27 Amendments of Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS related to 2014/2216(INI)
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas Article 21 TEU further strengthened the EU’s commitment to act on the international scenepetences to develop a common foreign and security policy 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 principles of equality and solidarity, andvancing international law and justice, with respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and international law;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas respect for, and the promotion and safeguarding of, the universality and indivisibility of human rights are cornerstones of the EU’s action on the international sceneforeign and security policies;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that the preamble to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union affirms that the EU ‘places the individual and human dignity at the heart of its activities’; stresses that this was not intended as an abstract concept but, on the contrary, these words implied an emphasis on real life, on the concrete aspects of existence, and on giving fundamental needs a constitutional basis, founded on the inviolable dignity of each and every person;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Points out that in addition to human suffering, the EU should also note the material and budgetary cost of non- observance of human rights wherat the failure to respect human rights and lack of legitimate democratic participation lead to instability, corruption, failed states, humanitarian crises or armed conflicts, phenomena which undermine the EU’s efforts in its development policy, and to which the EU or its Member States are obliged to react in the security policy domain; welcomes, in this regard, the EU’s recent efforts to include violations of human rights in its early warning matrix linked to crisis prevention; calls, however, for a stronger preventative action, and urges the VP/HR, the Commission and the Member States to develop a human rights- based crisis prevention element which should be added to the EU Comprehensive Approach to external conflicts and crises;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Welcomes the VP/HR for publicly stating the need to review the EU´s strategy towards all its strategic partners, such as China and Russia, and calls upon her to prioritise human rights in such countries during her tenure, by clarifying that gross human rights violations are a threat to bilateral relations between the EU and its strategic partners;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Points to the considerable challenges posed by Russia´s annexation of Crimean and the continuing military involvement in the eastern parts of Ukraine; underlines that this policy of aggression is a continuation of Russia´s slide towards authoritarian rule, with a worsening human rights situation inside the country; stresses that Russia now is a ´strategic challenge` for the EU, and no longer complies with strategic partnership criteria;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Reiterates its support for dedicated human rights dialogues as a tool of EU human rights policy; recognises the value of engagement in human rights-specific dialogue also with countries with serious human rights problems; underlines, however, the need for the EU to draw clear political conclusions when the human rights dialogue does not lead to positive outcomes, and in such cases to place more emphasis on public diplomacy with a view to ensuring that the public credibility of the EU’s human rights policy is not endangered; warns, furthermore, against diverting human rights discussions away from high-level political dialogues; in light of the failure of the EU China dialogue on human rights to achieve significant and tangible results, urges the EU to rethink its human rights strategy with a key partner such as the People´s Republic of China and to adopt a more coherent, unified and strategic approach to human rights in China and in light of recent developments raise the issue of Hong Kong;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Calls for an effective use of new technologies and the world wide web to make information about human rights and democracy, as well as EU programs, as accessible as possible to people all over the world;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Deplores that persecution and marginalisation of human rights defenders remains a widespread tendency all over the world, particularly in countries that do not accept the universality of human rights;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Calls on the EEAS and the European Commission to ensure EU grants and other programs are available not only for large NGOs but also to build local capacity; Therefore urges a lowering of bureaucratic burden while preserving accountability in application and accounting procedures, and encouraging taking into consideration the increasing pressure placed on civil society by repressive regimes; Calls for a more pragmatic approach to societies in transition towards democracy, to ensure the appropriate organisations and individuals are supported;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls on the HR/VP to systematically meet with human rights defenders when travelling to third countries. Requests that the EEAS and the EU Delegations engage with human rights defenders in a pragmatic political dialogue aimed at finding the best ways to support an enabling environment for their work; requests that the EU enhance its active diplomacy in third countries and strengthen the position of the human rights focal points in order to mainstream human rights in the daily political work of the EU Delegation, by systematically raising the names of political prisoners and engaging in trial monitoring and visits to prisons; stresses the need for the EU to use public diplomacy to support human rights defenders and to call for the release of imprisoned human rights activists;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Reiterates its full support for the work of the ICC in its role to end the impunity of the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern before the international community; remains vigilant regarding any attempts to undermine its legitimacy; c and to provide justice for the victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide; remains vigilant regarding any attempts to undermine its legitimacy or independence; urges the EU and EU Member states to cooperate with the Court and provide it with strong diplomatic and political support in bilateral relations and in all fora, including the UN, expresses its concerns that several arrest warrants have still not been executed, including those concerning President of Sudan, Omar Al Bashir; Reiterates its call for the creation of an EU Special Representative on International Justice and International Humanitarian Law in order to give them prominence and visibility they deserve, to advance the EU agenda effectively and mainstream the EU´s commitment to the fight against impunity and the ICC across EU foreign policies; calls on the EU and member states delegations and EU Special Representatives to actively promote the ICC, the enforcement of its decisions, and the fight against impunity for Rome Statute crimes; Considers the increasing number of states parties to be an important development in strengthening the universality of the Court; welcomes the ratification of the Rome Statute by Côte d’Ivoire in February 2013;
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)
Paragraph 40 a (new)
40a. Reiterates the importance of effective export control mechanisms for certain drugs that can be used for executions and equipment that can be used for torture; Calls on the Commission to tackle the remaining loopholes in the Regulation by introducing an end-use catch-all clause that would prohibit the export of any drug that could be used for torture or execution;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)
Paragraph 42 a (new)
42a. Condemns the illicit business of human trafficking, human trafficking for removal of organs and any other exploitative business related to violating the right to bodily integrity and inflicting violence; calls for intensifying and reviewing EU efforts towards combating human trafficking and engaging with countries at risk;
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. CallNotes on the EU to support the emerging initiatives aimed at concluding a legally binding international instrument on business and human rights within the UN system and to engage from early on in the debate on this issue;
Amendment 285 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
Paragraph 47
47. Recognises that the rapid evolution of information and communications technologies has transformed the environment for the exercise of freedom of expression and access to information across the world, generating both profound advantages and serious concerns; welcomes, in this context, the adoption by the Council in May 2014 of the dedicated EU Guidelines on freedom of expression online and offline;
Amendment 286 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)
Paragraph 47 a (new)
47a. Reiterates that freedom of expression and media freedom, independence and pluralism are essential elements of a sustainable democracy, maximising the involvement of civil society and empowering citizens and are therefore indispensable for ensuring transparency and accountability in public life;
Amendment 287 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 b (new)
Paragraph 47 b (new)
47b. Calls for increased support in the areas of promoting freedom of media, protecting independent journalists and bloggers, reducing the digital divide and facilitating unrestricted access to information and communication and uncensored access to the Internet (digital freedom);
Amendment 311 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53
Paragraph 53
53. Reiterates its endorsement of the majority of the funding for the EIDHR being allocated to support for human rights defenders and civil society actions around the world and supports the development of legal defence funds to help persecuted journalists and activists to get access to a lawyer and a fair trial;
Amendment 352 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61 a (new)
Paragraph 61 a (new)
61a. Considers women´s underrepresentation in political decision- making to be a question of fundamental rights and democracy, that underlines the capacity of governments to devote themselves fully to democracy-building and maintenance processes; Calls for a legislation which enshrines gender parity.
Amendment 358 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
Paragraph 64
64. Calls on the Commission to develop innovative financial mechanisms to implement fiscal reforms and strengthen the fight against corruption, illicit financial flows and tax evasion; encourages, in this context, consideration of public-private partnerships, the blending of grants and loans, and helping developing countries to better mobilise their domestic resources; notes calls for an international tax on financial transactions that could act as an additional source of funding for development, and reminds the Member States that they have already agreed to introduce a financial transaction tax domestically and undertaken to set aside a share of the funds raised to finance global public assets, including development;
Amendment 420 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73 a (new)
Paragraph 73 a (new)
73a. Rights of Indigenous people Notes with concern that indigenous people are in particular danger of being discriminated against, and that they are especially vulnerable to political, economic, environmental and labour related changes and disturbances; notes that most live below the poverty threshold and have little or no access to either representation, political decision-making or justice systems; is particularly concerned about reported widespread land-grabbing, forced displacement and human rights abuses resulting from armed conflict;
Amendment 426 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74
Paragraph 74
74. Stresses the urgent need to develop stronger policies at Union level to address the pressing issues related to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in a manner consistent with international human rights law and fundamental human dignity, and calls on the EU to guarantee effective common standards for reception procedures throughout the Union in order to protect the most vulnerable; invites the VP/HR, the Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs and the EEAS to promote a true spirit of cooperation and equitable burden-sharing among Member States in order to tackle the multiple challenges that persist in this regard; recalls the commitment of the Commission to developing adequate legal migration channels, and, to this end, calls for a revision of the Dublin Regulation, which places disproportionate responsibility on Member States for the Union’s external borders and hinders migrants’ ability to seek and obtain asylum;
Amendment 473 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 76 a (new)
Paragraph 76 a (new)
76a. Stresses that despite the progress already achieved regarding access to drinking water and sanitation, there are still approximately2.6 million people who lack a latrine and 1.1 billion people with no access to any type of drinking water. Argues that this is due not only to a lack of resources but also a lack of political will. Calls therefore on governments to guarantee the access to safe drinking water and sanitation with particular attention to women and children
Amendment 474 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 76 b (new)
Paragraph 76 b (new)
76b. Call for an ambitious long-term political strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and access to medicines that, inter alia, explores new incentive schemes for research and development as outlined in the WHO Consultative Expert Working Group report on Research and Development: Financing and coordination (2012, to safeguard the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition. Stresses that women and girls remain most affected by the HIV pandemic and also are most involved in caring for patients in their communities.
Amendment 484 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 79
Paragraph 79
79. 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; stresses in particular the need for institutional follow-up on issues raised in urgency resolutions;
Amendment 486 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 80
Paragraph 80
80. Encourages discussion on 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 at a plenary session; Create a regularly up-dated website listing the human rights defenders addressed in EP urgency resolutions and also establish an EP internal working group that would follow the cases of these listed defenders worldwide encouraging delegations travelling to the third countries to meet them;