20 Amendments of Karol KARSKI related to 2020/2208(INI)
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the celebration in 2019 of the 10th anniversary of the EU Charter of the Fundamental Rights has stimulated the Union to resolutely pursue actions to protect, promote and fulfil human rights, both inside and outside its borders; whereas on this occasion, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to remain an influential player on the world stage and to keep playing a leading role as a global defender of democracy and human rights;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the crisis triggered by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the outbreak of which was first identified in December 2019, the ways in which states have responded to it, the hardship it has caused and its impact on international relations and conflicts have long-term implications on all matters involving respect for human rights;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas, by way of illustration, the crisis caused by the pandemic has led most countries to adopt emergency measures, curtailing freedoms to enjoy many human rights, foremost among which are the freedoms of movement and of assembly, or to establish new means of surveillance in order to prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 virus; whereas in some cases, those measures have legitimately raised questions as to their necessity, legality, proportionality, non-discriminatory nature and duration, inas they undermined the spirit of safeguarding fundamental freedoms in the short and longer terms;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the World, constituting 80% of persecuted religious believers in the World; whereas this persecution ranges from routine discrimination in education, employment and social life, through limitations on all forms of expression up to physical attacks against Christian communities, which come close to meeting the international definition of genocide, according to that adopted by the UN;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Affirms that the promotion and protection of human rights and climate and environmental action are interlinked, because, in particular, human rights international law provides access to remedies and legal means to redress the damage caused by climate change, and to implement measures to combat climate change and to hold states and businesses accountable for their responses to climate change; underlines the need to pay particular attention to aid to environmentally and climate-displaced persons;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the growing aspirations and mobilisations of citizens, in particular the youngest citizens, for political and societal changes favourable to respect for human rights, democratic governance, equality and social justice, more ambitious climate action and better protection of the environment; highlights the emergence in 2019 of massive protest movements in every region in the world reflecting these aspirations, calling into question institutional and economic orders of societies and supporting the development of a more equitable global society;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses that physical attacks, imprisonments, death threats, harassment, intimidation and restrictions on freedom of expression remain tools systematically used around the world against human rights defenders (HRDs), non- governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society activists and journalists; underlines the existence of political trends towards deeper nationalism and the misuse of religion for political gain, which are conducive tostrongly condemns acts of violence and intolerance, in particular towards HRDs, women, LGBTI people and migrantsany form;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Express its deep sorrow at and condemnation of the terrorist attacks and bombings perpetrated in the first half of 2019 that targeted believers in particular in places of worship, that especially affected the Christian communities; is alarmed that these horrific acts coincided with hate campaigns ramped up by some political leaders and terror groups that aim to deny the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recalls that the Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, as set out in Article 2 of the TEU; stresses that promoting these values externally, advancing democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights is at the core of the EU’s common foreign and security policy, in accordance with the Article 21 of the TEU and the Union’s strategic interest, and should be reflected, in an effective and coherent way, in all areas of the Union’s relations with non-EU countries; underlines however that the EU should only promote these values which lie within its competences in line with the Lisbon Treaty and avoid being vocal on subjects which remain within the sole remit of the Member States, including the matters of conscience;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Stresses the importance of the efforts of the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Commission to continuously strengthen the awareness and knowledge of officials of the EU and its Member States with regard to human rights; calls on all EU delegations and their respective focal points on human rights to consistently abide by their obligation to meet with HRDs, visit detained activists, monitor their trials and advocate for their protection on the ground and to facilitate such actions when attempted by MEPs visiting in the framework of the official European Parliament missions;
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Asks the Member States to make the EU’s foreign and security policy more effective by using the rule of qualified majority voting in the Council; callcoordinating closely positions onf the Member States and calls on them to speak with a single, strong EU voice in multilateral forums, as this is the only way that the Union can play a leadingmore prominent role on the international scene and use its influence to bring about positive changes and better responses to global challenges including the promotion and protection of human rights and environment and climate related challenges;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Reiterates that the EU will only be recognised on the global scene if its core values, in particular those of respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law are credible externally, and this will only be possible if the EU ensures the internal and external coherence of its policies on these matters, including by refraining from externally promoting issues that lie outside of the EU competences, including matters of conscience;
Amendment 310 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Takes the view that democratic governance and the rule of law are globally under attack due to a combination of factors including the rise of authoritarianism, hybrid warfare and disinformation against the West, increased inequalities and poverty, the shrinking of space for civil society, loss of credibility of public power and the weakening of collective organisations defending public interest; calls for the EU and its Member States to continue supporting the building up of democratic institutions and transparent and credible electoral processes, while going beyond this by providing further support to actions that encourage and unleash democratic debate, combat inequalities, empower civil society organisations, fight corruption and strengthen judiciaries;
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Affirms that the promotion and protection of human rights and climate and environmental action are interlinked, because, in particular, international human rights law provides for access to remedies and legal means to redress the damage caused by climate change, and to implement measures to combat climate change and to hold states and businesses accountable for their responses to climate change;
Amendment 355 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Reaffirms its unwavering support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) and calls on the States Parties to the Rome Statute to provide the ICC with proper financial resources in order to enable it to fulfil its tasks within its mandate; considers the attacks against the ICC to be deeply regrettable and lastly condemns the individual sanctions imposed by the US on its staff, notably those against the ICC chief prosecutor, which are unacceptable; stresses that the ICC is the only international institution that has the ability to prosecute some of the world’s most horrific crimes and to defend victims that have no other recourse; asks the EU to continue to protect the ICC’s independence and impartiality against attacks that aim at obstructing the functioning of international criminal justice; reiterates its recommendation to establish a European observatory on prevention, accountability, and combating impunity;
Amendment 378 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Calls for the adoption and implementation of a global EU human rights sanctions mechanism (so-called Magnitsky Act) as an essential part of the EU existing human rights and foreign policy toolbox which would strengthen the EU’s role as a global human rights actor, allowing for targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for or complicit in serious human rights violations; stresses the importance of allocating sufficient resources to enable its effective implementation; calls for the establishment of an EU-level advisory committee with Parliament’s participation;
Amendment 416 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Calls for the adoption of an ambitious EU Action Plan for gender equality and women’s empowerment in external relations for 2021-2025 (Gender Action Plan III); calls in this regard for the reinforcement of EU support for non-EU countries that are implementing new policies and legislative changes with a view to aligning national legal frameworks to international and SDG commitments concerning women’s rights and gender equality, to protecting women HRDs, to advancing women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights, to providing young people with science-based and comprehensive sexual education and to preventing sexual and gender-based violence and female genital mutilation;
Amendment 495 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Is appalled by the number of killings, attacks and acts of persecution, discrimination, harassment and incitation to antagonism that took place, and the number of restrictions on rights that were imposed in 2019 against individuals and groups targeted because of their religion or belief; reaffirms its support for victims of violence based on religion or belief and its commitment to eradicating such violence; welcomes the Global Exchange on Religion in Society, launched by the Vice- President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) in Brussels on 6 September 2019; recommends, however, that equal attention be paid to both intra-religious and inter- religious relationships; calls in this regard for the development of EU support to intra- religious dialogue at local level with the aim of fighting extremism and hate speech; calls furthermore for the objectives of promoting and protecting freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief to be mainstreamed into a wider range of EU activities related to human rights; underlines the need to pay special attention to the situation of the persecuted Christians around the world, who make up the vast majority of the religious groups facing discrimination, violence and death;
Amendment 518 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)
Paragraph 47 a (new)
47a. 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 ongoing disinformation campaigns and hostile propaganda originating from authoritarian states and non-state actors, such as terrorist groups 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 571 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55
Paragraph 55
55. Is deeply concerned at the disproportionate negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on migrants and refugees; urges governments to engage in responses based on respect for human rights and dignity and solutions to address migrants’ and refugees’ vulnerability and their need for protection, in line with the principles of solidarity and partnership and allowing for adequate and accessible legal pathways for migration; stresses the importance of upholding the right to asylum worldwide;