8 Amendments of Marietta GIANNAKOU related to 2009/2199(INI)
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. Whereas support for human rights defenders is a long-established element of the European Union's human rights external relations policy, and whereas in particular the European Union is specifically concerned with strengthening protection of human rights, as provided for in the Lisbon Treaty, through the accession of the European Union to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR),
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Regrets that despite existing tools and mechanisms, within the European Union no coherent and systematic protection for human rights defenders has been achieved; recommends the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to actively look into developing a more result-oriented methodology in this regardeffective methodology;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that the EU needs to express its political and substantive support to the action of human rights defenders and thus, to use all existing tools and develop new mechanisms to support and promote the work of human rights defenders through a participative strategy, which should contribute to an enabling environment for defenders in which they can perform their duties and enjoy protection; underlines that this must be combined with a policy aimed at prevention and protection from hostilities, through both urgent and long term measures;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Considers that the EU must set specific criteria defining the concept of human rights defender, since, under the United Nations 1998 Declaration, the term human rights defender remains particularly broad and vague, thereby hampering the proper appreciation and evaluation of the work and contribution of genuine human rights defenders;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reminds that implementation by the EU missions of the guidelines on human rights defenders has so far been unsatisfactory, but through the Lisbon Treaty, Commission delegations in third countries will now have a rare opportunity to address this issue as they become Union delegations, with an increasingly important role in terms of representation of the EU and the implementation of the human rights policy; reiterates therefore its call to systematically appoint a highly qualified political official with a specific responsibility on human rights and democracy, and to integrate guidelines and develop best practices on human rights and their implementation in EU mission staff training programmes, job descriptions and appraisal processes;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers it necessary to improve contacts, and systematically follow up on the latter, with the independent civil society, as well as access for human rights defenders to EU delegations and missions on the ground; welcomes in this regard the request by the Spanish Presidency to appoint a common local liaison officer from amongst the EU missions for human rights defenders, with the responsibility to coordinate the activities of the European Union; considers that this would facilitate exchange of information with civil society by promoting increased access to information concerning human rights violations and cooperation with civil society which will at the same time ensure transparency in the way in which they exercise their responsibilities and the possibility of a rapid reaction in case of emergency; requests the EP to be informed of these appointments;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. As regards receipt of domestic and foreign funding, specific criteria which are, in principle, indicative and non- exhaustive must be adopted in order to boost transparency and controls. Criteria which may be taken into account purely indicatively include: the nature of the organisation of human rights defenders, the number of participants, the degree of urgency in seeking financial support, an analysis of the intervention plan for defending human rights and the needs of the local community. Measures must be taken to ensure that account is taken of any other criterion which may be invoked by human rights defenders if it is considered essential for carrying out their work;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Condemns the climate of impunity for violations committed against defenders prevailing in numerous countries of the world; calls upon the Council and the Commission to raise this issue in their bilateral contacts, urging all states to ensure that perpetrators, regardless of their position or function, are brought to justice through independent and effective disciplinary and criminal procedures, bearing in mind always the possibility of appealing finally, after exhausting the domestic judicial instances of a state, to the European Court of Human Rights;