been sentenced to several democratic opposition, the Juan Carlos Caldera, years in prison. In addition, Juan Carlos violations of freedom of expression Ismael García and Caldera, Ismael García and Richard Mardo and of demonstration, and the Richard Mardo who are opposition congressmen are facing existence of media and web investigations and trial proceedings aimed at censorship their suspension and disqualification from Congress. - Strongly condemns the use of violence against protesters; Sairam Rivas, Sairam Rivas is the president of the Students’ expresses its sincere condolences to Cristian Gil and Centre of the School of Social Work at the the families of the victims; calls on Manuel Cotiz Central University of Venezuela. She has been the Venezuelan authorities to unjustly held on premises belonging to the investigate these crimes and to hold Bolivarian Intelligence Service for more than those responsible fully accountable 120 days together with Cristian Gil and with no margin of impunity. Manuel Cotiz. They have been subjected to torture and ill-treatment in connection with the protests that took place between February and May 2014, having been accused of the offences of instigating crimes and using minors to commit crimes.
María Corina María Corina Machado is a Member of the Machado National Assembly who had obtained the largest popular vote in Venezuela. In March 2014 she was unlawfully and arbitrarily removed from office, deprived of her mandate and expelled from Parliament by the President of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, who accused her of treason because she had spoken out against the massive and systematic violation of human rights in Venezuela before the Permanent Council of the OAS. In the
PE567.654v03-00 64/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN COUNTRY ACTION TAKEN BY THE BACKGROUND Individual PARLIAMENT course of her political and parliamentary activity María Corina Machado was subjected to a series of criminal proceedings, political persecution, threats, intimidation, harassment and even physical violence from government supporters inside the Chamber of the National Assembly. In addition, she was recently charged with attempting to assassinate President Maduro and may face up to 16 years in prison.
RR\1080184EN.doc 65/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN ANNEX II
LIST OF RESOLUTIONS
List of resolutions adopted by the European Parliament during the year 2014 and relating directly or indirectly to human rights violations in the world
Date of adoption Country Title in plenary Africa Burundi, in particular the case of Pierre Claver Burundi 18.09.2014 Mbonimpa Egypt 06.02.2014 Situation in Egypt
Egypt 13.03.2014 Security and human trafficking in Sinai
Egypt 17.07.2014 Freedom of expression and assembly in Egypt
Libya 18.09.2014 Situation in Libya Mauritania, in particular the case of Biram Dah Mauritania 18.12.2014 Abeid Nigeria 17.07.2014 Nigeria, recent attacks by Boko Haram Launching consultations to suspend Uganda and Nigeria from the Cotonou Nigeria and Uganda 13.03.2014 Agreement in view of recent legislation further criminalising homosexuality South Sudan 16.01.2014 Situation in South Sudan
South Sudan 13.11.2014 Humanitarian situation in South Sudan
Sudan 17.07.2014 Sudan, the case of Meriam Yahia Ibrahim
Sudan 18.12.2014 Sudan: the case of Dr Amin Mekki Medani
Americas
Ecuador 17.12.2014 Tariff treatment for goods originating from Ecuador
Mexico 23.10.2014 Disappearance of 43 teaching students in Mexico Persecution of the democratic opposition in Venezuela 18.12.2014 Venezuela Asia
Azerbaijan 18.09.2014 Persecution of human rights defenders in Azerbaijan
Bangladesh 16.01.2014 Recent Elections on Bangladesh
Bangladesh 18.09.2014 Human rights violations in Bangladesh Situation of rights defenders and opposition activists Cambodia and Laos 16.01.2014 in Cambodia and Laos
PE567.654v03-00 66/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN Conclusion of the Association agreement with Georgia 18.12.2014 Georgia Negotiation of the EU-Japan strategic partnership Japan 17.04.2014 agreement North Korea 17.04.2014 Situation in North Korea
Pakistan 17.04.2014 Pakistan: recent cases of persecution
Pakistan 27.11.2014 Pakistan: blasphemy laws
Thailand 06.02.2014 Situation in Thailand
Uzbekistan 23.10.2014 Human rights in Uzbekistan
Europe Association agreement between the European Union Moldova 13.11.2014 and the Republic of Moldova Ukraine 06.02.2014 Situation in Ukraine
Ukraine 17.07.2014 Situation in Ukraine Situation in Ukraine and state of play of EU-Russia Ukraine 18.09.2014 relations Russia: sentencing of demonstrators involved in the Russia 13.03.2014 Bolotnaya Square events Closing down of Memorial (Sakharov Prize 2009) in Russia 23.10.2014 Russia Russia 06.02.2014 EU-Russia summit
Serbia 27.11.2014 Serbia: the case of accused war criminal Šešelj
Transnistrian region 06.02.2014 Right to education in the Transnistrian region
Middle East Bahrain, in particular the cases of Nabeel Rajab, Bahrain 06.02.2014 Abdulhadi al-Khawaja and Ibrahim Sharif Iraq 17.07.2014 Situation in Iraq
Iraq 27.11.2014 Iraq: kidnapping and mistreatment of women
Iraq 27.02.2014 Situation in Iraq Situation in Iraq and Syria and the IS offensive Iraq and Syria 18.09.2014 including the persecution of minorities Syria 06.02.2014 Situation in Syria
Syria 17.04.2014 Syria: situation of certain vulnerable communities
Iran 03.04.2014 EU strategy towards Iran
Israel-Palestine 17.07.2014 Escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine Israel-Palestine after the Gaza war and the role of the Israel-Palestine 18.09.2014 EU
RR\1080184EN.doc 67/69 PE567.654v03-00 EN Cross-cutting issues
LGBTI 16.01.2014 Recent move to criminalise LGBTI people
Female genital mutilation 06.02.2014 Elimination of female genital mutilation 25th Session of the UN Human Rights EU priorities for the 25th session of the UN Human 13.03.2014 Council Rights Council Right to food 27.11.2014 Child undernutrition in developing countries 25th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the child 27.11.2014 Rights of the Child Resolution on EU foreign policy in a world of Religious and cultural differences 17.04.2014 cultural and religious differences Crime of aggression 17.07.2014 Crime of Aggression
Use of armed drones 27.02.2014 The use of armed drones
Arms Trade Treaty 05.02.2014 Ratification of the Arms Trade Treaty EU and global development framework The EU and the global development framework after 25.11.2014 after 2015 2015
PE567.654v03-00 68/69 RR\1080184EN.doc EN RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE
Date adopted 16.11.2015
Result of final vote +: 47 –: 4 0: 4
Members present for the final vote Lars Adaktusson, Michèle Alliot-Marie, Francisco Assis, James Carver, Javier Couso Permuy, Andi Cristea, Mark Demesmaeker, Georgios Epitideios, Knut Fleckenstein, Eugen Freund, Sandra Kalniete, Manolis Kefalogiannis, Afzal Khan, Janusz Korwin-Mikke, Eduard Kukan, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Barbara Lochbihler, Sabine Lösing, Ulrike Lunacek, Andrejs Mamikins, Tamás Meszerics, Francisco José Millán Mon, Pier Antonio Panzeri, Demetris Papadakis, Vincent Peillon, Tonino Picula, Kati Piri, Andrej Plenković, Cristian Dan Preda, Jozo Radoš, Sofia Sakorafa, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, Alyn Smith, László Tőkés, Johannes Cornelis van Baalen Substitutes present for the final vote Ignazio Corrao, Luis de Grandes Pascual, Angel Dzhambazki, Tanja Fajon, Mariya Gabriel, Liisa Jaakonsaari, Javi López, Norica Nicolai, Soraya Post, Marietje Schaake, Helmut Scholz, Igor Šoltes, Traian Ungureanu, Marie-Christine Vergiat Substitutes under Rule 200(2) present Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea, Ramona Nicole Mănescu, Claudiu for the final vote Ciprian Tănăsescu, Ivan Štefanec, Jaromír Štětina, Patricija Šulin
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