SP(2006)1725

B6-0148/2006

Results of vote in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the human rights situation in Chad.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the Committee on Development. Parliament expresses its deepest concern at the general situation in Chad, in particular as regards human rights. It calls on the Council, the Commission and the Member States to bring pressure to bear on the Government of Chad with a view to it consolidating the rule of law and putting a stop to the climate of impunity and human rights violations.

Parliament is concerned that the civilian population, already suffering from drought and famine, derive no benefits from the billions of dollars arising from the sale of oil , and stresses that Chad's oil resources should primarily benefit the people of Chad. It also calls on the Government of Chad to give a clear and transparent account of how oil revenues are being used. It condemns the fact that 10% of oil revenues have been withdrawn from the fund for future generations and subsequently allocated to the list of 'priority areas', which now include military spending. The Government of Chad is requested to locate the money from oil revenues to development, in particular to the supply of drinking water, health, education and the organisation of elections.

As regards the issue of child soldiers , Parliament calls on the Government of Chad to put a stop to the forced recruitment of young soldiers to the government army. It is concerned at the reprisals by the security forces and armed bands against the population and opposition activists.

Parliament urges the Council, the Commission, the Member States, the United Nations and the African Union to provide the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS), weakened by serious financial, logistical and other constraints, with far more substantial financial, material and military resources.

Furthermore, Parliament stresses the seriousness of the problem of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in southern Sudan, and calls on the Council, the Commission, the Governments of Chad and Sudan, the United Nations and the other parties concerned to clear mined areas without delay, assist victims and raise people's awareness of the risks in order to clear roads and enable displaced persons and refugees to return to their homes.

On the elections , Parliament calls on the Government of Chad to set the official timetable for the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible, in accordance with its constitutional obligations, and to guarantee the impartiality of the independent national electoral commission. The EU is called upon to send an electoral observation mission to Chad in order to monitor and promote the smooth conduct of the electoral process.

Measures are also called to combat and put a stop to the phenomenon of corruption as soon as possible and to act transparently with regard to government expenditure.

On development , Parliament calls on the Government of Chad to create favourable conditions for achieving the Millennium Development Goals set and adopted by the United Nations.

Lastly, Parliament calls for Mr Hissène Habré , the former dictator of Chad, who has been a refugee in Senegal since 1990, to be finally brought to trial in Africa, or otherwise extradited and tried in Belgium with a view to a fair and equitable trial, in accordance with the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

T6-0084/2006