2012/2145(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Draft opinion
Citation 5 a (new)

(5a) - having regard to its resolution of 5 July 2012 on the forced abortion scandal in China (2012/2712(RSP));

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Reiterates that the promotion of women’s rights and gender equality and combating violence against women must be a crucial part of human rights dialogues conducted by the EU with third countries with which cooperation or association agreements have been signed;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

(1a) Calls for women’s rights and the status of these rights to be included systematically in the briefings made available to MEPs travelling on delegations and official visits;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

(1b) Calls on the Commission and the Member States to address violence against women and the gender-related dimension of human rights violations internationally, in particular in the context of the bi-lateral association and international trade agreements in force and those under negotiation;

Amendment 13 #

Teresa JIMÉNEZ-BECERRIL BARRIO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

(1c) Supports the Latin American states to fulfil their obligation of due diligence in the prevention, attention, investigation, legal prosecution, sanction and reparation of feminicide, calls on the Commission to regularly raise the topic within political dialogues, and in particular the existing human rights dialogues, and offer cooperation in the search of remedies to eliminate violence against women and feminicide in the context of the bi- regional partnership;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

(2a) Welcomes the Directive 2011/0129 (COD) on Minimum Standards on Victims' Rights, adopted 12 September 2012, which includes targeted and integrated support for victims with specific needs, such as victims of sexual violence, victims of gender-based violence and victims of violence in close relationship, including trauma support and counselling, and therefore calls on the EEAS and the European Commission to promote in the external policies these enhancements on the rights of victims of gender-based violence in criminal proceedings;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

(2a) Is deeply concerned about the raise of gender based violence in many parts of the world, as one of the symptoms of the worldwide crisis, and especially about the increasing number of feminicide (the homicides of women and girls) in Mexico and other countries of central and South America, which take place in a context of generalized violence and structural discrimination; strongly condemns all kinds of gender based violence and the aberrant crime of feminicide and the prevailing impunity for these crimes, which further pretexts and encourages the murderers;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

(3a) Points out that the full participation of women in politics is not limited to statistical objectives regarding the number of candidates and elected officials. Ensuring gender equality entails taking the problems of women’s rights into consideration in policy-making and the free and effective participation of women in all aspects of public, political and economic life;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the EEAS, the Council and the Commission to include in all external action policies and financial instruments a gender approach with a view to increase gender mainstreaming and, consequently, to contribute to the promotion of gender equality and women’s rights and combating violence against women;

Amendment 18 #

Barbara MATERA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Underlines the importance of the role of women, and their full participation, in political and economical decision-making, especially in post-war peace building processes, democratic transition negotiations and conflict resolution, reconciliation and stabilisation processes, for the purpose of increasing awareness and attention, with a view to eliminating the discrimination suffered by women in the democratisation process under way in many third countries;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

(5a) Reiterates the fundamental right of all women to access to public health care systems, in particular to primary, gynaecological and obstetric health care as defined by the World Health Organisation;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas the promotion of women’s rights and ~~the promotion of gender equality~~gender equality and combating violence against women should systematically be made the cornerstone of all bilateral and multilateral relations, particularly those with third countries with which the EU has signed association and cooperation agreements;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

(5a) In order to ensure the effective participation of women when they are under-represented in both political and civil society organisations, it is important to provide training and support modules both for European staff dealing with gender issues and the women on the ground to enable them to make an effective contribution to these peace and conflict resolution processes;

Amendment 21 #

Barbara MATERA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

(6a) Stresses the importance of greater equality between men and women in the composition of EU election observation missions, since this helps to raise awareness of women's participation in the election process and in public life by promoting gender equality and women's rights in third countries in which a democratisation process is under way;

Amendment 3 #

Lívia JÁRÓKA

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)

(Aa) whereas advocacy continue to strengthen the promotion and respect for women's human rights worldwide, the challenge of addressing certain cultural and traditional beliefs and practices, which constitutes discrimination against women and girls, still persist;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)

(Aa) whereas violence against women is an infringement of human rights that affects all social, cultural and economic strata;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas all types of violence and discrimination directed against women, including sexual abuse, female genital mutilation and commercial sexual exploitation of women, a~~nd domestic violence~~s well as gender- based violence and violence in close relationships and economic and social discrimination, must be considered as unjustifiable under any political, social, religious or cultural grounds, or in relation to any popular or tribal traditions;

Amendment 6 #

Marina YANNAKOUDAKIS

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas all types of violence and discrimination directed against women, including sexual abuse, commercial sexual exploitation of women, ~~and domestic violence and economic discrimination~~economic discrimination and physical and psychological domestic violence must be considered as unjustifiable under any political, social, religious or cultural grounds;

Amendment 7 #

Lívia JÁRÓKA

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas all types of violence and discrimination directed against women, including sexual abuse, commercial sexual exploitation of women, conflict based and domestic violence ~~and~~, economic discrimination and harmful traditional practices must be considered as unjustifiable under any political, social, religious or cultural grounds;

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas all types of violence and discrimination directed against women, including sexual abuse, sex selected abortion, commercial sexual exploitation of women, and domestic violence and economic discrimination must be considered as unjustifiable under any political, social, religious or cultural grounds;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Reiterates that the situation regarding women’s rights and the promotion of ~~women’s~~these rights must be ~~a crucial part of~~raised systematically during human rights dialogues conducted by the EU with third countries with which cooperation or association agreements have been signed;

source: PE-496.510

2012/10/02 AFET 404 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Motion for a resolution
Heading 1

~~on the annual report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2011 and the European Union’s policy on the matter~~(does not affect English version)

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10

– having regard to Council Decision 2011/168/CFSP of 21 March 2011 on the International Criminal Court4, and the revised action plan of 12 July 2011 to follow up on the Council Decision on the International Criminal Court,

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)

16b. Celebrates the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; recognises the ICC as a mechanism of ‘last resort’, which is responsible for the enforcement of justice for the victims of crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes, as laid down by the principle of complementarity in the Rome Statute;

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)

16b. Celebrates the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; recognized the ICC as a mechanism of "last resort" for bringing justice to victims of crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes as provided by the principle of complementarity as enshrined in the Rome Statute;

Amendment 102 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. RCelebrates the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; recognized the ICC as a mechanism of "last resort" for bringing justice to victims of crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes as provided by the principle of complementarity as enshrined in the Rome Statute; reiterates its strong support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the fight against impunity for the most serious crimes of international concern; calls on the EU and its Member States to continue their political, diplomatic, logistical and financial backing of the ICC and other international criminal tribunals, including the ad hoc international tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon;

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Reiterates its strong support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the fight against impunity for the most serious crimes of international concern; calls on the EU and its Member States to continue their political, diplomatic, logistical and financial backing of the ICC and other international criminal tribunals, including the ad hoc international tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon; calls on the EU Member States to continue to provide judicial support and the assistance of their police forces in serving arrest warrants approved by the ICC and other international courts;

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Reiterates its strong support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the fight against impunity for the most serious crimes of international concern; calls on the EU and its Member States to continue their political, diplomatic, logistical and financial backing of the ICC and other international criminal tribunals, including the ad hoc international tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon; regrets that without UN Security Council agreement, a referral of Syria to ICC is impossible

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Welcomes the inclusion in the EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy of reference to the need to fight vigorously against impunity for serious crimes not least through a commitment to the ICC, and the understanding that it is the primary duty of states to investigate grave international crimes, promote and contribute to strengthening the capacity of national judicial systems to investigate and prosecute these crimes;

Amendment 106 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Welcomes the commitments made in the Council Decision 2011/168/CFSP, on the International Criminal Court adopted on 21 March 2011, and the subsequent Action Plan adopted on 12 July 2011, to promote the universality and integrity of the Rome Statute, to support the independence of the Court and its effective and efficient functioning and to support the implementation of the principle of complementarity; recommends that the EU and its Member States ensure the implementation of these commitments through effective and concrete measures;

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Welcomes the commitments made in the ~~Council~~EU Decision on the ICC 2011/168/CFSP, adopted on 21 March 2011, and the subsequent Action Plan adopted on 12 July 2011, and recommends the EU and its Member States ensure their implementation through effective and concrete measures to promote the universality and integrity of the Rome Statute, to support the independence of the Court and its effective and efficient functioning and to support the implementation of the principle of complementarity;

Amendment 108 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Welcomes the commitments made in the Council Decision 2011/168/CFSP, adopted on 21 March 2011, and the subsequent Action Plan adopted on 12 July 2011, and recommends the EU and its Member States to ensure their implementation through effective and concrete measures to promote the universality and integrity of the Rome Statute, to support the independence of the Court and its effective and efficient functioning and to support the implementation of the principle of complementarity;

Amendment 109 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Welcomes the commitments made in the Council Decision 2011/168/CFSP, adopted on 21 March 2011, and the subsequent Action Plan adopted on 12 July 2011, to promote the universality and integrity of the Rome Statute, to support the independence of the Court and its effective and efficient functioning and to support the implementation of the principle of complementarity; welcomes the inclusion in the EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy of reference to the need to fight vigorously against impunity for serious crimes not least through a commitment to the ICC, and the understanding that it is the primary duty of states to investigate grave international crimes, promote and contribute to strengthening the capacity of national judicial systems to investigate and prosecute these crimes; expresses its deep concern over the outcome of the budget discussions at the December 2011 session of the Assembly of State Parties (10th session 12-21 December 2011), which threatened to leave the Court underfunded.

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10

– having regard to Council Decision 2011/168/CFSP of 21 March 2011 on the International Criminal Court4 1, and the ~~revised a~~Action plan, to follow up on the Decision of 12 July 2011, [1] OJ L 76, 22.3.2011, p. 56.

Amendment 110 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Recognises the efforts of the European Commission to establish an 'EU Complementarity Toolkit' aimed at supporting the development of national capacities and generating political will for the investigation and prosecution of alleged international crimes, and stresses the importance of thorough consultations with EU Member States, the European Parliament and civil society organisations in order to finalise the toolkit;

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

Amendment 112 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Reiterates its recommendation that the Rome Statute be added to the package of international treaties on good governance and the rule of law to be ratified by third countries admitted to the System of Generalised Preferences Plus (GSP+); supports consistent inclusion of an ICC clause in EU agreements with third countries; welcomes the ratification to the ICC by Cape Verde and Vanuatu; emphasizes the need for a close and permanent cooperation between HR/VP, EU Special Representative on Human Rights, the Commissioner on Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection, the EEAS and the Member States.

Amendment 113 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. RCalls for the mainstreaming of the ICC in all EU foreign policy priorities, by, in particular, systematically taking into account the fight against impunity and the principle of complementarity; reiterates its recommendation that the Rome Statute be added to the package of international treaties on good governance and the rule of law to be ratified by third countries admitted to the System of Generalised Preferences Plus (GSP+); supports consistent inclusion of an ICC clause in EU agreements with third countries; calls again on the EU and its Member States to comply with all the requests by the Court to provide assistance and cooperation in a timely manner, to ensure, inter alia, the execution of pending arrest warrants; and reaffirms the need for the EU and its Member States, with the help of the EEAS, to put in place a set of internal guidelines outlining a code of conduct for contact between EU/Member State officials and persons wanted by the ICC;

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Reiterates its recommendation that the Rome Statute be added to the package of international treaties on good governance and the rule of law to be ratified by third countries admitted to the System of Generalised Preferences Plus (GSP+); supports consistent inclusion of an ICC clause in EU agreements with third countries; calls for the mainstreaming of the ICC in all EU foreign policy priorities, by, in particular, systematically taking into account the fight against impunity and the principle of complementarity;

Amendment 115 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Reiterates its recommendation that the Rome Statute be added to the package of international treaties on good governance and the rule of law to be ratified by third countries admitted to the System of Generalised Preferences Plus (GSP+); supports consistent inclusion of an ICC clause in EU agreements with third countries; calls for the mainstreaming of the ICC in all EU foreign policy priorities, by, in particular, systematically taking into account the fight against impunity and the principle of complementarity;

Amendment 116 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Reiterates its recommendation that the Rome Statute be added to the package of international treaties on good governance and the rule of law to be ratified by third countries admitted to the System of Generalised Preferences Plus (GSP+); supports consistent inclusion of an ICC clause in EU agreements with third countries; calls for the mainstreaming of the ICC across all EU foreign policy priorities, by, in particular, systematically taking into account the fight against impunity and the principle of complementarity;

Amendment 117 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Stresses the importance of resolute EU action to anticipate and avoid or condemn instances of non-cooperation such as the extension of invitations to individuals subject to an ICC arrest warrant or failure to arrest and surrender such individuals; encourages the EU and Member States to develop internal protocols with concrete and standard actions enabling them to respond swiftly and consistently to instances of non- cooperation with the Court;

Amendment 118 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Stresses the importance of strong EU action to anticipate and avoid or condemn instances of non-cooperation such as the extension of invitations to individuals subject to an ICC arrest warrant and failure to arrest and surrender such individuals; and encourages the EU and Member States to develop internal protocols with concrete and standard actions enabling them to respond timely and consistently to instances of non- cooperation with the Court;

Amendment 119 #

László TŐKÉS, Andrzej GRZYB, Elisabeth JEGGLE, Inese VAIDERE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Asks that in political dialogue with third countries, the EU and its Member States work actively to extend the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and strengthen its network for cooperation, in order to stop specific countries placing obstacles in the way of justice being done; is pleased by recent developments in the ICC that allow it to carry out investigations in countries that are not party to the Rome Statute or have not ratified it.

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)

- having regard to the Foreign Affairs Council Conclusions on the European Neighbourhood Policy adopted on June 20th, 2011 at its 3101st meeting

Amendment 120 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Stresses the importance of strong EU action to anticipate and avoid or condemn instances of non-cooperation such as invitations of individuals subject to an ICC arrest warrant and failure to arrest and surrender such individuals; and encourages the EU and Member States to set-up an internal protocol with concrete and standard actions enabling them to respond timely and consistently to instances of non-cooperation with the Court; reaffirms moreover the need for the EU and its Member States, with the help of the EEAS, to put in place a set of internal guidelines outlining a code of conduct for contact between EU/Member State officials and persons wanted by the ICC;

Amendment 121 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)

19b. Calls on the EU and its Member States to comply with all requests by the Court to provide assistance and cooperation in a timely manner, in order to ensure, inter alia, the execution of pending arrest warrants and the provision of information; strongly encourages the EU and its Member States, with the help of the EEAS, to put in place a set of stringent internal guidelines outlining a code of conduct for contact between EU and Member State officials and persons wanted by the ICC, in particular when the latter still occupy official posts;

Amendment 122 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)

19b. Calls again on the EU and its Member States to comply with all the requests by the Court to provide assistance and cooperation in a timely manner, to ensure, inter alia, the execution of pending arrest warrants; and reaffirms the need for the EU and its Member States, with the help of the EEAS, to put in place a set of internal guidelines outlining a code of conduct for contact between EU/Member State officials and persons wanted by the ICC;

Amendment 123 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)

19b. Expresses its deep concern over the outcome of the budget discussions at the December 2011 session of the Assembly of State Parties (10th session 12-21 December 2011), which threatened to leave the Court underfunded; deeply regrets that some European States Parties to the Rome Statute push for the adoption of a zero growth budget/lower budget and that the Assembly did not agree to provide the Court with sufficient resources to effectively fulfil its judicial mandate and to deliver justice in a robust, fair, effective and meaningful manner; calls on the EU Member States to show robust support for the functioning of the Court in advance and during the upcoming 11th session of the ASP ( 14-22 November 2012) and reject the proposal for a zero nominal growth of its budget that would undermine its ability to deliver justice and to respond to new situations;

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)

19c. Emphasises that the EU's support to the fight against impunity should cover a number of initiatives that include, among others: increased efforts to promote wider ratification and implementation of the Rome Statute and of the APIC in order to make the Court truly global and universal; enhanced efforts to secure full cooperation with the Court, including through enacting relevant national legislation on cooperation and concluding framework agreements with the ICC for the enforcement of the Court's sentences, the protection and relocation of victims and witnesses, etc, in order to facilitate adequate and timely cooperation with the Court; and determined political and diplomatic support, in particular with regard to the execution of pending arrest warrants;

Amendment 125 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)

19c. Expresses its deep concern over the outcome of the budget discussions at the December 2011 session of the Assembly of State Parties, which threatened to leave the Court underfunded; deeply regrets that some European State Parties to the Rome Statute push for the adoption of a zero growth budget or lower budget and that the Assembly did not agree to provide the Court with sufficient resources to effectively fulfil its mandate and to deliver justice in a robust, fair, effective and meaningful manner; calls on the EU Member States to show robust support for the functioning of the Court in advance of and during the upcoming 11th session of the ASP;

Amendment 126 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 d (new)

19d. Notes that the Court is fully operational with seven active investigations (in the Central African Republic; Côte d'Ivoire; the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Darfur, the Sudan; Kenya; Libya; and Uganda); Notes with concerns that the Court is still facing a number of challenges and needs enhanced support and cooperation, in particular due to the fact that the majority of the 22 arrest warrants publicly issued by the Court have not yet been executed, including those against Joseph Kony and other leaders of the Lord's Resistance Army in Northern Uganda; Bosco Ntaganda in the DRC; Ahmad Muhammad Harun, Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, and President Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir in Sudan; Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah Al- Senussi in Libya; thus frustrating justice for the victims of the grave crimes for which they are accused;

Amendment 127 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 e (new)

19e. Expresses its deep concern over the outcome of the budget discussions at the December 2011 session of the Assembly of State Parties (10th session 12-21 December 2011), which threatened to leave the Court underfunded; Deeply regrets that some European States Parties to the Rome Statute push for the adoption of a zero growth budget/lower budget and that the Assembly did not agree to provide the Court with sufficient resources to effectively fulfil its judicial mandate and to deliver justice in a robust, fair, effective and meaningful manner. calls on the EU Member States to show robust support for the functioning of the Court in advance and during the upcoming 11th session of the ASP ( 14-22 November 2012) and reject the proposal for a zero nominal growth of its budget that would undermine its ability to deliver [VA1] justice and to respond to new situations;

Amendment 128 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Underlines, further to the Arab Spring, the importance of developing a coherent and nuanced EU policy on transitional justice, including the linkage to the ICC as a court of last resort, to help countries in transition address the past human rights violations ~~and to~~, fight against impunity and avoid recurrence of human rights violations;

Amendment 129 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Underlines, further to the Arab Spring, the importance of developing a coherent and nuanced EU policy on transitional justice, ~~including the linkage to~~and of promoting the ICC a’s a ~~court of last resort~~dditional role, to help countries in transition address the past human rights violations and to fight against impunity;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)

- having regard to the communication of 12 December 2011 by the Commissioner for the Digital Agenda on the 'No Disconnect Strategy',

Amendment 130 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Underlines, further to the Arab Spring, the importance of developing a coherent and nuanced EU policy on transitional justice in addition to the reinforcement of the independence of the judiciary, including the linkage to the ICC as a court of last resort, to help countries in transition address the past human rights violations and to fight against impunity;

Amendment 131 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Recommends that the EU and its Member States take all the measures necessary to prevent the commission of international criminal offences established by the Rome Statute of the ICC;

Amendment 132 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Is troubled by the fact that Colombia is one of the countries with the highest rates of judicial impunity in the world, that trade unionists in particular, but also students, farmers, women and children, are the victims of these acts of violence which go unpunished, believes as a consequence that ratification of the free trade agreement with Columbia ought to be made subject to conditions; recalls furthermore that people residing in the European Union, and notably members of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights and leading members of NGOs, have been the victims of schemes by the Colombian secret services under the direct control of the former President of the Republic of Columbia; is amazed that these serious acts remain unpunished and calls on the European Union to enforce the recommendations concerning Columbia contained in the 2009 report by the Committee against Torture;

Amendment 133 #

Willy MEYER, Sabine LÖSING

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Stresses that the digital collection of evidence and dissemination of images of human rights violations can contribute to the global fight against impunity; considers that assistance is needed in making materials admissible under international (criminal) law as evidence in court proceedings;

Amendment 134 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Deplores the signature of the Multi- Party Trade Agreement with Peru and Colombia as it exacerbates existing inequalities, harms the economic and labour rights of workers, and favours multinationals and the European extractive industry sector to the detriment of fragile, highly biodiverse ecosystems; denounces that Colombia continues to perpetrate violence and repression against trade unionists, human rights activists and indigenous peoples;

Amendment 135 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Welcomes the ~~EU's efforts in the field of IHL and~~inclusion, for the first time, of a dedicated section on IHL in the 2011 Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy and the EU's efforts to ensure accountability by documenting any abuses of IHL and supporting accountability mechanisms, as well as its pledges to combat enforced disappearances, continue support for the ICC, work towards further participation in the principal IHL instruments, promote respect for fundamental procedural guarantees for all persons detained in armed conflict, and support international instruments seeking to address humanitarian hazards of explosive remnants of war, cluster munitions, improvised explosive devices and anti- personnel landmines;

Amendment 136 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Welcomes the EU’s efforts in the field of IHL and to ensure accountability by documenting any abuses of IHL and supporting accountability mechanisms, as well as its pledges to combat enforced disappearances, continue support for the ICC, work towards further participation in the principal IHL instruments, promote respect for fundamental procedural guarantees for all persons detained in armed conflict, and support international instruments seeking to address humanitarian hazards of explosive remnants of war, cluster munitions, improvised explosive devices and anti- personnel landmines; condemns, in general, the use of indiscriminate, irreversibly lethal or unnecessarily cruel weapons and continues to promote a ban on their manufacture and proliferation;

Amendment 137 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Welcomes the appointment of an EUSR on Human Rights tasked with implementing the EU Strategic Framework on Human Rights and Democracy, and calls on the EUSR to implement the actions related to the ICC contained therein;

Amendment 138 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Further recommends that an 'EUSR on International Humanitarian Law and International Justice' be appointed to advance EU policy and actions on the ICC effectively, and to give it the prominence and visibility it deserves, as well as to assist in ensuring the effective mainstreaming of justice and the fight against impunity in EU foreign policies, and that these issues are consistently weighed appropriately in policy discussions; Welcomes the appointment of an EUSR on Human Rights tasked with implementing the EU Strategic Framework on Human Rights, and calls on the EUSR to work to implement the actions related to the ICC contained therein;

Amendment 139 #

Ivo VAJGL, Pino ARLACCHI, Norica NICOLAI, Renate WEBER, Ana GOMES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Emphasises, in view of principles of international humanitarian law spelled out in the 1907 Hague Regulations (arts 42-56) and the Fourth Geneva Convention (GC IV, art. 27-34 and 47-78) as well as in provisions of Additional Protocol I, the need for the EU to ensure that those partners falling under the category of occupying power, respect their duties towards the population in occupied territories; reminds that according to international humanitarian law, public health standards, provision of food and medical care to the population under occupation must be granted by the occupying power; reiterates that any transfer of civilian population of the occupying power into the occupied territory is prohibited, and that the accused of criminal offences must be provided with proceedings respecting internationally recognized judicial guarantees, such as being informed of the reason for their arrest, charged with a specific offence and given a fair trial as quickly as possible.

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 b (new)

- having regard to the Foreign Affairs Council Conclusions on the European Endowment for Democracy adopted on December 1st 2011, at its 3130th meeting and the Declaration on the establishment of a European Endowment for Democracy agreed in COREPER on 15th of December 2011

Amendment 140 #

Ivo VAJGL, Pino ARLACCHI, Norica NICOLAI, Ana GOMES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)

22b. Recalls that in order to avoid human rights breaches in the first place, the respect for international law must be at the core of any EU strategy aiming to enhance human rights and democracy in the world, particularly in its relationships with those partners that are parties to an armed or frozen conflict; reminds the need to end any EU support given to parties to a conflict, be it financial, logistical or tactical, including the supply of weapons, munitions and all other types of military equipment as laid down in the EU Common Position on arms exports.

Amendment 141 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Further emphasises the need to ensure that the issue of ~~accountability~~the fight against impunity for crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide is addressed more systematically in the EU's bilateral relations with relevant countries, including by raising it in public statements, and that the EU addresses impunity more consistently at multilateral level, for instance at the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council;

Amendment 142 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

Amendment 143 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. ~~Reiterates its commitment to the principle of the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ (R2P), stressing~~Stresses the importance of external actors, including the EU, addressing gross human rights violations in third countries when the governments of these countries are unable or unwilling to protect their own citizens; stresses the importance of engaging in R2P actions under the auspices or authorisation of the UN whenever possible;

Amendment 144 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Reiterates its commitment to the principle of the ‘'Responsibility to Protect’' (R2P), stressing the importance ~~of external actors, including the EU,~~that the international community, including the EU, assumes responsibility for addressing gross human rights violations in third countries when the governments of these countries are unable or unwilling to protect their own citizens; stresses th~~e importance of engaging in R2P actions~~at this action of the international community implies humanitarian intervention and appropriate diplomatic pressure and only as last resort collective use of force, under the auspices or authorisation of the UN ~~whenever possible~~Security Council;

Amendment 145 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Reiterates its commitment to the principle of the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ (R2P), stressing the importance of external actors, including the EU, addressing gross human rights violations in third countries when the governments of these countries are unable or unwilling to protect their own citizens; stresses the importance of engaging in R2P actions under the auspices or authorisation of the UN whenever possible; but considers that these must in no case serve as a pretext for military operations, as was notably the case in Libya; considers that the EU should be capable of opening its doors to refugees who fall victim to such crises and deplores the fact that this has not always been the case, including during the conflict in Libya, when only a small number of Member States were capable of doing so;

Amendment 146 #

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Willy MEYER, Sabine LÖSING, Helmut SCHOLZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Reiterates its commitment to the principle of the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ (R2P), stressing the importance of external actors, including the EU, addressing gross human rights violations in third countries when the governments of these countries are unable or unwilling to protect their own citizens; stresses the importance of engaging in R2P actions under the auspices or authorisation of the UN whenever possible; urges the EU to actively engage and promote the urgent reform and enlargement of the UN Security Council, so as to avoid the obstruction of R2P as imposed now by permanent members Russia and China against the people of Syria;

Amendment 147 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Believes that the EU’s response to global threats and challenges can in no case be of a military nature; underlines the importance of tackling the root causes of instability by means of development policies that are in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other socio-economic, political and cultural measures which can create an environment conducive to preventing the resurgence of conflict, and which aim to eliminate poverty, foster economic, social and cultural development, create institutional and administrative capacities, improve the quality of life of the population and consolidate the rule of law;

Amendment 148 #

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Sabine LÖSING, Jacky HÉNIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Commends, in this context, the actions of several Member States which took the lead in preventing further violence against civilians in Libya during the course of 2011, but regrets the lack of a concerted response at EU level;deleted

Amendment 149 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. ~~Commends, in this context,~~Deplores the lac~~tions of several Member States which took the lead in~~k of a concerted EU response to prevent~~ing~~ further violence against civilians in Libya during the course of 2011~~, but regrets the lack of a concerted response at EU level~~;

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 a (new)

– having regard to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,

Amendment 150 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Commends, in this context, the actions of several EU Member States which took the lead in preventing further violence against civilians in Libya during the course of 2011, but regrets th~~e lack of a concerted response at EU level~~at no action was possible in the case of Syria; expresses its severe concern over the situation in this country and urges the UN Security Council to take necessary steps to end the massacre of civilians and to refer the responsible for violence in Syria to the ICC;

Amendment 151 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Commends, in this context, the actions of the European Union and several Member States which took the lead in preventing further violence against civilians in Libya during the course of 2011~~, but regrets the lack of a concerted response at EU level;~~ ; welcomes the efforts made by the European Union and the international community to this effect in Syria in 2011 and regrets that those efforts did not translate into an improvement in the situation on the ground;

Amendment 152 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25a. Welcomes the new EU Aid Volunteers initiative that from 2014-2020 will create opportunity for some 10.000 Europeans to participate worldwide in humanitarian operations where aid is most urgently needed and to demonstrate European solidarity by helping practically communities struck by natural or man- made disasters;

Amendment 153 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25a. Expresses again its deep concern at the situation in Syria, and especially at the continuing and prolonged humanitarian emergency in that country and at the serious human rights violations perpetrated both by the government and by non-state actors; reiterates its strong support for the UN- Arab League Special Envoy and declares itself in favour of a UN representation in Damascus; stresses the need for close and constant monitoring of flows of Syrian refugees and evacuees to neighbouring countries so as to ensure they do not exacerbate political instability in the region as a whole, for example via an increase in terrorism-related activities such as would seem to be the case in Turkey;

Amendment 154 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. ~~Argues that~~Condemns the wholesale recourse to private military and security companies (PMSCs) and calls on the EU and Member States to step up their efforts in this area; argues that PMSCs should be held accountable for any violations of human rights and humanitarian laws committed by their personnel; calls on the EU and the Member States, in light of the widespread use of PMSCs, to step up their efforts to find a credible regulatory solution to avoid legal loopholes in terms of accountability;

Amendment 155 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Emphasises the significance of the 2011 uprisings in the Arab world both as an expression of the desire for freedom, justice, including social justice, and dignity and as a major challenge to EU policy in the region and beyond; ~~recogni~~stresses that the ~~EU h~~lessons of past st~~epped up its political engagement in both the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood, but stresses the need to learn from past policy mistakes and chart a~~rategy errors have not always been learned and that there is an urgent need to frame a genuinely new policy aligned with respect ofor human rights and support ~~of democratic valu~~for young democracies;

Amendment 156 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Emphasises the significance of the 2011 uprisings in the Arab world both as an expression of the desire for freedom, justice and dignity and as a major challenge to EU policy in the region and beyond; recognises that the EU has stepped up its political engagement in both the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood, but stresses the need to learn from past policy mistakes and chart a new policy aligned with respect of human rights and support of democratic values; takes the opportunity to invite the EU institutions to continue to monitor with intense attention the respect for the rights of religious minorities, including Christians, in the context of the 'Arab Spring';

Amendment 157 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)

27a. Considers that, in view of its responsibilities and those of some of its Member States in the economic, social and political situation that led to the popular uprisings in the ‘Arab Spring’ countries, the European Union should help the institutions in those countries to carry out audits of their debts, and particularly their European debts, in order to ascertain what proportion of those debts illegitimately did not benefit the people of those countries, and that it should do its utmost to ensure that those debts are swiftly written off; expresses its concern at the lack of continuity between the partnership guidelines and those in previous discussions;

Amendment 158 #

Willy MEYER, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Ivo VAJGL, Sabine LÖSING, Pino ARLACCHI, Ana MIRANDA PAZ, Jill EVANS, Antonio MASIP HIDALGO, Marco SCURRIA, Åsa WESTLUND, Nicole KIIL-NIELSEN, Anna HEDH, Marita ULVSKOG, Raül ROMEVA i RUEDA, Isabella LÖVIN, Francisco SOSA WAGNER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)

27a. Recalls the European Parliament resolution of 25 November 2010 on the situation in Western Sahara; urges Morocco and the Polisario Front to continue negotiation for a peaceful and long-lasting solution of the Western Sahara conflict and reiterates the rights of the Sahrawi people to self determination which should be decided through a democratic referendum, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions; condemns the ongoing violation of the human rights of the Sahrawi people; calls for the release of the Sahrawi political prisoners;

Amendment 159 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)

27a. Emphasises that the role of women, and their full participation, in the political, economical and social spheres is essential, especially in post-war peace building processes, democratic transition negotiations and conflict resolution, reconciliation and stabilisation processes; calls more particularly for greater involvement of local women’s organisations in these multilateral negotiations;

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 a (new)

– having regard to the European Parliament Resolution of 5 July 2012 on the forced abortion scandal in China,

Amendment 160 #

Antonio MASIP HIDALGO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)

Amendment 161 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Welcomes the new emphasis in EU policy towards the Southern Neighbourhood on mutual accountability and a shared commitment to the universal values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law; calls for consistency in EU's human rights policy approach to the South and the East; underlines the need to avoid in the East the same kinds of policy mistakes that were made in the South prior to the Arab Spring of 2011; observes with great concern growing religious intolerance, especially against Christians in the South region and calls upon the Commission and EEAS to pay special attention to freedom of religion in the Southern Neighbourhood;

Amendment 162 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)

28a. Deplores particularly the policies of the European Union and Member States aimed at ensuring the policing of the EU’s immigration and asylum policy by third countries participating in its Neighbourhood Policy, which is very often done 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 163 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 b (new)

28b. Points out that, according to some NGOs, more than 15 000 migrants trying to reach continental Europe have died at sea since 1988, with more than 1 500 migrants having drowned at sea in 2011 alone; recalls in particular the deaths of 63 of the 72 African migrants who set out to sea from Libya in March 2011; recalls the resolution adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 24 April 2012, which identified a variety of failings at various levels, on the part both of EU Member States and of NATO, and set out a number of recommendations that the Union, its Member States and NATO have a duty to implement by whatever means appropriate as soon as possible, and calls on the representatives of the EU institutions to ensure that this cooperation is conducted with an eye to the safety of the persons concerned, including by allowing them, whenever NGO representatives so request, to provide information without the authorities concerned being present or even being party to that information;

Amendment 164 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Reiterates its view that the ‘more for more’ approach should be based on clearly defined criteria with specific, measurable, achievable~~, time-bound~~ benchmarks; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to implement this approach systematically in the Neighbourhood Policy progress reports;

Amendment 165 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Reiterates its view that the ‘'more for more’' approach should be based on clearly defined criteria with specific, measurable, achievable, and transparent time-bound benchmarks; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to implement this approach systematically in the Neighbourhood Policy progress reports;

Amendment 166 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)

29a. Stresses that the fundamental right of freedom of religion should form an integral part of the concept of ‘deep and sustainable democracy’ supported in the new ENP package;

Amendment 167 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Welcomes the enhanced EU outreach to civil society, and emphasises the need for civil society to contribute more systematically and regularly to the ~~human rights~~elaboration of human rights country strategies and assessments required for a proper implementation of the new ‘more for more’ approach in EU policy;

Amendment 168 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Welcomes also activities undertaken under the Eastern Partnership initiative in promoting human rights, democracy, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law in partner countries; calls on the European Union to use ~~the transitional experience of its own Member States of moving from authoritarian to democratic regimes, and to translate the lessons learned from these experiences into~~its experience to have concrete, results-oriented programmes in the Union's Eastern partner countries;

Amendment 169 #

Leonidas DONSKIS, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Metin KAZAK, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Welcomes also activities undertaken under the Eastern Partnership initiative in promoting human rights, democracy, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law in partner countries; calls on the European Union to use the transitional experience of its own Member States of moving from authoritarian to democratic regimes, and to translate the lessons learned from these experiences into concrete, results-oriented programmes in the Union's Eastern partner countries; urges the EU to take a more active and coherent stance while promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law in partner countries;

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 a (new)

- having regard to the draft UN Principles and Guidelines on effective elimination of discrimination based on Work and Descent published by the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/11/CRP.3),

Amendment 170 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

32. Regrets, however, that the Eastern Partnership policy at times remains open to misinterpretations, becoming rather a policy of a~~ll-permissiveness and forg~~mbiguousness and all-permissiveness, and of double standards that are frequently applied with regard to the Eastern partner countries;

Amendment 171 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)

32a. Condemns severely the acts of violence by the Syrian Government against its own people;

Amendment 172 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Remains extremely concerned at the lack of democracy, rule of law, fundamental freedoms and the respect for human rights in Belarus, the only European Neighbourhood country not to fully participate in the Eastern Partnership and the work of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, especially in the aftermath of the presidential elections in December 2010 and the subsequent violent crackdown on protesters and political opposition, including trials of activists 2011 which did not conform to international standards and saw disproportionately harsh sentences handed down; commends the EU’s unity in response to the expulsion of EU diplomats from Belarus in February 2012; urges the Union and all of its Member States to remain coherent and consistent in their policies towards Belarus, and to keep up the pressure on the political regime, including through sanctions, while reaching out to civil society through such tools as enhanced visa facilitation and increased education opportunitiall third countries and to respond with similar firmness and vigilance in all countries in which serious human rights violations are committed, and calls for the pressure to be maintained on the Belarus political regime, including through sanctions, while reaching out to civil society through such tools as enhanced visa facilitation and increased education opportunities; makes reminder that Ales Bialetski, the President of the Viasna Human Rights Centre and Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights has been in prison since 4 August 2011; deplores the lack of cooperation between the Polish and Lithuanian Governments, which allowed Ales Bialetski to be arrested through the forwarding of banking information, and calls for everything possible to be done to prevent a repetition of such mistakes;

Amendment 173 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

Amendment 174 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

Amendment 175 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)

33a. condemns in the strongest terms the widespread brutal repression and systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedom by the Syrian regime against its population, including children and women; calls on the Syrian authorities to bring an immediate end to human rights violations and to comply with their obligations under international human rights law in order to allow a peaceful and democratic transition;

Amendment 176 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 b (new)

33b. is deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Libya, notably regarding the conditions of detention and the treatment of detainees held by various militias without effective and serious control by the Interim Government over these brigades, and requires increased alertness and sustained assistance by the international community, as stated by the High Commissioner for Human Rights before the UN Security Council on 25 January 2012;

Amendment 177 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

34. Urges the EU to apply the same consistent approach towards human rights abuses in all third countries, both partner countries and countries with which the EU has a less-developed relationship; insists that the EU be vocal in pointing out and condemning human rights violations whenever and wherever they occur, regardless of the level or strategic importance of partnership with the country concerned; emphasises that the EU should use financial aid and economic relations as a leverage mechanism to ensure the commitment to the universal values of human rights of all its partners;

Amendment 178 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

34. Urges the EU to apply the same consistent approach towards human rights abuses in all third countries, both partner countries and countries with which the EU has a less-developed relationship; insists that the EU be vocal in pointing out and condemning human rights violations, regardless of the political allegiances of the governments of the countries concerned, whenever and wherever they occur, regardless of the level or strategic importance of partnership with the country concerned, including in terms of the importance of the economic interests of European companies in the country concerned;

Amendment 179 #

Leonidas DONSKIS, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Metin KAZAK, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)

34a. Condemns the climate of fear and intimidation that has undermined the human rights of the Sahrawi people and which has again been highlighted in the preliminary report by the Robert F. Kennedy Foundation following its mission to Western Sahara in August 2012, and reiterates its call for the introduction of an international human rights monitoring system for Western Sahara;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 b (new)

- having regard to observations and recommendations on caste discrimination by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Treaty Bodies and UN Special Procedures, noting in particular the Report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance of 24 May 2011 (A/HRC/17/40),

Amendment 180 #

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Willy MEYER, Sabine LÖSING, Jacky HÉNIN, Helmut SCHOLZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Emphasises the mutually reinforcing nature of human rights and democracy, as it is through respect for human rights that societies create the free political space needed for peaceful democratic contestation; welcomes the decision to create European Endowment for Democracy expressed in: 2011 in Foreign Affairs Council Conclusions on the European Neighbourhood Policy adopted on June 20th, 2011, the Foreign Affairs Council Conclusions on the European Endowment for Democracy adopted on December 1st 2011 and the Declaration on the establishment of a European Endowment for Democracy agreed in COREPER on 15th of December 2011, which with the support and input expressed in European Parliament recommendation of 29 March 2012 to the Council on the modalities for the possible establishment of a European Endowment for Democracy (EED) (2011/2245(INI)), led to the establishment of European Endowment for Democracy in following year 2012, to support pro-democratic agents of change in pre-transition and in democratic transition countries

Amendment 181 #

Leonidas DONSKIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Emphasises the mutually reinforcing nature of human rights and democracy, as it is through respect for human rights that societies create the free political space needed for peaceful democratic contestation; welcomes in this regard the increased EU focus on democracy promotion, as illustrated by the recently established European Endowment for Democracy;

Amendment 182 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)

35a. Recognises that the current economic and financial crisis is having a severe social impact on communities within and outside the EU, notes that the various austerity plans adopted by the EU and other international institutions such as the IMF have led to an erosion of social and democratic rights and a significant deterioration in living conditions, particularly for the most vulnerable and susceptible groups;

Amendment 183 #

Leonidas DONSKIS, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Metin KAZAK, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

Amendment 184 #

Renate WEBER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Underlines that a longer-term approach covering the whole election cycle is required to appropriately follow up on the reports and recommendations of the EU Election Observation Missions; stresses the importance of drawing up realistic and achievable recommendations and of ensuring that these recommendations are monitored by the EU delegations; considers that Parliament's standing delegations and the joint parliamentary assemblies should also play an enhanced role in following up these recommendations and analysing progress with regard to human rights and democracy; outlines the fact that the transition to democracy, as well as the progress in promoting human rights, is requesting long-term strategies and may not be visible in short run, therefore encourages the Commission and the EEAS to deeply monitor more than one election cycle by deploying EU Election Observation Missions to countries that move from authoritarian regimes to democratic regimes or the ones that register serious democratic sideslips;

Amendment 185 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Underlines that a longer-term approach covering the whole election cycle is required to appropriately follow up on the reports and recommendations of the EU Election Observation Missions; stresses the importance of drawing up realistic and achievable recommendations and of ensuring that these recommendations are monitored by the EU delegations; considers that Parliament's standing delegations and the joint parliamentary assemblies should also play an enhanced role in following up these recommendations and analysing progress with regard to human rights and democracy; encourages EU EOMs to reinforce their coordination with other international election observation missions so as to improve the coherence of the EU action in this respect;

Amendment 186 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Underlines that a longer-term approach covering the whole election cycle is required to appropriately follow up on the reports and recommendations of the EU Election Observation Missions; stresses the importance of drawing up realistic and achievable recommendations and of ensuring that these recommendations are monitored by the EU delegations; considers that Parliament's standing delegations and the joint parliamentary assemblies should also play an enhanced role in following up these recommendations and analysing progress with regard to human rights and democracy; stresses that the EU needs to invest in the training of local observers in order to build sustainable and autonomous electoral processes in third countries;

Amendment 187 #

Leonidas DONSKIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Reiterates its call on the Council and the Commission to develop a ~~political~~coherent, long-term strategy in relation to each EU election observation mission, followed up by an assessment of democratic progress two years after the mission, to be ~~submit~~debated during Parliament's annual human rights debate with the VP/HR;

Amendment 188 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Reiterates its call on the Council and the Commission to develop a political strategy in relation to each EU election observation mission, followed up by an assessment of democratic progress two years after the mission with due involvement of the concerned election observation Chief Observer, to be submitted during Parliament's annual human rights debate with the VP/HR;

Amendment 189 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Reiterates its call on the Council and the Commission to develop a political strategy in relation to each EU election observation mission, followed up by an assessment of democratic progress two years after the mission, to be submitted during Parliament's annual human rights debate with the VP/HR; recalls the commitment of the VP/HR to focus in election observation on the participation of women and national minorities, as well as persons with disabilities both as candidates and voters;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 a (new)

- having regard to the declaration on the elimination of all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief,

Amendment 190 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)

37a. Emphasises that the EU must engage with political parties, so as to allow sharing of tools and techniques that parties can use to develop stronger connections to the public, mount competitive electoral campaigns, and perform more effectively in the legislature; underlines moreover that democratisation is a process which must engage citizens, grass roots movements and civil society; the EU should therefore finance programmes which foster civic participation, voter education, organisation of advocacy actions, freedom of the press and of expression, and generally help citizens to exercise their rights and ensure political oversight;

Amendment 191 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 b (new)

37b. Considers that equitable participation of women in politics and government is essential to building and sustaining democracy; stresses therefore that EU programmes in the field of human rights and democratisation shall always privilege the engagement and build up of capacities of women in legislatures, political parties and civil society as leaders, activists and informed citizens; takes the view that the EU must continue to support and encourage women to run for political office and participate meaningfully in every facet of civic and political life;

Amendment 192 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38

38. Welcomes the strengthened consultative role of the European Parliament’s Election Coordination Group (ECG), exercised for the first time in 2011, in the identification and planning of EU Election Observation Missions; expects Parliament’s democracy support activities to be further enhanced by the creation of an administrative directorate for democracy support under the political supervision of an creation of the Democracy Support Directorate within the European Parliament and the broadening of the mandate of its Election Coordination Group (ECG), which has now become the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DSECG); expects Parliament’s democracy support activities to be further enhanced, not least via its Office for the Promotion of Parliamenltar~~ged~~y Democracy ~~Support and Election Coordination Group (DSECG)~~and its Election Observation Unit;

Amendment 193 #

László TŐKÉS, Andrzej GRZYB, Elisabeth JEGGLE, Inese VAIDERE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38

38. Welcomes the strengthened consultative role of the European Parliament's Election Coordination Group (ECG), exercised for the first time in 2011, in the identification and planning of EU Election Observation Missions; expects Parliament's democracy support activities, including the political groups to be further enhanced by the creation of an administrative directorate for democracy support under the political supervision of an enlarged Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DSECG);

Amendment 194 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)

38a. welcomes measures undertaken and plans developed in 2011 by UE institutions and Member States aimed at creation of a more coherent and coordinated policy supporting Corporate Social Responsibility among others for human rights in the world and implementation of 2011 UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

Amendment 195 #

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Sabine LÖSING, Helmut SCHOLZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)

38a. Stresses the importance of providing electoral assistance and observation together with the United Nations; considers that this assistance should never become a form of EU interference in the political affairs of third countries;

Amendment 196 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)

39a. Emphasises that the existence of specific human rights dialogues with third countries is an additional mechanism and should not be used to marginalise human rights at other higher levels of political dialogue such as summits; urges likewise that human rights considerations be central to relations with third countries;

Amendment 197 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)

39a. Stresses that human rights dialogues are an additional mechanism to other consultations with third countries and should not be used to sideline human rights at higher political levels such as summits; furthermore urges that human rights considerations are part of all discussions with third countries;

Amendment 198 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 b (new)

39b. Stresses the importance that the EU uses these dialogues to raise individual cases of concern, particularly for prisoners of conscience who have been imprisoned for practising the peaceful right to freedom of speech, assembly and religion or belief, and calls upon the EU to effectively follow up these cases with the countries in question.

Amendment 199 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40

40. Reiterates its concern, however, with the persistently disappointing lack of progress in a number of human rights dialogues, and the lack of transparent benchmarks to genuinely assess improvements or deterioration in human rights; notes the continued EU difficulties to negotiate improved modalities for the dialogue with China ~~and~~, Russia and Pakistan; calls on the newly appointed EUSR on Human Rights to inject new momentum into these and other dialogues;

Amendment 2 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation -1 (new)

- having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to the European Convention on Human Rights, and to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 a (new)

- having regard to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) and to the nine core international human rights treaties and their optional protocols,

Amendment 200 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40

40. Reiterates its concern, however, with the persistently disappointing lack of progress in a number of human rights dialogues, and the lack of transparent benchmarks to genuinely assess improvements or deterioration in human rights; notes the continued EU difficulties to negotiate improved modalities for the dialogue with ~~China and Russia~~several third countries; calls on the newly appointed EUSR on Human Rights to inject new momentum into these and other dialogues;

Amendment 201 #

László TŐKÉS, Andrzej GRZYB, Elisabeth JEGGLE, Inese VAIDERE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40

40. Reiterates its concern, however, with the persistently disappointing lack of progress in a number of human rights dialogues, and the lack of transparent benchmarks to genuinely assess improvements or deterioration in human rights; notes the continued EU difficulties to negotiate improved modalities for the dialogue with China ~~and Russia~~, Russia and Vietnam; calls on the newly appointed EUSR on Human Rights to inject new momentum into these and other dialogues;

Amendment 202 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40

40. Reiterates its concern, however, with the persistently disappointing lack of progress in a number of human rights dialogues, and the lack of transparent benchmarks to genuinely assess improvements or deterioration in human rights; notes the continued EU difficulties to negotiate improved modalities for ~~the dialogue~~its human rights dialogues in particular with China and Russia; calls on the newly appointed EUSR on Human Rights to inject new momentum into these and other dialogues;

Amendment 203 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40

40. Reiterates its concern, however, with the persistently disappointing lack of progress in a number of human rights dialogues, and the lack of transparent benchmarks to genuinely assess improvements or deterioration in human rights; notes the continued EU difficulties to negotiate improved modalities for the dialogue with China and Russia; calls on the newly appointed EUSR onfor Human Rights to ~~inject new momentum~~take the lead into these and other ~~dialogues~~human rights dialogues and inject new result-driven approach into them;

Amendment 204 #

Marietta GIANNAKOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40

40. Reiterates its concern, however, with the persistently disappointing lack of progress in a number of human rights dialogues, and the lack of transparent benchmarks to genuinely assess improvements or deterioration in human rights; notes the continued EU difficulties to negotiate improved modalities for the dialogue with China and Russia; calls on the newly appointed EUSR on Human Rights to inject new momentum into these and other dialogues through ongoing cooperation with the European Parliament also;

Amendment 205 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40

40. Rreiterates its concern, however, with the persistently disappointing lack of progress in a number of human rights dialogues, and the lack of transparent benchmarks to genuinely assess improvements or deterioration in human rights; notes the continued EU difficulties to negotiate improved modalities for the dialogue with China and Russia; calls on the newly appointed EUSR on Human Rights to inject new momentum into these and other dialogues; stresses the need to relaunch the dialogue with Iran, including the human rights dialogue, which was interrupted since 2006

Amendment 206 #

Leonidas DONSKIS, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)

40a. Stresses that the existence of human rights dialogues is a pertinent additional mechanism to other types of consultations with third countries; stresses the importance to use human rights dialogues to discuss individual cases of concern; calls upon the EU and the EEAS to effectively follow up and revisit these individual cases with the countries in question;

Amendment 207 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)

40a. Stresses that despite some steps taken by the Chinese authorities in the right direction, the human rights situation continues to deteriorate and is marked by widening social unrest and the tightening of control and repression of human rights defenders, lawyers, bloggers, and social activists, as well as by targeted policies aimed at marginalising Tibetans and their cultural identity; urges the Chinese authorities to engage seriously with the Tibetan people to assess the underlying causes of self-immolations of Tibetan monks and nuns and cease harassment and intimidation of Tibetans who exercise their rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association, end all use of unnecessary excessive force in facing protestors, investigate all instances of human rights violations, and allow independent monitors into areas of protest;

Amendment 208 #

Leonidas DONSKIS, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Metin KAZAK, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 b (new)

40b. Reiterates its call for the need to appoint an EU Special Representative for Tibet who would be responsible for the defence of human rights and, among other topical issues, the right to freely practice one's religion and culture in China;

Amendment 209 #

László TŐKÉS, Andrzej GRZYB, Elisabeth JEGGLE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41

41. Remains disappointed that there has been no systematic involvement of Parliament in the assessments of the human rights dialogue~~, including for Russia and China~~; calls for Parliament's access to these assessments to be formalised, and recalls that the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Dialogues state that ‘civil society will be involved in this assessment exercise’;

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 26 a (new)

- having regard to the resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly A/RES/46/121, A/RES/47/134 and A/RES/49/179 on human rights and extreme poverty, A/RES/47/196 on the observance of an international day for the eradication of poverty, and A/RES/50/107, on the celebration of the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty and proclamation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty,

Amendment 210 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41

41. Remains disappointed that there has been no significant and systematic involvement of Parliament in the assessments of the human rights dialogue, including for Russia and China; calls for Parliament’s access to these assessments to be formalised, and recalls that the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Dialogues state that ‘civil society will be involved in this assessment exercise’;

Amendment 211 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41

41. Remains disappointed that there has been no systematic involvement of Parliament in the assessments of the human rights dialogue, including for Russia ~~and China~~, China and Pakistan; calls for Parliament's access to these assessments to be formalised, and recalls that the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Dialogues state that ‘'civil society will be involved in this assessment exercise’';

Amendment 212 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41

41. Remains disappointed that there has been no systematic involvement of Parliament in the assessments of the human rights dialogue, including for Russia, China and ~~Chi~~Vietnam; calls for Parliament's access to these assessments to be formalised, and recalls that the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Dialogues state that ‘'civil society will be involved in this assessment exercise’';

Amendment 213 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 a (new)

41a. Calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service to include forced abortion and involuntary sterilization on the agenda for their bilateral human rights dialogue with China;

Amendment 214 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

Amendment 215 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

42. Welcomes EU efforts to include a human rights and democracy clause in all EU political framework agreements, but reiterates its call for all contractual relationships with third countries – both industrialised and developing, and including sectoral agreements, trade and technical or financial aid agreements – to include clearly worded clauses on human rights and democracy, without exception; warns that the lack of consistency in the implementation of the Human Rights clause can undermine the credibility and effectiveness of the EU's conditionality policy;

Amendment 216 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

Amendment 217 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

42. Welcomes EU efforts to include a human rights clause in all EU political framework agreements, but reiterates its call for all contractual relationships with third countries – both industrialised and developing, and including sectoral agreements, trade and technical or financial aid agreements – to include clearly worded clauses on human rights and democracy, without exception; considers that the current threshold in Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) schemes that could trigger action on the human rights clauses is high but should be adjusted to each country concerned; notes the new GSP reform proposal from 2011 which suggests that the consultation procedure should be widened and ease investigations of human rights violations in the GSP Committee; in this regard expresses deep concern about the deteriorating human rights situation in Cambodia where land grabbing leads to poverty increase and leads to the violation of human rights clauses which are part of the EU- Cambodia agreements;

Amendment 218 #

Jörg LEICHTFRIED, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)

42a. Calls on the Commission to use free trade agreements to promote the four core labour standards, like freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining; the elimination of all forms of forced labour; the abolition of child labour; and the elimination of discrimination in the area of employment.

Amendment 219 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 b (new)

42b. Stresses the importance of the anchoring of the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) in free trade agreements between the EU and third or developing countries, to promote human rights, social and environmental standards; welcomes the fact the EU Special Representative on Human Rights in line with his mandate has the power to monitor the compliance and implementation of the concept of the CSR.

Amendment 22 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 26 b (new)

- having regard to the Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights (A/66/265) examining the laws, regulations and practices that punish, segregate, control and undermine the autonomy of persons living in poverty,

Amendment 220 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 c (new)

42c. Demonstrates that the EU has to monitor the fulfilling of the provisions in line with the free trade agreements between the EU and third or developing countries, especially in the field of employment, labour relations, human and fundamental rights, environment, consumer interests and transparency vis- à-vis consumers.

Amendment 221 #

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Willy MEYER, Sabine LÖSING, Helmut SCHOLZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 d (new)

42d. Expects a comprehensive human rights chapter, in addition to social and environmental chapters, in all future Free Trade; calls for the chapter on sustainable development in agreements to be strengthened through the inclusion of a complaints procedure open to the social partners and civil society, the establishment of an independent body to settle pertinent disputes and the possibility of recourse to a dispute settlement mechanism with provision for fines and the suspension of trade benefits in the event of an aggravated breach of the environmental and labour standards concerned, equivalent to mechanisms for market access provisions; stresses that the monitoring and enforcement mechanisms of the GSP+ scheme should be further strengthened

Amendment 222 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 d (new)

42d. Stresses that while clauses concerning democracy and human rights have been included in political framework agreements with third countries since 1995, and in agreements concluded with more than 120 countries, these clauses have mostly remained a dead letter; is convinced that these clauses, which should constitute a legally binding commitment on the part of the EU and partner countries, must be complemented by an operational enforcement mechanism to give them concrete form; considers there is a need for ex-ante monitoring mechanisms prior to the conclusion of a framework agreement, and on which such conclusion is made conditional as a fundamental part of the agreement, and for ex-post monitoring mechanisms which enable tangible action to be taken in response to infringements of these clauses, including the possible suspension of an agreement;

Amendment 223 #

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Jacky HÉNIN, Helmut SCHOLZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 e (new)

42e. Stresses that introducing these clauses in free-trade agreements signed by the EU with third countries has been a failure, not only since they have barely been taken into account, but also because those free-trade agreements have even resulted in violations of fundamental economic and social rights and in the impoverishing of the communities concerned, and in the monopolisation of resources by multinational 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 224 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43

43. Reiterates that the consistent application of the human rights clause of agreements is fundamental in relations between the European Union and its Member States and third countries; stresses the importance of reviewing how Member States have cooperated in the field of police cooperation in terms of police training, which should comprise a human rights facet, and deplores that more often than not this has amounted to nothing more than cooperating with the apparatus of repression, and that in the name of countering terrorism the most fundamental of rights have been ignored; underlines, in this respect, the need for the newly revised European Neighbourhood Policy to focus on providing support for security sector reform and, in particular, to ensure a clear separation of intelligence and law enforcement functions; calls on the EEAS, the Council and the Commission to step up their cooperation with the Committee for the Prevention of Torture, and with other relevant Council of Europe mechanisms, in the planning and implementation of ~~counter-terrorism~~ assistance projects with third countries~~, and in all forms of~~ in this field, especially with regard to counter- terrorism ~~dialogues~~, and in all forms of dialogue in this field with third countries;

Amendment 225 #

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Sabine LÖSING, Jacky HÉNIN, Helmut SCHOLZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43

43. Reiterates that the consistent application of the human rights clause of agreements is fundamental in relations between the European Union and its Member States and third countries; stresses the importance of reviewing how Member States have cooperated with the apparatus of repression in the name of countering terrorism; underlines, in this respect, the need for the newly revised European Neighbourhood Policy to focus on providing support for security sector reform and, in particular, to ensure a clear separation of intelligence and law enforcement functions; calls on the VP/HR, the EU Special Representative on Human Rights, the EEAS, the Council and the Commission to step up their cooperation with the Committee for the Prevention of Torture, and with other relevant Council of Europe mechanisms, in the planning and implementation of counter-terrorism assistance projects with third countries, and in all forms of counter- terrorism dialogues with third countries;

Amendment 226 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)

43a. Emphasises the importance of continuing the work on global practices relating to secret detention in the context of countering terrorism; stresses that combating terrorism can under no circumstances be used as a justification for violations of human rights, either in third countries or in the EU; welcomes in this respect the adoption of the European Parliament resolution of 11 September 2012 on alleged transportation and illegal detention of prisoners in European countries by the CIA: follow-up to the European Parliament TDIP Committee report at the request of the Member States and implementation of its recommendations;

Amendment 227 #

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Willy MEYER, Sabine LÖSING, Jacky HÉNIN, Helmut SCHOLZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)

43a. Regrets the lack of enforcement, results and transparency of EU-ACP human rights dialogues under Article 8 and 96 of the Cotonou Agreement, namely in countries such as Angola and Ethiopia, where the EU development strategy has not been affected by, nor is impacting in the seriously deteriorating human rights and rule of the law in recent years;

Amendment 228 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 a (new)

44a. Calls once again on the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission and the Member States to endeavour to establish a common position for the European Union concerning the action to be taken on the report by the UN fact-finding mission headed by Judge Goldstone on the Gaza conflict in the south of Israel, and to endeavour to ensure the effective implementation of its recommendations, including those concerning the assignment of responsibilities for all violations of international law, including alleged war crimes; calls in this connection for the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement;

Amendment 229 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45

45. Welcomes the commitment in the EU Human Rights Action Plan to develop a methodology to improve the analysis of the human rights situation in third countries in connection with the launch or conclusion of trade and/or investment agreements; calls upon the EU to ensure that the granting of GSP+ status is firmly linked to a country's ratification and implementation of key international human rights instruments, enabling a regular evaluation of such obligations, paying particular attention to the respect of freedom of expression, assembly, association, and religion or belief, and the rights of minorities, women and children.

Amendment 23 #

László TŐKÉS, Andrzej GRZYB, Elisabeth JEGGLE, Inese VAIDERE

Motion for a resolution
Citation 26 c (new)

- having regard to Resolution 17/13 on extreme poverty and human rights, adopted by the UN Human Rights Council on 17 June 2011,

Amendment 230 #

Marietta GIANNAKOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45

45. Welcomes the commitment in the EU Human Rights Action Plan to develop a methodology to improve the analysis of the human rights situation in third countries in connection with the launch or conclusion of trade and/or investment agreements; stresses in particular the need for transparency in defending immigrants’ human rights;

Amendment 231 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46

46. Recommends, in order to enhance the credibility of the human rights clause and the predictability of EU action, that the clause be further developed to include political and legal procedural mechanisms to be used in the event of a request for the suspension of bilateral cooperation on the grounds of repeated and/or systematic human rights violations in breach of international law;

Amendment 232 #

László TŐKÉS, Andrzej GRZYB, Elisabeth JEGGLE, Inese VAIDERE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47

47. Notes that the EU is developing a human rights monitoring mechanism to be included as part of new partnership and cooperation agreements, and other trade agreements, with a number of countries; ~~is concerned that these monitoring mechanisms are not ambitious enough and not clearly defined, compromising the EU's treaty commitment to the promotion of human rights and democracy in the world;~~

Amendment 233 #

Marielle DE SARNEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47

47. NCalls on the European Union to ensure that the trade agreements it signs with third countries promote social cohesion and ensure respect for social, environmental and labour standards and the sound management of natural resources, and in particular land and water; notes that the EU is developing a human rights monitoring mechanism to be included as part of new partnership and cooperation agreements, and other trade agreements, with a number of countries; is concerned that these monitoring mechanisms are not ambitious enough and not clearly defined, compromising the EU’s treaty commitment to the promotion of human rights and democracy in the world;

Amendment 234 #

Leonidas DONSKIS, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47

47. Notes that the EU is developing a human rights monitoring mechanism to be included as part of new partnership and cooperation agreements, and other trade agreements, with a number of countries; is concerned that these monitoring mechanisms are not ambitious enough and not clearly defined, compromising the EU's treaty commitment to the promotion of human rights and democracy in the world; is particularly concerned in this regard about the PCA with Uzbekistan and the pending PCA with Turkmenistan;

Amendment 235 #

László TŐKÉS, Andrzej GRZYB, Elisabeth JEGGLE, Inese VAIDERE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48

48. Reiterates its recommendation that the EU adopt a more ~~systematic policy on EU sanction~~consistent and efficient policy on EU sanctions and restrictive measures, providing clear criteria for when ~~restrictive measures~~these are to be applied and what type of sanctions should be applied, and including transparent benchmarks for their lifting ~~of sanction~~; calls on the Council to ensure that there are no double standards when deciding on restrictive measures or sanctions and that these are applied regardless of political, economic and security interests;

Amendment 236 #

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Sabine LÖSING

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49

49. Notes that the Arab Spring demonstrated how the new global information and communication architecture is not only creating new channels for freedom of expression but also enabling new forms of political mobilisation that bypass traditional methods; points in this context out that rural areas are often inadequately connected to modern communication technologies; calls on the EU institutions and the Member States to harness the positive potential of the new technologies in EU foreign policy~~, and~~ while stressing that only organized groups disposing of a clear and coherent political agenda shall be granted financial assistance; calls on the EU institutions and the Member States to address the danger of internet censorship and repression; welcomes the launch, in December 2011, of the ‘No Disconnect Strategy’ to develop tools that allow the EU, in appropriate cases, to assist civil society organisations or individual citizens to circumvent arbitrary disruptions to access to electronic communications technologies, including the internet;

Amendment 237 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 a (new)

49a. Welcomes the rejection by the European Parliament of the ACTA Agreement since, in the guise of fighting counterfeiting and protecting intellectual property rights, which is legitimate and necessary but only within bounds that guarantee freedom of choice for all, it carried severe threats, inter alia, to internet neutrality, access to high-quality, safe and affordable medicines as well as to generic medicines; strongly hopes that the Commission and Council will pay full heed to this no-appeal vote in Parliament;

Amendment 238 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50

50. Recognises that increasing dependence on information and communications technology infrastructure is likely to create new vulnerabilities and security concerns internationally; recalls, however, that many of the decentralised characteristics that make the internet a cyber-security concern are also the very reasons that it is a powerful tool for human rights defenders living under repressive regimes; stresses, therefore, the importance of a comprehensive ~~policy approach to cyber- securit~~Digital Freedom Strategy with a clear human rights dimension, including an impact assessment on human rights consequences, in the development of policies and programmes relating to cyber security, the fight against cyber crime, internet governance and other EU policies in this area;

Amendment 239 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50

50. Recognises that increasing dependence on information and communications technology infrastructure is likely to create new vulnerabilities and security concerns internationally; recalls, however, that many of the decentralised characteristics that make the internet a cyber-security concern are also the very reasons that it is a powerful tool for human rights defenders living under repressive regimes; stresses, therefore, the importance of a comprehensive policy approach to cyber- security with a clear human rights dimension, including an impact assessment on human rights consequences, in the development of policies and programmes relating to cyber security, the fight against cyber crime, internet governance and other EU policies in this area; calls in this regard on the Commission and the EEAS to take a proactive approach and to mainstream the aspect of cyber security in its interaction with third countries;

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 27

~~– having regard to the UN Human Rights Council Resolution of 17 June 2011 on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity,~~deleted

Amendment 240 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 a (new)

50a. Stresses that the repression and control of citizens and business involves a growing technological component, through the blocking of content and the monitoring and identification of human rights defenders, journalists, activists and dissidents, as well as through the criminalisation of legitimate expression online and the adoption of restrictive legislation to justify such measures

Amendment 241 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 b (new)

50b. Stresses that the promotion and protection of digital freedoms should be mainstreamed and annually reviewed so as to ensure accountability and continuity, in all the EU's external actions, financing and aid policies and instruments;

Amendment 242 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 c (new)

50c. Calls on the Commission and Council to unequivocally recognise digital freedoms as fundamental rights and as indispensable prerequisites for enjoying universal human rights such as freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and access to information and ensuring transparency and accountability in public life;

Amendment 243 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51

51. Welcomes the commitment of the EU Human Rights Action Plan to develop new public guidelines on freedom of expression online and offline, including the protection of bloggers and journalists;, human rights defenders and opposition-parties.

Amendment 244 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 a (new)

51a. Stresses that religious beliefs should be respected; however, this should not impede the freedom of expression which must be used responsibly;

Amendment 245 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52

52. Notes with concern the worrying trend of increased attacks and intimidation against journalists and media workers in the OSCE area and in third countries like Pakistan; calls for a stepping up of EU efforts to promote their safety in dialogues with the Union's partners and other countries;

Amendment 246 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52

52. Notes with concern the worrying trend of increased attacks and intimidation against journalists and media workers in the ~~OSCE area~~world; calls for a stepping up of EU efforts to promote their safety in dialogues with the Union's partners and other countries;

Amendment 247 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52

52. Notes with concern the worrying trend of increased attacks and intimidation against journalists and media workers in the OSCE area; calls for a stepping up of EU efforts to promote their safety in dialogues with the Union’s partners and other countries; expresses particular concern at the growing number of journalists being arrested in Turkey, which has the worst record in this area of all the member states of the Council of Europe;

Amendment 248 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 a (new)

52a. Is gravely concerned by developments which restrict freedom of expression and assembly based on the basis of misconceptions about homosexuality and transgenderism; recalls that these laws and proposals are inconsistent with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which precludes discriminatory laws and practices based on sexual orientation; calls on the High Representative/Vice- President of the Commission and the Special Representative for Human Rights to raise these concerns systematically;

Amendment 249 #

László TŐKÉS, Andrzej GRZYB, Elisabeth JEGGLE, Inese VAIDERE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53

Amendment 25 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 28 a (new)

- having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 20 January 2011 on the situation of Christians in the context of freedom of religion1; __________________ 1 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2011)0021

Amendment 250 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53

53. Is concerned by reports of certain EU companies cooperating with authoritarian regimes in providing them with free unlimited access to their networks and databases under the excuse of following the local law, as was the case with Swedish-Finnish company TeliaSonera in several former Soviet countries; is convinced that ~~the protection of human rights should never compromised in European companies’ efforts to expand their markets abroad~~European companies and their subsidiaries and subcontractors play a key role in the promotion and dissemination of social standards worldwide, and they should therefore act in accordance with European values and basic international social and environmental standards;

Amendment 251 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53

53. IDeplores the use of EU-made technologies and services in third countries to violate human rights through censorship of information, mass surveillance, monitoring, and the tracing and tracking of citizens and their activities on (mobile) telephone networks and the internet; is concerned by reports of certain EU companies cooperating with authoritarian regimes in providing them with free unlimited access to their networks and databases under the excuse of following the local law, as was the case with Swedish-Finnish company TeliaSonera in several former Soviet countries; is convinced that the protection of human rights should never compromised in European companies' efforts to expand their markets abroad;

Amendment 252 #

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Sabine LÖSING, Helmut SCHOLZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 a (new)

53a. Refers to the position of the European Parliament, adopted at first reading on 27th September 2011 with a view to the adoption of Regulation (EU) No .../2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 setting up a Community regime for the control of exports, transfer, brokering and transit of dual-use items (EP-PE_TC1- COD(2008)0249; points out that the authorisation in line with the Regulation does not authorise the export of items for use in connection with a violation of human rights, democratic principles or freedom of speech as defined by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, by using interception technologies and digital data transfer devices for monitoring mobile phones and text messages and targeted surveillance of internet use (e.g. via Monitoring Centres and Lawful Interception Gateways;

Amendment 253 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 a (new)

53a. Is deeply concerned by the numerous and repeated attacks on privacy and protection of personal data in the fight against terrorism and within the wider framework of so-called security policy; notes that these policies lead to more and more files being kept on the general public without any proof being given of the effectiveness of these; condemns in particular the new attempts at intimidation carried out by the United States in international negotiations and threats made by certain countries to telephone service providers to change security measures (blocking access to the internet and certain services) and the data protection of their services; deplores the draft EU PNR agreements with third countries which do not confirm to Community legislation in relation to the protection of personal data; regrets the maintaining of provisions prohibiting any recourse to legal action in US law by third country nationals;

Amendment 254 #

Leonidas DONSKIS, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 a (new)

53a. Is gravely concerned by developments which restrict freedom of expression and assembly based on misconceptions about homosexuality and transgenderism; recalls that these laws and proposals are inconsistent with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which precludes discriminatory laws and practices based on sexual orientation; calls on the High Representative/Vice-President of the Commission and the Special Representative for Human Rights to raise these concerns systematically;

Amendment 255 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 a (new)

53a. Welcomes Council decisions to ban the export of certain information technologies and services to Syria and Iran and urges the European Union to consider these cases as precedents for future restrictive measures against other repressive regimes; strongly supports the proposal to include human rights violations in the EU dual-use export control system as a reason for which non- listed items may be subject to export restrictions by Member States;

Amendment 256 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 b (new)

53b. Regrets that the international community has still not carried out negotiations for the conclusion of an international agreement on the protection of personal data for which Convention 108 of the Council of Europe could serve as a model; invites the European Commission to ask the national Commissioners responsible for the protection of personal data and the European bodies involved in this field to develop a framework, in cooperation with their international counterparts;

Amendment 257 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54

54. Emphasises the development of a strong and vibrant civil society as a key factor allowing for democratic progress and improved protection of human rights; ~~not~~stresses that ~~civil society was instrumental in bringing about~~the mobilisation of civil society was at the root of the historic changes of the Arab Spring;

Amendment 258 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55

55. Acknowledges EU efforts to step up support to civil society organisations; values particularly the ability of the European Union to engage directly with civil society through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR); regrets, however, that EU does not have a stronger systematic policy to persuade partner countries to abolish undue legal and administrative restrictions that limit the universal rights of assembly and association; stresses the importance of trade unions; refers to the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union, especially to article 12 (freedom of assembly and of association), article 27 (workers' right to information and consultation within the undertaking), article 28 (right of collective bargaining and action) and article 29 (right of access to placement services); calls for such policy guidelines be developed;

Amendment 259 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55

55. Acknowledges EU efforts to step up support to civil society organisations; values particularly the ability of the European Union to engage directly with civil society through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), the Civil Society Facility and the European Endowment for Democracy (EED); regrets, however, that EU does not have a stronger systematic policy to persuade partner countries to abolish undue legal and administrative restrictions that limit the universal rights of assembly and association; calls for such policy guidelines be developed;

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 29

– having regard to the Council Conclusions of 21 February 2011 on intolerance, discrimination and violence on the basis of religion or belief, and having regard to United Nations General Assembly resolution 66/167 on combating intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatisation of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, persons based on religion or belief;

Amendment 260 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 56

56. Reiterates its support for the implementation of the concept of democratic ownership in EU development cooperation, and considers the role of civil society crucial in that context; emphasises the need for all EU staff to work closely with civil society in the countries of their posting; outlines the fact that a closer cooperation with the civil society would considerably contribute to drawing up feasible and realistic human rights country strategies, tailored to the priorities of these countries;

Amendment 261 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57

57. Regrets that persecution and marginalisation of human rights defenders remain a widespread ~~tendency in China, Russia and~~ all othver countries that still mistake high human rights standards for an imposition of the EU, the UN and global human rights organisations; regrets that disbarred lawyers in China and politically persecuted journalists and media workers are regarded as an internal affairthe world;

Amendment 262 #

László TŐKÉS, Andrzej GRZYB

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57

57. Regrets that persecution and marginalisation of human rights defenders remain a widespread tendency in China, Russia, Pakistan and all other countries that still mistake high human rights standards for an imposition of the EU, the UN and global human rights organisations; regrets that disbarred lawyers in China and politically persecuted journalists and media workers are regarded as an internal affair; regrets that social tolerance of religious minorities in Pakistan is extremely low;

Amendment 263 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57

57. Regrets that persecution and marginalisation of human rights defenders remain a widespread tendency in ~~China, Russ~~particular China, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia and all other countries that still mistake high human rights standards for an imposition of the EU, the UN and global human rights organisations; regrets that disbarred lawyers in China and politically persecuted journalists and media workers are regarded as an internal affair;

Amendment 264 #

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Jacky HÉNIN, Helmut SCHOLZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57

57. Regrets that persecution and marginalisation of human rights defenders remain a widespread tendency in China, Russia, Vietnam and all other countries that still mistake high human rights standards for an imposition of the EU, the UN and global human rights organisations; regrets that disbarred lawyers in China and politically persecuted journalists and media workers are regarded as an internal affair;

Amendment 265 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57 a (new)

57a. Is particularly concerned by the deterioration of the situation in Turkey and the increasing repression faced by human rights defenders and government opponents, including elected representatives, trade unionists, journalists, artists and, in particular, against the Kurdish community; specifically condemns the arbitrary arrests carried out in the context of the KCK trial and the fact that those arrested spend long months in prison without any judicial acts being performed;

Amendment 266 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58

58. ~~Regrets the general assessment in the EU Annual Report that in many countries, there is a contra~~notes the restrictions of democratic space~~, and civil society in general and human rights defenders (HRDs) in particular are increasingly victims of repression, and fundamental freedoms are still massively violated;~~

Amendment 267 #

Takis HADJIGEORGIOU, Willy MEYER, Nikolaos CHOUNTIS, Marie-Christine VERGIAT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58

58. Regrets the general assessment in the EU Annual Report that in many countries like Pakistan, there is a contraction of democratic space, and civil society in general and human rights defenders (HRDs) in particular are increasingly becoming victims of repression, and fundamental freedoms are still massively violated;.

Amendment 268 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58 a (new)

58a. Regrets that persecution and marginalisation of Kurdish human rights defenders remain a widespread practice in Turkey. Expresses concern at the large number of criminal cases launched against writers and journalists writing on the Kurdish issue and the arrest of several Kurdish politicians, locally elected mayors, members of municipal councils and human rights defenders in connection with the KCK trial;

Amendment 269 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61

61. Notes that it is the human rights defenders working in remote areas and conflict zones that are the most exposed to threats and dangers~~, and in least contact with EU staff~~; urges all EU delegations to develop local human rights strategies for maintaining regular contacts with human rights defenders on the ground and for providing them with necessary assistance and protection, as required by the EU Guidelines on HRDs;

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 29 a (new)

- having regard to the UNGA resolution of 19 December 2011 on combating intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatisation, discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against persons based on religion or belief,

Amendment 270 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62

62. Stresses the importance for the EU to take proactive action (reaction and support to HRDs under threat; observation of trials brought against HRDs; prompt, vocal and visible reaction to restrictions to the freedoms of expression, association and assembly) and systematically to provide HRDs and/or their families with information on actions undertaken on their behalf, as prescribed in the EU Guidelines on HRDs; calls in this context for a reinforcement of the EIDHR mechanism aimed at providing urgent protection measures with Human Rights Defenders in danger or at risk;

Amendment 271 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62 a (new)

62a. Regrets that the call of the EP to enhance visibility of the annual Sakharov Prize is not taken on board as Sakharov Prize is only mentioned in declarative manner under the section EP in the Annual report; underlines once more that a proper follow-up by the EEAS is needed on the well-being of the candidates and laureates, and on the situations in their countries; reiterates its call on the EEAS and the Commission to stay in regular touch with the candidates and laureates of the Sakharov Prize to ensure continuous dialogue and monitoring of the situation of the human rights in respective countries and to offer protection to those acutely persecuted; calls on the EEAS to include Sakharov Prize in the section on human right defenders in the Annual Report on Human Rights;

Amendment 272 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62 a (new)

62a. Calls on the Commission and Council to support, train and empower human rights defenders, civil society activists and independent journalists and ensure their security and freedom online, and to assert the fundamental rights of free expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of association online;

Amendment 273 #

Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Leonidas DONSKIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63

63. Reiterates its unfaltering stance against the death penalty in all cases and circumstances, and strongly supports EU efforts to pass a strong resolution on the death penalty moratorium at the 67th session of the UN General Assembly, also with a view to gaining momentum in the run-up to the World Congress against the Death Penalty; underlines the fact that the EU is the leading actor and largest donor to the fight against death penalty

Amendment 274 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63 a (new)

63a. Welcomes the Commission's 2011 decision to amend Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005 to strengthen export controls on certain drugs capable of being used in capital punishment; welcomes the proactive steps taken by certain EU pharmaceutical companies to halt exports to third countries where there is a foreseeable risk of such drugs being used for executions; urges more EU pharmaceutical companies to take similar steps; calls on the Commission to establish a catch-all clause in Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005 that would inter alia require prior export authorisation of any drug capable of being used for executions;

Amendment 275 #

László TŐKÉS, Andrzej GRZYB, Elisabeth JEGGLE, Inese VAIDERE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64

64. Welcomes the assessment by human rights organisations that the use of the death penalty in 2011 broadly confirms the global trend towards abolition; regrets, however, that there was a significant increase in executions in Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia; expresses serious disappointment at the refusal of China to disclose credible information about its use of death penalty and executions that, according to Amnesty International, number in the thousands; welcomes the abolition of the death penalty in the US state of Illinois but regrets that the United States continues to execute people despite being the only G8 country to do so in 2011; recalls with concern that Belarus is the only European country to continue use the death penalty; urges the EU and its Member States consistently to bring this issue up in their dialogues with these countrieswelcomes the abolition of the death penalty in the US state of Illinois but regrets that the United States continues to execute people despite being the only G8 country to do so in 2011;

Amendment 276 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64

64. WStresses that evidence shows that the death penalty first and foremost affects underprivileged people; welcomes the assessment by human rights organisations that the use of the death penalty in 2011 broadly confirms the global trend towards abolition; regrets, however, that there was a significant increase in executions in Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia; expresses serious disappointment at the refusal of China to disclose credible information about its use of death penalty and executions that, according to Amnesty International, number in the thousands; welcomes the abolition of the death penalty in the US state of Illinois but regrets that the United States continues to execute people despite being the only G8 country to do so in 2011; condemns the decision by the Supreme Court of South Korea to declare the death penalty legal again when this country was considered de facto as one in which it was abolished; recalls European Parliament resolution P7_TA(2010) 0068 on South Korea; recalls with concern that Belarus is the only European country to continue use the death penalty; urges the EU and its Member States consistently to bring this issue up in their dialogues with these countries;

Amendment 277 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64

64. Welcomes the assessment by human rights organisations that the use of the death penalty in 2011 broadly confirms the global trend towards abolition; welcomes the abolition of death penalty in Thailand for offenders younger than 18 years old; regrets, however, that there was a significant increase in executions in Iran, Iraq ~~and~~, Saudi Arabia and the United States; expresses serious disappointment at the refusal of China to disclose credible information about its use of death penalty and executions that, according to Amnesty International, number in the thousands; welcomes the abolition of the death penalty in the US state of Illinois but regrets that the United States continues to execute people despite being the only G8 country to do so in 2011; recalls with concern that Belarus is the only European country to continue use the death penalty; urges the EU and its Member States consistently to bring this issue up in their dialogues with these countries;

Amendment 278 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64

64. Welcomes the assessment by human rights organisations that the use of the death penalty in 2011 broadly confirms the global trend towards abolition; regrets, however, that there was a significant increase in executions in Pakistan, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia; expresses serious disappointment at the refusal of China to disclose credible information about its use of death penalty and executions that, according to Amnesty International, number in the thousands; welcomes the abolition of the death penalty in the US state of Illinois but regrets that the United States continues to execute people despite being the only G8 country to do so in 2011; recalls with concern that Belarus is the only European country to continue use the death penalty; urges the Pakistan Government to remove the Blasphemy Law; urges the EU and its Member States consistently to bring this issue up in their dialogues with these countries;

Amendment 279 #

László TŐKÉS, Andrzej GRZYB, Elisabeth JEGGLE, Inese VAIDERE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64

64. Welcomes the assessment by human rights organisations that the use of the death penalty in 2011 broadly confirms the global trend towards abolition; regrets, however, that there was a significant increase in executions in Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia; expresses serious disappointment at the refusal of China to disclose credible information about its use of death penalty and executions that, according to Amnesty International, number in the thousands; welcomes the abolition of the death penalty in the US state of Illinois but regrets that the United States continues to execute people despite being the only G8 country to do so in 2011; recalls with concern that Belarus is the only European country to continue use the death penalty; urges the EU and its Member States consistently to bring this issue up as a matter of priority in their dialogues with these countries;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 29 a (new)

- having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions from 25 October 2011 entitled "A renewed EU strategy 2011-14 for Corporate Social Responsibility";

Amendment 280 #

László TŐKÉS, Andrzej GRZYB, Elisabeth JEGGLE, Inese VAIDERE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64 a (new)

64a. Regrets, however, that there was a significant increase in executions in particular in Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia; expresses serious disappointment at the refusal of China to disclose credible information about its use of death penalty and executions that, according to Amnesty International, number in the thousands, further urges the Chinese authorities to stop the extensive and politicized use of the death penalty and to ensure procedural safeguards in its legal system guaranteeing the protection of those sentenced to death, including the right to a fair trial conform to international standards; recalls with concern that Belarus is the only European country to continue use the death penalty; urges the EU and its Member States consistently to bring this issue up in their dialogues with these countries and request more transparency with regard to death penalty sentences and executions and in accordance with international standards of fairness to guarantee the protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty;;

Amendment 281 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64 a (new)

64a. Declares that the EU, which has in the past been successful in fighting the death penalty in specific cases, should take a more decisive stand and call on institutions and Member States to maintain and step up their commitment to this cause and their political will, in order to see the death penalty finally abolished worldwide;

Amendment 282 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64 a (new)

64a. Takes the view that the EU should never be accomplice in the execution of death sentences; calls therefore for regular and updated control of exports of drugs manufactured by European pharmaceutical companies which might be used in the execution of death sentences in third countries, namely the USA;

Amendment 283 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65 a (new)

65a. welcomes the extension in the updated guidelines of the groups requiring special protection to persons facing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity as well as the commitment to urge third countries to provide domestic procedure for complaints and reports that are gender and child-sensitive; however; regrets that EU's coordinated efforts to counter torture do not address its gender dimension in a more comprehensive manner, this mainly derives from a lack of substantive information on all forms of torture and ill-treatment;

Amendment 284 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66 a (new)

66a. 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 including within the EU; calls therefore for the Commission to have a much stronger policy on this subject, particularly with regard to domestic staff, the socio-professional group most affected by these forms of slavery;

Amendment 285 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66 a (new)

66a. Welcomes the Commission´s decision of 20 December 2011 to amend Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005 and thereby tighten export controls on certain drugs that can be used for executions and equipment that can be used for torture or executions; calls on the Commission to tackle the remaining loopholes in the regulation by introducing an end-use catch-all clause that would prohibit the export of any drug that could be used for torture or executions;

Amendment 286 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66 b (new)

66b. Calls again on the Commission to insert into Council Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005 concerning trade in certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, a 'torture end-use' clause, enabling Member States, on the basis of prior information, to license and thus refuse the export of any items which pose a substantial risk of being used to these ends by their destined endusers;

Amendment 287 #

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Willy MEYER, Sabine LÖSING, Helmut SCHOLZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67

67. Regrets that the political abuse of psychiatry still remains a painful problem in a number of countries, ~~including Russia,~~ which have a history of using violent psychiatric methods in support of antidemocratic regimes trying to intimidate and stop dissenting segments of society and individuals; emphasises with concern that this tendency goes hand in hand with vague and elusive forms of torture, including psychological terror and degrading conditions of prisons;

Amendment 288 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67 a (new)

67a. Reiterates its condemnation of the practices of extraordinary rendition, secret prisons and torture, in which the USA and some EU Member States were involved, which are prohibited under domestic and international human rights law and which breach, inter alia, the rights to liberty, security, humane treatment, freedom from torture, presumption of innocence, fair trial, legal counsel and equal protection under the law; regrets that thus far no responsibility has been apportioned, either in the USA, or at EU level; sincerely hopes that, in accordance with the promises made, the detention and torture centre at Guantánamo be closed as soon as possible;

Amendment 289 #

László TŐKÉS, Andrzej GRZYB, Elisabeth JEGGLE, Inese VAIDERE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68

68. Calls attention to the significance of the report of the UN Special Rapporteur of 5 August 2011 (A/66/268) on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, focusing on the effects of solitary confinement, including the use of that method in psychiatric clinics; expresses serious concern over the evidence from different countries that psychiatric hospitals are being used as de facto detention centres; calls on the VP/HR ~~and the EEAS~~, the EU Special Representative on Human Rights, the EEAS and the Commission to pay appropriate attention to this problem;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 29 b (new)

- having regard to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

Amendment 290 #

Takis HADJIGEORGIOU, Willy MEYER, Nikolaos CHOUNTIS, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Jacky HÉNIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68 a (new)

68a. Regrets that human rights violations still remain a painful problem in the occupied areas of Cyprus. Thousands of refugees, who have been forced to abandon their homes and properties, are being denied by the Turkish military forces to live in their homeland until today. Moreover, the families and relatives of missing persons are still denied the right to have an answer about the fate of their loved ones as Turkey does not facilitate the access to military zones and relevant reports from archives for the investigations of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus.

Amendment 291 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69 a (new)

69a. Equally condemns and calls for specific measures to counter cruel, inhuman and degrading treatments such as forced and sex-selective abortion and forced sterilization of women and men;

Amendment 292 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69 a (new)

69a. In relation to strategies to combat torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, strongly condemns the practices of female genital mutilation (FGM), forced abortion and forced sterilisation, and advocates that special measures be taken to combat such practices;

Amendment 293 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 14

Discrimination ~~of societal groups~~

Amendment 294 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70

70. ~~Strongly regret~~Notes that homosexuality ~~remain~~is criminalised in 78 states under the national laws in force, including five in which it is subject to the death penalty; calls on these states to decriminalise homosexuality without delay, to free those imprisoned on the basis of their sexual orientation and not to execute them; calls on the EEAS to make full use of the LGBT Toolkit to protect the rights of LGBTI people; calls on the Council to work towards binding guidelines in this area; calls on the EEAS and Member States to assist LGBTI human rights defenders in countries where they are at risk, and calls on the VP/HR to continue making clear the European Union’s firm commitment to equality and non-discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in the world, including by launching and supporting initiatives at bilateral, international and UN level on these matters; repeats its call on the Commission to issue a roadmap for equality on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity;

Amendment 295 #

Leonidas DONSKIS, Barbara LOCHBIHLER, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Richard HOWITT, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70

70. Srequires the Member States to vigorously oppose any attempt to undermine the concept of universality, indivisibility and interdependence of human rights and to actively encourage the UNHRC to pay equal attention to the question of discrimination on all grounds, including gender, race, age, sexual orientation religion or belief; strongly regrets that homosexuality remains criminalised in 78 states, including five in which it is subject to the death penalty; calls on these states to decriminalise homosexuality without delay, to free those imprisoned on the basis of their sexual orientation and not to execute them; calls on the EEAS to make full use of the LGBT Toolkit to protect the rights of LGBTI people; calls on the Council to work towards binding guidelines in this area; calls on the EEAS and Member States to assist LGBTI human rights defenders in countries where they are at risk, and calls on the VP/HR and the EU Special Representative on Human Rights to continue making clear the European Union's firm commitment to equality and non-discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in the world, including by launching and supporting initiatives at bilateral, international and UN level on these matters; repeats its call on the Commission to issue a roadmap for equality on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity;

Amendment 296 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70

70. Strongly regrets that homosexuality remains criminalised in 78 states, including five in which it is subject to the death penalty; calls on these states to decriminalise homosexuality without delay, to free those imprisoned on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity and not to execute them; calls on the EEAS to make full use of the LGBT Toolkit to protect the rights of LGBTI people; calls on the Council to work towards binding guidelines in this area; calls on the EEAS and Member States to assist LGBTI human rights defenders in countries where they are at risk, and calls on the VP/HR to continue making clear the European Union's firm commitment to equality and non-discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in the world, including by launching and supporting initiatives at bilateral, international and UN level on these matters; repeats its call on the Commission to issue a roadmap for equality on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity;

Amendment 297 #

Leonidas DONSKIS, Barbara LOCHBIHLER, Jörg LEICHTFRIED, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Richard HOWITT, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70 a (new)

70a. Underlining the conclusion by the EU of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), and the adoption of the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020, in particular area of action 8; condemns all forms of discrimination based on disability, and calls for all states to ratify and implement the UNCRPD; points out that the EU also needs to monitor the implementation of the UNCRPD on its own territory;

Amendment 298 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70 a (new)

70a. Calls on Member States to grant asylum to people fleeing persecution in countries where LGBT people are criminalised, on the basis of applicants' well-founded fears of persecution, and relying on their self-identification as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex;

Amendment 299 #

Leonidas DONSKIS, Barbara LOCHBIHLER, Jörg LEICHTFRIED, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Richard HOWITT, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70 b (new)

70b. Reasserts that the principle of non- discrimination, including on grounds of sex and sexual orientation, is a fundamental element in the ACP-EU partnership;

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)

- having regard to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) and other key international human rights treaties and instruments;

Amendment 30 #

Leonidas DONSKIS, Barbara LOCHBIHLER, Jörg LEICHTFRIED, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Richard HOWITT, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the treaties commit the European Union to baseing its external action on the principled foundation of democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and on respect for fundamental freedoms, ~~respect for~~ human dignity, and the principles of equality and solidarity~~, and respect for the principles of~~ notably as defined and protected by the United Nations Charter and international law and in particular by the New York international covenants on civil and political rights, and on economic, social and cultural rights, and by the European Convention on Human Rights;

Amendment 300 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70 c (new)

70c. Underlines that for the EU's foreign policy to be credible and coherent in the field of fundamental rights, equality and anti-discrimination, the Council should adopt the directive on equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation and enlarge the application of the Framework Decision on Racism and Xenophobia to cover other targeted groups, such as LGBT persons;

Amendment 301 #

Leonidas DONSKIS, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Metin KAZAK, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71

71. Condemns the continued human rights violations committed against people suffering from caste-based discrimination, including the denial of equality and access to justice, continued segregation and caste- induced barriers to the achievement of basic human rights; requests the Council, the EEAS and the Commission to take joint action on caste-based discrimination, including in EU human rights communications, frameworks and country- based strategies and dialogues, wherever appropriate; , and to promote the draft UN Principles and Guidelines for the elimination of discrimination based on work and descent as a guiding framework to eliminate caste discrimination, and work for their endorsement by the UN Human Rights Council;

Amendment 302 #

Leonidas DONSKIS, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Metin KAZAK, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71

71. ~~Condemn~~Notes the continued human rights violations committed against people suffering from ~~caste-based~~ discrimination on grounds of actual or suspected membership of a particular group on account of their beliefs or culture; condemns specifically those on grounds of caste, including the denial of equality and access to justice, continued segregation and caste- induced barriers to the achievement of basic human rights; requests the Council, the EEAS and the Commission to take joint action on caste-based discrimination, including in EU human rights communications, frameworks and country- based strategies and dialogues, wherever appropriate;

Amendment 303 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71 a (new)

71a. Requests the High Representative and the Special Representative for Human Rights to give full recognition to caste discrimination as a cross-cutting human rights and poverty predicament affecting most severely women;

Amendment 304 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72

72. Notes with concern that indigenous people are in particular danger of being discriminated against, and that they are especially vulnerable to political, economic ~~and~~, environmental and labour- related changes and disturbances; notes that most live below the poverty threshold and have little or no access to either representation, political decision-making or justice systems; is particularly concerned about reported widespread land-grabbing, forced displacement and human rights abuses resulting from armed conflict;

Amendment 305 #

Kinga GÁL, László TŐKÉS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72 a (new)

72a. Emphasises that traditional national minority communities have specific needs different from other minority groups and there is a need to safeguard equal treatment of these minorities with regard to education, healthcare, social services and other public services, furthermore to promote in all areas of economic, social, political and cultural life full and effective equality between persons belonging to a national minority and those belonging to the majority;

Amendment 306 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72 a (new)

72a. calls on the Commission and the Council to promote an official, judicial legitimisation of the term "climate refugee" (intended to describe people forced to flee their homes and seek refuge abroad as a consequence of climate change), which is not recognised yet in international law or in any legally binding international agreement.

Amendment 307 #

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Sabine LÖSING, Helmut SCHOLZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72 a (new)

72a. Calls on the EU and its Member States to promote the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities established in 2006 within the framework of the UN both within and outside the European Union;

Amendment 308 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72 a (new)

72a. Considers that natural resources are essential to life and offer collective benefits which allow them to be considered as global public goods; observes however that many local populations do not always have access to these resources or have difficulties in receiving remuneration for the services they help create; emphasises, consequently, the importance of defining the tools designed to measure the unequal access to natural resources; welcomes the adoption by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 28 July 2010 of the resolution recognising the basic right to water and sanitation; hopes that the European Union and the Member States implement the recommendations of this resolution by providing financial resources, building capacity and transferring technology, particularly for developing countries;

Amendment 309 #

Leonidas DONSKIS, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Metin KAZAK, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72 a (new)

72a. Emphasises the importance of the right to citizenship as one of the most fundamental rights, since in many countries only full citizens are granted all the conditions to fulfil and exercise their basic human rights, including public security, wellbeing and education;

Amendment 31 #

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Willy MEYER, Sabine LÖSING, Helmut SCHOLZ

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas economic, social and cultural rights are an integral part of human rights and their observance leads to full implementation of the eight Millennium Development Goals from the year 2000, namely: eradicate extreme hunger and poverty, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability, and develop a global partnership for development; whereas an ambitious timetable was set for these goals to be achieved by 2015, but this is currently far from being achieved;

Amendment 310 #

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Sabine LÖSING

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72 b (new)

72b. Points out that the World Bank estimates that 60 million people are totally dependant on forests and that deforestation constitutes a major impediment to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals owing to the loss of ecosystem services provided by forests (particularly rainfall, prevention of soil erosion and water purification); points out that 70 % of the world’s poor live in rural areas and depend directly on natural resources for their survival and well-being, and that the urban poor also rely on these resources for ecosystem services such as the maintenance of air and water quality and the breakdown of waste; regrets that these issues do not lie at the heart of the European Union’s development strategies with the countries concerned;

Amendment 311 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72 c (new)

72c. 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 312 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72 – Subheading (new)

Extreme poverty and Human Rights

Amendment 313 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72 a (new)

72a. Recalls the message of the United Nations World Day to overcome extreme poverty (17 October) ‘Wherever men and women are condemned to live in extreme poverty, human rights are violated. To come together to ensure that these rights be respected is our solemn duty’; reaffirms that the existence of widespread extreme poverty stands in the way of the full and effective enjoyment of human rights and that the international community must continue to accord high priority to the reduction of poverty in the immediate future and, subsequently, its final eradication;

Amendment 314 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72 b (new)

72b. Highlights the need to develop a set of principles on the application of standards and criteria relating to human rights in the fight against extreme poverty (roadmap);

Amendment 315 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72 c (new)

72c. Notes with concern that certain factors in the field of human rights particularly aggravate vulnerability to extreme poverty, such as the problems of maternal and child health, mental health, debt, drug addiction, poor accommodation, statelessness and internal displacements;

Amendment 316 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72 d (new)

72d. Is pleased that the United Nations Human Rights Council’s driving principles on extreme poverty and human rights are based on the interdependence and indivisibility of all human rights, as well as on the principles of the participation and empowerment of people living in extreme poverty; emphasises the indissociability of extreme poverty and human rights: on the one hand, people living in extreme poverty were often also deprived of their civil, political, economic and social human rights; on the other hand an approach in the fight against extreme poverty based on human rights is essential in order to understand and combat this situation; urges the Council of the Union to support this approach with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission;

Amendment 317 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74

74. Recognises that concrete progress in improving the situation of women and children in armed conflict situations is often dependent on achieving clear and unified accountability structures in military and security services under civilian control; urges, therefore, the relevant EU institutions to seek and implement more effective methods to carry out security sector reforms in conflict and post-conflict countries, with strong emphasis on women's and children's rights, inclusion and empowerment in that context; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to take this into account in the programming and implementation of external assistance instruments addressing security sector reform, including the importance of women's empowerment in post-conflict reconstruction;

Amendment 318 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74 a (new)

74a. Calls for the disarmament, rehabilitation and reintegration of child soldiers as a core element in the EU policies that aim at strengthening human rights, child protection and the replacement of violence with political conflict resolution mechanisms;

Amendment 319 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74 a (new)

74a. highlights its big concern regarding the Great Lake region of Africa, where rape is a weapon of warfare to eradicate a whole population group.

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas justice, rule of law., accountability for all crimes including the most serious crimes of concern to the international community, fair trials, and an independent judiciary are indispensible elements in the protection of human rights and the pillars of sustainable peace;

Amendment 320 #

Leonidas DONSKIS, Barbara LOCHBIHLER, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Richard HOWITT, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Metin KAZAK, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75

75. Urges the EU to enhance its action to end the practices of female genital mutilation (FGM), early and forced marriages, ~~and gender~~involuntary sterilization and sex-selective abortion; insists that these policies should be essential elements in EU approach to development cooperation; stresses the importance of adequate access to ~~medical means, and of information about sexual and reproductive health, to the wellbeing of women in all countries~~public health care systems, in particular to primary, gynaecological and obstetric health care as defined by the World Health Organisation, and information related thereto, for the happiness of all women and mothers in the world;

Amendment 321 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75

75. Urges the EU to enhance its action to end the practices of female genital mutilation (FGM), early and forced marriages, and gender-selective abortion; insists that these policies should be essential elements in EU approach to development cooperation; stresses the importance of adequate access to medical means, and of information about sexual and reproductive health and rights, to the wellbeing of women in all countries;

Amendment 322 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75

75. Urges the EU to enhance its action to end the practices of female genital mutilation (FGM), early and forced marriages, honour killings, and gender- selective abortion; insists that these policies should be essential elements in EU approach to development cooperation; stresses the importance of adequate access to medical means, and of information about sexual and reproductive health, to the wellbeing of women in all countries;

Amendment 323 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75

75. Urges the EU to enhance its action to end the practices of female genital mutilation (FGM), early and forced marriages, and gender-selective abortion; insists that these policies should be essential elements in EU approach to development cooperation; stresses the importance of adequate access to medical means, and of information about sexual and reproductive health, access to education to the wellbeing of women and girls in all countries;

Amendment 324 #

Barbara LOCHBIHLER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75

75. Urges the EU to enhance its action to end the practices of female genital mutilation (FGM), early and forced marriages, and gender-selective abortion; insists that these policies should be essential elements in EU approach to development cooperation; stresses the importance of adequate access to medical means, and of information about sexual and reproductive health, to the wellbeing of women and girls in all countries;

Amendment 325 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75 a (new)

75a. Calls on the EU to work closely with UN Women and with the institution at international, regional and national level to enforce women´s rights; stresses in particular the need not only to promote health education and appropriate programmes for sexual and reproductive health and rights, which are a prominent part of the EU´s development and human rights policy towards third countries, but also to ensure that women have fair access to public health care systems and adequate gynaecological and obstetric care as defined by the World Health Organisation.

Amendment 326 #

Leonidas DONSKIS, Barbara LOCHBIHLER, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Richard HOWITT, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Metin KAZAK, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75 a (new)

75a. Considers that violence towards women is also expressed psychologically by the presence of a relationship of domination in society and by the dissemination of degrading images of women; highlights that the role of the Commission and the Member States in this field, both within and outside the EU, cannot be limited to combating violence against women in all its forms – physical, psychological, social and economic – and that priority should be given to non- gender based education for girls and boys from the earliest possible age, and to combating gender stereotypes;

Amendment 327 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75 a (new)

75a. Notes that there continues to be insufficient attention given to sexual and reproductive rights violations that undermine efforts towards the Cairo Programme of Action (ICPD) commitments; underlines that progress on reproductive health has been limited in some contexts by violations such as child, early and forced marriage and failure to enforce a legal minimum age of marriage, coercive practices such as forced sterilisation or FGM, as well as denial of autonomy to women and girls to make decisions about their sexual and reproductive health free of discrimination, coercion and violence;

Amendment 328 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75 b (new)

75b. Requires that the UN Human Rights Council resolution on preventable maternal mortality and morbidity and human rights and the Millennium Development Goals reaffirm that access to information, to education and to health care are basic human rights; stresses that the EU must therefore play an important role in ensuring that women do not die in pregnancy; calls for the Cairo Programme of Action to be implemented in its human rights and development policy aspects, to promote gender equality and women´s and children´s rights, including sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Amendment 329 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 76 a (new)

76a. Calls on the Council, the Commission and Member States to promote in particular the ratification and implementation by African Union Members States of the African Union Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas justice, rule of law. accountability for all crimes, including the most serious crimes of concern to the international community, fair trials, and an independent judiciary are indispensible elements in the protection of human rights and the pillars of sustainable peace;

Amendment 330 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 76 a (new)

76a. Notes that there continues to be insufficient attention given to sexual and reproductive rights violations that undermine efforts towards the Cairo Programme of Action (ICPD) commitments and to addressing discrimination-including gender discrimination and inequality- in population and development strategies. Underlines that progress on reproductive health has been limited in some contexts by violations such as child, early and forced marriage and failure to enforce a legal minimum age of marriage, coercive practices such as forced sterilisation or FGM, as well as denial of autonomy to women and girls to make decisions about their sexual and reproductive health free of discrimination, coercion and violence;

Amendment 331 #

Leonidas DONSKIS, Renate WEBER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 76 b (new)

76b. Urges the EU and its member states to ensure the ICPD+20 operational review process results in a comprehensive review of all aspects related to the full enjoyment of sexual and reproductive rights and reaffirm a strong and progressive approach to sexual and reproductive rights for all in consistency with international human rights standards and increasing accountability for their achievements; in particular, calls on the EU and its member states to ensure that the review process is conducted in a participatory manner and provides opportunity for different stakeholders, including civil society as well as women, adolescents and young people to participate in a meaningful manner; recalls that the framework for such a review must be based on human rights and have a specific focus on sexual and reproductive rights;

Amendment 332 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 77

77. Notes that in their Trio Presidency programme, Poland, Denmark and Cyprus made a commitment to actively support all initiatives relating to efforts to combat violence against women, domestic violence and female genital mutilation, in particular its cross-border aspects; reiterates the need for coherence on EU internal and external policies on these issues, and urges the Commission to make it a priority to end violence against women and girls, as well as feminicide, and, through the allocation of appropriate financial resources, to support targeted and innovative programmes both within the EU and in third countries; encourages the EU and its Member States to sign and ratify the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence;

Amendment 333 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 77

77. ~~Notes that in their Trio Presidency programme, Poland, Denmark and Cyprus made a commitment to actively support~~welcomes all EU-initiatives ~~relating to effort~~of several Member States to combat violence against women, domestic violence and female genital mutilation, in particular its cross- border aspects; reiterates the need for coherence on EU internal and external policies on these issues, and urges the Commission to make it a priority to end violence against women and girls and, through the allocation of appropriate financial resources, to support targeted and innovative programmes both within the EU and in third countries;

Amendment 334 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 77 a (new)

77a. Welcomes the adoption of Directive 2011/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2011 on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings, and the introduction of a new strategy by the European Commission entitled ‘The EU Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings 2012-2016’; points out that trafficking in human beings is a complex transnational phenomenon rooted in vulnerability to poverty, lack of democratic cultures, gender inequality and violence against women; emphasises the need to place greater emphasis on the gender dimension in dialogue with third countries on this issue; calls, finally, on Member States that have not yet ratified the UN ‘Palermo’ Protocol on Trafficking in Persons and the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings to do so as soon as possible;

Amendment 335 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 77 a (new)

77a. Emphasises the crucial role played by women in the political life of the Southern Neighbourhood; welcomes election results that have resulted in a considerable increase in the number of women in political fora;

Amendment 336 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 78

78. Recalls the specific commitment made in the Lisbon Treaty to focus on children's rights in EU's external policies; points out that the near-universal adoption of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child provides a particularly solid international legal foundation to pursue progressive policies in this area, therefore calls on countries that have not ratified it yet to ratify and enforce it and its optional protocols as soon as possible;

Amendment 337 #

Alojz PETERLE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 78

78. Recalls the specific commitment made in the Lisbon Treaty to focus on children's rights in EU's external policies; points out that the near-universal adoption of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child provides a particularly solid international legal foundation to pursue progressive policies in this area; in this context fully supports the San Jose Articles on the application of international human rights law in relation to the protection of human life;

Amendment 338 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 78

78. Recalls the specific commitment made in the Lisbon Treaty to focus on children's rights in EU's external policies; points out that the near-universal adoption of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child provides a particularly solid international legal foundation to pursue progressive policies in this area; recommends that rights of the child should be taken into account in all EU policies and actions;

Amendment 339 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 78 a (new)

78a. Draws attention to the serious problem that exists in several countries in sub-Saharan Africa of children being accused of witchcraft, resulting in grave consequences ranging from social exclusion to infanticide, and to the ritual murder of children as sacrifices; notes that the State has a responsibility to protect children from all forms of violence and abuse and, consequently, urges the HR/VP, the EU Special Representative on Human Rights, the Commission and the EEAS to pay particular attention to the protection of children from all forms of violence and to the fate of these children in the human rights dialogues with the governments of the countries concerned and in the programming of the external financial instruments;

Amendment 34 #

Teresa JIMÉNEZ-BECERRIL BARRIO

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas justice, rule of law. accountability for all crimes, including the most serious crimes with an international dimension, fair trials, and an independent judiciary are indispensible elements in the protection of human rights;

Amendment 340 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 78 a (new)

78a. Calls on the EEAS and the European Commission to promote safeguarding within the external policies children's' rights during criminal proceedings by establishing specific protection needs due to their vulnerability to secondary and repeat victimisation and by putting the child's best interest as a primary consideration, as was included in the Directive 2011/0129 (COD) on Minimum Standards on Victims' Rights, adopted 12 September 2012

Amendment 341 #

Barbara LOCHBIHLER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 79

79. Welcomes the Commission Communication ‘An EU Agenda for the Rights of the Child,’ integrating both internal and external policy objectives in a single policy document; ~~stresses, however, the importance of~~recalls the commitment of VP/HR in the Commission Communication 'Human Rights and Democracy at the Heart of EU External Action' to focus on the rights of the child as one of three campaign priorities; stresses, however, the importance of translating these commitments into budgeted actions and monitoring ~~its~~their efficient implementation;

Amendment 342 #

Barbara LOCHBIHLER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 80

80. SCalls on a consistent inclusion of child rights in Human Rights Country Strategies in line with the Lisbon Treaty commitment; supports the plans to make further advances in developing rights- based approaches to development cooperation as stated in the EU human rights strategy action plan; emphasises the urgency to do so in the case of children's rights in order to ensure longer-term sustainable progress;

Amendment 343 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 80

80. Supports the plans to make further advances in developing rights-based approaches to development cooperation as stated in the EU human rights strategy action plan; emphasises the urgency to do so in the case of children's rights in order to ensure longer-term sustainable progress; notes a need to overview children's rights in a comparison with the principles of human rights, in order to get transparency to what extent those first ones are covered or not by basic human rights;

Amendment 344 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 80

80. Supports the plans to make further advances in developing rights-based approaches to development cooperation as stated in the EU human rights strategy action plan; emphasises the urgency to do so in the case of children’s rights in order to ensure longer-term sustainable progress; restates that girls specifically are particularly vulnerable in certain countries.

Amendment 345 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 80 a (new)

80a. Stresses the need to combat all forms of forced child labour, child exploitation and trafficking; calls for the better implementation of existing national and international rules that foster awareness of child abuse in the labour market; emphasises the fact that children and adolescents should participate only in work that does not affect their health and personal development or interfere with their schooling;

Amendment 346 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 80 a (new)

80a. Points to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and to the need to ensure total protection of the rights it enshrines and prevent their erosion; in this connection, particularly supports prioritising the need for special care and protection for children, including the provision of appropriate legal protection, both before birth and after, on the basis of that Convention and the Declaration on Human Rights;

Amendment 347 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 80 a (new)

80a. Particularly support the prioritization of a child's needs for special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection by its parents or legal representative, before and after birth, as outlined in the UN Convention and of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child;

Amendment 348 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 80 a (new)

80a. Recalls that Article 18(1) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child enshrines the role of parents as the primary public measure for ensuring the best interests of the child and requires States to actively support parents; invites the competent institutions to therefore take into account the rights and duties of parents, legal guardians, or other individuals legally responsible for the child and implement a family mainstreaming dimension when dealing with universal human rights in external relations;

Amendment 349 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 18

Freedom of ~~religion or belief~~thought, conscience and religion

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas justice, rule of law., accountability, fair trials, and an independent judiciary are indispensible elements in the protection of human rights;

Amendment 350 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 18

Freedom of ~~religion~~thought, conscience or breliefgion

Amendment 351 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 18

Freedom of religion or belief, persecution of Christian communities and murder of Christians

Amendment 352 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph - 81 a (new)

- 81a. Stresses that freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental right, encompassing the right to believe or not to believe and the freedom to practice that belief either in private or public, alone or in community with others;

Amendment 353 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph - 81 b (new)

- 81b. Notes the importance of the right to freedom of religion or belief, including theistic, non-theistic or atheistic beliefs alike, to all individuals, which as an essential right should be promoted and protected; stresses that the enjoyment of this right is fundamental to the development of pluralist and democratic societies and one of preconditions for the enjoyment of many other rights, such as freedom of expression, assembly and association; calls upon the EU to systematically defend the unconditional right to freedom of religion or belief for all in political dialogues and high-level summits with third countries and organisations;

Amendment 354 #

Ivo VAJGL, Pino ARLACCHI, Norica NICOLAI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph - 81 c (new)

- 81c. Advocates the making of greater efforts to significantly improve respect for the right of freedom of religion in the world, which should be one of the foremost priorities in EU human rights initiatives as part of the EU’s external action since it is commonly recognised as being one of the most central human rights guaranteed at international level, and without proper respect for it a society cannot truly call itself ‘free’;

Amendment 355 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81

81. Remains deeply concerned that discrimination based on thought, religion or, belief or political affiliation continues in many regions of the world, and that persons belonging to particular religious communities, including religious minorities, continue to be denied their human rights; is particularly concerned by the situation in China where individuals who practise their religion outside officially sanctioned channels, including Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and Falun Gong practitioners, often face persecution; urges China to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) as it has promised; urges the Chinese authorities to suspend and subsequently amend, through genuinely consultative processes with Tibetans, the policies that most negatively impact Tibetan Buddhism, culture and traditionpolitical movements, religious communities, including religious minorities, continue to be denied their human rights;

Amendment 356 #

László TŐKÉS, Andrzej GRZYB, Elisabeth JEGGLE, Inese VAIDERE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81

81. Remains deeply concerned that discrimination based on religion or belief continues and has increased in many regions of the world, and that persons belonging to particular religious communities, including religious minorities, continue to be denied their human rights; is particularly concerned by the situation in China where individuals who practise their religion outside officially sanctioned channels, including Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and Falun Gong practitioners, often face persecution; urges China to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) as it has promised; urges the Chinese authorities to suspend and subsequently amend, through genuinely consultative processes with Tibetans, the policies that most negatively impact Tibetan Buddhism, culture and tradition;

Amendment 357 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81

Amendment 358 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81

81. Remains deeply concerned that discrimination based on religion or belief continues in many regions of the world, and that persons belonging to particular religious communities, including religious minorities, continue to be denied their human rights; is particularly concerned by the situation in China where individuals who practise their religion outside officially sanctioned channels, including Christians, Muslims, BuddhCondemns any intolerance, discrimination or violence on the grounds of religion or belief wherever and to whomever it occurs; expresses concern about violations perpetrated against religious minority representatives and those modest voices in majority religious traditions promoting pluralists and Falun Gong practitioners, often face persecution; urges China to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) as it has promised; urges the Chinese authorities to suspend and subsequently amediverse societies based on mutual respect between individuals; expresses worry about impunity of such violations, the bias of the police and judiciary systems in dealing with such matters and, th~~rough genuinely consultative processes with Tibetans, the policies that most negatively impact Tibetan Buddhism, culture and tradition~~e lack of appropriate victim compensation schemes in many countries in the world;

Amendment 359 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81

81. Remains deeply concerned that discrimination based on religion or belief continues in many regions of the world, and that persons belonging to particular religious communities, including religious minorities, continue to be denied their human rights; is particularly concerned by the situation in Pakistan where a reform of education to incorporate themes of religious tolerance is critical for the development of a tolerant Pakistani society which values religious freedom and religious diversity for all its citizens; is particularly concerned by the situation in China where individuals who practise their religion outside officially sanctioned channels, including Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and Falun Gong practitioners, often face persecution; urges China to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) as it has promised; urges the Chinese authorities to suspend and subsequently amend, through genuinely consultative processes with Tibetans, the policies that most negatively impact Tibetan Buddhism, culture and tradition;

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas justice, rule of law., accountability, transparency, responsibility, the fight against impunity, fair trials, and an independent judiciary are indispensible elements in the protection of human rights;

Amendment 360 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81

81. RStresses that freedom of conscience is a fundamental value for the EU, incorporating the freedom to believe or not to believe and the freedom to practice the religion of one’s choice; remains deeply concerned that discrimination based on religion or belief continues in many regions of the world, and that persons belonging to particular religious communities, including religious minorities, continue to be denied their human rights; is particularly concerned by the situation in China where individuals who practise their religion outside officially sanctioned channels, including Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and Falun Gong practitioners, often face persecution; urges China to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) as it has promised; urges the Chinese authorities to suspend and subsequently amend, through genuinely consultative processes with Tibetans, the policies that most negatively impact Tibetan Buddhism, culture and tradition;

Amendment 361 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81

Amendment 362 #

Jörg LEICHTFRIED, Richard HOWITT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81

81. Remains deeply concerned that ~~discrimination based~~violations of freedom onf religion or belief continues in many regions of the world, and that persons belonging to particular religious communities, ~~including~~and especially religious minorities, continue to be denied their human rights; is particularly concerned by the situation in China where individuals who practise their religion outside officially sanctioned channels, including Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and Falun Gong practitioners, often face persecution; urges China to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) as it has promised; urges the Chinese authorities to suspend and subsequently amend, through genuinely consultative processes with Tibetans, the policies that most negatively impact Tibetan Buddhism, culture and tradition;

Amendment 363 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81 a (new)

81a. Expresses its profound concern about the increasing number of acts of religious intolerance and discrimination in various countries; strongly condemns all acts of violence against Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other religious communities as well as all kinds of discrimination and intolerance based on religion and belief against religious people, apostates and non believers; stresses once again that the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is a fundamental human right. (adopted by EP on 20 February 2011); recognises the growing need in a number of countries for conflict transformation and reconciliatory efforts including inter- faith dialogue at various levels, and urges the EU and HR/VP, the EU Special Representative on Human Rights, the Commission and the EEAS to address discriminatory and inflammatory content in eg the media and the issue of obstacles to the free profession of faith in its/her dialogues with third countries in the context of EU initiatives on human rights; considers that in third countries where religious minorities are faced with violations of their rights, such problems cannot be solved by protecting and isolating them "from" the surrounding societies and thus creating 'parallel societies´;

Amendment 364 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81 a (new)

81a. Notices that paradoxically the events of the Arab Spring expected to bring pro democratic transformation at the same time brought in many cases the deterioration of the freedoms and rights of religious minorities and therefore strongly condemns all acts of violence against Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other religious communities as well as all kinds of discrimination and intolerance based on religion and belief against religious people, apostates and non believers; stresses once again in the context expressed in its resolution of January 20, 2011 on the situation of Christians in the context of freedom of religion and its resolution of 18 April 2012 on the Annual Report on Human Rights in the World and the European Union's policy on the matter, including implications for the EU's strategic human rights policy, that the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is a fundamental human right;

Amendment 365 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81 a (new)

81a. Notes that freedom of religion or belief is inter-related with issues pertaining to recognition, equal citizenship and equal enjoyment of rights in a given society. Encourages the EU to work for equality and equal citizenship as a matter of priority for representatives of marginalised and discriminated groups in society, including inter alia the Muslim Rohingyas in Burma and neighbouring countries, Ahmadi Muslims in Indonesia and Pakistan, Copts in Egypt, Christians, Jews and Bahai's in Iran, ethnic Christians and members of the Unified Buddhist Church in Vietnam etc..

Amendment 366 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81 a (new)

81a. Is particularly concerned by the situation in China where individuals who practise their religion outside officially sanctioned channels, including Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and Falun Gong practitioners, often face persecution; urges China to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) as it has promised; urges the Chinese authorities to suspend and subsequently amend, through genuinely consultative processes with Tibetans, the policies that most negatively impact Tibetan Buddhism, culture and tradition; is deeply concerned about the situation of freedom of religion in Cuba, in particular the increased persecution of leaders of Catholic and Protestants churches and believers;

Amendment 367 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81 a (new)

81a. Emphasises that freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental right, which comprises the right to believe or not believe and the freedom to practise said belief in public or in private, alone or together with others;

Amendment 368 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81 b (new)

81b. Is particularly concerned by the situation in China where individuals who practise their religion outside officially sanctioned channels, including Christians, Muslims, Buddhists systematically face persecution, despite the constitutional guarantee for freedom of religion in China; further calls on the Chinese governments to put an end to its campaign of ill-treatment and harassment directed at Falun Gong practitioners who face long prison terms and re-education through labour facilities for exercising their right to freedom of religion and belief, aimed at forcing them to renounce their spiritual beliefs, despite China's ratification of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;

Amendment 369 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81 c (new)

81c. Urges China to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) as it has promised, as well as to respect all its human rights related international obligations and constitutional provisions for religious freedom for all its citizens;

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas justice, rule of law., natural law, accountability, transparency, fair trials, and an independent judiciary are indispensible elements in the protection of universal human rights, in particular with regard to freedom of expression, of religion, of conscience, of assembly and of association;

Amendment 370 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81 d (new)

81d. Urges the Chinese authorities to suspend and subsequently amend, through genuinely consultative processes with Tibetans, the policies that are destructive to Tibetan Buddhism, culture and tradition and instead allow Tibetans to preserve, practice and develop their religious traditions; it further urges the authorities to stop imposing restrictions on religious education, training of clergy, day-to-day management of monasteries and nunneries, and on the conduct of religious practice and festivals, as methods part of official systematic efforts to eradicate religious belief;

Amendment 371 #

Ivo VAJGL, Pino ARLACCHI, Norica NICOLAI, Ana GOMES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82

82. Stresses the need for a toolkit to advance the right to freedom of thought, religion or, belief ~~as part of EU's external policy; notes that this toolkit should include a checklist on the necessary freedoms pertaining to the right of freedom of religion or belief, in order to assess the situ~~or political affiliation, as ~~well as a methodology to help identify infringements of freedom of religion or belief; encourages the EEAS to involve civil society organisations in the preparation of the toolkit~~part of EU's external policy;

Amendment 372 #

Leonidas DONSKIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82

82. Stresses the need for a toolkit to advance the right to freedom of religion or belief as part of the EU's external policy; ~~notes that this toolkit shoul~~welcomes in this context the EU's commitment to developing public guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief; notes that these guidelines should be in coherence with EU Human Rights country strategies and include a checklist on the necessary freedoms pertaining to the right of freedom of religion or belief, in order to assess the situation, as well as a methodology to help identify infringements of freedom of religion or belief; ~~encourages the EEAS to involve~~stresses the need for the European Parliament and civil society organisations to be involved in the preparation of the ~~toolkit~~se guidelines;

Amendment 373 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82

82. Stresses the need for a toolkit to advance the right to freedom of religion or belief as part of EU’s external policy; notes that this toolkit should be ambitious and include a checklist on ~~the necessary freedoms pertaining to~~all the features and facets of exercising the right of freedom of religion or belief and respect for this, in order to assess the situation, as well as a methodology to help identify infringements of freedom of religion or belief and to counteract these; encourages the EEAS to involve the Church, religious communities and civil society organisations in the preparation of ~~the~~such a toolkit, which should be introduced as a matter of urgency;

Amendment 374 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82

82. Stresses the need for a toolkit to advance the right to freedom of ~~religion~~thought, conscience or breliefgion as part of EU’s external policy; notes that this toolkit should include a checklist on the necessary freedoms pertaining to the right of freedom of ~~religion~~thought, conscience or breliefgion, in order to assess the situation, as well as a methodology to help identify infringements of freedom of ~~religion~~thought, conscience or breliefgion; encourages the EEAS to involve civil society organisations in the preparation of the toolkit;

Amendment 375 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82

Amendment 376 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82

82. ~~Stresses~~Welcomes the inclusion of the freedom of religion or belief in the training provided to the EU staff; Strongly reiterates its call on the need for a toolkit to advance the right to freedom of religion or belief as part of EU's external policy; notes that this toolkit should include a checklist on the necessary freedoms pertaining to the right of freedom of religion or belief, in order to assess the situation, as well as a methodology to help identify infringements of freedom of religion or belief; encourages the EEAS to involve civil society organisations in the preparation of the toolkit;

Amendment 377 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82

82. Stresses the need for a toolkit to advance the right to freedom of religion or belief as part of EU's external policy; notes that this toolkit should include a checklist on the necessary freedoms pertaining to the right of freedom of religion or belief, in order to assess the situation, as well as a methodology to help identify infringements of freedom of religion or belief; encourages the EEAS to involve civil society organisations in the preparation of the toolkit; welcomes the EU's commitment to develop Guidelines on freedom of religion or belief, as per section 23 of the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy; urges the Council and Commission that the creation, implementation and evaluation of these guidelines, is accompanied by a full and inclusive consultation and engagement with the Parliament, civil society organisations, academics and other relevant stakeholders in this field; encourages the EU to ensure coherence between the new guidelines and the priorities listed in EU human rights country strategies, mainstreaming freedom of religion or belief in strategies for third countries where such violations occur and making sure that human rights defenders, civil society, and religious communities in such countries are consulted;

Amendment 378 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82 a (new)

82a. Invites the VP/HR Ashton and the other EU institutions to combat against unacceptable practices such as forced conversions and the criminalization or punishment for cases of so-called 'apostasy', applying pressure on those third countries, with a particular focus on those which are EU partners, that still carry out such practices, so that they are eliminated; calls for an equally firm stance against the instrumentalisation of blasphemy laws for the purpose of persecuting members of religious minorities; underlines that while blasphemy laws are often promoted with the pretext of reducing social tensions, in reality they only contribute to their increase and to the rise of intolerance, in particular towards religious minorities;

Amendment 379 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82 a (new)

82a. Opposes the idea that there should be laws or UN resolutions against the so- called "defamation of religions" which provide justification for governments to restrict religious freedom and free expression; invites the EU Council and the High Representative to oppose any move at the UN seeking to impose the concept of "defamation of religion";

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas justice, rule of law. accountability, fair trials, and an independent judiciary are indispensible elements in the protection of human rights;, democracy, and the pillars of sustainable peace

Amendment 380 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82 a (new)

82a. Welcomes the Joint statement by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, OIC Secretary General, Arab League Secretary General, and African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security of 20 September 2012 that reaffirmed the respect for all religions and the fundamental importance of religious freedom and tolerance, while at the same time fully recognizing the importance of freedom of expression; condemns any advocacy of religious hatred and violence and deeply regrets the loss of human lives as result of the recent attacks on diplomatic missions; expresses condolences to families of victims;

Amendment 381 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82 a (new)

82a. Welcomes inclusive efforts of intercultural and interfaith dialogue and cooperation at various levels, involving community leaders, women, youth and ethnic minority representatives, in fostering societal cohesion and peaceful societies;

Amendment 382 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82 a (new)

82a. Emphasises that freedom of religion cannot solely be taken to mean immunity from coercion, or freedom to practise one’s own faith in private, but must also mean the fully-safeguarded freedom to do so in public;

Amendment 383 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82 a (new)

82a. Stresses the importance of mainstreaming freedom of religion or belief in development, conflict prevention, and counterterrorism policies; welcomes inclusive efforts of intercultural and interfaith dialogue and cooperation at various levels, involving community leaders, women, youth and ethnic minority representatives, in fostering societal cohesion and peaceful societies;

Amendment 384 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82 a (new)

82a. Urges the EU to respond proactively to the increased use of apostasy, blasphemy and anti-conversion laws and the role they play in increasing religious intolerance and discrimination; encourages the EU to speak out against the use of these laws by governments, including Iran and Pakistan, to deny the rights of individuals to change religion, in particular when the death penalty is given as a punishment;

Amendment 385 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82 b (new)

82b. Underlines that obstacles still exist in many parts of the world to the full and effective exercise of the fundamental right to freedom of religion, both at the individual and collective level, in the public as well as in the private sphere, and calls on the VP/HR Ashton and on the European Commission to insist on the need to effectively address such a problem in the context of the relevant EU initiatives concerning human rights;

Amendment 386 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82 b (new)

82b. Urges the EU to respond proactively to the increased use of apostasy, blasphemy and anti-conversion laws and the role they play in increasing religious intolerance and discrimination; emphasises that international law includes the right to have, adopt and change a religion or belief; encourages the EU to speak out against the use of these laws by governments, including Iran and Pakistan, to deny the rights of individuals to change religion, in particular when the death penalty is given as a punishment;

Amendment 387 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82 b (new)

82b. expresses its profound concern about the increasing number of acts of religious intolerance and discrimination, as epitomised by violence and acts of terrorism in various countries against Christians and their places of worship which it firmly condemns ; underlines that no part of the world is exempt from the scourge of religious intolerance ;

Amendment 388 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82 b (new)

82b. Notes that freedom of religion or belief is inter-related with issues pertaining to recognition, equal citizenship and equal enjoyment of rights in a given society; encourages the EU to work for equality and equal citizenship as a matter of priority for representatives of marginalised or discriminated groups in society; stresses moreover the importance of supporting initiatives and enabling funding for civil society and human rights defenders in their efforts to combat discrimination, intolerance and violence on the grounds of religion or belief;

Amendment 389 #

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Willy MEYER, Helmut SCHOLZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82 c (new)

82c. Restates its concern regarding the full and effective respect of the right to freedom of religion for religious minorities in a number of third countries; in this context stresses that freedom of worship is but one aspect of the right to freedom of religion, as the latter includes the freedom to change one's religion and to also manifest it in teaching, practice and observance, at the individual, collective, private, public and institutional level; underlines that the public element is central to religious freedom, and that in most religions, Christianity included, to prevent believers from expressing their faith publicly, while reducing their religion to a private phenomenon, gravely violates their right to religious freedom;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas the EU is bound to help countries with which it has signed international agreements, including trade agreements, to implement all these fundamental principles, and in particular by ensuring strict compliance with the human rights and democracy clauses in said agreements;

Amendment 390 #

Ivo VAJGL, Pino ARLACCHI, Norica NICOLAI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83

83. Stresses that international human rights law recognises freedom of thought, religion or, belief or political affiliation regardless of registration status, so registration should not be a mandatory precondition for practising one's religion; points out with concern, furthermore, that in China monks and nuns are required to register with the Government, and must operate under Government-controlled management boards, and that this interferes with their religious autonomy and restricts their activity or right of political affiliation;

Amendment 391 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83

Amendment 392 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83

83. Stresses that international human rights law recognises freedom of religion or belief regardless of registration status, so registration should not be a mandatory precondition for practising one's religion; points out with concern, furthermore, that in China ~~monks and nuns~~all individuals wishing to practice a religion, including the five official religions - Buddhist, Taoist, Muslim, Roman Catholic and Protestant - are required to register with the Government, and must operate under Government-controlled management boards, and that this interferes with their religious autonomy and restricts their activity; further notes with concern that unregistered religious groups, including house churches and Falun Gong practitioners, face different degrees of ill- treatment, restricting their activities and gatherings, confiscating their property and even facing detention and imprisonment;

Amendment 393 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83

83. Stresses that international human rights law recognises freedom of ~~religion~~thought, conscience or breliefgion regardless of registration status, so registration should not be a mandatory precondition for practising one’s religion; points out with concern, furthermore, that in China monks and nuns are required to register with the Government, and must operate under Government-controlled management boards, and that this interferes with their religious autonomy and restricts their activity; affirms, at the same time, its commitment to the freedom of expression which should not be curtailed in the name of religious principles; strongly condemns, therefore, the crime of blasphemy and the abuses made of it;

Amendment 394 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83

83. Stresses that international human rights law recognises freedom of ~~religion or belief~~thought, conscience and religion regardless of registration status, so registration should not be a mandatory precondition for practising one’'s religion; points out with concern, furthermore, that in China monks and nuns are required to register with the Government, and must operate under Government-controlled management boards, and that this interferes with their religious autonomy and restricts their activity;

Amendment 395 #

László TŐKÉS, Andrzej GRZYB, Elisabeth JEGGLE, Inese VAIDERE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83 a (new)

83a. Notes that freedom of religion or belief is inter-related with issues pertaining to recognition, equal citizenship and equal enjoyment of rights in a given society; encourages the EU to work for equality and equal citizenship as a matter of priority for representatives of marginalised or discriminated groups in society, including inter alia the Muslim Rohingyas in Burma and neighbouring countries, Ahmadi Muslims in Indonesia and Pakistan, Copts in Egypt, Christians, Jews and Baha'is in Iran etc.;

Amendment 396 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83 a (new)

83a. Notes with concern the low level of respect for religious freedom in many countries, and in some cases increasing restrictions of religious freedom leading to societal intolerance in countries such as Nigeria, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, North Korea; further urges governments to stop using blasphemy laws to restrict the rights of religious minorities, as in the case of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and to stop the use of extremism charges to target minority religions as in Russia

Amendment 397 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83 a (new)

83a. Emphasises that international law includes the right to have, adopt and change a religion or belief; encourages the EU to respond to instances where laws deny the rights of individuals to change religion;

Amendment 398 #

Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Leonidas DONSKIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83 a (new)

83a. Deplores the growing intolerance against religious minorities in the world, especially increasing violence against Christians in Middle-East, North-Africa, Pakistan and Nigeria; welcomes the efforts of HR/VP on international level in this regard; calls on the EEAS and HR/VP to step up their efforts in protecting freedom of religion or belief and consider imposing sanctions on countries tolerating violence against religious minorities;

Amendment 399 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83 a (new)

83a. Stresses the importance of the protection of freedom of religion and belief, including atheism and other forms of non-belief, under international human rights conventions and insists that such freedom should not be undermined by the application of blasphemy laws used to oppress and persecute those of a differing religion or belief;

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)

- having regard to the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 8 September 2000 (A/Res/55/2 ) and the resolutions adopted by its General Assembly,

Amendment 40 #

Leonidas DONSKIS, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Metin KAZAK, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas democracy is the best safeguard of human rights and fundamental freedoms, tolerance of all groups in society and equality ~~of opportunity for each person~~for all;

Amendment 400 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83 a (new)

83a. Recalls that in a number of countries the prohibition, confiscation and destruction of both places of worship and religious publications, and prohibition of the training of clergy, are still common practice; urges the EU institutions, in their contacts with the relevant governments, to counter such violations;

Amendment 401 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83 b (new)

83b. Welcomes the EU's commitment to presenting and promoting the right to freedom of religion or belief within international and regional fora including the UN, the OSCE and the Council of Europe and other regional mechanisms, and calls for a constructive dialogue with the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) on moving away from terminology related to combating defamation of religions; encourages the EU to continue tabling its yearly resolution on freedom of religion or belief at the UN General Assembly;

Amendment 402 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83 c (new)

83c. Urges the EEAS to develop a permanent capacity within its structure to monitor and analyse the role of religion or belief in contemporary societies and international relations and to mainstream the issue of freedom of religion or belief across the geographical and thematic directorates and units; encourages the EEAS to report to the Parliament on an annual basis on progress on freedom of religion or belief in the world;

Amendment 403 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83 d (new)

83d. Stresses the importance of supporting initiatives of and enabling funding for civil society and human rights defenders in their efforts to combat discrimination, intolerance and violence on the grounds of religion or belief; Country-Based Support Schemes should prioritise funding for protecting and promoting freedom of religion or belief in countries where the EU country strategy has identified this right as a priority issue.

Amendment 404 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 84

84. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission; the HR/VP, the EU Special Representative on Human Rights, and the European External Action Service, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the candidate countries, the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the governments of the countries and territories referred to in this resolution.

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas democracy isand the rule of law are the best safeguard of human rights and fundamental freedoms, tolerance of all groups in society and equality of opportunity for each person;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas democracy is the best safeguard of human rights and fundamental freedoms, ~~tolerance of all groups in society~~non-discrimination in all its forms and tolerance vis-à-vis individuals and communities and equality of opportunity for each person;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the lessons learned from the Arab Spring events must continue, to provide impetus for the EU to review ~~and~~, improve and ensure coherence between its policies on, inter alia, human rights defenders, international humanitarian law, human rights dialogues with third countries, and social media;

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the lessons learned from the Arab Spring events must continue, to provide impetus for the EU to review and improve its poli~~cies on, inter alia, human rights defenders~~tical dialogue with civil society (including NGOs, human rights defenders, trade unionists, the media, and democratic organisations, universities and political parties), international humanitarian law, and human rights dialogues with third countries~~, and social media~~;

Amendment 45 #

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Sabine LÖSING

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the lessons learned from the Arab Spring events must continue, to provide impetus for the EU to review and improve its policies on, inter alia, human rights defenders, international humanitarian law, human rights dialogues with third countries, and social media, without losing sight of the fact that these revolutions came about for economic and social reasons;

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the lessons learned from the Arab Spring events must continue, to provide impetus for the EU to review and improve its policies on, inter alia, human rights defenders, international humanitarian law, human rights dialogues with third countries, and social media; whereas the opening up of European student exchange programmes to third country youth and the creation of training programmes for young professionals would foster the active participation of youth in democracy building and would strengthen civil society;

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas internet access is a key enabler of access to information, free expression, press freedom, freedom of assembly, and economic, social, political and cultural developments;

Amendment 49 #

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Willy MEYER, Sabine LÖSING

Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)

Db. whereas human rights need to be protected and promoted by the EU, both offline and online;

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)

- having regard to the European Parliament’s report of 11 September 2012 on Alleged transportation and illegal detention of prisoners in European countries by the CIA1 __________________ 1 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2012)0309,

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas ~~violations of freedom of relig~~the enjoyment of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is fundamental to the development of pluralist and democratic societies and a precondition for the enjoyment of many other rights such as freedom of expression, assembly and association; whereas violations o~~r belief~~f freedom of thought, conscience and religion, perpetrated by governments and non-state actors alike, are increasing in many countries of the world, resulting in discrimination, intolerance and violence against certain individuals and religious communities, including religious minority representatives;

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas violations of freedom of religion or belief, perpetrated by governments and non-state actors alike, are increasing in many countries of the world, namely in Pakistan as exposed by the Blasphemy Law, resulting in discrimination, intolerance and violence against certain individuals and religious communities, including religious minority representatives;

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas violations of freedom of religion or belief, perpetrated by governments and non-state actors alike, are increasing in many countries of the world~~, resulting in~~ being compounded by episodes of discrimination, intolerance and violence against ~~certain individuals and~~members and representatives of religious communities, ~~including~~and in particular of religious minorit~~y representativ~~ies;

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas ~~violations of~~ freedom of religion or belief~~, perpetrated by governments and non-state actors alike, are increasing in many countries of the world, resulting in discrimination, intolerance and violence~~ is under growing threat, notably by authoritarian governments targeting religious minorities or by governments failing to prevents attacks, harassment or other harmful acts against certain individuals and religious communities, including religious minority representatives;

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas violations of freedom of ~~religion~~thought, conscience or breliefgion, perpetrated by ~~government~~public authorities and non- state actors alike, are increasing in many countries of the world, resulting in discrimination, and intolerance ~~and violence~~both against certain individuals and ~~religious communities, including religious minority representati~~against certain groups which may be religious minorities but may also be non-believers;

Amendment 55 #

Ivo VAJGL, Pino ARLACCHI, Norica NICOLAI, Renate WEBER, Ana GOMES

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas violations of freedom of ~~religion or belief,~~thought, religion, belief or political affiliation perpetrated by governments and non-state actors alike, are increasing in many countries of the world, resulting in discrimination, intolerance and violence against certain individuals, groups and religious communities, including religious minority representatives;

Amendment 56 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas the European Parliament has recently condemned the practice of forced abortions and sterilisations globally, especially in the context of the ‘one-child policy’, and has stressed the importance of the current debate on whether or not to continue that policy, calling on the Commission and the European External Action Service to include forced abortion on the agenda of their next bilateral human rights dialogue with China; whereas in the same connection the European Parliament has, moreover, urged the Commission to ensure that Union assistance is not provided to any authority, organisation or programme that supports or participates in the management of any action which involves such human rights abuses as coercive abortion, forced sterilisation or infanticide, especially where such actions achieve their priorities by way of psychological, social, economic or legal pressure;

Amendment 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World, and the EU’s policy on the matter, should not only be a reflection and review of past achievements and flaws, but should also serve ~~as a strategic document for the future~~to inspire the EU’s human rights and democracy strategy and action plan; whereas each successive Annual Report should, ideally, tangibly and regularly contribute to improving the EU’s human rights policy in the world;

Amendment 58 #

Marietta GIANNAKOU

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World, and the EU’s policy on the matter, should not only be a reflection and review of past achievements and flaws, but should also serve as a strategic document for the future; whereas each successive Annual Report should, ideally, tangibly and regularly contribute to improving the EU’s human rights policy in the world; whereas account must also be taken of current world economic and social hardship;

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas women find themselves marginalised in many countries of the world, and this is particularly the case in vulnerable and conflict-affected regions, where discrimination against women is liable to be more serious and lead to additional discrimination and violence;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6

– having regard to the European Union~~'s Guidelines on~~ Human Rights, Guidelines;

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the adoption of the EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in 2011; welcomes the fact that the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative (VP/HR) was able to present the Annual Report in the June plenary of Parliament and thereby return to the normal practice; regrets however that the 319 page report was only made available a few days before the debate in the European Parliament and in just one language; recalls that linguistic diversity is also a fundamental right which should be respected, including in the EU institutions;

Amendment 61 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Notes the positive steps taken in recent years to develop the Annual Report, but stresses the potential for further improvement; reiterates its call for a more systematic approach and an analysis of the EU's policy performance; welcomes, as an important step in this direction, the commitment made in the EU Human Rights Action Plan of 25 June 2012 to present EU performance in meeting the objectives of its human rights strategy in the Annual Report; recommends development of the individual country sections by using indices and benchmarks to assist in the follow-up to the human rights country strategies;

Amendment 62 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Believes that the Annual Report should be an important tool in communicating the EU’s work in this field and should help raise the visibility of the EU’s actions.

Amendment 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the adoption of the EU strategic framework for human rights on 25 June 2012; urges the EU institutions to work together to ensure its proper implementation in order to credibly meet the EU treaty commitment to pursue external policies based on human rights, democratic values and the rule of law in a principled and unfaltering manner by avoiding double standards;

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the adoption of the EU strategic framework for human rights on 25 June 2012; urges the EU institutions to work together to ensure its timely and proper implementation in order to credibly meet the EU treaty commitment to pursue external policies based on human rights, democratic values and the rule of law in a principled and unfaltering manner;

Amendment 65 #

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Willy MEYER, Sabine LÖSING, Helmut SCHOLZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Welcomes the appointment of the EU Special Representative on Human Rights, which mandate should be based on the principles guiding the EU´s HR policy in particular on EU guidelines, including the promotion of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, in light of their agreement in 2011 and the priority given to them in the European Commission Communication on Corporate Social Responsibility (COM(2011) 681 final);

Amendment 66 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Deplores the fact that the European Union’s human rights policy is restricted, and even contradicted, by diplomatic, political or economic considerations, creating double standards which damage all EU policies in this field and are in total contradiction to a universal vision of human rights; stresses the importance for the EU’s credibility of not exploiting any of these issues, not imposing restrictions on the people’s right to self- determination, and not interfering in the political life of third countries;

Amendment 67 #

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Willy MEYER, Sabine LÖSING, Jacky HÉNIN, Helmut SCHOLZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to check that companies which come under national or EU law do not disregard the human rights and social, health and environmental standards they are subject to when moving to or carrying out their activities in a third country;

Amendment 68 #

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Willy MEYER, Sabine LÖSING, Jacky HÉNIN, Helmut SCHOLZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Emphasises the need for particular attention to be paid by the European Union and its Member States to the human rights situation in the Western Sahara; recalls that any form of occupation should be strongly condemned by the international community, notably in Palestine and the Western Sahara;

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Recommends that the Council and the EEAS carry out a mid-term assessment of the new Human Rights package, particularly of the Action Plan; insists that Parliament ~~and civil society~~ be extensively consulted and regularly ~~consul~~informed and that civil society be integrated ~~dur~~ing this process;

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 9

– having regard to its resolution of 17 November 2011 on EU support for the ICC: facing challenges and overcoming difficulties3 , ~~the Review Conference~~and its resolution of 19 May 2010 on the first Review Conference of the Rome Statute of the ICC held in Kampala, Uganda, 31 May–11 June 2011, ands well as the pledges ~~signed up to by the EU~~made by the EU on this occasion,

Amendment 70 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Welcomes the mandate of the thematic EU Special Representative (EUSR) on Human Rights and the planned creation of a Brussels-based Council Working Party on Human Rights (COHOM); looks forward to their close co-operation with Parliament, in the first case also in line with the provisions of article 36 TEU;

Amendment 71 #

Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Leonidas DONSKIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. ~~Welcomes~~Takes note of the mandate of the thematic EU Special Representative (EUSR) on Human Rights ~~and~~, warns against any attempt to segregate the EU’s human rights policy through the establishment of this post, and takes note of the planned creation of a Brussels-based Council Working Party on Human Rights (COHOM); looks forward to their close co- operation with Parliament;

Amendment 72 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Welcomes the positive impact on coherence of EU internal and external policies of the EU's exercise of its legal personality created by the Lisbon Treaty to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities (UNCPD) in December 2010; calls for a similar approach to be taken to other international human rights treaties and conventions; calls for the Council and Commission to take a proactive approach in this area in order to address the negative effects of the piecemeal signature and ratification among EU Member States of other important external treaties and conventions;

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Stresses that, for the European Union (EU) to be a credible actor in external relations, it must act consistently, in accordance with Treaty and acquis obligations and avoid double standards between its human rights policy and other external policies, between internal and external policies, and in the conduct of its relations with third countries, combining this approach with the challenge of developing the human rights Country Strategy Papers and implementing action plans, which must also cover democratisation, reflecting the specificity of each country as regards impact, and making full use of the EU's relevant instruments;

Amendment 74 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)

8c. Stresses that appropriate measures must be taken to ensure that civil rights and fundamental freedoms are not compromised or diminished in times of economic crisis;

Amendment 75 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 d (new)

8d. Calls on the EU, that the Union's policies should also be consistent and exemplary within the EU, as well as coherent and in line with fundamental values and principles in order to maximise the EU's credibility globally and the effectiveness of human rights policies;

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 e (new)

8e. Recalls that economic and social rights have been an integral part of human rights since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948; believes, therefore, that the EU must help to implement these rights in less advanced and developing countries with which it signs international agreements, including trade agreements;

Amendment 77 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Urges the VP/HR, the EEAS, the Council and the Commission, for the sake of efficiency, to ensure coherence between the various existing or planned EU benchmarking, monitoring and evaluation activities and methodologies regarding human rights and democracy situations in third countries, including~~, inter alia~~: the human rights and democracy sections in the enlargement and neighbourhood policy progress reports; the assessment of the ‘more for more’ human rights and democracy principles set out for the European Neighbourhood Policy ~~and the Southern Mediterranean~~; the planned inclusion of human rights in impact assessments carried out for legislative and non-legislative proposals and for trade ~~agreements, including human rights monitoring mechanisms in Partnership~~, partnership and association and Ccooperation Aagreements ~~and Association Agreements~~, both regional and bilateral; the Commission plan to introduce human rights assessment in the deployment of EU aid modalities (in particular regarding budget support); the strengthened implementation of the monitoring mechanism to scrutinise ~~implementation of~~respect for human rights conventions in the GSP+ countries; the aim of systematising the follow-up use of EU Election Observation Mission reports; and the EU Council’s emphasis on benchmarking as well as on continued and systematic consideration of aspects relating to human rights, gender and children affected by armed conflict in the lessons- learned documents of the CSDP missions;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Urges the VP/HR, the EEAS, the Council and the Commission, for the sake of efficiency, to ensure coherence and consistency between the various external financial instruments and existing or planned EU benchmarking, monitoring and evaluation activities and methodologies regarding human rights and democracy situations in third countries, including, inter alia: the human rights and democracy sections in the enlargement and neighbourhood policy progress reports; the assessment of the ‘more for more’ human rights and democracy principles set out for the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Southern Mediterranean; the planned inclusion of human rights in impact assessments carried out for legislative and non-legislative proposals and trade agreements, including human rights monitoring mechanisms in Partnership and Cooperation Agreements and Association Agreements; the Commission plan to introduce human rights assessment in the deployment of EU aid modalities (in particular regarding budget support); the strengthened monitoring mechanism to scrutinise implementation of human rights conventions in the GSP+ countries; the aim of systematising the follow-up use of EU Election Observation Mission reports; and the EU Council's emphasis on benchmarking as well as on continued and systematic consideration of aspects relating to human rights, gender and children affected by armed conflict in the lessons- learned documents of the CSDP missions;

Amendment 79 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Urges the VP/HR, the EEAS, the Council and the Commission, for the sake of efficiency, to ensure coherence between the various existing or planned EU benchmarking, monitoring and evaluation activities and methodologies regarding human rights and democracy situations in third countries, including, inter alia: the human rights and democracy sections in the enlargement and neighbourhood policy progress reports; the assessment of the ‘more for more’ human rights and democracy principles set out for the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Southern Mediterranean; the planned inclusion of human rights in impact assessments carried out for legislative and non-legislative proposals and trade agreements, including human rights monitoring mechanisms in Partnership and Cooperation Agreements and Association Agreements; the Commission plan to introduce human rights assessment in the deployment of EU aid modalities (in particular regarding budget support); the strengthened monitoring mechanism to scrutinise implementation of human rights conventions in the GSP+ countries; the aim of systematising the follow-up use of EU Election Observation Mission reports; and the EU Council's emphasis on benchmarking as well as on continued and systematic consideration of aspects relating to human rights, gmen~~der~~, women and children affected by armed conflict in the lessons- learned documents of the CSDP missions;

Amendment 8 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 9

– having regard to its resolution of 17 November 2011 on EU support for the ICC: facing challenges and overcoming difficulties3 ~~, the Review Conference~~, and its resolution of 19 May 2010 on the first Review Conference of the Rome Statute of the ICC held in Kampala, Uganda, (31 May–11 June 2011~~, and the pledges signed up to by the EU,~~ )4 as well as to the pledges made by the EU on this occasion,5 [3] Texts adopted, P7_TA(2011)0507. [4] OJ C 161, 31.5.2010, p.78. [5] http://www.icc- cpi.int/NR/rdonlyres/18B88265-BC63- 4DFF-BE56- 903F2062B797/0/RC9ENGFRASPA.pdf

Amendment 80 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Welcomes the adoption of local human rights strategies for individual countries to implement EU policies in the most appropriate and effective way; recognises the key role played by the local EU delegations in developing and following up on the country strategies tailored for the specific circumstances, but stresses the coordinating responsibility of the EEAS in ensuring the coherent application of EU human rights policy priorities set out in the human rights strategic framework and in the EU Guidelines; stresses the importance of completing the network of focal points on human rights and democracy in EU Delegations and CSDP missions and operations; urges the VP/HR and the EEAS and the Member States to adopt as best practice the method of working on human rights issues locally through human rights working groups formed among EU delegations and embassies of EU Member States; supports the EEAS aim to provide training on human rights and democracy for all EEAS, Commission, EU delegation and CSDP mission staff, and for European Union agencies, FRONTEX in particular, that have relationships with third countries; asks for great attention to be paid in particular to protecting human rights defenders;

Amendment 81 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Welcomes the adoption of local human rights strategies for individual countries to implement EU policies in the most appropriate and effective way; recognises the key role played by the local EU delegations in developing and following up on the country strategies tailored for the specific circumstances, but stresses the coordinating responsibility of the EEAS in ensuring the coherent application of EU human rights policy priorities set out in the human rights strategic framework and in the EU Guidelines; stresses the importance of completing the network of focal points on human rights and democracy in EU Delegations and CSDP missions and operations; urges the VP/HR and the EEAS and the Member States to adopt as best practice the method of working on human rights issues locally through human rights working groups formed among EU delegations and embassies of EU Member States; urges also that regular contacts be maintained with civil society representatives, human rights defenders and members of national parliaments; supports the EEAS aim to provide training on human rights and democracy for all EEAS, Commission, EU delegation and CSDP mission staff;

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Welcomes the adoption of ~~local~~ human rights country strategies for individual countries to implement EU policies in the most appropriate and effective way; recognises the key role played by the local EU delegations in developing and following up on the country strategies tailored for the specific circumstances, but stresses the coordinating responsibility of the EEAS in ensuring the coherent application of EU human rights policy priorities set out in the human rights strategic framework and in the EU Guidelines; stresses the importance of completing the network of focal points on human rights and democracy in EU Delegations and CSDP missions and operations; urges the VP/HR and the EEAS and the Member States to adopt as best practice the method of working on human rights issues locally through human rights working groups formed among EU delegations and embassies of EU Member States; supports the EEAS aim to provide training on human rights and democracy for all EEAS, Commission, EU delegation and CSDP mission staff; takes the view that human rights country strategies should be mainstreamed in the EU's CFSP, CSDP, trade and development policies, both in geographic and thematic programmes, to ensure greater efficiency, effectiveness and coherence;

Amendment 83 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Recommends that human rights country strategies be made public; stresses that public strategies would provide visibility to the EU's commitment to human rights in third countries and provide support to those struggling to exercise and protect their human rights;

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes EU efforts to support and revitalise the human rights work within the UN system, including the conclusion of the review of the UN Human Rights Council in 2011; stresses the continued importance of supporting the independence of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the role of the thematic and country-specific UN Special Rapporteurs on human rights and looks forward to their close cooperation with the newly appointed EU Special Representative for Human Rights; emphasises the significance of the European Union accession of 22 January 2011 to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) as the first UN human rights convention ratified by the European Union as a legal entity;

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes EU efforts to support and revitalise the human rights work within the UN system, including the conclusion of the review of the UN Human Rights Council in 2011; stresses the continued importance of supporting the independence of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the role of the thematic and country-specific UN Special Rapporteurs on human rights; recalls the need for sufficient funding to keep regional OHCHR offices open; emphasises the significance of the European Union accession of 22 January 2011 to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) as the first UN human rights convention ratified by the European Union as a legal entity;

Amendment 86 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Welcomes the leadership shown by EU Member States to support the credibility of the UN human rights system by jointly extending a standing invitation to all UN Special Procedures on Human Rights, by initiating a UN Human Rights Council (HRC) Special Session on Libya, where the historic recommendation of Libya’s suspension from the HRC was made, and by taking the lead in efforts that led to the establishment of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on the human rights situation in Syria; regrets that these efforts have not been crowned with success and that the number of victims in Syria continues to rise;

Amendment 87 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. stresses the need that the EU speaks with one voice, takes a firm and clear stand concerning human rights violations as well as to occur closed outwards the EU; encourages the EEAS, particularly the EU´s delegations in Geneva and New York, to increase its coherence, based on timely and substantive consultation, and the visibility of the EU´s action in order to enhance its credibility in the world; takes note, in this light, of the development of the capacity of the Council Working Group on Human Rights (COHOM) and the efforts to identify key priorities as well as efforts to clarify the division of labour which will help developing gross regional outreach and collaboration and on lobbying all moderate States including between Geneva and New York;

Amendment 88 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12b. stresses the importance and the strong support for the EU´s active participation in the work of the UNHRC, through the co-sponsoring of resolutions, the issuing of statements and its intervention in interactive dialogues and debates;

Amendment 89 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)

12c. reiterates its call to the EU and its Member States to ensure that human rights are also fully respected in internal policies, in order to avoid double standards and to increase consistency between internal policies and to enhance their moral authority on the international scene;

Amendment 9 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10

– having regard to Council Decision 2011/168/CFSP of 21 March 2011 on the International Criminal Court4 , and the revised aAction pPlan to follow up on the Decision of 12 July 2011,

Amendment 90 #

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Willy MEYER, Sabine LÖSING

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 d (new)

12d. recalls the adoption by the UN General Assembly of Resolution 65/276 on the participation of the EU in the work of the UN as a modest start to the greater endeavour of upgrading the role of the Union in the human rights work of this organisation; stresses the need, that the EU must now forcefully insist on exercising its rights and seek an ambitious strategy to further enhance its status at the UN-level.

Amendment 91 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 e (new)

12e. Is firmly opposed to any change in direction for the CFSP and believes that the European Union’s policies should be directed solely towards peace and political resolution of conflicts;

Amendment 92 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Recognises the EU's potential for outreach and creative coalition-building as exemplified by EU action which paved the way to the passing of the landmark HRC resolution on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity, which was supported by states from all regions, and the consensus-building in Geneva and New Yorkconsensus-building regarding the need to fight religious intolerance and protect freedom of religion or belief whilst avoiding a potential detrimental effect on other ~~core~~universal human rights~~, such as freedom of expression~~;

Amendment 93 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

~~14. Reiterates its opposition to the practice of regional groups arranging uncontested elections to the Human Rights Council;~~deleted

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4

EU policy on international criminal justice ~~and~~, the fight against impunity and the International Criminal Court (ICC)

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4

EU policy on international criminal justice ~~and~~, the fight against impunity and the International Criminal Court

Amendment 96 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Regrets that selective justice frequently manifests itself in new and transitional democracies under the guise of the rule of law and war on corruption; regrets that selective justice has become little more than a means to seek political revenge and to settle accounts with political dissenters by intimidating and marginalising opposition, especially in the run-up to elections; remains concerned about the crime allegations and politically motivated charges against members of the opposition in Ukraine, and urges the Ukrainian authorities to put an end to the ongoing harassment of the opposition which is a serious obstacle in the country's efforts to guarantee rule of law and democratic values;

Amendment 97 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Regrets that selective justice frequently manifests itself in new and transitional democracies under the guise of the rule of law and war on corruption; regrets that ~~selective~~ justice has become little more than a means to seek political revenge and to settle accounts with political dissenters by intimidating and marginalising opposition, media workers and human rights defenders, especially in the run-up to elections;

Amendment 98 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Regrets that despite many calls from international bodies to Russian authorities, no progress was made in investigation of Sergei Magnitsky death, therefore urges Council to impose and implement an EU-wide visa ban on officials responsible for the death of Sergei Magnitsky and to freeze any financial assets they or their immediate family may hold inside the EU;

Amendment 99 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)

16b. Remains disappointed about the proceedings against M. Khodorkovsky and P. Lebedev, which internationally are portrayed as being of political nature;

source: PE-496.431

2012/10/12 DEVE 8 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Underlines the fact that the EU should use its soft power and further promote and consolidate the values of freedom, democracy, development, respect for human rights, and the principles of the rule of law and good governance upon which it is founded, through political dialogue and cooperation with third countries;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Urges the EU to maintain and honour its role as a leading defender of human rights in the world, by the effective, consistent and considered use of all available instruments for the promotion and protection of human rights and the effectiveness of our development aid policy;

Amendment 3 #

Alf SVENSSON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the Commission to strengthen the instrument for the promotion of democracy and human rights worldwide in order to support democratic reforms and governance, to address in particular grassroots organisations and to reinforce election observation missions and the election observation activities of local civil society, and to make use of the opportunities offered within the framework of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) for that purpose;

Amendment 4 #

Alf SVENSSON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Recalls that building legitimate democratic foundations, a~~nd civil society is a long-term process~~ properly functioning civil society and the establishment of a democratic, rights- based community is a long-term process that needs to be built up from below and requir~~ing~~es internal, regional and international support;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Recalls that building legitimate democratic foundations and civil society is a long-term process requiring ~~inter~~local, national, regional and international support;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Emphasises the importance of binding and non-negotiable human rights clauses and effective dispute mechanisms in ~~trade~~all policies, partnerships and ~~trade~~ agreements between the EU and third countries;

Amendment 7 #