Activities of Marie-Christine VERGIAT related to 2013/2169(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the eradication of torture in the world PDF (277 KB) DOC (147 KB)
Amendments (28)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
– having regard to the UN Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 19751, __________________ 1 http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInt erest/Pages/DeclarationTorture.aspx
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
– having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights and in particular Article 3 thereof, which states that ‘No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment’,
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
– having regard to the Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture, which entered into force in 19971, __________________ 1 http://www.cidh.oas.org/Basicos/English/ Basic9.Torture.htm.
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas according to the updated EU Guidelines, in the fight against terrorism, Member States are determined to comply fully with international obligations prohibiting torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; whereas, however, European companies are involved in the manufacture and supply of equipment that can be used for torture or to inflict ill-treatment;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas there are significant policy challenges when addressing emerging forms of torture that target vulnerable groups, in particular childrenis something particularly odious about the forms of torture that, driven by prejudices, discrimination, and other factors, target vulnerable groups, in particular children, cultural and religious minorities, migrants and asylum-seekers, and LGBTI people;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the police in some countries use torture as the interrogation method of choice; whereas torture cannot be an acceptable way to resolve crimes;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Reiterates its commitment to the worldwide abolition of capital punishment; considers that there is no punishment more cruel, inhuman, and degrading than the death penalty; considers it deplorable, in addition, that many persons under sentence of death have to endure the ordeal of being held on what is termed ‘death row’, where, more often than not, they are physically and emotionally very isolated and subjected to psychological pressures, not least because of the unbearable uncertainty about their fate while they are awaiting execution;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. RCondemns the systematic use of torture at the Guantánamo base and considers that the US actions there should be a matter for the international courts; reiterates its call on the US authorities to close the Guantánamo Bay detention camp immediately and prohibit the use of torture and ill-treatment in all circumstances; reaffirms that the Guantánamo base is illegal, and is particularly concerned at the fact that, notwithstanding the law, the numerous international condemnations, and President Obama’s promises, 164 people are still being held, who for the most part have not been charged or brought before a court and cannot be accused of the slightest offence; calls, therefore, for all of the prisoners, including those who have been transferred to other prisons, to be given fair trials in civilian courts and for them to be released if no evidence can be produced against them; maintains that the rulings of a military commission do not conform to the criteria for impartial justice laid down in international law;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 – introductory part
Paragraph 12 – introductory part
12. Stresses that no exceptions from the absolute prohibition of torture can be justified, including in the context of national security concerns and counter- terrorism measures; considers it disquieting that some countries are assigning parallel policing tasks to paramilitary groups in an attempt to elude their international obligations;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 12 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Expresses its disquiet at police brutality in some countries and considers this issue to be central to the prevention of torture and degrading treatment, especially in cases where peaceful demonstrations are put down, bearing in mind that violence of this kind constitutes, at the very least, ill- treatment according to the international definition, if not torture;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Expresses particular concern at the violations of the European Convention on Human Rights being perpetrated in countries with which, for the most part, the EU has special relations; points out that prison overcrowding and the cases of enforced isolation constitute inhuman and degrading treatment and calls on all countries to treat prison conditions as a priority;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that a general guide for parliamentarians on visiting places of detention in third countries would be a useful tool in the context of regular Parliament delegation visits to prisons and other places of detention; calls for visits of this kind to be made in consultation with the EU delegation in the country concerned, NGOs, and organisations active in prisons, so as to ensure that the arrangements do not lead to unintended or harmful consequences for prisoners, prison workers, or NGOs;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Addressing protection gaps, in particular the torture of children, women, and other vulnerable groups
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls for the EU to address types of torture affecting children, especially linked to child trafficking, child pornography, child soldiers, children in military detention, child labour, accusations of child witchcraft, and other vulnerable groups of children, including in orphanages, detention centres and refugee camps;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Recommends focusing EU policy efforts on rehabilitation and psychological support centres for children who are victims of torture, with a child-friendly and culturally sensitive approachpproach that takes cultural values into account;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Maintains that violations of sexual and reproductive rights (no access to contraception or safe abortion, genital mutilation, and sexual abuse) often entail physical pain or mental suffering that can be likened to torture or cruel, inhuman, and degrading acts; urges the EU, therefore, to seek as a matter of priority to safeguard and strengthen these rights when pursuing relations with non-EU countries;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Expresses concern at the fact that women are particularly likely to be subjected to specific acts of torture and forms of inhuman or degrading treatment (rape, sexual mutilation, sterilisation, abortion, enforced birth control, or deliberate impregnation), especially during armed conflicts, in which such acts are used as a type of warfare, even against those who are under age;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)
Paragraph 19 c (new)
19c. Similarly condemns the acts of torture, violence, and abuse perpetrated on account of a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity; urges the EU and the Member States, to seek, likewise as a matter of priority, to safeguard and strengthen LGBTI rights when pursuing relations with non-EU countries;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 d (new)
Paragraph 19 d (new)
19d. Points to the need to support the work of NGOs involved in preventing violence in conflicts, and hence the torture and ill-treatment inflicted on the civilian population in such situations, and, with a view to achieving the above aim, to raise awareness within armed groups in order to make them comply with international humanitarian standards, especially where gender-based violence is concerned;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 e (new)
Paragraph 19 e (new)
19e. Condemns the ill-treatment inflicted on migrants and asylum-seekers that could be likened to acts of torture, not least in view of the reception arrangements and inadequate procedures in some countries, including countries with which the EU has special relations and readmission and other agreements; urges all Member States to refrain from deporting persons to countries that do not respect human rights and which make migrants live in conditions comparable to torture;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 f (new)
Paragraph 19 f (new)
19f. Condemns the use of private detention centres, where the living conditions are particularly calamitous and there have been reports of cases of ill- treatment or even deaths caused by a failure to provide proper medical care;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 g (new)
Paragraph 19 g (new)
19g. Notes that, because of their professions, artists and journalists are especially likely to suffer humiliating and degrading treatment, not to say torture; recommends that the EU take this concern into account;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the EEAS and the Working Party on Human Rights (COHOM) to make sure that Human Rights Country Strategies (HRCSs) contain country- specific objectives and benchmarks related to the fight against torture, including the identification of groups requiring special protection, such as children, women, displaced persons, refugees and migrants, and those facing discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity or cultural background, religious or other beliefs, sexual orientation or gender identity;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Hopes that EU human rights policy, not least as regards the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading punishment or treatment, will not come up against diplomatic, political, or economic considerations entailing double standards that would undermine the EU’s credibility; points to the importance of refraining from exploiting the above matters, from obstructing the right of self- determination which peoples should enjoy, and from interfering in the politics of non-EU countries;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Calls on the EEAS to systematically include torture and ill-treatment in human rights dialogues and consultations as stand- alone items or under judiciary and security sector reform; also calls for the eradication of impunity to be made a priority for the EU in dialogue with non- EU countries in order to ensure that acts of torture and inhuman or degrading punishments or treatment will not go unpunished and will not be repeated, one way of bringing this about being to do away with the amnesty laws that protect the torturers;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Considers that one point to be taken particularly into account is the lack of independence of special police units, special torture units, or bodies responsible for investigating complaints of torture; urges countries to make proper amends to victims of torture by paying damages, granting compensation in kind, or both, as well as by providing medical and psycho-social care;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. CallsPoints out that the EU and its Member States need to set an example in order to establish their credibility; calls, therefore, on all Member States that have yet to ratify the OPCAT to do so as a matter of priority;