14 Amendments of Isabel SANTOS related to 2022/2195(INI)
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the EU has allocated EUR 76 million for the first four years (2021- 2024) of its seven-year Multi-Annual Indicative Programme 2021-2027 for Uzbekistan, with an additional EUR 7 million earmarked for supporting human rights and civil society organisations; whereas the EU has contributed over EUR 5.2 million to the UN Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea Region under the European Green Deal; whereas the EU committed of planting over 27 000 trees in 2022, in cooperation with the Uzbek government's attempts to reclaim the land from the Aralkum desert;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes the ambitious reforms planned under the Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan for 2022-2026, which aims to achieve genuine change in the country in socioeconomic development, efficient administration and respect for human rights; stresses that the constitutional reform is an opportunity to strengthen the rule of law and to give the reforms a solid legal foundation with access to free and open internet and media; calls on the authorities of Uzbekistan to continue this process in consultation with citizens and stakeholders, including the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe , based on international norms and best practices;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. NAcknowledges that there are serious challenges to regional engagement in the current geopolitical climate, particularly with the global non- recognition of the Taliban government in Afghanistan and the impact of international sanctions on economic plans and connectivity initiatives; notes Uzbekistan’s long-standing and close relations with Afghanistan, which have continued after the takeover by Taliban; commends its efforts to mitigate the severe humanitarian crisis in the country through the provision of humanitarian aid and electricity; invites Uzbekistan to use its contacts with the Taliban to call for respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Afghans, in particular women, girls and minorities, which are essential conditions for greater international engagement with Afghanistan, including through connectivity to support human rights and prevent the effects of regional radicalisation and conflict-induced migration; reiterates its strong condemnation of the Taliban’s decisions to ban women and girls from attending secondary and university education and to prohibit the employment of women with non-governmental organisations;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Commends Uzbekistan for hosting refugees from Afghanistan and for the annual international meetings on Afghanistan since 2019, which have seen participation from a diverse range of states, including the Taliban, and provided a forum for constructive discussions on regional stability; urges the Uzbek government to sign and ratify the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and allow more Afghan refugees to seek refuge or to transit the country;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the agreement of 27 January 2023 between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan on the delimitation of the border between the two countries, which settles the outstanding issues between the two sides and completes a process that lasted three decades; commends Uzbekistan for being able to settle complex issues of water use, delimitation, and border disputes with its neighbours, like Tajikistan; acknowledges Uzbekistan's instrumental role in fostering closer ties with neighbouring countries, including Kazakhstan, through a range of connectivity projects; emphasises the importance of regional stability and urges all parties to engage in constructive dialogue to resolve any potential conflict in a peaceful and diplomatic manner; encourages Uzbekistan, as the leading electricity producer in Central Asia, to prioritize sustainable energy solutions for the region's long-term benefit;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Welcomes the Uzbek government's adoption of the Water Sector Development Strategy 2020-2030 and their efforts to mobilise international support to tackle the consequences of the Aral Sea disaster; welcomes that the EU and other organisations/institutions are involved in the improvement of the environmental, but also of the socio-economic situation in the Aral Sea region; calls on the international community to continue supporting Uzbekistan's efforts to address global water problems and to mitigate the consequences of the Aral Sea tragedy, such as the recently announced Aral Culture Summit project, which will bring together the local and international community and promote sustainable agriculture;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Takes notes of the upcoming constitutional referendum in Uzbekistan, scheduled for 30 April 2023, which aims to bring significant changes to the country's legal framework; is, however, concerned about the motives behind Uzbekistan's proposed constitutional changes, particularly the suspicion that the reform is designed to allow President Mirziyoyev to extend his time in office; urges the government to ensure that any change to term limits is made in a transparent and democratic manner and that it does not undermine the principles of democracy and the rule of law; underlines that the process of Uzbekistan's democratisation should be accelerated with this new constitution, if adopted, given that the country is still far from having a genuinely pluralistic political environment;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Underlines the important role that civil society can play in supporting effective and inclusive reforms and good governance; regrets the barriers to NGO registration and the obligations imposed on NGOs receiving foreign funding by the Regulation on Coordination Between Non- Governmental Non-Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities in the Implementation of International Grant Projects approved by Decree No 328 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan on 13 June 2022, which shrink the space for civil society activities and impede the exercise of the freedom of association; underlines that the barrier to NGO registration will also affect EU-Uzbekistan business relations since EU and Member States’ due diligence legislation will require NGO monitoring capacity; stresses that the EU funding should be conditional on the improvement of the situation of human rights;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. SExpresses deep concern over Uzbekistan's poor record on democracy, media freedom, human rights, and the rule of law, as reported by international human rights organisations; regrets that opposition parties are practically not allowed to function inside the country and that ethnic and religious minorities are often underrepresented in state structures and discriminated against; calls on the Uzbek government to respect the freedom of association both for NGOs and political parties; regrets that despite some improvements in the fight against corruption, bribery, nepotism and extortion are still widespread throughout the public administration; stresses the need to ensure respect for the rights of journalists, independent bloggers, content producers and human rights defenders and their protection against harassment, pressure and, threats, torture and to investigate any attacks against them; including the promotion of Uzbek language media and enhanced digital training programs against disinformation also based on the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Digital Services Act (DSA); strongly condemns the draft Information Code proposed by Uzbekistan's Information and Mass Communications Agency, which poses a serious threat to freedom of expression and human rights in the country;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses the need to ensure respect for the rights of journalists, independent bloggers and human rights defenders and their protection against harassmentviolence, harassment, unfounded detention, pressure and threats and to investigate any attacks against them; underlines that transparency and freedom of media are essential for the consolidation and the safeguarding of democracy;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes that despite the adoption of a number of laws, including the Law on Protection of Women from Harassment and Violence of 2019, gender-based violence against women remains widespread; regrets that domestic violence is not defined or specifically criminalised in Uzbekistan’s legislationacknowledges the recent legislative measures in Uzbekistan on providing women and children with greater legal protection against gender-based violence; calls on the authorities to takecontinue taking measures to bring Uzbekistan into line with its obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, as indicated in the concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of Uzbekistan by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women; calls on Uzbek authorities to work with civil society organisations and international partners to address these issuescontinue their work with local and international civil society organisations and partners to address these issues; expects the Uzbek authorities to promote gender equality in the education sector, in the workplace and in the whole public administration; calls on the government to decriminalise consensual same-sex sexual conduct and emphasises the need for non-discrimination and protection of the LGBTIQ+ community;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Expects the Uzbek authorities to ensure equal opportunities and access to education for all students in Uzbekistan, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 d (new)
Paragraph 10 d (new)
10d. Stresses the need to take legal and practical steps to ensure the protection, the non-discrimination and the effective inclusion of minorities; emphasises that the protection of the LGBTI+ community and the registration of NGOs working on sexual diversity issues is not guaranteed by the current legal framework; underlines the importance of freedom of religion and belief;