43 Amendments of Miriam LEXMANN related to 2021/2181(INI)
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12
Citation 12
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14
Citation 14
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17
Citation 17
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 a (new)
Citation 22 a (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 15 January 2019 on EU Guidelines and the mandate of the EU Special Envoy on the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU (2018/2155(INI))
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Is extremely concerned by the challenges to human rights and democracy, resulting in the weakening of the protection of democratic institutionsgovernance and of universal human rights, as well as the shrinking space for civil society, observed around the world; calls for the EU and its Member States to make stronger efforts to address the challenges to human rights, both individually and in cooperation with like- minded international partners;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines the importance of both the new Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) – Global Europe and the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020–2024 for this goal; recalls that the use of the rule of qualified majority voting within the Council on human rights issues wouldmay result in a more effective and proactive EU foreign and security policy, and would strengthen cooperation on matters of key strategic interest for the EU, while reflecting its fundamental values; stresses, however, that unity among the Member States is paramount to ensuring that EU external action is both effective and proactive;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is deeply concerned by increasing number of illiberal democracies and autocraticthe growing assertiveness of authoritarian and totalitarian regimes, which are in the majority for the first time in 20 years; calls for the EU and the Member States too seek to suppress their own people and to weaken freedom, democratic governance and international norms globally; calls for the EU and the Member States to develop a more ambitious democracy support programme, together with our democratic allies, that makes full use of the tools at their disposal to support freedom, good governance, democratic institutions and space for civil society worldwide;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls for greater coordination with the United States and other like-minded democratic partners to support freedom and democracy worldwide, and push back against authoritarian and totalitarian regimes and their malign influence;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the importance of the EU’s support to mediation and electoral processes through its assistance to domestic observers and through the election observations missions, in which Parliament plays an active role; highlights the need for effective follow-up to the missions’ reports and recommendations, in order to strengthen democratic standards and facilitate future peaceful democratic transitions and development in the countries concerned; recalls Parliament’s political mediation tools, which could be developed further to help in this overall approach;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls that respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law is a cross-cutting objective in the whole NDICI – Global Europe Instrument as stipulated in Article 3 (objectives) of the Regulation; underlines the importance of the Human Rights and Democracy thematic programme adopted under the NDICI – Global Europe Instrument for the promotection of human rights and promotion of freedom and democracy around the world;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the strategic dialogue between the Commission and Parliament on all the components of the NDICI, and calls on the Commission to fully take into account Parliament’s input concerning the human rights priorities, both in the thematic programme and in all the geographical programmes; stresses that the full impact of the instrument can only be achieved if the human rights agenda is streamlined into alldefending and advancing freedom and democracy plays a central role in the EU’s external policies and programmes, if it is coherent with its internal policies, and if the EU is perceived as a credible international actor committed to defending and advancprotecting human rights and advancing freedom;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Commends the work of the European Endowment for Democracy in supporting civil society and free media across the EU's southern and eastern neighbourhood, as well as the Western Balkans; calls on the Commission to increase re-granting mechanisms within the EU's democracy support programmes, thus strengthening bottom-up approaches to democracy support and ensuring that smaller initiatives on regional or local level can also benefit from EU support;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Reiterates its support for the work of European political foundations in supporting and empowering the next generation of political leaders in the EU's neighbourhood and beyond;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that the visibility of the EUSR’s role should be enhanced in order to have a meaningful impact on human rights; underlines that, although, the EUSR has a flexible mandate which could be adapted to evolving circumstances, the EUSR should prioritise the fate of people living under oppressive authoritarian and totalitarian regimes; is of the opinion that the EUSR’s position could be made more effective by enhancing communication activities and developing a more public profile through, inter alia, the publication of public statements in support of human rights activists at risk, includingpeople persecuted on grounds of their religion, belief or conscience, all those oppressed by authoritarian and totalitarian regimes around the world, Sakharov Prize laureates and finalists, and of human rights defenders imprisoned for long periods, thereby helping to protect their physical integrity and their essential work;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Acknowledges that the EU human rights dialogues have the potential to promote human rights and democracy in bilateral relations with third countries, but underlines that in order to be effective, they need to be pursued in a results- oriented manner and based on clear benchmarks to evaluate their outcomes; regrets the fact that the Revised EU Guidelines on Human Rights Dialogues with Partner/Third Countries, while establishing specific objectives, fail to identify indicators which would allow a proper evaluation to be conducted; calls for the European External Action Service (EEAS) to carry out such evaluations for each dialogue, in line with the EU guidelines and including follow-up on individual cases raised both in the context of human rights dialogues and by Parliament; is of the opinion that, in the case of Human Rights Dialogues with regimes such as the People's Republic of China (PRC), failure to achieve concrete results should have consequences for the wider conduct of bilateral relations, including the freezing of negotiations on any future investment or trade agreements;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses that all civil society actors, in particular independent civil society organisation, religious groups and church-based communities, have a vital role to play in the dialogues, in terms of providing input both to the dialogues and to evaluation of their outcomes; underlines that such organisationscivil society should therefore be consulted within the framework of official and informal dialogues, as well as exploratory talks; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to improve communication and transparency with regard to civil society organisations; to this end, calls on the EEAS and the Commission to appoint human rights focal points at the geographical divisions of their headquartersstrengthen support to civil society, including through technical support, particularly in third countries where oppressive regimes seek to destroy or prevent the growth of organic civil society;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Given the fact that human rights dialogues are intended to be a central part of the EU’s foreign policy toolbox, highlightstresses that they cannot be an end in themselves; therefore calls on the EEAS and the Council to strike a better balance between diplomacy, interests and values, more in line with the human rights objectives guiding the EU’s external action with a greater focus on a long-term perspectivereiterates that, as per Article 21 TEU, the values on which the Union has been founded must guide all aspects of our external policies, including the common foreign and security policy and international trade policy;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that 2020 marked the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, an essential universal forum for international consensus-building on peace and security, sustainable development and respect for human rights and international law; calls for the EU and its Member States to maintain their vital support to the UN and to continue their efforts to speak with one voice in the UN and other multilateral forums, while respecting their sovereignty; stresses that the challenges to the universal enjoyment of human rights call for even strongerhighlights the need for more effective multilateralism and international cooperation; highlights the vital role of UN bodies as the forum for advancing peace, conflict resolution and the protection of human rights, and welcomes the UN Secretary-General’s Call to Action on Human Rights;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Condemns the increase in attempts by authoritarian regimes to undermine the functioning of the UN’s bodies, in particularabuse the Human Rights Council for their own ends, and to obstruct the rules-based international order; calls on the EU Member States and the EU’s democratic partners to decisively counter these attempts and to strengthen their response to serious violations of international human rights; stresses that state sovereignty cannot be used as a pretext to avoid human rights monitoring by the international community since, according to the Founding Charter of the United Nations and UN General Assembly resolution 60/251, all states, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, have the duty and the responsibility to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, and the UN Human Rights Council should address situations of violations of human rights; in a balanced manner, and cease attempts to disproportionately target the State of Israel; calls in this regard for a fundamental reform of the Human Rights Council including the setting of clear criteria for members of the Council;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Deplores China, Russia and other authoritarian regimes for their abuse of multilateral institutions, seeking to neutralise human rights mechanisms' their ability to hold states accountable for human rights violations, as well as to undermine and/or rewrite international norms to suit their authoritarian agenda; calls on the Council and the Member States to work with like-minded democratic allies to support a reform of multilateral institutions so that they become more resilient in the face of malign influence of authoritarian regimes;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Stresses that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), through the suppression of whistleblowers, withholding of vital information and spreading of disinformation, holds moral responsibility for the spread of COVID- 19, and the consequent human, economic and political costs. Notes that any continued attempts by the Beijing authorities to withhold vital information from international investigators about the origins and spread of COVID-19 should have clear consequences in the form of targeted sanctions against responsible CCP officials;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Highlights the highly negative impact of COVID-19, which has disproportionately affected women, LGBTIQ persons and vulnerable groups, including the poor, children, persons with disabilities, migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, religious and other minorities, informal workers and persons in prison or detention, among others; stresses that vulnerable groups are also more affected by the negative economic and social consequences of the pandemic, as well as the restrictions in access to healthcare and education; notes with concern the increase in hate speech against certain vulnerable groups, in particular minority groups, as well as restrictions on the freedom of religion or belief;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Stresses that the EU should increase its support to tackle the negative consequences of COVID-19, particularly for vulnerable groups; to this end, calls for the EU to urgently strengthen its efforts to bring to an end the alarming imbalance in the global distribution of vaccines, thereby fulfilling its previous commitment to embracesupport the COVID-19 vaccine as a global public good through, among other things, technological transfer andhrough the ramping up of local production; stresses the importance of supporting the strengthening of education and healthcare systems to make them resilient to future threats; calls for greater support for innovative technologies to that end and welcomes Team Europe’s response in this regard; acknowledges the right to physical and mental health, which in many countries is still subject to stigma and discrimination, and underlines how the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed enormous neglect in the provision of mental health care;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Highlights the interdependence between human rights, a healthy environment and combating climate change, and welcomes the UN’s call for global recognition of the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment; underlines the vital role played by environmental human rights defenders and local and indigenous populations in preserving such anthe environment, despite the threats of violence that they often face from those responsible for, and profiting from, environmentally harmful practices; encourages the EU and the Member States to promote the recognition of ecocide as an international crime under the Rome Statute of the ICC, and requests that the Commission study the relevance of ecocide to EU law and EU diplomacy;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Underlines the crucial importance of advancing women’s rights and welcomes the EU Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in External Action 2021–2025 (GAP III) as a sign of the EU’s commitment in this field; commends the important role played by female political leaders and civic activists in political, social and environmental movements, and deplores the fact that women often become targets of violence as a result of both their gender and their activities, even paying for them with their lives;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Deplores the fact that women continue to make up the majority of victims of gender-based violence, such as domestic violence and sexual violence and abuse, including female genital mutilation, and that they face discrimination in political and professional life, as well as in access to education and healthcare; stresses that the provision of care, protection and access to justice for victims of gender- based violence and trafficking has significantly decreased as a result of the pandemic, and calls for the EU to promote the development of emergency assistance plans and protocols both at UN level and in partner countries, with the aim of adapting assistance programmes to the circumstances of the pandemic, its aftermath and future crises; denounces the exploitation of women through the practice of surrogacy;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Reiterates its call for the EU and its Member States to support high level of healthcare for pregnant women, safe births and maternal care in third countries; regrets the fact that the overall progress in women’s rights is far below the UN countries’ commitments included in the Beijing Convention in 1995 and is concerned at the trend of backsliding in progress achieved; in this regard, is extremely concerned about the deterioration of the right of every individual to have full control over matters related to their sexuality, as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights, without coercion and discrimination, in particular with regard to safe and free access to abortion; calls for the EU and its Member States to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights as part of their international commitments and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)the unborn child;
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Notes that in 2020, the situation of the victims of trafficking, the majority of whom are women, has worsened considerably, since the COVID-19 pandemic has left the victims of trafficking in an even more vulnerable position; welcomes the launch of the EU’s Strategy on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (2021–2025); underlines that the identification of the victims of trafficking has become even more complicated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and therefore calls for the EU and its Member States to intensify their efforts in international judicial and law enforcement cooperation to prevent trafficking and identify victims, avoiding their criminalisation, and provide them with the necessary health and psychological support in close cooperation with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, NGOs and civil society organisations dedicated to the protection of victims;
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Reiterates its call for the EU and its Member States to step up their efforts to eliminate all forms of abuse against children; welcomes the new EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child adopted by the Commission, but stresses that children continue to be victims of violence, early and forced marriage, sexual abuse, including genital mutilation, trafficking, prostitution, pornography, child labour and recruitment as child soldiers, and that they suffer from a lack of access to education and healthcare, and from malnutrition and poverty, in particular in humanitarian crises and armed conflicts; stresses that 2021 is the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour; calls for the streamlining of the rights of the child and parental rights and the children and armed conflicts (CAAC) agenda in all the EU’s external policies; calls on the Member States to uphold their responsibilities with regard to the protection of foreign fighters’ children who are EU citizens;
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Reiterates its strong condemnation of discrimination, xenophobia, intolerance, persecution and killings linked to race, ethnicity, nationality, social class, disability, caste, religion, belief, age, sexual orientation and gender identity that continue to be a major problem in many countries; welcomes the launch of the EU’s anti-racism action plan 2020–2025, which recognises not only the individual and social dimensions, but also the structural nature of this phenomenon; stresses that in spite of 20 years of work since the signing of Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in 2001,notes that racism, discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance continue to be a scourge around the world and calls for a zero- tolerance approach to them;
Amendment 265 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Fully supports the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, to hold a belief, or not to believe, and the right to manifest one's religion publicly and to change or leave one’s religion or belief without fear of violence, persecution, or discrimination; deplores the persecution suffered by minorities on the grounds of belief or religion in many places in the world, especially in China, Pakistan, and the countries of sub-Saharan Africa; condemns the activities of jihadist groups operating across Africa, the Middle East, Afghanistan and beyond to establish new forms of the Caliphate; condemns the abuse of blasphemy laws to perpetuate discrimination and deplores the use of religion and religious institutions to the detriment of human rights through the persecution, including by legal means, of belief or religious minorities, women and LGBTIQ persand those in vulnerable positions;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Calls on the Commission and the Council to develop a more ambitious programmes for defending freedom of religion or belief worldwide; notes that freedom of religion or belief is an important indicator about the state of other human rights;
Amendment 272 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 b (new)
Paragraph 30 b (new)
30b. Calls on the Commission to appoint as soon as possible a new EU Special Envoy for freedom of religion or belief, and ensure sufficient funding and staffing to supporting the Special Envoy's work; recommends that Special Envoys for Freedom of Religion or Belief throughout the EU Member States, together with the EU Special Envoy, share their best practices and work closely together;
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 c (new)
Paragraph 30 c (new)
30c. Reiterates that addressing persecution on the ground of religion or belief is crucial in addressing many of the challenges faced by the EU, including migration;
Amendment 310 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32a. Commends the Council for adopting targeted sanctions against Chinese officials responsible for human rights abuses in the Xinjiang province, and calls on the Council to adopt additional measures should the dire situation persist;
Amendment 354 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Stresses the multi-faceted threat to the enjoyment of human rights brought about by modern armedwars and military conflicts, which, in addition to states, often involve non- state agents and terrorist organisations; reiterates its call for the EU to strengthen its response to conflicts in collaboration with partner countries and regional organisations, including a strong focus on conflict prevention, mediation and good offices efforts, addressing the root causes of the conflicts, humanitarian aid, providing the necessary support to the international peacebuilding and peacekeeping missions, as well as EU missions in the framework of the common security and defence policy, and post- conflict reconstruction operations supporting and applying strong integration and scrutiny of human rights and a robust gender perspective;
Amendment 365 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 20
Subheading 20
Due diligence and corporate responsibility
Amendment 371 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)
Paragraph 40 a (new)
40a. Calls on the Commission and the Council to ban all imports of cotton picked and made from forced labour, including from the PRC province of Xinjiang;
Amendment 372 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 b (new)
Paragraph 40 b (new)
40b. Calls on European companies operating in the PRC and, in particular, in the province of Xinjiang to apply their corporate responsibility by undertaking a thorough review of their supply chains to ensure that products manufactured or traded by European companies do not involve forced labour;
Amendment 376 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 21
Subheading 21
Importance of strong human rights clauses and clear benchmarks in international agreements
Amendment 383 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)
Paragraph 42 a (new)
42a. Regrets the failure of the Commission to include concrete benchmarks on the implementation of ILO Conventions by the PRC in the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI); notes that the European Parliament will take the human rights situation across mainland China and Hong Kong into consideration if and when asked to endorse CAI;
Amendment 394 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 a (new)
Paragraph 44 a (new)
44a. Reiterates its calls to combat and eradicate forced labour and other forms of human rights abuses in supply chains, and calls on the EU institutions to lead by example, and conduct thorough due diligence assessment of vendors (including sub-contractors) from outside the European Union;
Amendment 403 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46 a (new)
Paragraph 46 a (new)
46a. Calls on the Commission and the Council to strengthen the EU's response to disinformation, cyber attacks and other hybrid threats emanating from malign foreign actors seeking to undermine societal resilience and democratic processes across the EU, in our neighbourhood, and beyond;