Progress: Procedure completed
| Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | AFET |
VAIDERE Inese ( PPE)
|
MARTIN David ( S&D),
SCHAAKE Marietje ( ALDE),
TAVARES Rui ( Verts/ALE),
TANNOCK Timothy Charles Ayrton ( ECR)
|
| Committee Opinion | DEVE |
TAYLOR Keith ( Verts/ALE)
|
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54
Legal Basis:
RoP 54Events
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the impact of the financial and economic crisis on human rights.
It recalls that not only economic and social rights but also political rights are affected as reflected, in particular, by popular protests such as those which took place in North Africa and the Middle East in 2011. Although the impact of the crisis on civil and political rights has yet to be fully evaluated, it is clear that it has magnified social unrest, leading sometimes to violent repression.
The crisis has also had an impact on development aid: the EU’s collective ODA decreased from EUR 53.5 billion in 2010 to EUR 53.1 billion in 2011, bringing the EU ODA level to 0.42% of GNI, down from the 2010 outcome of 0.44% of GNI.
In this context, Parliament recalls its determination to defend and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms. These rights include the right to food, water, education, adequate housing, land, decent work, health and social security. It reaffirms that while the global economic crisis poses a severe threat to the fulfilment of economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights, there is no justification for states, whatever their level of income, to compromise on their obligation to respect fundamental human rights . In this perspective, particular attention needs to be paid to vulnerable groups, especially the poor, women and children.
Moreover, Parliament insists on the fact that the response to the crisis must include internationally coordinated multilateral cooperation at both the regional and the inter-regional levels with a strong human rights-based approach at its core.
Strengthening European aid: in view of the crisis, Parliament emphasises the need to offer steady support to projects financed by the European Instrument for Human Rights and Democracy (EIDHR) for human rights defenders. It urges the EU and its Member States to maintain and deliver on their existing bilateral and multilateral ODA commitments and on the targets identified, especially by addressing those areas which suffer from a lack of progress at present (basic services, for example). It urges the Commission, the EEAS and the Member States to model crisis responses and development policy on a human rights-based approach, as set out in the European Parliament’s resolution on the Commission’s Communication ‘The Agenda for change: the future of EU development policy’.
Stressing the importance of policy coherence in relation to development aid, Members reiterate that budget support to partner countries and all trade agreements should be conditional on respect for human rights and democracy in the partner countries. They take the view that donors and lenders should, in particular, respond in a coordinated manner to reported cases of fraud and corruption. For their part, developing countries should use trade preferences afforded by the EU within the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) framework in order to boost their economy, diversify their exports and improve their competitiveness.
Focus on the poorest countries: Parliament welcomes the refocusing of the EU’s aid towards least developed countries. It calls on the international community to provide adequate assistance to governments in sub-Saharan Africa in order to prevent the financial crisis worsening the humanitarian crisis in some countries in the region.
It also calls on governments to:
take all possible measures to reduce extremes in income inequality; elaborate social protection schemes, such as Brazil’s bolsa familia or demand-driven public works schemes like India’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).
Combating food insecurity: Parliament recalls that 868 million people are suffering from chronic malnutrition, with the vast majority (850 million people) living in developing countries. It calls for measures to combat food insecurity and invites governments to support small-scale food producers , especially women and agricultural cooperatives, which are the most effective in reducing extreme poverty. Members also call on governments to prevent national and international financial speculators investing in land from having a negative impact on small-scale farmers and local producers by causing displacement, environmental problems and food and income insecurity. In parallel, they remind governments and the private sector alike to respect informal and traditional land ownership, as well as land-use rights; stresses that vulnerable groups such as indigenous peoples are most in need of protection, as land is often the only resource from which they can derive their subsistence.
Members urge governments not to cut or limit food subsidies since these subsidies can limit the prevalence of hunger and improve nutrition in recipient households. They also call for more transparency on the commodity markets to avoid price volatility of agrarian raw materials.
Parliament calls on the EU to support and adopt the international target of universal energy access by 2030 as this will contribute to economic empowerment and social benefits for the poorest and most vulnerable in developing countries.
Combating unemployment: Parliament indicates that unemployment rose by 27 million since the beginning of the crisis in 2008 and that young people are particularly badly hit. Once again, it expresses its support for the global introduction of a financial transaction tax , which can be an innovative financing mechanism for development, ultimately contributing to the universal fulfilment of economic and social rights. It encourages all Member States to support the EU budget proposal for a financial transaction tax.
In addition, Parliament calls for:
an increase in the competitiveness of enterprises in developing countries; an expansion in school access and lower school costs; child protection support measures.
Parliament stresses that the events of the Arab Spring have revealed a number of shortfalls in EU policies towards the region, including the situation of young people , who face mass unemployment and a lack of prospects in their countries.
Fighting discrimination: Parliament calls, as a matter of urgency, for the enforcement of policies and practices ensuring that more women enter the labour market. It reiterates the fact that education for girls and women and gender empowerment are essential. Measures in favour of the aged are also called for, such as better access to healthcare, as well as measures to combat human trafficking.
Post-2015: Parliament recalls that 2015 is the date when the Millennium Development Goals were to have been achieved, something which is unlikely to materialise. It considers that after 2015, priority should be given to the universal implementation of human rights , taking into consideration the impact of the financial and economic crisis, notably on the poorest and the most vulnerable. It calls for further research and analysis on the impact of the financial and economic crisis on various regions, including in the EU and in its relations with third countries, in order to improve the development aid policy responses.
Lastly, it calls on the Commission and the Member States to provide financial support for the UN innovation laboratory ‘Global Pulse’, which is working in this particular context.
The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the own-initiative report by Inese VAIDERE (ALDE, LV) on the impact of the financial and economic crisis on human rights.
Members recall that not only economic and social rights but also political rights are affected as reflected, in particular, by popular protests such as those which took place in North Africa and the Middle East in 2011. Although the impact of the crisis on civil and political rights has yet to be fully evaluated, it is clear that it has magnified social unrest, leading sometimes to violent repression.
The crisis has also had an impact on development aid: the EU’s collective ODA decreased from EUR 53.5 billion in 2010 to EUR 53.1 billion in 2011, bringing the EU ODA level to 0.42% of GNI, down from the 2010 outcome of 0.44% of GNI.
In this context, Members recall their determination to defend and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms. These rights include the right to food, water, education, adequate housing, land, decent work, health and social security. They reaffirm that while the global economic crisis poses a severe threat to the fulfilment of economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights, there is no justification for states, whatever their level of income, to compromise on their obligation to respect fundamental human rights . In this perspective, particular attention needs to be paid to vulnerable groups, especially the poor, women and children.
Strengthening European aid: in view of the crisis, Members emphasise the need to offer steady support to projects financed by the European Instrument for Human Rights and Democracy (EIDHR) for human rights defenders. They urge the EU and its Member States to maintain and deliver on their existing bilateral and multilateral ODA commitments and on the targets identified, especially by addressing those areas which suffer from a lack of progress at present (basic services, for example). They urge the Commission, the EEAS and the Member States to model crisis responses and development policy on a human rights-based approach, as set out in the European Parliament’s resolution on the Commission’s Communication ‘The Agenda for change: the future of EU development policy’.
Stressing the importance of policy coherence in relation to development aid, Members reiterate that budget support to partner countries and all trade agreements should be conditional on respect for human rights and democracy in the partner countries. They take the view that donors and lenders should, in particular, respond in a coordinated manner to reported cases of fraud and corruption. For their part, developing countries should use trade preferences afforded by the EU within the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) framework in order to boost their economy, diversify their exports and improve their competitiveness.
Focus on the poorest countries: Members welcome the refocusing of the EU’s aid towards least developed countries. They call on the international community to provide adequate assistance to governments in sub-Saharan Africa in order to prevent the financial crisis worsening the humanitarian crisis in some countries in the region.
They also call on governments to:
take all possible measures to reduce extremes in income inequality; elaborate social protection schemes, such as Brazil’s bolsa familia or demand-driven public works schemes like India’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).
Combating food insecurity: Members recall that 868 million people are suffering from chronic malnutrition, with the vast majority (850 million people) living in developing countries. They call for measures to combat food insecurity and invite governments to support small-scale food producers , especially women and agricultural cooperatives, which are the most effective in reducing extreme poverty. They also call on governments to prevent national and international financial speculators investing in land from having a negative impact on small-scale farmers and local producers by causing displacement, environmental problems and food and income insecurity. In parallel, they remind governments and the private sector alike to respect informal and traditional land ownership, as well as land-use rights; stresses that vulnerable groups such as indigenous peoples are most in need of protection, as land is often the only resource from which they can derive their subsistence.
Members urge governments not to cut or limit food subsidies since these subsidies can limit the prevalence of hunger and improve nutrition in recipient households. They also call for more transparency on the commodity markets to avoid price volatility of agrarian raw materials.
Combating unemployment: Members indicate that unemployment rose by 27 million since the beginning of the crisis in 2008 and that young people are particularly badly hit. Once again, they express their support for the global introduction of a financial transaction tax , which can be an innovative financing mechanism for development, ultimately contributing to the universal fulfilment of economic and social rights. They encourage all Member States to support the EU budget proposal for a financial transaction tax.
In addition, Members call for:
an increase in the competitiveness of enterprises in developing countries; an expansion in school access and lower school costs; child protection support measures.
Fighting discrimination: Members call, as a matter of urgency, for the enforcement of policies and practices ensuring that more women enter the labour market. They reiterate the fact that education for girls and women and gender empowerment are essential. Measures in favour of the aged are also called for, such as better access to healthcare, as well as measures to combat human trafficking.
Post-2015: Members recall that 2015 is the date when the Millennium Development Goals were to have been achieved, something which is unlikely to materialise. They consider that after 2015, priority should be given to the universal implementation of human rights , taking into consideration the impact of the financial and economic crisis, notably on the poorest and the most vulnerable. They call for further research and analysis on the impact of the financial and economic crisis on various regions, including in the EU and in its relations with third countries, in order to improve the development aid policy responses.
Lastly, they call on the Commission and the Member States to provide financial support for the UN innovation laboratory ‘Global Pulse’, which is working in this particular context.
Documents
- Commission response to text adopted in plenary: SP(2013)472
- Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
- Decision by Parliament: T7-0179/2013
- Committee report tabled for plenary: A7-0057/2013
- Committee opinion: PE497.933
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE502.039
- Committee draft report: PE496.475
- Committee draft report: PE496.475
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE502.039
- Committee opinion: PE497.933
- Commission response to text adopted in plenary: SP(2013)472
| Amendments | Dossier |
| 155 |
2012/2136(INI)
2012/11/09
DEVE
31 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Highlights that the economic and financial crisis is a threat to human rights as a whole, including civil and political rights, and has had detrimental effects on access to food, health care and education for the most vulnerable groups in society, in both urban and rural areas; recalls that governments
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that the crisis has shown that social protection spending increases poor people’s resilience to shocks and reduces the social costs of the crisis; highlights as
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Underlines that, while the people in developed countries are feeling the impacts of the economical and financial crisis, people in the developing world are bearing the brunt of the crisis, with few safety nets to protect them; cals for higher involvement from the EU to help mitigate these effects in the developing countries;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Emphasizes that social tensions have led to increasing discrimination and xenophobia towards minorities and migrant workers who belong to the most vulnerable groups affected by the crisis and whose needs have to be taken into account responding to the crisis;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Recognises that austerity measures as a way out of the economic and financial crisis will have a particularly damaging impact on women and their human rights, as women dominate the public sector both as employees and as beneficiaries of services;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Stresses that gender equality is a tool for fighting poverty amongst women, as it has a positive impact on productivity and sustainable societies and leads to greater participation of women in the labour market, which in turn has many social, economic and ecological benefits;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5.
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Stresses that governments must make not only an economic, but also a social response to the crisis; states that, in order to support developing countries’ efforts, subsequent partnership agreements must place greater emphasis on promotion of better governance;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Highlights that the economic and financial crisis has had detrimental effects on access to food, health care
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Deplores that, in times of crisis, the rights of women and the rights of minorities are severely breached and insists that increased attention is given during these times to the fight against discrimination on the basis of sex, religion or belief, racial or ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Stresses that combating illicit financial flows, tax havens and speculation on commodities are necessary steps for the achievement of human rights, especially in low-income countries;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Stresses that the financial and economic crisis is also having a disproportionate effect on the rights of specific groups of people, particularly the poorest and marginalized;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5b. Underscores that, while the impact of the crisis on civil and political rights has yet to be fully evaluated, it is clear that the crisis has magnified social unrest, leading sometimes to violent repression, and has multiplied the failures to respect basic rights such as, for instance, freedom of expression and the right to information;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6.
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Recalls that fulfilling human rights imply, inter alia, a universal social protection floor to safeguard against extreme poverty, minimum wages and full application of international labour standards;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 b (new) 6b. Notes that about 5.1 billion people, 75% of the world population, are not covered by adequate social security, 2.6 billion people do not have access to adequate sanitation and 884 million people lack access to adequate source of drinking water, 873 million suffer from chronic hunger, nearly 9 million children under the age of five die every year from largely preventable diseases and that 100 million people are pushed below the poverty line when compelled to pay for health care;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 c (new) 6c. Points out that Sub-Saharan countries are particularly vulnerable to external shocks because of the limited diversification of their economies and exports and the dominance of primary commodities; stresses equally that illicit financial flows are a major development challenge to Africa, which hampers fulfilment of human rights; encourages African countries to initiate systematic audits of national debts to establish legitimacy or illegitimacy of each debt covenant, similar to Ecuador's experience; urges once more the EU to make the fight against tax havens and corruption one of its top priorities and to strongly encourage international finance and development institution to do the same;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Urges the Commission and the Member States to ensure that human rights are genuinely protected in the remit of any trade and investment agreements concluded; stresses therefore that Member States shall not allow themselves to be locked into deals that impair their ability to comply with their human rights commitments for the sake of securing access to export markets or attracting investors; insists that the Commission conducts systematic human rights impact assessments of trade and investment agreements to help ensure effective enforcement of human rights;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Urges the Commission and the Member States to ensure that human rights are genuinely protected in the remit of any trade and investment agreements concluded or revised, through binding and non-negotiable human rights clauses; insists that the Commission conducts systematic human rights impact assessments of trade and investment agreements to help ensure effective enforcement of human rights;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Highlights that the economic and financial crisis has had detrimental effects on access to food, health care and education for the most vulnerable groups in society, in both urban and rural areas; recalls that governments have a duty to ensure respect for economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights and to provide protection against abuses by, for example, corporate and other private actors; through the implementation of the UN guiding principles on business and human rights;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Notes with concern that the global economic crisis is jeopardising Official Development Aid spending by EU Member States; recalls that the costs of the global economic crisis are being borne disproportionately by poor countries, despite having originated in the richer countries; urges, therefore, the EU and its Member States to maintain and deliver on their existing bilateral and multilateral ODA commitments and on the targets identified in
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Reasserts that rich countries should be subject to binding obligations to realise ESC rights beyond their borders, while decisions within the remit of international institutions, such as IMF, the World Bank or WTO shall be compatible with the full range of human rights obligations enshrined in international human rights treaties.
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Observes that the financial crisis has spread across the world through varying transmission channels, interacted with other crisis (such as food and fuel crisis) at different speeds and intensities; notes with concern that owing to the crisis, the World Bank and the UN estimate that between 55 and 103 million more people have to live in poverty, thereby jeopardising further achievement of human rights;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Notes with concern that, according to World Bank and IMF estimates, the rate at which poverty is being reduced in sub- Saharan Africa has slowed; that approximately 30,000-50,000 more children died in SSA in 2009 as a consequence of the global financial crisis;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 c (new) 1c. Notes with concern that owing to the crisis, women's rights have deteriorated through, for example, additional unpaid work and increased violence; reasserts accordingly that the development of public services and effective social protection systems are essential in ensuring respect of women's economic and social rights;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 d (new) 1d. Recalls that the principle of non- discrimination requires, especially in a context of crisis, positive remedial steps to counter disproportionate impacts on women, indigenous people and other systematically disadvantaged sectors of the population, while ensuring that these anti-crisis measures benefit the most disadvantaged and vulnerable communities;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that the crisis has shown that social protection spending increases poor people’s resilience to shocks; highlights as well that countries with effective systems of domestic taxation reduce their vulnerability to sudden losses of trade taxes or foreign capital inflows; urges, therefore, the EU to help developing countries set up progressive and effective taxation systems to mitigate the impact of the crisis on public revenues in order to help guarantee the funds needed for social protection programmes and to ensure equitable redistribution of existing resources;
source: PE-500.469
2012/12/18
AFET
124 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 5 a (new) - having regard to the Communication of 27 January 2012 from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the European Economic and Social Committee entitled ‘Trade, growth and development - Tailoring trade and investment policy for those countries most in need’ (COM(2012)0022),
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas, although the financial and economic crisis affects, to varying degrees, all regions in the world, including the European Union, the scope of the present resolution is to assess the impact of the financial and economic crisis in third countries, with the main focus on developing and least developed countries;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 26.
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 a (new) 26a. Stresses that the events of the Arab Spring have revealed a number of shortfalls in EU policies towards the region, including the situation of young people, who face mass unemployment and a lack of prospects in their countries; calls on the EU to better tackle the effects of financial crisis in third countries, including by taking into consideration reports by civil society organisations;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 27 Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 27 Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 28. Considers of the utmost importance the
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 28. Considers of the utmost importance the strengthening of skills development and training policies, including non-formal education, internships and on-the-job training, which provide support for a successful transition from school to the labour market;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 – point 1 (new) (1) Highlights that the definition of slavery provided by the UN is the status or condition of a person over whom any or all of the powers attaching to the right of ownership are exercised; deplores the fact that modern forms of slavery survive, and that many third country nationals are victims of it, including in the EU; calls, therefore, on the Commission to adopt a much firmer policy on this issue, particularly as regards domestic workers, the socio-professional category most affected by these forms of slavery;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 a (new) 28a. Believes that developing countries should introduce innovative financing systems for economic policies; encourages developing countries to develop financial mechanisms connected with their own resources;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 29. Urges both governments of countries with high child-labour rates and international donors to promote preventative measures, such as
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 a (new) 29a. Calls for an increase in the competitiveness of enterprises in developing countries, making for a reduction in unemployment and the promotion of employment policies;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas the financial crisis and the budgetary pressure that it has put on the governments of some EU Member States has resulted in a wave of privatizations whereby public companies have been sold to state companies of authoritarian regimes, thus creating a situation of financial dependence on third countries by the governments of these EU Member States; whereas this dependence has consequences for the development of the human rights situation, both in the Member State and these countries and also in other countries where changes in the diplomatic influence of the EU in regard to other global powers may be decisive with regard to the respect and upholding of human rights;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 33 33. Stresses that women must be more involved in social dialogue and decision- making processes; reiterates the fact that education for women and gender empowerment are essential
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 33 33. Stresses that women must be more involved in social dialogue and decision- making processes; reiterates the fact that education for girls and women and gender
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 34 Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 34 34. Urges governments to tackle critical human rights issues faced by the elderly, especially in times of economic
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 34 34. Urges governments to tackle critical human rights issues faced by the elderly, especially in times of economic downturn, such as long-term unemployment, age- related employment discrimination, income insecurity and unaffordable healthcare; calls on governments to put in place innovative new mechanisms for flexible workforce participation, such as entitling older people to social pensions while working part-time, retraining programmes or fiscal measures aimed at stimulating the employment of the elderly;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 34 a (new) 34a. Calls for the protection of minority groups in third countries in order to strengthen the fight against discrimination, and ensure the promotion of identity and participation in political life;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 35. Calls for the transaction costs for remittances to be reduced and for
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 36 36. Calls on governments to ensure that the fight against trafficking in human beings remains high on their agenda during times of economic and financial crisis; urges governments to fully implement legislation to prosecute traffickers and smugglers, expand support and legal assistance to victims of human trafficking, and develop closer international cooperation; deplores also the policies of the European Union and Member States aimed at ensuring EU policing of migrants and asylum seekers by third countries participating in its Neighbourhood Policy, with contempt for the rights of persons trying to reach Europe; condemns severely the inability of the European Union and its Member States and their partner countries to uphold the right of asylum and ensure rescue at sea; considers these immigration policies to be indicative of prejudice towards the inhabitants of the countries of the South;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 37 37. Welcomes the discussions within the UN High-Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda with the participation of the European Commissioner for Development; considers that the post-2015 framework should
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas what is commonly known as ‘the financial and economic crisis
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 37 37. Welcomes the discussions within the UN High-Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda with the participation of the European Commissioner for Development; considers that the post-2015 framework should prioritise the progressive realisation of human rights
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 38 38. Emphasises that there is a need for further research and analysis on the impact of the financial and economic crisis on various regions, including in the EU and in its relations with third countries, and a need to improve the monitoring of early signals of global and regional crises; stresses that disaggregated data should be more prominent in research and policy planning in order to better capture and address the problems facing the poorest and most vulnerable members of society; calls on the Commission and the Member States to provide financial support for the UN innovation laboratory ‘Global Pulse’, launched by the UN Secretary General in 2009, with the aim of collecting and analysing the data required for a better understanding of the impact of the financial and economic crisis on vulnerable sections of the population and providing appropriate policy responses;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 38 a (new) 38a. Calls on all states to enhance their efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, especially by addressing those areas which suffer from a lack of progress at present;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 39 39. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 39 39. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas the financial
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas the financial and economic crisis has become intertwined with numerous other crises, for instance food, ecological, energy and social crises;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas the financial and economic crisis has become intertwined with numerous other crises, such as the food, energy, environmental and social crises;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas the financial and economic crisis has become intertwined with numerous other crises, such as the food, energy
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas unlike previous crises in the 1980s and 1990s, which started in the developing countries, the current crisis began in the industrialised countries; whereas the full effects of the current crisis have not yet been felt in the developing countries, but whereas it may seriously exacerbate the situation of the world’s poorest countries, which already face chronic financial problems;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas the roots of the crisis lie in factors varying from country to country, there is undeniably a link between corruption and the financial crisis; whereas corruption impedes democracy and the rule of law and directly affects the population since it increases the price for public services, lowers its quality and often restricts poor people's access to water, education, health care and many other key services;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the financial and economic crisis has hit
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 10 a (new) - having regard to the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 8 September 2000 on the Millennium Development Goals1, 1 http://daccess-dds- ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N00/559/51/ PDF/N0055951.pdf?OpenElement
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the financial and economic crisis has had
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E E. whereas the global economic crisis has
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E a (new) Ea. whereas, according to the results of work carried out by the International Labour Organisation, 80 % of the world’s population share 30 % the world’s wealth, whereas the aggregate income of the world’s 61 million richest people is equivalent to that of the world’s 3.5 billion poorest people, whereas the crisis has confirmed the dangers inherent in the current globalisation process, and whereas it has widened degrees of social inequality, which were already glaring, to the benefit of the highest income groups, whose wealth levels have increased out of all proportion to those of middle-income groups;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F F. whereas the EU’s collective ODA decreased from EUR 53.5 billion in 2010 to EUR 53.1 billion in 2011, bringing the EU ODA level to 0.42% of GNI, down from the 2010 outcome of 0.44% of GNI; whereas the EU and its Member States nevertheless remain the world’s leading providers of ODA;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G G. whereas the
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G G. whereas the objective of the trade agreements signed by the EU with partner countries is, inter alia, to promote and expand trade and investment, and to improve market access, with a view to increasing economic integration and social cohesion, reducing poverty, creating new employment opportunities, improving working conditions and raising living standards, and thereby ultimately contributing to the fulfilment of human rights;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G G. whereas the objective of the trade agreements signed by the EU with partner countries is, inter alia, to promote and expand trade and investment, and to improve market access, with a view to increasing economic growth and integration, reducing poverty, creating new employment opportunities, improving working conditions and raising living standards, and thereby ultimately contributing to the fulfilment of human rights;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G G. whereas the objective of the trade agreements signed by the EU with partner countries is, inter alia, to promote and expand trade and investment, and to improve market access, with a view to increasing economic
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution Recital H H. whereas
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution Recital H H. whereas proper monitoring and practical enforcement of the human rights clause of each trade agreement must be guaranteed; whereas any systematic violation of the human rights clause enshrined in the EU's trade agreements entitles each signatory party to take ‘appropriate measures’, which may include total or partial suspension or termination of the agreement or imposing restrictions;
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 14 a (new) - having regard to its resolution of 25 March 2010 on the effects of the global financial and economic crisis on developing countries and on development cooperation (P7_TA(2010)0089),
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I a (new) Ia. whereas the failure to put into place adequate measures to prevent, detect and root out legal and illegal forms of corruption is one of the reasons for the financial crisis; whereas widespread corruption in the public and private sectors, both in developing and developed countries, hampers an effective, broad and equal protection and promotion of civil, political and social rights;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I a (new) Ia. whereas the current economic crisis carries significant implications for democracy and governance assistance by the European Union and other major donors; whereas economic difficulties for donor countries are likely to encourage reductions in overseas assistance, but whereas the global crisis makes it all the more important to sustain support for political reform and democratic development in third countries;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution Recital K K. whereas
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution Recital K K. whereas people living in poverty need effective and affordable access to justice in order to be able to claim their rights or challenge violations of human rights committed against them; whereas lack of access to a fair trial and judicial process is a human rights violation in itself and further subjects
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution Recital K K. whereas people who are living in poverty and are extremely vulnerable need effective and affordable access to justice in order to be able to claim their rights or challenge violations of human rights committed against them; whereas lack of access to a fair trial and judicial process further subjects them to economic and social vulnerability;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L L. whereas global unemployment reached
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L L. whereas global unemployment reached 200 million in 2012 – an increase of 27 million since the start of the crisis in 2008, jeopardising the right to work and resulting in a decrease in household incomes; whereas
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N N. whereas
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N N. whereas women often experience unequal treatment in the workplace compared to men, in terms of dismissal, social security benefits and rehiring;
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 15 a (new) - having regard to the report of a high- level consultation carried out by the World Health Organisation, dated 19 January 2009, entitled ‘The financial crisis and global health’,
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N N. whereas women often experience unequal treatment in the workplace compared to men, in terms of access to employment, dismissal, social security benefits and rehiring;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution Recital O Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution Recital O Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution Recital O O. whereas
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution Recital P P. whereas the crisis disproportionately affects young people
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution Recital R R. whereas children are particularly affected by the financial and economic crisis,
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution Recital T a (new) Ta. whereas minority groups from third countries are often subject to discrimination and thus their access to social rights is further hampered in the context of the economic crisis;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution Recital U U. whereas
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution Recital U U. whereas rising and volatile food prices caused by financial speculation in the derivatives markets are affecting millions of people struggling to meet basic needs; whereas since 2007 global progress in reducing hunger has slowed; whereas 868 million people are suffering from chronic malnutrition, with the vast majority (850 million people) living in developing countries; whereas the coping strategies adopted by vulnerable households includes cutting down on the quantity and/or quality of food eaten at critical stages of child development or during pregnancy, with long-lasting effects on physical growth and mental health;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution Recital U a (new) Ua. whereas regarding the rising demand for agricultural goods destined for food production and increasingly for energy and industrial use, the competition for land, a resource that is becoming more and more scarce, is also growing; whereas national and international investors use long-term purchase or lease agreements to secure vast tracts of land, which might cause socio-economic and environmental problems for the countries affected and especially for the local population;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 15 a (new) - having regard to its resolution of 11 December 2012 on a "Digital Freedom Strategy in EU Foreign Policy",
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution Recital V V. whereas, according to the FAO, less than EUR 3 billion would be needed to treat all the people affected by the most serious form of malnutrition (last stage before death), whereas 19 million children under 5 are affected, and whereas it is essential that the States in which they live should honour their undertakings in this area; whereas the impact of the economic crisis can be particularly acute for older
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution Recital W W. whereas the rising price of medicines (by up to 30%) is having a negative impact on the right to health of the most vulnerable, notably children
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution Recital Y Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution Recital Y Y. whereas remittances
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution Recital Y Y. whereas remittances, which are diminishing in volume, are an important means of alleviating the shock of the crisis on the economies of developing countries;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution Recital Z Z. whereas trafficking in human beings is a modern form of slavery and a severe violation of fundamental human rights;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution Recital BA BA. whereas the agricultural sector provides employment and livelihood for more than 70% of the labour force in developing countries; whereas, in resource- poor low-income countries, growth in the agricultural sector is five times more effective in reducing poverty than growth in other sectors (eleven times in sub- Saharan Africa); whereas rural development and measures designed to support agriculture, in particular local production, are key elements of all development strategies and are vital for eradicating poverty, hunger and underdevelopment.
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution Recital BA BA. whereas the agricultural sector provides employment and livelihood for more than 70% of the labour force in developing countries; whereas the share of ODA allocated to agriculture is falling all the time and currently accounts for only 5 % of the total; whereas, in resource-
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Reiterates
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Reiterates its strong determination to defend and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms – civil, political, economic, social and cultural – as a core principle of
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 20 a (new) - having regard to the joint report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the World Bank of 19 April 2012 entitled ‘Inventory of Policy Responses to the Financial and Economic Crisis’,
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses that human rights include the right to food, water, education, adequate housing, land, decent work, health and social security; condemns the fact that these rights have been under attack in a number of countries since the crisis began; recognises that worsening poverty is the main factor preventing people from asserting these rights; calls for the EU to invest more effort and money in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), given the evidence that the world is falling far short of the goals set for 2015;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. calls on the EU Member States affected by the crisis not to make concessions on human rights principles in their diplomatic relations with third countries because of budgetary and fiscal pressures at home and growing foreign or external dependence, including any occasional affiliation with authoritarian regimes;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Insists on the fact that the
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Recalls the duty of governments to respect, protect and fulfil human rights at all times,
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Recalls the duty of governments to respect, protect and fulfil human rights, including digital freedoms, at all times, as stated in international human rights law; calls on governments to guard against discrimination and to ensure basic human rights for all; deplores the existing gap between legal recognition and political enforcement of these rights;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Recalls the duty of governments to respect, protect and fulfil human rights at all times, as stated in international human rights law; calls on governments to guard against all forms of discrimination and to ensure basic human rights for all; deplores the existing gap between legal recognition and political enforcement of these rights;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Urges governments to place the interests of the
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Urges governments to place the interests of the most vulnerable sections of the population at the centre of policy responses by using a human rights framework in the decision-making process; calls on governments to pursue all the necessary measures to ensure access to justice for all, with a particular focus on people living in poverty, who need to have a full understanding of their rights and the means to realise them; calls on the EU to step up its support for the rule of law and justice reform programmes in partner countries, to enable an active civil society as the basis for any democratisation process;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Urges governments to place the interests of the most vulnerable sections of the population at the centre of policy responses by using a human rights framework in the decision-making process; calls on governments to pursue all the necessary measures to ensure access to justice for all, with a particular focus on people living in poverty, who need to have a full understanding of their rights and the means to realise them; calls on the EU to tackle impunity and step up its support for the rule of law and justice reform programmes in partner countries;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5.
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 20 b (new) - having regard to the report of 15 May 2011 by the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), drawn up to mark the 100th session of the International Labour Conference, entitled ‘A new era of social justice’,
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Insists that the EU Special Representative for Human Rights should ensure that human rights are at the forefront of policy initiatives, with a particular emphasis on the most vulnerable groups in the societies of third countries; reiterates that peoples have an inalienable right to self-determination with no outside interference; notes that the agreements concluded by the EU with third countries, as well as the measures imposed by the IMF and other international organisations, have often led to whole swathes of the population being deprived of access to local resources and to their economic, social and political rights; emphasises its desire to develop a new form of cooperation between peoples that places the emphasis on the mutual development and interests of the peoples concerned.
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7.
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Emphasises the need to offer steady support to projects financed by the European Instrument for Human Rights and Democracy (EIDHR) for human rights defenders, including those working in the field of economic and social rights, such as the rights of workers and migrants, and stresses the importance of promoting human rights education;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Stresses that the
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Calls on the Member States to fulfil their bilateral and multilateral ODA commitments of 0.7% of GNI, and to ensure efficient use of development aid in order to guarantee the best value for money and consistency between human rights and development policies;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Stresses the importance of policy
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Stresses the importance of policy coherence and coordination in order to attain the objective of poverty reduction and to increase the impact of EU external assistance, particularly in Pakistan;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Stresses the importance of policy coherence and coordination in order to attain the objective of poverty reduction and to increase the credibility and the impact of EU external
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Reiterates that budget support to partner countries and all trade agreements should be more closely linked to the human rights and governance situation of the partner countries; takes the view that donors and lenders should namely respond in a coordinated manner to reported cases of fraud and corruption and foster reforms in those countries towards good governance and transparency; urges the EU and Member States to make systematic risk assessments of widespread corruption in partner countries, which may hamper the desired effects of development and humanitarian projects;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Reiterates that budget support to partner countries should be more closely linked to the human rights and
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 22 a (new) - having regard to the resolution and conclusions adopted at the 101st session of the International Labour Conference, held in 2012, entitled ‘The youth employment crisis: a call for action’,
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Reiterates that budget support to partner countries should be more closely linked to the human rights and governance situation of the partner countries, particularly in Pakistan;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Calls on
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Calls on developing countries to devise economic policies which promote sustainable growth and development, create jobs, place vulnerable social groups at the forefront of policy responses, and base development on a sound fiscal system that rules out tax evasion, which is necessary for mobilising domestic resources in a more efficient and equitable manner;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15.
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Encourages developing countries to take advantage of trade preferences afforded by the EU within the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP+) framework in order to boost their economy, diversify their exports and improve their competitiveness; recalls their obligation, under the GSP+ arrangements, to ratify and implement the 27 core international human rights conventions;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Encourages developing countries to
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17.
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Calls for a specific enforcement mechanism to monitor implementation of human rights clauses in bilateral and international agreements signed by the EU; welcomes efforts to improve analysis of the human rights situation in third countries when launching or concluding trade and/or investment agreements; notes with concern that the current human rights monitoring provisions in Partnership and Cooperation Agreements are not clearly defined or sufficiently ambitious; calls on the EU to adopt an unfaltering principled stance in insisting that its partner countries comply with the fundamental human rights clauses in international agreements;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Calls for a specific enforcement mechanism to monitor implementation of human rights clauses in bilateral and international agreements signed by the EU; welcomes efforts to improve analysis of the human rights situation in third countries when launching or concluding trade and/or investment agreements; calls for these clauses to form an integral part of the agreements in practice and regrets that not doing so has led to the violation of fundamental economic and social rights, to the impoverishment of the populations concerned and to the monopolising of resources, not least by transnational companies; believes that besides these clauses there is a need to implement new forms of cooperation to facilitate the economic and social development of third countries based on the needs of their peoples;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. C
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas, a
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 – point 1 (new) (1) Notes that a significant number of individuals and cultural minorities do not or no longer have access to certain resources because those resources are monopolised by companies or private entities benefiting from the support of the political authorities in the countries concerned; highlights the consequences of this situation in terms of food shortage owing to the expulsion of farmers, increases in food prices and restricted access to basic goods, such as water; calls, therefore, on the European Union and the Member States to take the necessary measures to put an end to the monopolisation of resources, particularly land, by European undertakings and to put forward proposals in international and regional fora and conferences (World Bank, WTO, UNCTAD, IMF, OECD, etc.) for recognising global public goods and including them in a specific UN convention;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21.
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Urges governments to take all the necessary measures to reduce extremes in income inequality and put in place conditions that will enable those currently living in extreme poverty to fully realise their potential and live in dignity, particularly in Pakistan;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Urges governments in developing countries
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Considers that investment in sustainable agriculture in developing countries
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Considers that investment in sustainable agriculture in developing countries is an important accelerant for combating food insecurity and boosting overall growth; urges governments to support responsible private-sector investment and small-scale food producers, especially women and agricultural cooperatives, which are the most effective in reducing extreme poverty by increasing returns on labour
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 a (new) 24a. calls on governments to prevent national and international financial speculators investing in land from having a negative impact on small-scale farmers and local producers by causing displacement, environmental problems as well as food and income insecurity; recalls in this regard that secure employment and nutrition are conditions for the respect for human rights, democratisation and any political engagement;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 b (new) 24b. reminds governments and the private sector alike to respect informal and traditional land ownership as well as land-use rights; stresses that especially vulnerable groups such as indigenous peoples are most in need of protection, as land is often the only resource they can derive their subsistence from;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Urges governments not to cut or limit, or even increase, food subsidies since these subsidies can limit the prevalence of hunger
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 a (new) 25a. calls for more transparency on the commodity markets to avoid price volatility of agrarian raw materials caused by excessive speculation, and underlines the need for greater international attention and enhanced coordination on this issue;
source: PE-502.039
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The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the own-initiative report by Inese VAIDERE (ALDE, LV) on the impact of the financial and economic crisis on human rights. Members recall that not only economic and social rights but also political rights are affected as reflected, in particular, by popular protests such as those which took place in North Africa and the Middle East in 2011. Although the impact of the crisis on civil and political rights has yet to be fully evaluated, it is clear that it has magnified social unrest, leading sometimes to violent repression. The crisis has also had an impact on development aid: the EU’s collective ODA decreased from EUR 53.5 billion in 2010 to EUR 53.1 billion in 2011, bringing the EU ODA level to 0.42% of GNI, down from the 2010 outcome of 0.44% of GNI. In this context, Members recall their determination to defend and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms. These rights include the right to food, water, education, adequate housing, land, decent work, health and social security. They reaffirm that while the global economic crisis poses a severe threat to the fulfilment of economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights, there is no justification for states, whatever their level of income, to compromise on their obligation to respect fundamental human rights. In this perspective, particular attention needs to be paid to vulnerable groups, especially the poor, women and children. Strengthening European aid: in view of the crisis, Members emphasise the need to offer steady support to projects financed by the European Instrument for Human Rights and Democracy (EIDHR) for human rights defenders. They urge the EU and its Member States to maintain and deliver on their existing bilateral and multilateral ODA commitments and on the targets identified, especially by addressing those areas which suffer from a lack of progress at present (basic services, for example). They urge the Commission, the EEAS and the Member States to model crisis responses and development policy on a human rights-based approach, as set out in the European Parliament’s resolution on the Commission’s Communication ‘The Agenda for change: the future of EU development policy’. Stressing the importance of policy coherence in relation to development aid, Members reiterate that budget support to partner countries and all trade agreements should be conditional on respect for human rights and democracy in the partner countries. They take the view that donors and lenders should, in particular, respond in a coordinated manner to reported cases of fraud and corruption. For their part, developing countries should use trade preferences afforded by the EU within the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) framework in order to boost their economy, diversify their exports and improve their competitiveness. Focus on the poorest countries: Members welcome the refocusing of the EU’s aid towards least developed countries. They call on the international community to provide adequate assistance to governments in sub-Saharan Africa in order to prevent the financial crisis worsening the humanitarian crisis in some countries in the region. They also call on governments to:
Combating food insecurity: Members recall that 868 million people are suffering from chronic malnutrition, with the vast majority (850 million people) living in developing countries. They call for measures to combat food insecurity and invite governments to support small-scale food producers, especially women and agricultural cooperatives, which are the most effective in reducing extreme poverty. They also call on governments to prevent national and international financial speculators investing in land from having a negative impact on small-scale farmers and local producers by causing displacement, environmental problems and food and income insecurity. In parallel, they remind governments and the private sector alike to respect informal and traditional land ownership, as well as land-use rights; stresses that vulnerable groups such as indigenous peoples are most in need of protection, as land is often the only resource from which they can derive their subsistence. Members urge governments not to cut or limit food subsidies since these subsidies can limit the prevalence of hunger and improve nutrition in recipient households. They also call for more transparency on the commodity markets to avoid price volatility of agrarian raw materials. Combating unemployment: Members indicate that unemployment rose by 27 million since the beginning of the crisis in 2008 and that young people are particularly badly hit. Once again, they express their support for the global introduction of a financial transaction tax, which can be an innovative financing mechanism for development, ultimately contributing to the universal fulfilment of economic and social rights. They encourage all Member States to support the EU budget proposal for a financial transaction tax. In addition, Members call for:
Fighting discrimination: Members call, as a matter of urgency, for the enforcement of policies and practices ensuring that more women enter the labour market. They reiterate the fact that education for girls and women and gender empowerment are essential. Measures in favour of the aged are also called for, such as better access to healthcare, as well as measures to combat human trafficking. Post-2015: Members recall that 2015 is the date when the Millennium Development Goals were to have been achieved, something which is unlikely to materialise. They consider that after 2015, priority should be given to the universal implementation of human rights, taking into consideration the impact of the financial and economic crisis, notably on the poorest and the most vulnerable. They call for further research and analysis on the impact of the financial and economic crisis on various regions, including in the EU and in its relations with third countries, in order to improve the development aid policy responses. Lastly, they call on the Commission and the Member States to provide financial support for the UN innovation laboratory ‘Global Pulse’, which is working in this particular context. New
The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the own-initiative report by Inese VAIDERE (ALDE, LV) on the impact of the financial and economic crisis on human rights. Members recall that not only economic and social rights but also political rights are affected as reflected, in particular, by popular protests such as those which took place in North Africa and the Middle East in 2011. Although the impact of the crisis on civil and political rights has yet to be fully evaluated, it is clear that it has magnified social unrest, leading sometimes to violent repression. The crisis has also had an impact on development aid: the EU’s collective ODA decreased from EUR 53.5 billion in 2010 to EUR 53.1 billion in 2011, bringing the EU ODA level to 0.42% of GNI, down from the 2010 outcome of 0.44% of GNI. In this context, Members recall their determination to defend and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms. These rights include the right to food, water, education, adequate housing, land, decent work, health and social security. They reaffirm that while the global economic crisis poses a severe threat to the fulfilment of economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights, there is no justification for states, whatever their level of income, to compromise on their obligation to respect fundamental human rights. In this perspective, particular attention needs to be paid to vulnerable groups, especially the poor, women and children. Strengthening European aid: in view of the crisis, Members emphasise the need to offer steady support to projects financed by the European Instrument for Human Rights and Democracy (EIDHR) for human rights defenders. They urge the EU and its Member States to maintain and deliver on their existing bilateral and multilateral ODA commitments and on the targets identified, especially by addressing those areas which suffer from a lack of progress at present (basic services, for example). They urge the Commission, the EEAS and the Member States to model crisis responses and development policy on a human rights-based approach, as set out in the European Parliament’s resolution on the Commission’s Communication ‘The Agenda for change: the future of EU development policy’. Stressing the importance of policy coherence in relation to development aid, Members reiterate that budget support to partner countries and all trade agreements should be conditional on respect for human rights and democracy in the partner countries. They take the view that donors and lenders should, in particular, respond in a coordinated manner to reported cases of fraud and corruption. For their part, developing countries should use trade preferences afforded by the EU within the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) framework in order to boost their economy, diversify their exports and improve their competitiveness. Focus on the poorest countries: Members welcome the refocusing of the EU’s aid towards least developed countries. They call on the international community to provide adequate assistance to governments in sub-Saharan Africa in order to prevent the financial crisis worsening the humanitarian crisis in some countries in the region. They also call on governments to:
Combating food insecurity: Members recall that 868 million people are suffering from chronic malnutrition, with the vast majority (850 million people) living in developing countries. They call for measures to combat food insecurity and invite governments to support small-scale food producers, especially women and agricultural cooperatives, which are the most effective in reducing extreme poverty. They also call on governments to prevent national and international financial speculators investing in land from having a negative impact on small-scale farmers and local producers by causing displacement, environmental problems and food and income insecurity. In parallel, they remind governments and the private sector alike to respect informal and traditional land ownership, as well as land-use rights; stresses that vulnerable groups such as indigenous peoples are most in need of protection, as land is often the only resource from which they can derive their subsistence. Members urge governments not to cut or limit food subsidies since these subsidies can limit the prevalence of hunger and improve nutrition in recipient households. They also call for more transparency on the commodity markets to avoid price volatility of agrarian raw materials. Combating unemployment: Members indicate that unemployment rose by 27 million since the beginning of the crisis in 2008 and that young people are particularly badly hit. Once again, they express their support for the global introduction of a financial transaction tax, which can be an innovative financing mechanism for development, ultimately contributing to the universal fulfilment of economic and social rights. They encourage all Member States to support the EU budget proposal for a financial transaction tax. In addition, Members call for:
Fighting discrimination: Members call, as a matter of urgency, for the enforcement of policies and practices ensuring that more women enter the labour market. They reiterate the fact that education for girls and women and gender empowerment are essential. Measures in favour of the aged are also called for, such as better access to healthcare, as well as measures to combat human trafficking. Post-2015: Members recall that 2015 is the date when the Millennium Development Goals were to have been achieved, something which is unlikely to materialise. They consider that after 2015, priority should be given to the universal implementation of human rights, taking into consideration the impact of the financial and economic crisis, notably on the poorest and the most vulnerable. They call for further research and analysis on the impact of the financial and economic crisis on various regions, including in the EU and in its relations with third countries, in order to improve the development aid policy responses. Lastly, they call on the Commission and the Member States to provide financial support for the UN innovation laboratory ‘Global Pulse’, which is working in this particular context. |
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