Activities of Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR related to 2019/2125(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Annual report 2018 on the human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union's policy on the matter (debate)
Amendments (53)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
– having regard to the EU Guidelines to promote and protect the enjoyment of all human rights by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons, adopted on 24 June 2013,
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
– having regard to the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders,
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 b (new)
Citation 8 b (new)
– having regard to the EU Guidelines on Death Penalty, adopted by the Council in 2013,
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 a (new)
Citation 14 a (new)
– having regard to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Platform for Action and the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, and the outcomes of their review conferences,
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 a (new)
Citation 14 a (new)
– having regard to the Yogyakarta Principles (‘Principles and State Obligations on the Application of International Human Rights Law in Relation to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics’) adopted in November 2006, and the 10 complementary principles (‘plus 10’) adopted on 10 November 2017,
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23 a (new)
Citation 23 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 14 February 2018 on the future of the LGBTI List of Actions (2019-2024) (2019/2573(RSP)),
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas a comprehensive and binding EU Strategy for Gender Equality as requested by the EP for long and promised by the designate President of the Commission must provide for gender mainstreaming of all EU policies, including the integration of gender equality into the EU’s trade policy and foreign relations policy and reinforce the impact of the upcoming Gender Action Plan III;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas, according to the latest EU Annual Report on Human Rights, the EEAS has fully updated 125 country strategies on human rights and democracy; whereas these strategies -and their annual implementation reports- “constitute an essential tool in ensuring policy consistency”, “identify key strategic priorities” and “define long- and short term objectives”, setting out “concrete actions to advance human rights”; whereas these country strategies and their annual implementation reports remain completely inaccessible to Parliament;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Expresses its deep concern at the attacks on democracy and the rule of law worldwide in 2018, which reflect the rise of authoritarianism as a political project, embodying disregard for human rights, repression of dissent, politicised justice and predetermined elections, shrinking space for civil society to operate, as well as limiting freedom of assembly and freedom of expression; is of the opinion that countries falling into authoritarian regimes become more vulnerable to instability, conflict, corruption and violent extremism; welcomes the fact that, at the same time, a number of countries have launched peace and democratisation processes, implemented constitutional and judicial reforms, and engaged with civil society in open and public debates with the objective of promoting fundamental freedoms and human rights, including the abolition of the death penalty;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Reminds that there can be no hierarchy of human rights; stresses the need to ensure full respect for, and adherence to, the principle that human rights are universal and inalienable, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated; stresses the severe unacceptability of attempts to use the rights of certain groups to justify the marginalisation of others;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Is seriously concerned at the increase in the number of cases of murder, attacks and intimidation against people standing up for human rights throughout the world, in particular journalists, scholars, lawyers and civil society activists, inter alia environmental and land defenders, mainly in countries with high levels of corruption and a poor record of upholding the rule of law and judicial oversight; notes that women human rights defenders face specific risks and need adequate protection;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the importance of advancing gender equality and women’s rights worldwide; emphasises that, in spite of progress, women and girls continue to suffer discrimination and violence; stresses that manyost societies still struggle to provide women and girls with equal rights under the law and equal access to education, healthcare, decent work and equal pay and political and economic representation; expresses concerns over the ongoing attacks on women’s rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), as well as over legislation in many parts of the world that restricts these rights, including in the EU;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the importance of advancing gender equality and women’s rights worldwide; emphasises that, in spite of progress, women and girls continue to suffer discrimination and violence; stresses that many societies still struggle to provide women and girls with equal rights under the law and equal access to education, healthcare, decent work and political and economic representation; points out inter alia FGM among the most heinous human rights violations; welcomes the Spotlight initiative on violence against women launched by the European Commission and asks for its reinforcement;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that respecting and promoting the rights of the child, fighting against all manifestationkinds of abuse, neglect, the trafficking and exploitation of children, including theforced marriages and the recruitment or use of child soldiers in armed conflict, and providing children with care and education are crucial tostakes for the future of humanity; in this respect supports the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) established with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1612 on children and armed conflict, including the strengthening of the independence and impartiality of the composition of the annual list of child rights violators, free from political interference;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that respecting and promoting the rights of the child, fighting against all manifestations of abuse, neglect, mistreatment, the trafficking and exploitation of children, including the use of child soldiers in armed conflict, and providing children with care and education are crucial to the future of humanity;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Draws attention to instances of persecution and discrimination based on ethnicity, nationality, class, caste, religion, belief, language, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex characteristics and age, which remain rife in many countries and societies; is seriously concerned at the increasingly intolerant and hate-filled responses targeting people who are the victims of these human rights violations;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. 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 hate speech, disinformation campaigns and hostile propaganda 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 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Underscores the importance of human rights to be promoted and mainstreamed across all external policy of the EU; takes note of the works on such important issues being currently carried out under the status of a subcommittee in Parliament; reiterates its call to upgrade this into a full committee;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Calls on the Commission and EU Member States to adopt a new ambitious, comprehensive and binding Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy for the next five years; its implementation and impact should be assessed through a strong monitoring mechanism;
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Notes the importance of its resolutions on breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (known as urgency resolutions, in accordance with Rule 144, formerly Rule 135 of its rules of procedures); underlines the legal recurrence and the paramount visibility of the EU, by means of this tool, in its fight for human rights; calls on the EEAS to provide Parliament with regular reports on the follow-up actions it has taken on all the urgency resolutions and/or the recommendations therein; calls on the EEAS and EU Member States to enhance the visibility of the human rights violations raised in Parliament's urgency resolutions; reiterates its belief that this tool can be further developed to strengthen human rights and democracy through increased timely reflection, targeting and efficiency;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Strongly recommends that the Commission enhances its engagement with Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights to enable it to contribute actively to the upcoming EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Calls on the EEAS and the Commission to inform, consult and work closely with Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights, when revising and/or adopting EU policy documents for the conduct and monitoring of EU human rights foreign policy;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Highlights that trade and human rights reinforce each other, and that the business community has an important role to play in offering positive incentives in terms of promoting human rights, democracy and corporate responsibility; reminds the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) of the need to make effective use of human rights clauses within international agreements, based on political dialogue, the regular assessment of progress and recourse to the consultation procedure upon request from a party; requests that robust implementation and monitoring mechanisms of human rights clauses be put in place, involving Parliament, national and local civil society and relevant international organisations, as well as establishing a complaints mechanism for groups of citizens and stakeholders who are affected by human rights violations;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Strongly supports the work and efforts of the EU Special Representative for Human Rights (EUSR) in protecting and promoting human rights in the world; underlines the important objective within the mandate of the EUSR to enhance the Union’s effectiveness in this area; insists on its request for the revision of this mandate to be made permanent and more accountable and to grant the EUSR own- initiative powers, adequate resources and the ability to speak publicly in order to report on achievements of visits to third countries and to communicate the EU's positions on human rights topics;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls on the EEAS to further improve the transmission to Parliament of relevant political reporting on all activities of the EU Delegations related to human rights, including detailed information on the local implementation and financing of relevant EU projects and the monitoring of local civil society; calls in particular to establish means for sharing with Parliament, or specific relevant office holders, information on the human rights and democracy country strategies prepared by the EU Delegations, while ensuring security and confidentiality as needed, in order to improve the transparency, accountability and consistency of the EU policy in this field;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Welcomes the fact that human rights focal points and Human Rights Defenders liaison officers are now present in all EU Delegations; calls on the EEAS to provide Parliament with a detailed report on the completion of this network of focal points in order to evaluate and ensure an even implementation throughout all EU Delegations and detect possible disparities in the level of allocated resources or in the engagement with local civil society;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15c. Welcomes the efforts by the EEAS and the Commission to continuously strengthen EU officials’ awareness on human rights; highlights, given the need to mainstream human rights in all EU policies, the importance to ensure that the training on human rights issues - particularly those related to business and human rights, land and environmental issues and the implementation of all EU guidelines on the field of human rights- are extended to all EU and Member States' diplomats deployed in third countries and not restricted to those officials dealing specifically with human right issues such as the focal points;
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses the link between the increase in human rights violations and widespread impunity and the lack of accountability in regions and countries devastated by conflicts or marked by politically motivated intimidation, discrimination, harassment and assault, abduction, violent policing, arbitrary arrests and cases of torturerbitrary arrests, cases of torture and killings; calls to support actions aimed at combating impunity and promote accountability especially in those regions where the dynamics of impunity reward those who bear the greatest responsibility and disempower victims;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses the link between the increase in human rights violations and widespread impunity and the lack of accountability in regions and countries devastated by conflicts or marked by politically motivated intimidation, discrimination, harassment and assault, abduction, violent policing, arbitrary arrests and cases of torture; stresses also that in conflicts, minorities and marginalised groups are often particularly severely impacted;
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Strongly believes that the impunity challenge has clearly emerged as a central issue and calls therefore on the EEAS and the Commission to include an ambitious strategy on that respect within the 3rd EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy; in that spirit, highly recommends the setting up of an European Observatory on Prevention, accountability, and combating impunity that would serve the purpose of connecting existing accountability mechanisms (e.g. EU early warning systems, preventing genocide, implementing the Responsibility to Protect, accountability processes and post- conflict transitional justices), following- up of the resolutions of Parliament on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (known as urgency resolutions, in accordance with Rule 144, formerly Rule 135, of its Rules of Procedure), raising awareness about unreported situations and human rights violations, including the most sensitive issues (e.g. extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances), bridging the gap between mechanisms and victims, and contributing to implement Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions and further raise the profile and visibility of the EU engagement on this matter;
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses the invaluable and essential role that HRDs play at the risk of their lives, in particular women’s human rights defenders; recommends strengthening cooperation between the EU institutions and the Member States, enabling them to provide continuous support to HRDs; values the ‘ProtectDefenders.eu’ mechanism established to protect HRDs at grave risk; calls on the Council and the Commission to establish a specific coordinated procedure for awarding visas to HRDs; calls on the Commission to make full use of the financial capacand Member States to ensure sufficient funding for the protection of HRDs in the relevant Thematic Programmes of the next NDICI and to ensure its accessibility ofby the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) to support HRDsose most in need who are the most marginalised; calls on the Commission to make full use of this instrument in the future;
Amendment 278 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses the invaluable and essential role that HRDs play at the risk of their lives; recommends strengthening cooperation between the EU institutions and the Member States, enabling them to provide continuous support to HRDs; values the ‘ProtectDefenders.eu’ mechanism established to protect HRDs at grave risk; calls on the Council and the Commission to establish a specific coordinated procedure for awarding visas to HRDs; calls on the Commission to make full use of the financial capacity of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) to support HRDs, ensuring it is accessible and reaches those most in need, who are most marginalised;
Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Expresses its concern at the continued shrinking of civil society space in 2018; deplores that human rights defenders continue to be increasingly killed, persecuted, harassed and arbitrarily detained for defending universal principles of human rights; deplores the increasing enactment and abusive use of laws in third countries implemented to curtail and criminalise the legitimate work of human rights defenders;
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Notes that women’s rights organisations and defenders are specifically targeted and suffer particularly from the shrinking civic space; stresses the need for the EU to politically support, increasingly protect and raise financial allocations for independent civil society organisations that promote the rights of women and girls in all areas; urges the EU and Member States to ensure the protection of women human rights defenders (WHRDs) and take into account the specific protection needs they have;
Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 c (new)
Paragraph 20 c (new)
20c. Underscores that HRDs working on land, environmental and indigenous rights, women HRDs and LGBTI+ rights defenders are those most at risk and require special attention; highlights that HRDs are indispensable actors in the promotion of human rights and democratisation;
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 d (new)
Paragraph 20 d (new)
20d. Calls on all EU Delegations and their focal point on human rights on the ground to regularly implement their obligation to meet with human HRDs, visit detained activists, monitor their trials and advocate for their protection on the ground; calls for them to be more visible and vocal with regard to human rights concerns; in this regard, further calls the EEAS, to collaborate more closely with Parliament and to raise concerns at an early stage;
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 e (new)
Paragraph 20 e (new)
20e. Highlights that 2018 marked the 20th anniversary of the UN declaration on Human Rights Defenders; welcomes the first ever European Parliament Human Rights Week, which offered a platform for an exchange with HRDs; encourages the EU institutions to retain this practice on a regular basis;
Amendment 297 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Strongly supports the EU’s strategic engagement for gender equality and its ongoing efforts to improve the human rights situation of women and girls, in line with the 2030 SDGs; and calls for the EU to adopt a comprehensive and binding Gender Equality Strategy once the strategic engagement expires; calls on the European Commission to prepare and adopt a communication to renew the Gender Action Plan after 2020, as an important EU tool to contribute to women and girls’ rights worldwide; calls on Member States to endorse the Gender Action Plan III in Council conclusions calls on the Commission and the EEAS to further contribute to gender equality and girls’ and women’s empowerment by working closely with international organisations and non-EU countries, in order to develop and implement new legal frameworks regarding gender equality, and to eradicate harmful practices targeted at women and girls, such as child marriage and female genital mutilation;
Amendment 310 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Welcomes the approach of integrating the gender perspective in EU Common Security and Defence Policy activities and underlines the importance of providing adequate gender sensitive training to healthcare professionals and humanitarian aid workers, including those working in emergency assistance;
Amendment 312 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 c (new)
Paragraph 21 c (new)
21c. Points out that sexual and gender- based violence against women and girls, including harmful traditions such as child marriages and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), inadequate access to basic sectors and social services, for example health, education, water, sanitation, and nutrition, difficulties in gaining access to sexual and reproductive health, and unequal participation in public and private institutions, as well as in political decision-making and in peace processes, represent an inacceptable violation of basic human rights that cannot be accepted by the EU and its Member States;
Amendment 319 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 g (new)
Paragraph 21 g (new)
21g. Stresses the importance of viewing access to health as a human right; highlights the need to guarantee access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, including measures to ensure that women freely control their bodies and lives, have access to family planning, to adequate feminine hygiene products and to receive the recommended natal care to prevent child and maternal mortality; highlights that safe abortion services are important elements to save women’s lives and contribute to avoiding high-risks births and reducing infant and child mortality; stresses the importance of access to adequate gender-sensitive mental health services, particularly in conflict and post- conflict situations;
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 h (new)
Paragraph 21 h (new)
21h. Strongly condemns the continued application of the Global Gag Rule and its impact on women’s and girls’ health and rights; reiterates its call for the EU and its Member States to fill the financing gap left by the US in the area of sexual and reproductive health and rights, using both national and EU development funding;
Amendment 322 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 i (new)
Paragraph 21 i (new)
21i. Expresses grave concerns on the escalated use of torture in the form of sexual and gender based violence, as a weapon of war;
Amendment 325 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 j (new)
Paragraph 21 j (new)
21j. Stresses the alarming increase of violence against women and calls for further action in order to assure that the Istanbul Convention is ratified and thus implemented entirely all over Europe;
Amendment 327 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 k (new)
Paragraph 21 k (new)
21k. Emphasises that gender equality should be a key priority in all working relations, policies and external actions of the EU, as it is a principle for the EU and its Member States itself according to the Treaties;
Amendment 328 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 l (new)
Paragraph 21 l (new)
21l. Calls on the Commission to closely monitor the promotion and status of gender equality in the most affected EU Member States, with special regard to the institutional, policy and legislative framework;
Amendment 331 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls for new EU initiatives to prevent and combat child abuse in the world, to rehabilitate conflict-affected children and children that suffer from multiple and intersectional discrimination, and to provide them with a sheltered environment in which care and education are fundamental; calls for the EU to initiate an international movement to advocate the rights of the child, inter alia by organising an international conference on the protection of children in fragile environments;
Amendment 347 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 8 a (new)
Subheading 8 a (new)
Rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons
Amendment 356 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Strongly supports the Commission List of actions to advance LGBTI equality and the Guidelines to promote and protect the enjoyment of all human rights by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons for external action from 2013, as important elements of the EU’s ongoing efforts to improve the human rights of LGBTI people, in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals; calls on the Commission/EEAS to continue the work on protecting and furthering the human rights of LGBTI people, by working closely with international organisations and non-EU countries, in order to combat discrimination and human rights violations, as well as support the development of legislation and policies protecting the human rights of LGBTI people worldwide;
Amendment 394 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Is deeply concerned that some countries penalise blasphemy, conversion or apostasy, including by the death penalty; reiterates that the right to FoRB includes the rights not to believe, to espouse theistic, non-theistic, agnostic or atheistic views and the right to apostasy;
Amendment 411 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 c (new)
Paragraph 24 c (new)
24c. Welcomes the revised EU policy towards third countries on torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment; calls on the EU Member States to mainstream safeguards against torture and other ill treatment in all their actions and policies;
Amendment 476 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Stresses that the EU should continue to actively support democratic and effective human rights institutions and civil society in their efforts to promote democratisation; reminds that human rights are a fundamental corner stone of democratisation processes; positively notes, in this context, the European Endowment for Democracy’s consistent engagement in the eastern and southern neighbourhoods of the EU to promote democracy and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms; recalls that the experience gained and the lessons learned from transitions to democracy in the framework of the enlargement and neighbourhood policies could make a positive contribution to the identification of best practices that could be used to support and consolidate other democratisation processes worldwide;