12 Amendments of Georgios EPITIDEIOS related to 2017/2122(INI)
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas today’s worldwide abuses of human rights and fundamental freedoms necessitate determined efforts on the part of the whole international communityto condemn such actions and secure justice for their victims;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief must be enhanced unconditionally through interreligious and intercultural dialogue and consolidated at international level through sincere cooperation and commitment on the part of all states;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Reiterates the fact that freedom of expression online and offline is a vital component of any democratic society, as it nourishes a culture of pluralism that empowers civil society and citizens to hold their governments and decision-makers to account, and supports respect for the rule of law; stresses, therefore, that the EU should intensify its efforts to promote and consolidate freedom of expression through its external policies and instruments; reiterates its request for the EU and its Member States to enhance their monitoring of all types of restrictions on freedom of expression and the media in third countries and, to rapidly and systematically condemn such limitations and to reverse the consequences thereof; emphasises the importance of ensuring the effective implementation of the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Expression Online and Offline and of regularly monitoring their impact; welcomes the new European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) launched in 2016, with its specific focus on training EU delegations and media actors in third countries on how to apply the Guidelines;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Is deeply concerned that civil society is increasingly under attack worldwide; recalls that independent civil society plays an essential role in the defence and advancement of human rights and in the functioning of democratic societies; calls for the EU and its Member States to constantly monitor and raise cases of violations of freedom of assembly and association, including the various forms of bans and limitations on civil society organisations (CSOs) and their activities; calls, in addition, for the EU and its Member States to use all available means, such as human rights dialogues, political dialogues and public diplomacy, to systematically raise individual cases of persecution of human rights defenders (HRDs) and civil society activists at risk, particularly those in prison; urges them, finally, to seek to impose measures to redress such injustices;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Reiterates its support for the introduction of human rights clauses in international agreements between the EU and third countries; calls on the Commission to monitor the implementation of such clauses effectively and systematically and to provide Parliament with regular reports on partner countries’ respect for human rights; takes a positive view of the GSP+ preference system as a means to stimulate the effective implementation of 27 core international conventions on human rights and labour standards; expects the Commission to report back to Parliament and to the Council on the status of its ratification; reiterates the importance of the proper implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and of imposing penalties for non- compliance;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Expresses profound concern at and solidarity with the large number of refugees and migrants who suffer grave human rights violations as the victims of conflicts, persecution, governance failures and illegal migration, trafficking and smuggling networks; stresses the urgent need to tackle the root causes of migration flows and therefore to address the external dimension of the refugee crisis, including by finding sustainable solutions to conflicts in our neighbourhood by developing cooperation and partnerships with the third countries concerned; underlines the need for a comprehensive human-rights-based approach to migration and calls for the EU to collaborate further with the UN, regional organisations, and governments and NGO; stresses the need for cooperation with the NGOs, which must neither replace nor obstruct the national authorities in the fulfilment of their tasks;
Amendment 293 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Considers that the EU should continue its efforts to enhancsure respect for the rights of LGBTI people, in line with the EU Guidelines on the topic; recommends that the Guidelines be implementede implementation of the Guidelines, including through the training of EU staff in third countries; regrets that 72 countries still criminalise homosexuality, 13 of which have the death penalty, and believes that practices and acts of violencebelieves that homosexuality should not be criminalised and that acts of violence, including the death penalty, against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation should not go unpunishare to be condemned and eschewed;
Amendment 297 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Recalls that corruption is a threat to the equal enjoyment of human rights and undermines democratic processes such asand the rule of law and the fair administration of justice; takes the view that the EU should emphasise in all platforms for dialogue with third countries the importance of integrity, accountability and the proper management of public affairs, finances and property, as stipulated in the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC); recommends that the EU use its expertise to support third countries more consistently and systematically in their efforts to tackle corruption, by setting up and consolidating independent and effective anti-corruption institutions;
Amendment 308 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Stresses that the EU should continue to actively support democratic and effective human rights institutions and civil society in their efforts to promote democratisation; welcomes, in this context, the European Endowment for Democracy’s consistent efforts to promote democracy and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms in the eastern and southern neighbourhoods of the EU;
Amendment 309 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Recalls that the experience gained and lessons learned from transitions to democracy within the framework of enlargement and neighbourhood policy could contribute positively to the identification of best practices that could be used to support and consolidate other democratisation processes worldwide;
Amendment 331 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Reiterates its view that a solid consensus and enhanced coordination between Member States and the EU institutions is required in order to advance the human rights and democracy agenda coherently and consistently; stresses firmly that Member States should take greater ownership of the implementation of the Action Plan and the EU Strategic Framework and use them as a blueprint for promoting human rights and democracy bilaterally and multilaterally; notes that, for obvious reasons, special attention should be given to avoiding situations which leave even the slightest suspicion of human rights infringements within the EU Member States;
Amendment 340 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Recalls the EU’'s commitment to placing human rights and democracy at the centre of its relations with third countries; stresses, therefore, that the advancement of human rights and democratic principles needs to be supported through all EU policies with an external dimension, such as enlargement and neighbourhood policy, the CSDP, and development, trade, justice and home affairs policies; stresses that the measure must be implemented to the letter and neither amended nor circumvented for reasons of political or economic expediency;