Human rights and democracy in the world Report on EU Action in 2011 © European Union, 2012 This report is available online at http://eeas.europa.eu Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged Cover picture: © Wally Nell/ZUMA Press/Corbis A great deal of additional information on the European Union is also available on the Internet at : http://ec.europa.eu / http://www.consilium.europa.eu / http://www.europarl.europa.eu Published by the European External Action Service, June 2012 HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD: REPORT IN EU ACTION IN 2011 1 Table of contents 1. Overview ............................................................................................................................. 7 2. EU instruments and initiatives in non-EU countries .................................................. 15 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 15 2.1. EU guidelines on human rights and International Humanitarian Law (IHL) . 15 2.2. Human rights dialogues and consultations .......................................................... 16 2.3. Council decisions and crisis management ............................................................ 18 2.4. Démarches and declarations .................................................................................. 20 2.5. Human rights clauses in cooperation agreements with third countries ........... 20 2.6. The European Neighbourhood Policy ................................................................. 22 2.7. Activities funded under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) ...................................................................................................... 26 2.8. The review of EU human rights policy ................................................................ 29 3. Thematic Issues ................................................................................................................ 32 Thematic issues related to EU Guidelines .................................................................... 32 3.1. The death penalty .................................................................................................... 32 3.2. Torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment .. 35 3.3. Rights of the child ................................................................................................... 38 3.4. Children and armed conflict .................................................................................. 40 3.5. Human rights defenders ......................................................................................... 42 3.6. Human rights of women ........................................................................................ 45 3.7. Women, peace and security ................................................................................... 48 3.8. Promoting compliance with International Humanitarian Law ......................... 55 Other thematic issues ...................................................................................................... 61 3.9. The ICC and the fight against impunity ............................................................... 61 3.10. Human rights and terrorism .................................................................................. 65 3.11. Freedom of expression including 'new media' .................................................... 67 3.12. Freedom of association and assembly .................................................................. 69 3.13. Freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief ..................................... 72 3.14. Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Intersex Persons......................................... 75 3.15. Human rights and business, including CSR ......................................................... 78 3.16. Democracy support ................................................................................................ 82 3.17. Election support ...................................................................................................... 85 3.18. Election observation missions (EOMs) ............................................................... 86 3.19. Election expert missions (EEMs) ......................................................................... 89 3.20. Electoral assistance (EA) ....................................................................................... 90 3.21. European Endowment for Democracy ............................................................... 93 3.22. Work with Parliaments worldwide........................................................................ 93 3.23. Economic, social and cultural rights ..................................................................... 96 3.24. Asylum, migration, refugees and displaced persons ........................................... 98 3.25. Trafficking in human beings ................................................................................ 103 3.26. Racism, xenophobia, non-discrimination and respect for diversity ............... 107 3.27. Rights of persons belonging to minorities ......................................................... 110 2 3.28. Rights of persons with disabilities ...................................................................... 113 3.29. Indigenous issues .................................................................................................. 115 4. EU action in international forums ............................................................................... 119 4.1. 66th session of the UN General Assembly ....................................................... 119 4.2. The United Nations Human Rights Council ..................................................... 121 4.3. The Council of Europe ........................................................................................ 127 4.4. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) ............. 129 5. Country and regional issues .......................................................................................... 131 5.1. EU candidate countries and potential candidates ............................................. 131 5.1.1. Turkey .......................................................................................................... 131 5.1.2. Western Balkans ......................................................................................... 133 5.1.3. Croatia .......................................................................................................... 134 5.1.4. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ........................................ 135 5.1.5. Montenegro ................................................................................................. 137 5.1.6. Albania ......................................................................................................... 139 5.1.7. Bosnia and Herzegovina ............................................................................ 141 5.1.8. Serbia ............................................................................................................ 142 5.1.9. Kosovo......................................................................................................... 143 5.2. Countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy ......................................... 146 5.2.1. Eastern Partnership .................................................................................... 146 5.2.2. South Caucasus (regional) ......................................................................... 147 5.2.3. Armenia ....................................................................................................... 147 5.2.4. Azerbaijan .................................................................................................... 149 5.2.5. Georgia ........................................................................................................ 150 5.2.6. Belarus .......................................................................................................... 152 5.2.7. Republic of Moldova .................................................................................. 154 5.2.8. Ukraine ......................................................................................................... 157 5.2.9. Union for the Mediterranean .................................................................... 159 5.2.10. Egypt .......................................................................................................... 159 5.2.11. Israel ........................................................................................................... 162 5.2.12. Occupied Palestinian Territory ............................................................... 164 5.2.13. Jordan ......................................................................................................... 165 5.2.14. Lebanon ..................................................................................................... 167 5.2.15. Syria ............................................................................................................ 168 5.2.16. Tunisia ........................................................................................................ 170 5.2.17. Algeria ........................................................................................................ 173 5.2.18. Morocco....................................................................................................