Activities of Marie-Christine VERGIAT related to 2013/2020(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the situation of human rights in the Sahel region PDF (407 KB) DOC (198 KB)
Amendments (25)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Heading 1
Heading 1
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas Tuareg resentments in northern Mali were exploited by extremist groups who in early 2012 allied with, and subsequently displaced, the secular National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) in their rebellion; whereas these groups, in particular Ansar Dine, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), further benefited from the instability arising from the subsequent coup in Bamako; whereas the systematicextremist groups, in particular Ansar Dine, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), allied with the MNLA by exploiting the Tuareg question as part of the rebellion which took place in the north of Mali at the beginning of 2012, and made use of the political and military instability that followed the coup which had led to the fall of the legitimate government of Mali; whereas the atrocities and very numerous violations of human rights in the north of Mali, combined with the impending existential threat to the Malian state itself, precipitated the international interventions to help shore up democracy, restore the rule of law and improve the situation of human rights;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas EU co-operation with the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), regional human rights institutions and UN human rights bodies remains a pre-requisite for productively advocating the protection and advancement of human rights in the Sahel; whereas no policy in this area can be effective without the close cooperation of civil society;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that the situation of human rights in the Sahel has acquired greater international prominence as a result of the armed conflict in Mali and the international response to it; acknowledges that this conflict has created specific problems in that country, as well as exacerbating fundamental underlying challenges already present in Mali and elsewhere in the region; stresses, however, that the immediate concerns in Mali should not deflect attention from the chronic and pervasive problems that seriously impact on human rights in the rest of the Sahel, in particular, slavery and human trafficking, arms and drug trafficking, jihadi extremism and radicalisation, fragile governance and institutional corruption, and systemic and debilitating poverty;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Points out that the permeability of borders is a characteristic feature of the countries in the region; stresses that the worsening of the situation in the Sahel is closely linked to the massive influx of weapons into Northern Mali following the war in Libya, whereas in other countries in the region Libyan rebels were routinely disarmed at the borders; renews its call for regulation and strict checks on arms sales so as to ensure that Member States do not become involved in the proliferation of conflicts;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Attaches particular urgency to the human rights situation in Mali, with reports of serious human rights violations in northern Mali by armed groups; notes that alleged crimes include mass rape, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture, ethnic-based violence, summary executions, illegal arrests and passing of sentences without due process, forced disappearances, the use of child soldiers, forced marriages, intentionally directing attacks against protected objects, and destruction and looting of property; notes that, since January 2013, there have also been reports of human rights violations by elements of the Malian security forces and vigilante groups against the Tuareg and Arab communities, and other groups perceived to have cooperated or been associated with rebel groups; urges the Malian authorities and their international partners to pay close attention to the new patterns of human rights violations, including reprisals based on ethnicity, that have emerged since the recovery of certain parts of northern Mali, and could constitute an obstacle to peace-building and reconciliation if not properly addressed; calls upon the Malian Government to facilitate the reporting of abuses in any future offensivehuman rights violations, and to respect due process when interrogating suspected militanpresumed suspects; reiterates its condemnation of the atrocities committed against the civilian population; recalls the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor’s determination of a reasonable basis to believe that atrocities committed in the Mali conflict constitute war crimes; believes moreover that some atrocities could constitute crimes against humanity; calls for an independent international investigation to determine whether the above allegations have any basis in fact and to establish the extent to which the individual parties, international players included, must be held to blame for these crimes;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Abhors the grave violationsbrutal acts of violence against children in Mali, including the reported use of child soldiers by all of the armed groups active in the north; emphasises the importance of allocating sufficient recourses to the tasks of demobilisation and rehabilitation of child soldiers; condemns in the strongest terms the sexual violence against girls, forced marriages, abductions and attacks on schools and hospitals that have occurred during the Mali conflict; draws attention to the capture and detention of children for intelligence purposes as a worrying emerging trend that needs to be addressed as a matter of the utmost urgency;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the strong human rights direction in UN Security Council Resolution 2100, adopted on 25 April 2013, and the instruction in the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) to monitor, help investigate and report to the Security Council on any abuses or violations of human rights or violations of international humanitarian law; welcomes the integration of a human rights training component into the EU CSDP Training Mission (EUTM) in Mali; hopes that particularly searching scrutiny will be brought to bear on the use of the funding granted for the mission; points out that the cost of the operation is estimated at EUR 12.3 million and that many international as well as local observers are sceptical about the effectiveness of the above-mentioned training component;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the substantial African contingent within the MINUSMA mission, and in particular the AU’s decision to send human rights observers embedded within it; welcomes furthermore the European Commission’s endeavour to train additional local observers within the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights; urges the EU to learn lessons from this experience and, drawing on the assistance of stakeholders in Mali’s national and local civil society, to explore appropriate ways to have available pools of trained experts, who could be quickly deployed on the ground in urgent situations to give professional advice to EU policy- makers if necessary;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Welcomes the conclusions of the International Donors Conference ‘Together for a New Mali’, held in May 2013; commends the Malian Government’s Plan for the Sustainable Recovery of Mali (PRED); reiterates the need to link aid with institutional reform and discernible social and political development; furthermore commends the constructive involvement of regional actorsnd local actors; hopes that the sums announced will indeed prove to be donations and be paid out rapidly, rather than being turned into loans conditional upon the implementation of a given policy; calls, bearing in mind the extent of the widespread corruption within the Malian authorities, for all the necessary assurances and safeguards to be put in place in order to ensure that the sums paid out can be used as soon as possible to help the Malian people;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Considers the need to fighting impunity and holding all perpetrators of serious human rights violations accountable, irrespective of affiliation and status, asto be key to ensuring lasting peace and stability in Mali; welcomes therefore the Malian Government’'s referral of the situation to the ICC and the ICC Prosecutor’'s opening of formal investigations; calls on the EU and other international partners of Mali to help the government to pursue its objective of investigating and prosecuting perpetrators of abuses; calls on the Malian Government to consider establishing a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, along the South African lines, to encourage dialogue and foster trust between communities;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Considers that the current human rights challenges in the Sahel cannot be disaggregated from a general crisis of governance, encompassing widespread corruption in public office, weak provision of basic services, poor implementation of social and economic rights, and particularly in the vast and often sparsely populated Saharan regions, profound challenges in upholding the rule of law and maintaining effective border controls; regrets the ensuing harm to the legitimacy of the region’s institutions and political systems; fears the risk of further conflict or disorder in the future if such issues are not adequately addressed; points out that populations have to enjoy access to their natural resources and to education, health, and public services, as these forms of access are fundamental rights that have to find effective expression in order to provide a long-term solution to the instability in the Sahel;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Applauds Senegal’'s decision to try former Chadian President Hissène Habré for war crimes, torture and crimes against humanity, and the agreement between the two governments to allow Senegalese judges to conduct investigations in Chad; strongly encourages apolitical leaders in the Sahel countinuedries and all public authorities to spell out, and give swift effect to, their resolve to end the culture of impunity for alleged war criminals and human rights violators in Chad and elsewhere in the region;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. EncouragesCalls on all countries in the region to act swiftly to tackle the persistent reports of alleged arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment and abuses, even torture, despite legislation prohibiting such practices; expresses concern over the reports of alleged forced disappearances of convicted prisoners in Mauritania; is troubled bycondemns the reports of extremely poor conditions in some of the region’s prisons, which inflict great suffering on their inmates;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Stresses that the security imperative in the current Mali conflict should not detract from the primacy across the region of inclusive national dialogue, good governance and democratic reforms as the engine of political stability and sustainability; noteconsiders that these issues are inextricable from improvement in the spheres of development anda sine qua non for development in the region and respect for human rights;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Supports the UN Security Council resolution commitment to assisting the transitional authorities of Mali to implement the road map towards the full restoration of constitutional order, democratic governance and national unity; considers it essential to create conditions conducive to the holding of credible elections, in keeping with international standards; expresses disquiet at the recent arrests and disappearances – however brief – of political figures and civil society representatives; stresses the need to overcome challenges related to the voting arrangements in the IDP and refugee camps, to avoid further political marginalisation; calls for immediate action on this issue by the Malian Government and its international partners; emphasises the need to ensure the safe participation of women in the electoral process;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Stresses the importance in the Sahel of supporting human rights defenders, independent civil society, including women’s organisations, and a free media as key actors in the life of a democratic society, particularly in times of elections;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Notes with due seriousness the extreme and pervasive poverty of Mali, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso, and acknowledges its detrimental impact on the prospects of realising human rights; expresses grave concern over the high maternal and under- five child mortality rates in the region; stresses the UN’s findings of lower mortality rates among better educated mothers as a rallying call for, demonstrating once again the importance and necessity of universal education; points out that fast population growth puts additional pressure on governments’ capacity to protect even the most basic economic and social rights;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Emphasises the interdependence of development, democracy, human rights, good governance and security in the Sahel; reiterates its support for the human rights- based approach and democratic ownership in development cooperation, based on harnessing local participation and knowledge to achieve development goals on the ground, and for strong, effective and independent follow-up enforcement mechanisms, involving parliaments, other genuinely representative bodies and local and regional civil society at both national and international level; equally emphasises the necessity of combating corruption to enhance institutional legitimacy and tackle the mounting development challenges in the region; further stresses the importance of a free, organised civil society and media to monitor and report abuses;
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Notes, with due gravity, the frequent food crises and other humanitarian emergencies in the Sahel region, and their effect on the most fundamental human rights; welcomes the strong involvement of the EU and its Member Statescalls on the EU and its Member States not to seek anything in return for their involvement in the humanitarian crisis efforts in the Sahel; emphasises, howevertherefore, the need for humanitarian action to be coordinated with longer term EU support in the context of development cooperation and human rights protection;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Expresses deep concern at the allegations of discrimination against the black population of Mauritania in the context of the current census;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Believes that a rights-based approach to the situation and development of the Tuareg people, which honestly addresses historic grievances, is essential for peace and development in the Sahel region, bearing in mind that other peoples live in the region, in particular in northern Mali, where the Tuareg account for only 12 % of the population; takes the view that all these peoples should once again be given the chance to live peacefully side by side, as they did for centuries; welcomes developments in Niger on this issue, but urges all countries with significant Tuareg populations to work with community representatives to resolve, politically and institutionally, the problems of underdevelopment and animosity; notes, furthermore, the variety of cultures across the Sahel; encourages the region's governments to include all of them in social and political dialogues;
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Notes that the EU Sahel Strategy still does not adequately mainstream human rights, the rule of law and support for democracy as key elements to support the development-security nexus at the heart of the strategy; takes the view that the strategy still places too much emphasis on security issues, to the detriment of development, and considers that it is primarily by means of development policies which focus on the needs of local people that the EU Sahel Strategy will ensure that democracy, the rule of law and human rights are more effectively upheld in the region; urges the EU institutions to work together soon in revising the strategy accordingly;
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Welcomes the strong human rights dimensionfocus in the proposed UN comprehensive integrated strategy, and calls on the EU to continue its support; stresses, nevertheless, the crucial importance of increased EU engagement with African regional actors such as the AU, ECOWAS, the Arab Maghreb Union, and the African regional human rights mechanisms, to generate sustained progress in the human rights and democracy initiatives in the Sahel;
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Emphasises once again the need for the Union and its Member States to respect the right of asylum and the rights of refugees, in particular in accordance with the Convention of 28 July 1951 on the status of refugees; calls on the EU and its Member States to facilitate the resettlement on their territory of refugees living in the Sahel region, and criticises the fact that so few Member States have agreed to take in refugees who fled Libya during and after the war in that country; reiterates its opposition to the policy of closing almost systematically the borders of the EU and its Member States to nationals of the Sahel countries and refugees living on the territory of those countries; calls, therefore, for the implementation in this area of new policies which take account of real needs, not those imagined both by the EU and its Member States and the countries concerned; considers that there is an urgent need to relax the procedures for issuing visas, in particular to students, artists, intellectuals, leaders of civil society organisations and craftsmen and women, who are increasingly being denied authorisation to make even short visits to the EU;