Activities of Richard HOWITT related to 2012/2088(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
EU Special Representative for Human Rights (A7-0174/2012 - José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra) (vote)
Annual human rights report (debate)
Amendments (9)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b
Paragraph 1 – point b
(b) in order to strengthen the transparency and accountability of the mandate of the EUSR, an exchange of views/hearing with the EUSR for HR nominated by the High Representative should take place before the European Parliament (in an in camera meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and of the Subcommittee on Human Rights) prior to his/her appointment by the Council;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d
Paragraph 1 – point d
(d) the policy objectives of the EUSR for HR should include enhancing the coherence, effectiveness and visibility of EU action in the protection and promotion of human rights and democracy; the EUSR HR should work in close cooperation with the COHOM; the EUSR for HR should be a high-level interlocutor for its counterparts in third countries and at international organisations, also able to engage with the UN (UNGA, UNHRC, etc.) as well as relevant regional organisations; the EUSR for HR should chair high-level human rights dialogues and lead the consultations with third countries on human rights issues;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e
Paragraph 1 – point e
(e) in order to achieve these objectives, the EUSR, while acting under the authority of the High Representative, should be granted a strong, independent and flexible mandate not defined by narrow and specific thematic responsibilities but rather allowing the EUSR to act swiftly and effectively; in line with the actions and priorities set out in the Action Plan, the EUSR for HR should also address different horizontal issues contributing to more effective and coherent action in EU external policies; the scope of the EUSR's mandate should be fully in line with the principles of universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to the policy objectives laid down in Article 21 of TEU and should cover, inter alia, strengthening democracy and institution building, international justice, international humanitarian law, abolition of the death penalty, human rights defenders, freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression, child protection, gender issues, persons with disabilities, as well as, women's rights, women, - peace and security, LGBT rights and persons with disabilities;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f
Paragraph 1 – point f
(f) the mandate should be based on the principles guiding the EU's HR policy and, in particular, on EU guidelines on the death penalty (2008); torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (2008); human rights dialogues with third countries (2009); children and armed conflict (2008); human rights defenders (2008); promotion and protection of the rights of the child (2008); violence against women and girls and combating all forms of discrimination against them (2008); international humanitarian law (2009), LGBT toolkit (2010) as well as the EU's annual reports on human rights in the world;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f
Paragraph 1 – point f
(f) the mandate should be based on the principles guiding the EU's HR policy and, in particular, on EU guidelines on the death penalty (2008); torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (2008); human rights dialogues with third countries (2009); children and armed conflict (2008); human rights defenders (2008); promotion and protection of the rights of the child (2008); violence against women and girls and combating all forms of discrimination against them (2008); international humanitarian law (2009), as well as the EU's annual reports on human rights in the world. Moreover, the mandate should include supporting the High Representative and the EU Institutions in the promotion of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, in light of their agreement in 2011 and the priority given to them in the European Commission Cummnication on Corporate Social Responsibility (COM(2011) 681 final);
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h
Paragraph 1 – point h
(h) the EUSR for HR should be appointed for 2-2.5 years in order to ensure continuity. The mandate should be renewable once;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i
Paragraph 1 – point i
(i) the EUSR for HR should work closely together with and under the authority of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to ensure coherence and mainstreaming of human rights across all policy areas in the work of all EU institutions; the EUSR should interact closely with the EEAS HR and Democracy Directorate and all the multilateral EU Delegations (New York, Geneva, Vienna, Strasbourg as well as with all EU delegations in the World) in order to facilitate contacts on human rights issues with all EU services, EU delegations in third countries and with international organisations; the EEAS HR and Democracy Directorate should provide all necessary services and facilitate the implementation of the EUSR mandate;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j
Paragraph 1 – point j
(j) while maintaining close links with the Council's Political and Security Committee, the EUSR for HR should regularly report to the European Parliament, in a joint meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Subcommittee on Human Rights, on the situation of human rights in the world and the state of play of the implementation of the mandate, including Human Rights Country strategies and the results of the UNHRC and UNGA sessions and human rights dialogues with third countries;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l
Paragraph 1 – point l
(l) the EUSR for HR should be provided with sufficientadequate financial and human resources in order to guarantee the effective work of the Special Representative and his/her team; the budget of the EUSR for HR should be reviewed annually;