Activities of Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY related to 2016/2324(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Addressing shrinking civil society space in developing countries (short presentation)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on addressing shrinking civil society space in developing countries PDF (432 KB) DOC (74 KB)
Amendments (21)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4
Citation 4
— 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, and the 1979 United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW),
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16
Citation 16
— having regard to the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on practical recommendations of 11 April 2016 for the creation and maintenance of a safe and enabling environment for civil society, based on good practices and lessons learned9 , and to the reports of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of peaceful assembly and of association, _________________ 9 A/HRC/32/20.
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 a (new)
Citation 20 a (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 25 October 2016 on corporate liability for serious rights abuses in third countries,
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas civil society encompasses among other civil society organisations (CSOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), social, educational, environmental, gender equality and human rights and community groups, faith-based organisations, social movements and trade unions, indigenous peoples and foundations;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas CSOs have become important players in global development assistance, particularly in the delivery of social services, public awareness, the promotion of democracy, human rights and good governance, and the response to humanitarian crises; and the representation of diverse voices, including the most discriminated against or vulnerable and marginalised people;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas there has been an expansion in size, scope and composition of civil society around the world over the past decade; whereas, at the same time, the restrictions against civil society actors and activities have become increasingly repressive and forceful in some developinga large number of countries;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas there has been a worrying increase in the number of reports of CSOs, activists and CSO staff members, human right defenders and journalists being persecuted, harassed, arbitrarily arrested or detained, and in the number of victims of abuse and violence, in recent years; whereas in a number of countries, this is being done with complete impunity, and at times with the support or compliance of the authorities;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas there is a link between a weakened civil society, reduced political and civic space, increased corruption and low human and socio-economic developmentsocial inequality, including that based on gender;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas any credible and effective EU response in addressing shrinking civic space needs to adequately balancerequires a coordinated approach between development and political cooperation, ensuring coherence between all EU external and internal instruments, as well as cooperation at local, regional and international levels;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas the 2030 Agenda, and in particular SDGs 16 and 17, provide for enhanced cooperation with civil society as key partner and enabler as regards to the promotion, implementation, follow-up and review of the SDGs;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that a genuinely independent, diverse, pluralistic and vibrant civil society is pivotal to a country’s development and stability, to ensuring democracy and respect for human rights, and to building inclusive societies; further recalls that civil society is a key actor in achieving the SDGs;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises the central role played by civil society not only in developing countries, but worldwide, in promoting transparency, accountability and good governance, in particular in the fight against corruption, and its potential implications on country’s economic and human development, and environmental sustainability;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is deeply concerned that the closing down of civil society space in developing countries is being carried out in increasingly subtle and sophisticated ways, which are harder to tackle and range from legislation, administrative, reporting and banking requirements, to the criminalisation and stigmatisation of CSO representatives, defamation, administrative harassment, online repression, censorship, arbitrary detention, gender based violence, torture and assassination;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the Commission, the EEAS and Member States to promote effective, joint implementation of the EU Guidelines for Human Rights Defenders in all third countries where civil society is at risk by taking concrete steps such as the adoption of local strategies for the full implementation of the “EU Guidelines on HRD”, and ensuring the absence of protection gaps, strengthening capacities and tools in EU/MS delegations on human rights and on business and human rights, and the implementation of sanctions on human rights abuses such as concrete measures against institutions, organisations or persons responsible for human rights offences such as travel restrictions, freezing of accounts or use of international criminal law;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Calls on the EU to establish legal mandatory human rights due diligence for business activities in third countries of companies domiciled in the EU and all of their affiliates or subsidiaries. These obligations should entail the following aspects in order to prevent that no investments which could contribute to threats for human rights defenders or other civil society actors are financially supported by the European Union: human rights risk assessments must be compulsory for companies and include possible threats for human rights defenders and other civil society actors; sanctions for the failure to implement human rights due diligence; effective conditions and compulsory human rights risk assessments for public procurement;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the Commission to develop a monitoring framework, with special focus on human rights, of the EU external financing instruments;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls on the EU to strengthen its support for the full participation of women- rights organisations, minorities and other vulnerable groups in cultural, social, economic and political processes;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Underlines the critical role played by women in social progress; calls on the EU to insist on the need for supporting the creation of a safe and enabling environment for women’s CSOs and women’s rights defenders, particularly in conflict-affected regions, and to address specific gendered forms of repression and defamation faced by women activists;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Highlights the importance of actively contributing to the support of women-rights related policies and actions, including sexual and reproductive health and rights;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the appointment of human rights focal points in EU Delegations dedicated to improving cooperation with local civil society, in particular in providing assistance to vulnerable, marginalised and discriminated-against groups and individuals; calls on the EU Delegations to further engage with CSOs in the programming cycle of EU funds, and in their subsequent monitoring;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Welcomes the increased flexibility provided by a number of EU financing instruments relevant to development cooperation, allowing among other things easier registration of grant applicants, and, where needed, confidentiality for recipients; considers, however, that more can be done to provide the most appropriate and tailored response to specific country situations, including more up-stream information on upcoming calls for proposals and updates of the roadmaps, public availability of roadmaps, the harmonisation and simplification of funding modalities, and support to CSOs in their administrative procedures;