Activities of Louis MICHEL related to 2016/2324(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on addressing shrinking civil society space in developing countries PDF (432 KB) DOC (74 KB)
Amendments (22)
Amendment 5 #
1. Deplores the fact that certain states often limit or restrict freedom of expression in order to silence dissent or criticism; recalls that the long-term stability, democratic values and resilience of a society can only be achieved and maintained by ensuring openness of the civic space and the rights to freedom of expression, opinion, peaceful assembly and association;
Amendment 8 #
1 a. Condemns the shrinking of civil society space as a result of acts of harassment and intimidation against civil society organisations and individual activists, who are solely exercising their rights of freedom of expression, assembly and association;calls on governments to investigate and to ensure accountability for this kind of actions and attacks directed against NGOs,
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
Citation 13 a (new)
- having regard to the Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World, and the EU’s policy for 2015;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
- having regard to the Code of Good Practice for Civil Participation in the Decision-Making Process, drafted by the Conference of INGOs on 1 October 2009;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 b (new)
Citation 2 b (new)
Amendment 20 #
2. Considers that the EU should use its foreign policy instruments, including human rights and development instruments, to deal with the structural roots of the shrinking space problem and to design a multifaceted approach, since regimes are now using not only draconian NGO laws but also a wide range of direct and indirect tactics to limit the operation or financing of civil society organisations (CSOs), such as arbitrary registration and reporting requirements, distorted criminal charges, including criminal defamatory laws, raids and audits, and counterterrorism measures;
Amendment 22 #
2. Considers that the EU should use its foreign policy instruments, including human rights and development instruments, to deal with the structural roots of the shrinking space problem and to design a multifaceted approach, since regimes are now using not only draconian NGO laws but also a wide range of direct and indirect tactics to limit the operation or financing of civil society organisations (CSOs), such as arbitrary registration and reporting requirements, distorted criminal charges, deprivation of freedom, raids and audits, and counterterrorism measures;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas civil society represents the third sector of society, along with governments and businesses; whereas it comprises non-governmental and non- profit organisations that have a presence in public life, expressing the interests and values of their members or others, based on ethical, cultural, political, scientific, religious or philanthropic considerations; whereas their presence as vital forces in society is crucial, as they represent a necessary counterbalance to the powers that be by playing the role of intermediary and mediator between the population and the state, and in their capacity as guardians of democracy;
Amendment 36 #
3. Calls on the Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Member States and the EU Special Representative for Human Rights to be more vocal, consistent and timely in expressing objections to restrictive CSO laws and practices and to exert effective and tailored pressure on the host governments in question and raise this issue systematically in political and human rights dialogues; considers that EU actors could exert more positive conditionality by allocating additional funds to those governments allowing a wider space for civil society;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas there has been a worrying increase in the number of reports of CSOs, human right defenders, including trade unionists, lawyers, intellectuals and journalists being persecuted, harassed, arbitrarily arrested or detained, and in the number of victims of abuse and violence, in recent years; whereas in a number of countries, this is being done with complete impunity, and at times with the support or compliance of the authorities;
Amendment 47 #
5. Requests the establishment of a ‘Shrinking Space Early Warning’ mechanism, with the involvement of the relevant EU institutions, capable of issuing an alert when a given government is preparing serious new restrictions against civil society, or when the government is using so-called government-organized non-governmental organisations (GONGOs) to simulate the existence of independent civil society, so that the EU is able to respond in a timelier, coordinated and tangible manner;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas civil society’s ability to act relies on the exercise of three fundamental freedoms, namely the right to freedom of association, freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of expression and the freedom of expressionfree access to information; whereas freedom of association includes the freedom to operate and conduct actions;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that a genuinely independent, pluralistic and vibrant civil society is pivotal to a country’s development and stability, to ensuring democracy, social justice and respect for human rights, and to building inclusive societies; further recalls that civil society is a key actor in achieving the SDGs;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises the central role played by civil society in developing countries in promoting transparency, accountability, the role of guardian of the separation of powers and good governance, in particular in the fight against corruption, and its potential implications on country’s economic and human development;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is deeply concerned that the closing down of civil society space in developing countries, in particular in unstable and conflict-stricken states, is being carried out in increasingly subtle and sophisticated ways, which are harder to tackle and range from legislation, administrative, reporting and banking requirements, to the criminalisation and stigmatisation of CSO representatives, defamation, administrative harassment, online repression, censorship, arbitrary detention, torture and assassination;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Insists that states have the primary responsibility and are under the obligation to protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons, and have a duty to provide a political, legal and administrative environment conducive to a free and functioning civil society, in particular by refraining from engaging in any form of harassment (judicial, administrative or fiscal) or smear campaign;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Points out that states must ensure that civil society is involved in the consultation process on legislation that affects them and on matters that are of particular importance to society;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Recalls that only governments legitimised by the ballot box are responsible to the population; notes that civil society plays a complementary, consultative and participatory role as an agent for change, proposal and reflection; stresses that its political advocacy activities are of assistance to policy makers;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines that tackling shrinking civil society space requires a unified and consistent approach in the EU’s relationship with developing countries, and calls for the EU and Member States to proactively address the root causes of shrinking civil society space, in particular by mainstreaming the promotion of civil society organisations and their participation in bilateral and multilateral cooperation ats all stages, including in political dialogues at the highest level partner in political, economic and social dialogue;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Recalls the vital role that an organised diaspora can play in reconstructing their country of origin and in transferring democratic values;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Stresses that western civil society supports the creation and strengthening of NGOs by transferring know-how in order to help them to contribute to the development of their own countries;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Reiterates the importance of mainstreaming the rights-based approach (RBA) into the EU development policy, with the aim of integrating human rights and rule of law principles into EU development activities and of synchronising human rights and development cooperation activities;