Activities of Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS related to 2019/2125(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Annual report 2018 on the human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union's policy on the matter (debate)
Amendments (46)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
– having regard to the EU Guidelines to promote and protect the enjoyment of all human rights by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons, adopted on 24 June 2013,
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
– having regard to the EU Guidelines on Death Penalty, adopted by the Council in 2013,
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 a (new)
Citation 14 a (new)
– having regard to the UN Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognised Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted on 9 December 1998,
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 a (new)
Citation 14 a (new)
– having regard to the Yogyakarta Principles (‘Principles and State Obligations on the Application of International Human Rights Law in Relation to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics’) adopted in November 2006, and the 10 complementary principles (‘plus 10’) adopted on 10 November 2017,
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23 a (new)
Citation 23 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 14 February 2018 on the future of the LGBTI List of Actions (2019-2024) (2019/2573(RSP)),
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas EU policies shall ensure the protection of human rights of most vulnerable groups, such as ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities, people with disabilities, the LGBTI community, women, children, asylum seekers and migrants;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Expresses its deep concern at the attacks on democracy and the rule of law worldwide in 2018, which reflect the rise of authoritarianism as a political project, embodying disregard for human rights, repression of dissent, politicised justice and predetermined elections, shrinking space for civil society to operate, as well as limiting freedom of assembly and freedom of expression; is of the opinion that countries falling into authoritarian regimes become more vulnerable to instability, conflict, corruption and violent extremism; welcomes the fact that, at the same time, a number of countries have launched peace and democratisation processes, implemented constitutional and judicial reforms, and engaged with civil society in open and public debates with the objective of promoting fundamental freedoms and human rights, including the abolition of the death penalty;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Reminds that there can be no hierarchy of human rights; stresses the need to ensure full respect for, and adherence to, the principle that human rights are universal and inalienable, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated; stresses the severe unacceptability of attempts to use the rights of certain groups to justify the marginalisation of others;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Denounces the pushback against multilateralism and the rule-based international order that poses a serious challenge to human rights worldwide; strongly believes in approaches and decisions taken in cooperation in a multilateral framework, particularly within the UN bodies, as the most effective means of serving the interests of humanity, finding sustainable solutions to conflicts and fostering progress in the field of human rights; is extremely concerned by the fact that seats in various UN human rights related bodies are occupied by countries with proven track record of grave human rights violations;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Is seriously concerned at the increase in the number of cases of murder, attacks and intimidation against people standing up for human rights throughout the world, in particular journalists, scholars, lawyers and civil society activists, inter alia women's rights activists, environmental and land defenders, mainly in countries with high levels of corruption and a poor record of upholding the rule of law and judicial oversight; calls for adequate protection to freely exercise their work;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that respecting and promoting the rights of the child, fighting against all manifestations of abuse, neglect, mistreatment, the trafficking and exploitation of children, including the use of child soldiers in armed conflict, and providing children with care and education are crucial to the future of humanity;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Draws attention to instances of persecution and discrimination based on ethnicity, nationality, class, caste, religion, belief, language, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and age, which remain rife in many countries and societies; is seriously concerned at the increasingly intolerant and hate-filled responses targeting people who are the victims of these human rights violations;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Draws attention to instances of persecution and discrimination based on ethnicity, nationality, class, caste, religion, belief, language, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex characteristics and age, which remain rife in many countries and societies; is seriously concerned at the increasingly intolerant and hate-filled responses targeting people who are the victims of these human rights violations;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses that freedom of speech and expression, as well as media pluralism, are at the heart of resilient democratic societies; urges that the best possible safeguards against hate speech, disinformation campaigns and hostile propaganda be put in place by developing a legal framework both at EU and international level for tackling hybrid threats, including cyber and information warfare;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Calls on the Commission and EU Member States to adopt a new ambitious, comprehensive and binding Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy for the next five years; its implementation and impact should be assessed through a strong monitoring mechanism;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Highlights that trade and human rights reinforce each other, and that the business community has an important role to play in offering positive incentives in terms of promoting human rights, democracy and corporate responsibility; reminds the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) of the need to make effective use of human rights clauses within international agreements, based on political dialogue, the regular assessment of progress and recourse to the consultation procedure upon request from a party; requests that robust implementation and monitoring mechanisms of human rights clauses be put in place, involving Parliament, national and local civil society and relevant international organisations, as well as establishing a complaints mechanism for groups of citizens and stakeholders who are affected by human rights violations;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Supports human rights dialogues with non-EU countries as an essential tool for bilateral engagement in the promotion and protection of human rights; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to join forces to address human rights and related obligations in dialogues or negotiations in any political and economic areas, with the governments of non-EU countries, in order to reinforce the impact of human rights dialogues; calls for a more active EP involvement when setting up the agendas of the human rights dialogues;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Strongly supports the work and efforts of the EU Special Representative for Human Rights (EUSR) in protecting and promoting human rights in the world; underlines the important objective within the mandate of the EUSR to enhance the Union’s effectiveness in this area; recalls its request for this mandate to be made permanent and more accountable; calls once more for a revision of the mandate so as to grant the EUSR own-initiative powers, adequate resources and the ability to speak publicly in order to report on achievements of visits to third countries and to communicate the EU's positions on human rights topics;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Recognises the progress made in terms of the EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2018’s procedure and format, but expects the Council and the VP/HR to take even greater account of the positions of the relevant resolutions and/or recommendations of Parliament in order to ensure deeper and more effective interaction between the EU institutions on human rights issues; asks the Council to continue its efforts to finalise these annual reports earlier in the year; encourages the Council to ensure that the adoption of the next annual report is based on an adequate consultation process;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses the link between the increase in human rights violations and widespread impunity and the lack of accountability in regions and countries devastated by conflicts or marked by politically motivated intimidation, discrimination, harassment and assault, abduction, violent policing, arbitrary arrests and cases of torture; stresses also that in conflicts, minorities and marginalised groups are often particularly severely impacted;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Reiterates the importance of other key mechanisms aimed at ending impunity, including the use of universal jurisdiction, and calls on Member States to adopt the necessary legislation; reiterates its call for the VP/HR to appoint an EU Special Representative on International Humanitarian Law and International Justice with a mandate to promote, mainstream and represent the EU’s commitment to the fight against impunity;
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Condemns attacks on hospitals and schools, as prohibited under international law, recognising that such acts may constitute grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and war crimes under the Rome Statute of the ICC; expresses its conviction that the preservation of health and educational facilities as neutral, protected spaces during armed conflict situations must be ensured by transparent, independent and impartial investigations of the brutal attacks that have occurred and by achieving genuine accountability for the crimes committed by all parties involved;
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes the initial discussions within the Council regarding the establishment of an EU human rights sanctions mechanism, and urges to follow an example of the EU Member States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and the United Kingdom), which have already enacted the so-called ‘Magnitsky List’, allowing for targeted sanctions against individuals complicit in serious human rights violations;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes the initial discussions within the Council regarding the establishment of an EU human rights sanctions mechanism, the so-called ‘Magnitsky List’, allowing for targeted sanctions against individuals complicit in serious human rights violations; calls on the Council to speed up its discussions in order to set up this mechanism with adequate resources as soon as possible;
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses the invaluable and essential role that HRDs play at the risk of their lives; recommends strengthening cooperation between the EU institutions and the Member States, enabling them to provide continuous support to HRDs; values the ‘ProtectDefenders.eu’ mechanism established to protect HRDs at grave risk; calls on the Council and the Commission to establish a specific coordinated procedure for awarding visas to HRDs;mmission and Member States to ensure sufficient funding for the protection of HRDs in the relevant Thematic Programmes of the next NDICI, and calls on the Commission to make full use of the financial capacity of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) to support HRDsstrument in the future;
Amendment 278 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses the invaluable and essential role that HRDs play at the risk of their lives; recommends strengthening cooperation between the EU institutions and the Member States, enabling them to provide continuous support to HRDs; values the ‘ProtectDefenders.eu’ mechanism established to protect HRDs at grave risk; calls on the Council and the Commission to establish a specific coordinated procedure for awarding visas to HRDs; calls on the Commission to make full use of the financial capacity of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) to support HRDs, ensuring it is accessible and reaches those most in need, who are most marginalised;
Amendment 285 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Calls on the VP/HR to use all the tools available to the EU to support independent civil society, media and HRDs on the ground, especially those at risk;
Amendment 286 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Underlines the need for strong EU coordination on engagement with third- country authorities regarding HRDs and civil society, and welcomes the individual initiatives of the EU Member States in addition to EU action; stresses the vital and central role played by HRDs and NGOs in promoting and supporting the application of the human rights enshrined in the core international human rights treaties; underlines, in this respect, the importance of the EU’s capacity to maintain adequate support, through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) and in the upcoming 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework, for HRDs and NGOs in situations where they are most at risk; calls on EU Member States and the Commission to provide mechanisms or measures for swift assistance and protection to human rights defenders in danger in third countries, to establish a specific coordinated procedure such as, where appropriate, issuing emergency visas and facilitating temporary shelter in the EU Member States;
Amendment 291 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 c (new)
Paragraph 20 c (new)
Amendment 299 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Strongly supports the EU’s strategic engagement for gender equality and its ongoing efforts to improve the human rights situation of women and girls, in line with the 2030 SDGs; calls on Member States to endorse the Gender Action Plan III in Council conclusions; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to further contribute to gender equality and girls’ and women’s empowerment by working closely with international organisations and non-EU countries, in order to develop and implement new legal frameworks regarding gender equality, and to eradicate harmful practices targeted at women and girls, such as child marriage and female genital mutilation;
Amendment 308 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Condemns all forms of physical, sexual and psychological violence and exploitation, rape, trafficking and the violation of women’s sexual and reproductive rights; emphasises that proper and affordable healthcare, including mental healthcare such as psychological support and universal respect for and access to sexual and reproductive rights and education should be guaranteed for all women and that they should be able to make free and responsible decisions about their health, body and sexual and reproductive rights; condemns the re-imposition of the ‘global gag’ rule;
Amendment 316 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Expresses concerns over the ongoing attacks on women’s rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), as well as over legislation in many parts of the world that restricts these rights;
Amendment 331 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls for new EU initiatives to prevent and combat child abuse in the world, to rehabilitate conflict-affected children and children that suffer from multiple and intersectional discrimination, and to provide them with a sheltered environment in which care and education are fundamental; calls for the EU to initiate an international movement to advocate the rights of the child, inter alia by organising an international conference on the protection of children in fragile environments;
Amendment 342 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Stresses the need to step up the EU’s engagement when it comes to addressing the protection of children, especially unaccompanied minors, and to devote particular attention to education and psycho-social support;
Amendment 343 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22b. Condemns all abuses against children such as child and forced marriages; calls for the EU to cooperate with third countries in order to end early, child and forced marriages by making 18 the legal minimum age for marriage, requiring the verification of the age of both spouses and of their full and free consent, introducing compulsory marriage records, and ensuring compliance with those rules;
Amendment 347 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 8 a (new)
Subheading 8 a (new)
Rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons
Amendment 356 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Strongly supports the Commission List of actions to advance LGBTI equality and the Guidelines to promote and protect the enjoyment of all human rights by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons for external action from 2013, as important elements of the EU’s ongoing efforts to improve the human rights of LGBTI people, in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals; calls on the Commission/EEAS to continue the work on protecting and furthering the human rights of LGBTI people, by working closely with international organisations and non-EU countries, in order to combat discrimination and human rights violations, as well as support the development of legislation and policies protecting the human rights of LGBTI people worldwide;
Amendment 376 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 10
Subheading 10
Freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief (FoRB)
Amendment 383 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Urges the Commission, the EEAS and the Member States to step up advocacy in relation to Freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief (more commonly known as FoRB), and to launch interreligious and intercultural dialogues with states and representatives of civil society and faith, faith and non-confessional groups in order to prevent acts of violence and discrimination against persons on the grounds of thought, conscience, religion or belief; calls for the EU to continue to forge alliances and to enhance cooperation with a broad range of countries and regional organisations, in order to deliver positive change in relation to FoRB; reminds the Council and Commission of the need to adequately support the institutional mandate, capacity and duties of the Special Envoy for the promotion of FoRB outside the EU in line with the EP resolution on the EU Guidelines and the mandate of the EU Special Envoy on the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU;
Amendment 406 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Regrets that torture, inhuman or degrading treatment and the death penalty continue to be applied in many countries all over the world, calls for the EU to intensify its efforts to eradicate these practices; welcomes the establishment of the EU Anti-Torture Coordination Group in 2017; welcomes in this regard updates to EU legislation with its legislative resolution of 29 November 2018 on trade in certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other inhuman treatment or punishment; highlights that Amnesty International recorded a decrease of 31% of executions worldwide compared to 2017; calls on the countries that have not already done so to establish an immediate moratorium on the death penalty as a step towards its abolition;
Amendment 410 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24b. Considers that detention conditions, including access to care and medicines, in a number of countries are matter of grave concern; considers it essential to combat all forms of physical and psychological torture and ill treatment of detainees, and to step up efforts to ensure compliance with the relevant international law and ensure compensation for victims;
Amendment 419 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Reaffirms that the activities of all companies, whether operating domestically or across borders, must be in full compliance with international human rights standards; stresses the need to establish an instrument to regulate, in international human rights law, the activities of transnational corporations and other companies; reminds all countries to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), and calls on those EU Member States that have not yet adopted National Action Plans on Business Rights to do so as early as possible; stresses the need to enhance access to judicial remedy for victims of corporate misconducts;
Amendment 445 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Expresses its concern over the increasing use of digital surveillance to threaten, intimidate and attack human rights defenders, journalists and lawyers among others;
Amendment 456 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Stresses the urgent need to tackle the root causes of migration flows such as wars, conflicts, persecution, networks of illegal migration, trafficking, smuggling and climate change; calls for the external dimension of the refugee crisis to be addressed, including by finding sustainable solutions to conflicts through building cooperation and partnerships with the with third countries concernedwhich comply with international human rights and refugees laws; highlights the importance of assisting third countries on improving human rights conditions in their migration management, especially countries of origin and transit; insists that the implementation of the Global Compacts on migration and refugees must therefore go hand in hand with the implementation of the UN’s 2030 Agenda as set out in the Strategic Development Goals, as well as with increased investment in developing countries;
Amendment 476 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Stresses that the EU should continue to actively support democratic and effective human rights institutions and civil society in their efforts to promote democratisation; reminds that human rights are a fundamental corner stone of democratisation processes; positively notes, in this context, the European Endowment for Democracy’s consistent engagement in the eastern and southern neighbourhoods of the EU to promote democracy and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms; recalls that the experience gained and the lessons learned from transitions to democracy in the framework of the enlargement and neighbourhood policies could make a positive contribution to the identification of best practices that could be used to support and consolidate other democratisation processes worldwide;
Amendment 483 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Calls on the EU to develop an EU policy framework defining the strategy, objectives and approach of European support for democracy in order to provide greater clarity for policy-making; stresses the importance of adopting specific funding rules for EU democracy support programmes taking into consideration the nature of democratic changes; underlines the need to invest in adequate resources to better coordinate democracy support programmes and policy priorities;