34 Amendments of Louis MICHEL related to 2017/2122(INI)
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 a (new)
Citation 19 a (new)
- having regard to the Regulation of 3 April 2017 laying down supply chain due diligence obligations for Union importers of tin, tantalum and tungsten, their ores, and gold originating in conflict-affected and high-risk areas,
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21
Citation 21
— having regard to the EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 20165,
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 26 a (new)
Citation 26 a (new)
- having regard to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights,
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas Article 21 of the TEU commits the EU to developing a common foreign and security policy (CFSP) guided by the principles of democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principle of equality and solidarity, including women's rights and gender equality and compliance with the UN Charter, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and international law;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas today’s worldwide abuses of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocides, necessitate determined efforts on the part of the whole international community;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas in many places democracy is being supplanted by new authoritarian regimes, with the result that fundamental freedoms are restricted and human rights are increasingly at risk and should be defended more actively;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas an increasing number of human rights violations amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity, including genocide, are being committed by state and non-state actors;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas children and women face increasing threats, discrimination and violence, especially in war zones and authoritarian regimes;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
D b. whereas gender equality is at the core of European values and enshrined within the EU’s legal and political framework;whereas violence and discrimination against women and girls has dramatically increased during the recent years;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief, as well as the right to apostasy and the right to adopt atheistic views must be enhanced unconditionally through interreligious and intercultural dialogue;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas Article 207 of the TFEU stipulates that the EU’s commercial policy is to be based on the principles and objectives of the Union’s external action; whereas trade and human rights reinforce each other, and whereas the business community has an important role to play in offering positive incentives in terms of promoting human rights, democracy and corporate responsibility;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. having regard to the growing role of global value chains in the global economy and whereas the EU can make a vital positive contribution to fair world trade;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas a lack of ethical behaviour in trade in, and production of, goods is also a consequence of a lack of good governance and the non-existence of public authorities acting in the general interest;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas placing a high value on freedom and the principle of holding periodic and genuin, fair, open and free elections are essential elements of democracy;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
Recital M a (new)
M a. whereas human rights and democracy support policies should be mainstreamed across all other EU policies with an external dimension, such as development, migration, security, counter- terrorism, women’s rights and gender equality, enlargement and trade in particular through the implementation of human rights conditionality;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reiterates its firm belief that the EU and its Member States must actively pursue the principle of mainstreaming human rights and democracy in all EU policies, including those with an external dimension, such as development, migration, security, counter-terrorism, enlargement and trade, in particular through the implementation of human rights conditionality; reiterates, in this regard, the crucial importance of ensuring increased coherence between the EU’s internal and external policies;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reiterates its firm belief that the EU and its Member States must actively pursue the principle of mainstreaming human rights and democracy in all EU policies; reiterates, in this regard, the crucial importance of ensuring increased coherence between the EU’s internal and external policies; stresses that the growing complexity of conflicts around the world necessitates an integrated, united and vigorous international approach and cooperation;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Expresses grave concern about the increasing number of attacks against religious minorities, in particular Christians, which are often committed by non-state actors such as ISIS/Daesh; deplores the attempts of state actors to limit freedom of religion and belief and freedom of expression by adopting and implementing blasphemy laws; calls for the EU and its Member States to step up their efforts to enhance respect for freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief and to promote interreligious dialogue when engaging with third countries; requests concrete action towards the effective implementation of the EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief, including by ensuring the systematic and consistent training of EU staff at headquarters and in delegations; supports fully the EU practice of taking the lead on thematic resolutions on freedom of religion and belief at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the UN General Assembly (UNGA); supports fully the work of the EU Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU, Mr Ján Figel;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Expresses grave concern about the increasing number of attacks against religious minorities, in particular Christians, which are often committed by non-state actors such as ISIS/Daesh; calls for the EU and its Member States to step up their efforts to enhance respect for freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief and to promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue when engaging with third countries; requests concrete action towards the effective implementation of the EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief, including by ensuring the systematic and consistent training of EU staff at headquarters and in delegations; supports fully the EU practice of taking the lead on thematic resolutions on freedom of religion and belief at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the UN General Assembly (UNGA); supports fully the work of the EU Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU, Mr Ján Figel;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Reiterates the fact that freedom of expression online and offline is a vital component of any democratic society, as it nourishes a culture of pluralism that empowers civil society and citizens to hold their governments and decision-makers to account, and supports respect for the rule of law; stresses, therefore, that the EU should intensify its efforts to promote freedom of expression, freedom of association and artistic freedom through its external policies and instruments; reiterates its request for the EU and its Member States to enhance their monitoring of all types of restrictions on freedom of expression and the media in third countriesand, to rapidly and systematically condemn such limitations and to use all available diplomatic means and instruments to reverse such restrictions; emphasises the importance of ensuring the effective implementation of the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Expression Online and Offline and of regularly monitoring their impact; welcomes the new European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) launched in 2016, with its specific focus on training EU delegations and media actors in third countries on how to apply the Guidelines;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Is deeply concerned that civil society is increasingly under attack worldwide, through, inter alia, a growing number of repressive laws adopted throughout the world, under the pretext of combating terrorism or disclosing "foreign agents"; recalls that independent civil society plays an essential role in the defence and advancement of human rights and in the functioning of democratic societies; deeply regrets the fact that human rights defenders, journalists and civil society activists are victims of harassment, intimidation and killings; calls for the EU and its Member States to constantly monitor and raise cases of violations of freedom of assembly and association, including the various forms of bans and limitations on civil society organisations (CSOs) and their activities, such as laws aiming at shrinking civil society space or the promotion of NGOs sponsored by governments (GONGOs) which mimic a functioning and free civil society space; calls, in addition, for the EU and its Member States to use all available means, such as human rights dialogues, political dialogues and public diplomacy, to systematically raise individual cases of human rights defenders (HRDs) and civil society activists at risk, particularly those in prison;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Is deeply concerned that civil society is increasingly under attack worldwide; recalls that independent civil society plays an essential role in the defence and advancement of human rights and in the functioning of democratic societies; calls for the EU and its Member States to constantly monitor and raise cases of violations of freedom of assembly and association, including the various forms of bans and limitations on civil society organisations (CSOs) and their activities; calls, in addition, for the EU and its Member States to use all available means, such as human rights dialogues, political dialogues and public diplomacy, to systematically raise individual cases of human rights defenders (HRDs) and civil society activists at risk, particularly thosein prison who have been detained or imprisoned for arbitrary reasons and/or on account of their political convictions or social commitment;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Calls for the establishment of a system to effectively monitor civil society space with clear benchmarks and indicators, to fill in the gaps in the overall framework under which the EU deals with the issue of civil society space, notably as regards the use and definition of terms around the enabling, conducive, legal environment for civil society;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Considers it deeply regrettable that torture, ill-treatment and the death penalty continue all over the world, and calls for the EU to intensify its efforts to eradicate these serious human rights violationsm; urges the EEAS and the VP/HR to engage more strongly in the fight against torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, including the death penalty, through increased diplomatic efforts and more systematic public positioning; recommends that the EEAS, the EU delegations and the Member States use all existing instruments, such as the EU Guidelines on Torture, to their full potential; welcomes the fact that the UN’s resolution on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty was adopted by the UNGA in December 2016 with the support of 117 countries; calls on countries that still retain this practice to adopt a moratorium and abolish the death penalty;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes the adoption of the EU Gender Action Plan 2016-2020 which sets out a comprehensive list of measures to improve the situation of women in terms of equal rights and empowerment; emphasises the importance of ensuring its effective implementation; welcomes, in addition, the adoption of the Strategic Engagement for Gender Equality 2016-2019, which promotes gender equality and women’s rights worldwide; requests that the Commission, the EEAS and the VP/HR step up their fulfilment of the obligations and commitments in the area of women’s rights under the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); believesdraws attention to the vital and constructive contribution that women make in post- conflict areas and believes therefore that the EU should continue mainstreaming support for women within common security and defence policy (CSDP) operations, conflict prevention and post- conflict reconstruction; recalls that the 2016 Sakharov Prize was awarded to Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar, survivors of sexual enslavement perpetrated by ISIS/Daesh; strongly condemns all forms of abuse and violence against women and girls in this connection;
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Condemns the fact that women’s sexual and reproductive rights are frequently violated;emphasises that proper, affordable health care and universal respect for and access to sexual and reproductive rights and education should be ensured to all women;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Reaffirms the urgent need for the universal ratification and effective implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols; underlines that children are often exposed to specific abuses, such as child marriages or genital mutilation, and therefore are in need of enhanced protection; requests that the EU systematically consult relevant local and international child rights organisations, and raise, in its political and human rights dialogues with third countries, States Parties’ obligations to implement the Convention; welcomes the Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2016-2021); requests that the EU continue to promote the EU-UNICEF Child Rights Toolkit for integrating child rights in development cooperation through its external delegations, and to train the EU delegation staff adequately in this field; reiterates its request for the Commission to propose a comprehensive children’s rights strategy and action plan for the next five years, in order to prioritise children’s rights within EU external policies; welcomes the fact that under the 2016 Development Cooperation Instrument, resources were allocated to support UN agencies in carrying out measures targeted to children’s rights;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Reaffirms the fact that the activities of all companies, including European ones, operating in third countries should be in full compliance with international human rights standards; reaffirms, moreover, the importance of promoting corporate social responsibility and of European enterprises playing a leading role in promoting international standards on business and human rights; acknowledges that global value chains contribute to enhancing international core labour, environmental and social standards, and represent an opportunity for sustainable progress, especially in developing countries; outlines, however, that in case of business-related human rights abuses, the effective access to remedies for victims should be ensured;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Reaffirms the fact that the activities of all companies, including European ones, operating in third countries should be in full compliance with international human rights standards; reaffirms, moreover, the importance of promoting corporate social responsibility and of European enterprises playing a leading role in promoting international standards on business and human rights; acknowledges that global value chains contribute to enhancing international core labour, environmental and social standards, and represent an opportunity for sustainable progresgrowth and prosperity, fair and ethical trade and the promotion of human rights, especially in developing countries;
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Strongly condemns the heinous crimes and human rights violations committed by state actors, as well as non- state actors such as Boko Haram in Nigeria and, ISIS/Daesh in Syria and Iraq and Houthi in Yemen, among others; is horrified at the vast range of crimes committed, including murder, torture, rape as a weapon of war, enslavement and sexual slavery, the recruitment of child soldiers, forced religious conversions and the systematic killing of religious minorities, including Christians, Yazidis and others; emphasises that the EU and its Member States should support the prosecution of state actors, as well as members of non-state groups such as ISIS/Daesh by seeking a consensus within the UN Security Council to confer jurisdiction to the International Criminal Court (ICC);
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Expresses profound concern at and solidarity with the large number of refugees and migrants who suffer grave human rights violations as the victims of conflicts, persecution, governance failures and illegal migration, trafficking and smuggling networks; stresses the urgent need to tackle the root causes of migration flows and therefore to address the external dimension of the refugee crisis, including by finding sustainable solutions to conflicts in our neighbourhood by developing, among others, cooperation and partnerships with the third countries concerned; underlines the need for a comprehensive human-rights-based approach to migration and calls for the EU to collaborate further with the UN, regional organisations, governments and NGOs;
Amendment 325 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Welcomes the adoption of the EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2015; cConsiders that the Annual Report is an indispensable tool for scrutiny, communication and debate on the EU’s policy on human rights and democracy in the world;
Amendment 329 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Stresses once again the lasting importance of vigilant and sufficient follow-up to the urgency resolutions of the European Parliament on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law;
Amendment 339 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Acknowledges that Human Rights Dialogues with third countries can be an efficient tool for bilateral engagement and cooperation in the promotion and protection of human rights; welcomes the establishment of Human Rights Dialogues with a growing number of countries; urges the EEAS to ensure that women’s rights are included in all agendas and to systematically hold consultation meetings with civil society, including local civil society, before and after each Dialogue; praises and further encourages the involvement of civil society in preparatory dialogues; reiterates its call for the development of a comprehensive mechanism for monitoring and reviewing the functioning of Human Rights Dialogues;