Preparatory phase in Parliament
2014/2216(INI) Annual report on human rights and democracy in the world 2013 and the European Union’s policy on the matter
Next event: Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading 2015/03/09
Legal Basis RoP 052
Next event: Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading 2015/03/09
| Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | AFET | PANZERI Pier Antonio (S&D) | PREDA Cristian Dan (EPP), HENKEL Hans-Olaf (ECR), AUŠTREVIČIUS Petras (ALDE), VERGIAT Marie-Christine (GUE/NGL), LOCHBIHLER Barbara (Verts/ALE) |
| Opinion | DEVE | HAUTALA Heidi (Verts/ALE) | |
| Opinion | FEMM | ŽITŇANSKÁ Jana (ECR) |
Legal Basis RoP 052
Subjects
Activites
-
2015/03/09
Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
Documents
| Amendments | Dossier |
| 598 |
2014/2216(INI)
2014/12/15
AFET
561 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution Title Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Citation 1 a (new) - having regard to its resolution of 4 February 2014 on the EU Roadmap against homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity;
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 8 – having regard to the European Union Human Rights Guidelines,
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Recital B B. whereas female and child refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons are among the most
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9.
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Calls on the EEAS and the Commission to prepare a proper implementation report on the first EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy (2012-2014), and calls on the VP/HR and the EEAS to engage the Member States, the Commission, Parliament
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Calls on the EEAS and the Commission to prepare a proper implementation report on the first EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy (2012-2014), and calls on the VP/HR and the EEAS to engage the Member States, the Commission, Parliament and civil society in the review and consultations leading to the adoption of a new Action Plan, to take effect in early 2015; welcomes the discussions aimed at achieving better prioritisation of objectives in the new Action Plan, but warns against lowering the scope of the Action Plan as well as the level of ambition in terms of
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Encourages all parties involved in EU external action to take ownership of the EUʼs external policy on human rights and the various tools affiliated thereto, and to ensure human rights are taken into account across the board, notably by arranging for the officials concerned to receive regular training on human rights;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Expresses its particular concern over the implementation of the commitment made in the Strategic Framework to ‘place human rights at the centre of EU relations with all third countries, including its strategic partners’; urges, accordingly, studied attention by the VP/HR and the EEAS to implementing this commitment and to ensuring human rights and democracy mainstreaming in the EU’s relations with its strategic partners in such
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Expresses its particular concern over the implementation of the commitment made in the Strategic Framework to ‘place human rights at the centre of EU relations with all third countries, including its strategic partners’; urges, accordingly, studied attention by the VP/HR and the EEAS to implementing this commitment and to ensuring human rights and democracy mainstreaming in the EU’s relations with its strategic partners in such central contexts as summit meetings and Council conclusions; calls for more stringency in regard to human rights when choosing third countries with which to establish partnerships;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Calls on the VP/HR in coordination with all the Commissioners to draft a program that mainstreams human rights into various EU activities, particularly into the areas of development, migration, environment, employment, internet data protection, trade, investments, technology, and business.
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Welcomes the VP/HR for publicly stating the need to review the EU´s strategy towards all its strategic partners, such as China and Russia, and calls upon her to prioritise human rights in such countries during her tenure, by clarifying that gross human rights violations are a threat to bilateral relations between the EU and its strategic partners;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Regrets the lack of tangible progress in meeting the commitments made in the Action Plan in relation to developing priorities and indicators for human rights dialogues and consultations, as well as developing criteria for the application of human rights clauses; insists that these commitments be maintained in the forthcoming Action Plan and implemented as a matter of priority; calls for greater clarity with regards the implementation of the commitment in the Action Plan to further develop working methods to ensure the best articulation between dialogue, targeted support, incentives and restrictive measures;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 b (new) 10b. Calls for greater attention and more specific commitments to be made in relation to economic, social and cultural rights in the successor Action Plan;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 8 – having regard to the European Union Human Rights Guidelines,
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas violence and/or discrimination against women cannot be justified on any political, religious or cultural grounds;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 c (new) 10c. Insists on the importance to include commitments in the new Action Plan in relation to particularly vulnerable groups, such as migrants, refugees and stateless persons; calls for specific commitments to be made in relation to these groups, which were inadequately addressed in the current Action Plan;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Recognises the importance of the mandate given to the first ever EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Human Rights and
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Recognises the importance of the mandate given to the first ever EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Human Rights and of the work done so far; encourages the EUSR to continue to enhance the EU’s
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Recognises the importance of the mandate given to the first ever EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Human Rights and of the work done so far; encourages the EUSR to continue to enhance the EU’s visibility and engagement with multilateral and regional human rights mechanisms (the UN, the Council of Europe, the OECD, the OSCE, ASEAN, the African Union, the OIC), to promote key EU thematic priorities,
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Recognises the importance of the mandate given to the first ever EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Human Rights and of the work done so far; encourages the EUSR to continue to enhance the EU’s visibility and engagement with multilateral and regional human rights mechanisms (the UN, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, ASEAN, the African Union, the OIC), to promote key EU thematic priorities, including those reflected in the recently adopted EU human rights guidelines, to work for the empowerment of civil society throughout the world, and to contribute to the mainstreaming, coherence, consistency and effectiveness of EU human rights policy and in striking the right balance between silent and public diplomacy;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Recognises the importance of the mandate given to the first ever EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Human Rights and of the work done so far; encourages the EUSR to continue to enhance the EU’s visibility and engagement with multilateral and regional human rights mechanisms (the UN, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, ASEAN, the African Union, the OIC), to promote key EU thematic priorities
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Acknowledges the need for greater visibility for the role of the Special Representative for Human Rights who, while supported by the different services with the EU institutions in the interests of good coordination, has to have own- initiative powers and the right to speak publically;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Requests that the Council institutionalise the position of the EUSR for Human Rights so that it can become a permanent function with the adequate means to fully endorse his/her role, such as using public diplomacy;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Requests that the
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Stresses that EU human rights policy needs to be consistent in complying with the Treaty obligations, ensuring coherence
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 10 a (new) – having regard to its urgency resolutions on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law,
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas domestic violence against women and girls remains one of the most pervasive human Rights violations of our time;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Stresses that EU human rights policy needs to be consistent in complying with the Treaty obligations, ensuring coherence between internal and external policies, and avoiding double standards; calls, therefore, for the adoption of EU Foreign Affairs Council Conclusions on human rights regarding strategic partners; calls, in this context, for the establishment of common
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Stresses that the EU action regarding third countries has to be consistent for it to be credible and hence effective, and that discrepancies and inconsistencies make its action less effective and sometimes cause its views on human rights not to be heard; recalls that, in spite of the many problems encountered, consistency is still a priority for external policy and that it has to be at the heart of the mandate of all those involved in this policy;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 b (new) 14b. It is moreover essential that the requirements regarding human rights set out by the EU in its relations with third countries shall apply equally to the Member States; recalls therefore that Parliament adopts an annual report on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union drawn up by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Recognises that the current systemic crisis is having a severe social impact on communities within and outside the European Union, notes that the various austerity plans adopted by the EU and other international institutions, such as the IMF, have led to an erosion in civil liberties and social and democratic rights, and a significant deterioration in living conditions, particularly among the weakest and most vulnerable groups;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Call on the European External Action Service to reinforce the management, control and accountability of EU funds for the defence of human rights.
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Points to the considerable challenges posed by Russia´s annexation of Crimean and the continuing military involvement in the eastern parts of Ukraine; underlines that this policy of aggression is a continuation of Russia´s slide towards authoritarian rule, with a worsening human rights situation inside the country; stresses that Russia now is a ´strategic challenge` for the EU, and no longer complies with strategic partnership criteria;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Calls on the EU to effectively address internal human rights challenges, such as the situation of Roma, the treatment of refugees and migrants, discrimination of LGBTI persons, detention conditions or media freedom in Member States, in order to maintain credibility and consistency in its external human rights policy;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Commends the EEAS for the successful completion of the first cycle of
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Commends the EEAS for the successful completion of the first cycle of human rights country strategies developed with a strong emphasis on ownership at the EU Delegation level; regrets, however, the continued lack of transparency regarding the contents of the country strategies and calls, once again, for the public disclosure of, at least, the key priorities of each country strategy, and for Parliament to have access to the strategies so as to allow a proper degree of scrutiny; encourages the EEAS to adopt indicators to evaluate their efficacy, and to treat the country sections of the Annual Report more explicitly as constituting implementation reports on the country strategies;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Commends the EEAS for the successful completion of the first cycle of human rights country strategies developed with a strong emphasis on ownership at the EU Delegation level; regrets, however, the continued lack of transparency regarding the contents of the country strategies as well as a failure to properly inform the European Parliament; encourages the EEAS to adopt indicators to evaluate their efficacy, and to treat the country sections of the Annual Report more explicitly as constituting implementation reports on the country strategies and that assessment of these tools would make it possible to identify where scope for improvements might be found;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 14 a (new) - having regard to the EU Joint Staff Working Document on Advancing the Principle of Complementarity: Toolkit for bridging the gap between International and National Justice,
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Recital B b (new) Bb. Whereas gender-based violence is defined as violence that is directed against a person because of that person's gender, gender identity or gender expression or that affects persons of a particular gender disproportionately;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15a. Stresses the need for the EU Delegations to draft an annual report of their activities in the field of human rights that will be presented at the European Parliament.
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 a (new) 16a. Encourages greater cooperation between the Member Statesʼ diplomatic networks and EU delegations worldwide in order to contribute to discussions by working parties on human rights in third countries;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 a (new) 16a. Call on the EEAS to ensure that the cases of jailed rights advocates are raised in all high level EU-third country meetings, including Cooperation Council/Association Council meetings; Insist that all EU-third country human rights country strategies should include a section on jailed rights advocates;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 b (new) 16b. Recalls the commitment to integrate human rights in all EU impacts assessments. Insists on the importance of this commitment to ensure that the EU respects, protects and fulfils human rights and to ensure its external policies and activities are designed and implemented in order to consolidate human rights abroad; Calls the EU, in better consultation and coordination with civil society and EU institutions, to improve the quality and the systemacity of the impacts assessements on human rights.
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 c (new) 16c. Calls the EU to conduct systematically expost impacts assessments on human rights to identify the remaining problems and to adapt its policies and refines the safeguard mechanism;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Reiterates its support for dedicated human rights dialogues as a tool of EU human rights policy; recognises the value of engagement in human rights-specific dialogue also with countries with serious human rights problems; underlines, however, the need for the EU to draw clear political conclusions when the human rights dialogue does not lead to positive outcomes, and in such cases to place more emphasis on public diplomacy with a view to ensuring that the public credibility of the EU’s human rights policy is not endangered; warns, furthermore, against diverting human rights discussions away from high-level political dialogues; in light of the failure of the EU China dialogue on human rights to achieve significant and tangible results, urges the EU to rethink its human rights strategy with a key partner such as the People´s Republic of China and to adopt a more coherent, unified and strategic approach to human rights in China and in light of recent developments raise the issue of Hong Kong;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Reiterates its support for dedicated human rights dialogues as a tool of EU human rights policy, provided that they do not constitute an end in itself, but a means to secure specific commitments and achievements from the counterpart; recognises the value of engagement in human rights-specific dialogue also with countries with serious
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Reiterates its support for
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Reiterates its support for dedicated human rights dialogues as a tool of EU human rights policy; recognises the value of engagement in human rights-specific dialogue
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Reiterates its support for dedicated human rights dialogues as a tool of EU human rights policy; recognises the value of engagement in human rights-specific dialogue also with countries with serious human rights problems; underlines, however, the need for the EU to draw clear political conclusions when the human rights dialogue does not lead to positive outcomes, and in such cases to place more emphasis on public diplomacy with a view to ensuring that the public credibility of the EU’s human rights policy is not endangered; warns, furthermore, against diverting human rights discussions away from high-level political dialogues; in the case of gross violations of human rights calls for the issue to be placed at the core of the political dialogue at all levels;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 15 a (new) - having regard to the report on a Digital Freedom Strategy in EU Foreign Policy, adopted on 15 November 2012,
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Recital C C. whereas women and girls with disabilities are at greater risk of violence, abuse and negligent treatment, especially in institutionalised settings, which often leads to ignorance of the issue;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 a (new) 17a. Regrets that owing to the variety of structures, formats, frequency and methods employed, and the confidential nature of these exchanges, there is no real mechanism for monitoring and reviewing these dialogues, nor are there any progress indicators; recommends making the goals of each dialogue clear and reviewing the results in consultation with the European Parliament;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 a (new) 17a. Urges the EEAS to continue further engaging with all countries that it currently has human rights dialogues in place by requesting concrete commitments from the respective authorities and by regularly following up on their demands raised during consultations
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 b (new) 17b. Urges the EEAS to develop a comprehensive review mechanism to help evaluate the dialogues in light of failure in achieving significant and tangible results in certain countries such as China, further urges the EU to strengthen its mechanism of benchmarks in order to help measure success and make the dialogues more effective, which would contribute to bringing countries with serious human rights problems closer to international standards of human rights
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Welcomes the adoption by the Council of the
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 a (new) 18a. Reiterates that the adoption of Guidelines shall not lead to selectivity being introduced into the human rights system as the principles of universality and indivisibility shall remain central; calls on the Commission to define, in conjunction with the European Parliament and civil society representatives, the criteria for selecting the topics covered by the Guidelines in order to bring clarity to the selection process;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 b (new) 18 b. Calls on the Commission to complete the Guidelines, which ought to set out objectives, criteria, means, timetables and indicators and include a regular review, by standardising their content and format and thereby making them clearer; recalls in this respect that the European Parliament recently recommended the ʽeffective and results- orientedʼ implementation of guidelines on torture;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 c (new) 18c. Calls for greater participation of civil society actors in the development, evaluation and review of the guidelines;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19.
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Reminds the EEAS and the Council, nevertheless, of the challenge of implementation and consequently of the need to evaluate the implementation of the EU Guidelines at the country level; encourages the EEAS and Member States also to engage in continued training and awareness-raising among EEAS and EU Delegation staff, as well as among Member State diplomats, so as to make sure that the EU human rights guidelines have the intended effect in shaping actual policies on the ground; requests the EEAS and Member States to involve, whenever possible, representatives from the European Parliament and from civil society in any such training activities
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 a (new) 19a. Urges the EEAS, EU delegations and EU special representatives to cooperate closely with the members of Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs during the drafting of resolutions concerning instances of violations of human rights, democracy and the rule of law throughout the world;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 15 b (new) - having regard to the report on the freedom of press and media in the world, adopted on 20 May 2013,
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Recital C C. whereas women and girls with disabilities are at greater risk of violence, abuse and negligent treatment, especially in institutionalised settings, which often leads to ignorance of the issue;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Stresses that democratic regimes are not only defined by organization of elections, but also by respect for the rule of law, freedom of speech, respect for human rights, an independent judiciary and impartial administration; emphasizes in this regard the importance of following up on the reports and recommendations of Election Observation Missions by using these as part of a
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Stresses the importance of following up on the reports and recommendations of Election Observation Missions by using these as part of
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Stresses the importance of following up on the reports and recommendations of Election Observation Missions
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20.
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Stresses the importance of following up on the reports and recommendations of Election Observation Missions by using these as part of a ‘road map for democracy’ in the country concerned and by mandating the Chief Observer to exercise a special role in the follow-up monitoring of the implementation of the recommendations, as a coherent part of Parliament’s comprehensive democracy support approach and with the support of Parliament’s standing bodies (including the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group); notes the positive role that can be played by EU-deployed election observation missions in terms of ensuring the EU’s credibility as a partner and the EU’s responsibility towards European citizens and taxpayers;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 a (new) 20a. Stresses the importance of providing electoral assistance and observation together with the United Nations; recalls that such missions must only be sent to countries where democratic processes are in play and where opposition rights and pluralism are respected;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Calls on the EU to continue to work for the definition of best practices in this area
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Calls on the EU to continue to work for the definition of best practices in this area in order to support and consolidate democratisation processes; encourages the development of both policy
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 a (new) 21a. - Points out that all EU external actions should combine a political dimension which supports pluralism, democracy and respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, and a development dimension which focuses on socio-economic progress, including eradication of poverty, the fight against inequality and the basic need for food; underlines the necessity that EU development aid programmes should include concrete reforms to ensure respect for human rights, transparency, gender equality and the fight against corruption in beneficiary countries; notes that stricter conditionality and suspension of aid should be applied in beneficiary countries which manifestly disregard on basic human rights and freedoms and which fail to enact legislation that fulfils international obligations;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 a (new) 21a. Emphasises that political transition and democratisation need to be combined with respect for human rights, the promotion of justice, transparency, accountability, reconciliation, the rule of law and the establishment of democratic institutions; calls for systematic EU support for freely and fairly elected parliaments; stresses the need to invest in political dialogues between ruling and opposition parties;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 15 c (new) – having regard to the Joint Communication by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Commission to the European Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 8 March 2011 entitled ‘A Partnership for Democracy and Shared Prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean’ (COM(2011)0200),
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas violence against women is the world’s most widespread human rights violation, it affects all levels of society, regardless of age, education, income, social position and country of origin or residence, and it represents a major hindrance to equality between women and men;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 b (new) 21b. Considers that the performance- driven 'more for more' approach should lead the relations of the EU with all third countries, that the EU should only grant partner countries advanced status if clear human rights and democracy requirements are met, and that it should not hesitate to freeze this status if these requirements are no longer fulfilled;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 a (new) 21a. Recalls that, following the Arab Spring, the European Union redefined its neighbourhood policy towards the South Mediterranean and insisted on the role of civil society and on the principle of ‘more for more’ in order to develop more solid partnerships with its neighbours and to guide their reforms and democratic transitions;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 a (new) 21a. Calls for an effective use of new technologies and the world wide web to make information about human rights and democracy, as well as EU programs, as accessible as possible to people all over the world;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22.
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22.
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23. Requests that the Commission and the EEAS enhance their coordination
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23. Requests that the Commission and the EEAS enhance coordination of EU action with regard to the second generation of pilot countries so as to ensure that all EU institutions participate and combine their expertise in the effective pursuit of democracy support in third countries
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 a (new) 23a. Congratulates the European Endowment for Democracy for its efficient work in promoting democracy in our neighbourhood and supports a careful expansion of its mandate to other societies struggling for democratisation; calls on the Member States, in a spirit of solidarity and commitment, to provide sufficient funding to the Endowment´s budget in order to ensure the most flexible and effective support to local actors of democratic change;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 b (new) 23b. Reminds that enlargement has been the EU's most successful democratisation effort and emphasizes that negotiations with the Western Balkans remain the main instrument of helping these countries establish fully-fledged democratic societies,
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 17 a (new) – having regard to its resolution of 17 June 2010 on implementation of 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 punishment8a, __________________ 8a OJ C 236 E, 12.8.2011, p. 107.
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas the promotion of women’s rights should be a basic component of the human rights dialogue between the European Union and third countries; whereas the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights plays a positive role; and whereas, when they engage in cooperation with any country, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Commission should identify in a timely manner the problems to be addressed, so that funding and resources can be better tailored to objectives;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 a (new) 23a. (new) Supports a fair and lasting settlement of the Western Sahara conflict, on the basis of the right to self- determination of the Sahrawi people, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24.
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Welcomes the dedicated Council conclusions on human rights defenders on the tenth anniversary of the EU Guidelines
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Welcomes the dedicated Council conclusions on human rights defenders on the tenth anniversary of the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders (HRDs); commends, furthermore, the Commission for its increased use of EIDHR funding to provide emergency grants to
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Welcomes the dedicated Council conclusions on human rights defenders on the tenth anniversary of the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders (HRDs);
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 a (new) 24a. Commends the EU for its support for national and regional human rights protection policies and calls for this policy to be extended to all countries where this is possible; Encourages the EU to envisage possibilities to strengthen the international protection of human rights defenders, such as considering transforming the Declaration on HRDs into a Convention;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 a (new) 24a. Deplores that persecution and marginalisation of human rights defenders remains a widespread tendency all over the world, particularly in countries that do not accept the universality of human rights;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 b (new) 24b. Reiterates its call for the EU to institute a system for the centralised follow-up of human rights defenders' cases, and their treatment by the EU and Member states in delegations; to help track action taken on each case, press for action where necessary; to develop strategies for addressing medium to long- term cases of imprisoned or harassed defenders where no progress is noted;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 c (new) 24c. Calls on the EU to place a particular focus on the issue of jailed human rights advocates around the world and the need for the EU to collectively step up action to secure the release of these individuals by, among other strategies, establishing a European Parliament internal working group that would keep itself updated, through close collaboration with civil society, on the cases of jailed activists worldwide;
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 d (new) 24d. Calls on the EU to facilitate emergency measures such relocation and emergency visas for recognised HRDs, and ensure all staff are aware of procedures; considers it important that Member States ensure the facilitation of visas for recognised HRDs visiting decision-makers in the EU in order to continue meaningful exchanges on how support their vital work;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 21 a (new) – having regard to the UN Human Rights Council Resolution of 26 June 2014 calling for the establishment of an open- ended intergovernmental working group with the aim of drawing up ‘an international legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights’,
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas access to basic health care services and to sexual and reproductive health services are fundamental aspects of equality between women and men and whereas they are not yet secured in all parts of the world;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Reiterates its call on the EEAS to continue protecting NGOs, human rights defenders and civil society activists by raising the effectiveness of EU human rights dialogues and by promoting
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Reiterates its call on the EEAS to continue protecting NGOs, human rights defenders
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Reiterates its call on the EEAS to continue protecting NGOs, organisations that have been proven to comply with the EU treaties and defend human right
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Reiterates its call on the EEAS to
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 a (new) 25a. Calls on the EEAS and the European Commission to ensure EU grants and other programs are available not only for large NGOs but also to build local capacity; Therefore urges a lowering of bureaucratic burden while preserving accountability in application and accounting procedures, and encouraging taking into consideration the increasing pressure placed on civil society by repressive regimes; Calls for a more pragmatic approach to societies in transition towards democracy, to ensure the appropriate organisations and individuals are supported;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 26. Requests that the EEAS and the EU Delegations engage with human rights defenders and NGOs in a pragmatic political dialogue aimed at finding the best ways to support an enabling environment for their work; requests that the EU enhance its active diplomacy in third countries and strengthen the position of the human rights focal points in order to mainstream human rights in the daily political work of the EU Delegation, by systematically raising the names of political prisoners and engaging in trial monitoring and visits to prisons; request a systematic drafting of an updated list of political prisoners; stresses the need for the EU to use public diplomacy to support human rights defenders and to call for the release of imprisoned human rights activists
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 26. Calls on the HR/VP to systematically meet with human rights defenders when travelling to third countries. Requests that the EEAS and the EU Delegations engage with human rights defenders in a pragmatic political dialogue aimed at finding the best ways to support an enabling environment for their work; requests that the EU enhance its active diplomacy in third countries and strengthen the position of the human rights focal points in order to mainstream human rights
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 26. Requests that the EEAS and the EU Delegations engage with human rights defenders in a genuine and pragmatic political dialogue aimed at finding the best ways to support an enabling environment for their work; requests that the EU enhance its active diplomacy in third countries and strengthen the position of the human rights focal points in order to mainstream human rights in the daily political work of the EU Delegation, by systematically raising the names of political prisoners and engaging in trial monitoring and visits to prisons; stresses the need for the EU to use public diplomacy to support human rights defenders and to call for the release of imprisoned human rights activists; insists that senior EU representatives, notably the HR/VP, the Council President, Commissioners, EU Special Representatives and government officials from the Member States systematically meet human rights defenders when travelling to countries where civil society is under pressure;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 26. Requests that the EEAS and the EU Delegations engage with human rights defenders in a pragmatic political dialogue aimed at finding the best ways to support an enabling environment for their work; requests that the EU enhance its active diplomacy in third countries and strengthen the position of the human rights focal points in order to mainstream human rights in the daily political work of the EU Delegation, by systematically raising the names of political prisoners
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 22 a (new) – having regard to its resolution of 14 February 2006 on the human rights and democracy clause in European Union agreements9a, __________________ 9a OJ C 290 E, 29.11.2006, p. 107.s
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas sexual and reproductive health and rights are grounded in basic human rights and are essential elements of human dignity 1a; whereas the denial of lifesaving abortion amounts to a serious breach of human rights; __________________ 1aICPD Programme of Action § 7.2 and 7.3
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 26. Requests that the
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 a (new) 26a. Call on the EU High Representative and EU Foreign Ministers to hold an annual Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting dedicated to discussing EU efforts to pursue release of human rights defenders, journalists, political activists and others who exercise their rights peacefully, paying particular attention to the cases raised in the European Parliament's resolutions concerning debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law ;
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 a (new) 26a. (new) Urges for the release of all Sahrawi political prisoners; takes the view that access to the territories of Western Sahara should be given to parliamentarians, independent observers, NGOs, and the press;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 27 27. Recalls the commitment of Parliament and its Subcommittee on Human Rights to supporting a strong multilateral human rights system
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 27 27. Recalls the commitment of Parliament and its Subcommittee on Human Rights to supporting a strong multilateral human rights system under the aegis of the United Nations, including the Third Committee of the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the work of related UN specialised agencies such as the ILO, as well as that of UN Special Procedures;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 27 27. Recalls the commitment
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 27 27. Recalls the commitment of Parliament and its Subcommittee on Human Rights to supporting a strong multilateral human rights system under the aegis of the United Nations, including the Third Committee of the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the work of related UN specialised agencies such as the ILO and UNESCO; stresses the need for the EU’s actions in these major organisations, which have a direct impact on human rights, to be more visible;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 27 a (new) 27a. Notes with regret that while certain countries, such as China, subscribe to the universality of human rights, at the same time they state that human rights must be considered in the national context bearing in mind the local economic, cultural, historical and religious backgrounds, which allows a relative application of human rights that contradicts their universal, indivisible and interdependent nature; while initiatives promoting human rights as universal, such as the 2012 ASEAN Human Rights Declaration are commendable, they equally advocate the relativist approach and undermine the promotion of human rights as universal; urges the EU to continue further engaging with these countries in all possible international fora and strengthen the UN human rights system, key to the advancement of universal rights;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 27 a (new) 27a. Recalls the importance of the decisions issued by the European Court of Human Rights and their implementations from the countries concerned, regarding the respect for and the consolidation of human rights as basic values and principles of the European and Global system of governance.
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 28. Recalls its unequivocal position institutionalising its presence at UN General Assembly (UNGA) sessions, as expressed in its resolution of 7 February 2013 on the EU’s priorities at the Human Rights Council, and considers it indispensable to continue the practice of
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 1 – having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and other United Nations human rights treaties and instruments, in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted in New York on 16 December 1966,
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Citation 1 b (new) - having regard to its resolution of 25 November 2014 on the EU and the global development framework after 2015;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 25 a (new) – having regard to its resolution of 25 November 2014 on the EU and the global development framework after 20153a, __________________ 3a Texts adopted, P8_TA- PROV(2014)0059.
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Recital C b (new) Cb. whereas all types of discrimination and violence directed against women, including sexual abuse, female genital mutilation, forced marriages, so-called honour crimes and the commercial sexual exploitation of women, as 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 200 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 29. Reiterates the importance of the
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 30 30. Stresses again the importance of effective coordination and cooperation between the EEAS, the Commission, the European Parliament and EU Member States on human rights issues; encourages the EEAS, in particular through
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 31 a (new) 31a. Recalls the importance of the European Union acting within the Organisation for Security and Co- operation in Europe (OSCE) at a time when the organisation is preparing to mark its 40th year; encourages the strengthening of ties between the EU, the OSCE and the Council of Europe;
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 31 a (new) 31a. recalls, furthermore, the importance of the work carried out by the Council of Europe in this area, as well as the need for the European Union to accede swiftly to the European Convention on Human Rights pursuant to the Treaties;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 31 a (new) 31a. (new) Urges the United Nations to establish an international mechanism to monitor human rights in Western Sahara within the MINURSO;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 32. Reiterates its full support for the work of the ICC in its role to end the impunity of the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern before the international community
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 32. Reiterates its full support for the work of the ICC in its role to end the impunity of the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern before the international community and to provide justice for the victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide; remains vigilant regarding any attempts to undermine its legitimacy
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 32.
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 32. Reiterates its full support for the work of the ICC in its role to end the impunity of the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern before the international community; remains vigilant regarding any attempts to undermine its legitimacy; considers the increasing number of states parties to be an important development in strengthening the universality of the Court; Calls on the EU member States, as States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC, to provide it with the resources needed so it can exercise its mandate in a fair and effective manner; welcomes the ratification of the Rome Statute by Côte d’Ivoire in February 2013;
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 32. Reiterates its full support for the work of the ICC in its role to end the impunity of the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern before the international community
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 25 a (new) – having regard to its resolution of 25 November 2014 on the EU and the global development framework after 2015,
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Stresses the importance for authorities to
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 32. Reiterates its full support for the work of the ICC in its role to end the impunity of the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern before the international community; remains vigilant regarding any attempts to undermine
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 32. Reiterates its full support for the work of the ICC in its role to end the impunity of the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern before the international community
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 32. Reiterates its full support for the work of the ICC in its role to end the impunity of the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern before the international community; remains vigilant regarding any attempts to undermine its legitimacy; recalls its vital role in the dual processes of justice and reconciliation; considers the increasing number of states parties to be an important development in strengthening the universality of the Court; welcomes the ratification of the Rome Statute by Côte d’Ivoire in February 2013;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 a (new) 32a. Reiterates its call for the creation of an EU Special Representative on International Justice and International Humanitarian Law in order to give these subjects the prominence and visibility they deserve, to advance the EU agenda effectively and to mainstream the fight against impunity in all the external actions of the EU;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 b (new) 32b. Reiterates it call for the creation of an EU Special Representative on International Justice and International Humanitarian Law in order to give them the prominence and visibility they deserve and to advance the EU agenda on this effectively international justice, including the ICC, in EU action and policies;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 a (new) 32a. Calls on the EU and its member states to cooperate with the Court and be a strong voice in calling for consistent and strong cooperation with the ICC and the fight against impunity in all fora, including the UN;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 a (new) 32a. Calls on the EU member states to provide the ICC with the resources needed; emphasises the importance of outreach and public information, including by facilitating victims' rights and ensure that these activities have appropriate diplomatic and financial support; encourages the EU to continue providing assistance to international criminal justice and the ICC, including by supporting civil society actors through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 33 33. Regrets that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court has not yet been included in the new GSP Regulation list of conventions required for GSP+ status; notes that a number of GSP+ applicants are not states parties to the Statute or have not ratified it
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 34 a (new) 34a. Calls, ahead of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, on all EU Member States to legally acknowledge it and encourages them and the European institutions to further contribute to the recognition of the Armenian genocide.
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 34 a (new) 34a. Urges the EEAS to spread good practices on rights, protection and support of victims of crime and violence in third countries, and to exchange anti- corruption policies with third countries as corruption often is a gateway for impunity and often the root of injustice for victims
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 25 b (new) – having regard to its resolution of 27 November 2014 on the 25th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child,
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Stresses the importance
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 34 b (new) 34b. Calls for the creation of an EU Special Representative on International Justice and International Humanitarian Law in order to help develop and promote the EU agenda in these fields;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 35.
Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 a (new) 35a. Gives its full support to the draft resolution of the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly A/C.3/69/L.51/Rev.1 ‘Moratorium on the use of the death penalty’, which will be submitted to the United Nations General Assembly in December 2014;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 a (new) 35a. Calls on the EU to continue using cooperation and diplomacy towards the abolition of the death penalty in all possible forums worldwide, in line with the EU Guidelines on the Death Penalty, and also to ensure that the right to a fair trial is fully respected for each and every person facing execution, without the use of torture and other ill-treatment used to extract confessions;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 36 36. Expresses its concern at the reported rise in the number of executions globally from 2012 to 2013, despite the fact that executions are confined to an increasingly small minority of countries; calls on the EU to take due action regarding the continuously high rate of executions in China and Iran, the resumption of executions in 2013 in Indonesia,
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 36 36. Expresses its concern at the reported rise in the number of executions globally from 2012 to 2013, despite the fact that executions are confined to an increasingly small minority of countries; calls on the EU to take due action regarding the continuously high rate of executions in China and Iran, the resumption of executions in 2013 in Indonesia, Kuwait, Nigeria and Vietnam, the execution of minors in Iran, Saudi Arabia and Yemen in 2013, as well as the marked increase in reported executions in Iraq and in Saudi Arabia;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 36 36. Expresses its concern at the reported rise in the number of executions globally from 2012 to 2013, despite the fact that executions are confined to an increasingly small minority of countries; calls on the EU to take due action regarding the continuously high rate of executions in the United States, China and Iran, the resumption of executions in 2013 in Indonesia, Kuwait, Nigeria and Vietnam, as well as the marked increase in reported executions in Iraq and in Saudi Arabia;
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 37 Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 37 37.
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 37 37. Notes the revived discussion in the United States on the arbitrariness and error-prone nature of capital punishment, the results of the campaign to stop the flow of substances used for execution from Europe to the United States, and the abolition of the death penalty in 2013 by the state of Maryland; encourages the VP/HR, the EUSR and the EEAS to engage with the US federal government and state governments in order to accelerate the demise of the death penalty in the United States, where all 80 death sentences in 2013 originated in only 2 % of the counties in the entire country, and all 39 executions took place in about 1 % of all counties;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 26 a (new) – having regard to the ILO Convention on Migrant Workers (1949),
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Stresses the importance for authorities to engage with men and boys in efforts to prevent and eliminate all types of
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 38 38. Encourages the Commission to
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 38 a (new) 38a. Stresses the importance for the EU to continue monitoring the conditions under which executions are carried out in those countries that still retain the death penalty, and to support legal and constitutional reform towards full and total abolition;
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 38 a (new) 38a. Recalls its firm belief that the death penalty, as a violation of the right to personal integrity and human dignity, is incompatible with the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment under international law and calls on the EEAS and the Member States formally to acknowledge this incompatibility and to adapt EU policy on capital punishment accordingly; emphasises the need to interpret the respective EU guidelines on the death penalty and torture as cross- cutting;
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 39 39. Urges the VP/HR and the EEAS, in the light of the increasing number of recent reports of the widespread practice of torture and abuse around the world, to step up the EU’s efforts in the fight against torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment; welcomes the Commission's proposal for a regulation of 14 January 2014 amending 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 and responding to its resolution of 17 June 2010; stresses that this revision will make it possible to reaffirm the role of trade as a tool to spread the European Union's values and to defend human rights on the international stage;
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 39 39. Urges the VP/HR and the EEAS, in the light of
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 39 a (new) 39a. Points out that, as stipulated in Articles 7 and 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, torture, if committed systematically or on a large scale, can constitute a war crime or a crime against humanity; stresses that the ‘responsibility to protect’ principle confers upon the international community a specific responsibility that it must act upon;
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 40 40. Encourages the EEAS to pay detailed attention to the country conclusions of the United Nations Committee against Torture and the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture, and to raise these concerns systematically in political
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 40 40. Encourages the EEAS to pay detailed attention to the country conclusions of the United Nations Committee against Torture and the Subcommittee established under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, and the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture, and to raise these concerns systematically in political dialogues with the countries concerned as well as in public statements;
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 40 40. Encourages the EEAS to pay detailed attention to the country conclusions of the United Nations Committee against Torture and the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture, and to raise these concerns systematically in political dialogues with the countries concerned as well as in public statements; calls on the EEAS and the Member States also to develop a more effective implementation plan for the EU Guidelines on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; urges the Member States to step up their monitoring of trade in goods that could be used to commit acts of torture or to inflict inhuman and degrading treatment, as well as their monitoring of trade in dual-use goods and technologies;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 40 a (new) 40a. Stresses the fact that members of vulnerable groups such as ethnic, linguistic and religious groups are more often exposed to torture or ill treatment in detention, therefore require special attention;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 27 a (new) - having regard to Convention No 169 of the International Labour Organisation on indigenous and tribal peoples in independent countries,
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses that the promotion of women's rights must be an important part of the Union’s human rights dialogue with third countries; urges the EEAS and the Commission to define, in partnership with each country, a limited number of priority women's rights so as to concentrate efforts and funds in order to better achieve the priority objectives;
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 40 a (new) 40a. Underlines that the EU and its Member States should ensure that their own internal practices are in line with their recommendations for third countries, in accordance with the wider EU and Member States' engagement on ensuring greater internal-external coherence on human rights;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 40 a (new) 40a. Condemns the exportation by European companies of products and arms that can be used for the purposes of torture and other punishments or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, including as part of crack-downs on protests; gives its support, in this context, to the process of revision of Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005;
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 40 a (new) 40a. Reiterates its call to the EU to make use of existing human clauses in bilateral and multilateral agreements to ensure the protection of civil society and of human rights defenders; explicitly tying the need for independent civil society as a prerequisite for anti-corruption efforts, good governance, effective development, and peace-building; and ensuring that civil society is included at all appropriate levels of dialogue within the structures of the agreements;
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 40 a (new) 40a. Reiterates the importance of effective export control mechanisms for certain drugs that can be used for executions and equipment that can be used for torture; 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 execution;
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 40 a (new) 40a. Urges the Union and the Member States to work towards ensuring that all third countries ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance of 20 December 2006;
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 40 b (new) 40b. Calls on the EU to continue to fully support the work of relevant NGOs to combat torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment and maintain a continuous dialogue with them;
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 40 c (new) 40c. Encourages the EU to continue to fund projects undertaken to improve training of personnel and conditions in places of detention and to carry on its support for rehabilitation centres for victims of torture across the world;
Amendment 247 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 40 d (new) 40d. Underlines the necessity for the EU to strengthen its laws to allow Member States to ban the trade in new devices and technologies that have no practical use other than to torture, apply ill-treatments or execute individuals;
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution Subheading 15 Human rights in EU trade agreements, stabilisation and association agreements and other international agreements
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 41 41.
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 27 a (new) - having regard to its resolution of 10 October 2013 on Caste-Based Discrimination (2013/2676(RSP))
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. 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 250 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 41 41. Reiterates its call for the systematic inclusion of human rights clauses in the EU
Amendment 251 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 41 41. Reiterates its call for the systematic inclusion of human rights clauses in the EU’s international agreements, including trade and investment agreements, concluded with third countries, and calls for effective monitoring of their application as well as for reporting back to the relevant committee of Parliament on the agreements’ human rights aspects;
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 41 41. Reiterates its call for the systematic inclusion of binding, enforceable and non-negotiable human rights clauses in all of the EU’s international agreements, including trade agreements, concluded with third countries
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 41 41. Reiterates its call for the systematic inclusion of human rights clauses in the EU’s international agreements, including trade agreements, concluded with third countries
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 41 41.
Amendment 255 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 41 41. Reiterates its call for the systematic inclusion of human rights clauses in the EU’s international agreements, including trade agreements and stabilisation and association agreements, concluded with third countries, and calls for effective monitoring of their application as well as for reporting back to the relevant committee of Parliament on the agreements’ human rights aspects;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 41 a (new) 41a. Requests that the European Union consider both the European social dialogue model and the respect of the ILO standards on employment as a reference point in these agreements.
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 41 a (new) 41a. Sees a need, moreover, for ex ante monitoring mechanisms prior to a framework agreement being concluded 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 the agreement;
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 41 a (new) 41a. Points out that trade policy contributes to achieving the overall objectives of the EU and that under Article 207 of the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union (TFEU), EU trade policy has to be conducted ‘in the context of the principles and objectives of the Union’s external action’; points out, moreover, that under Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union, the Union must contribute to ‘peace, security, the sustainable development of the Earth, solidarity and mutual respect among peoples, free and fair trade, eradication of poverty and the protection of human rights, in particular the rights of the child, as well as to the strict observance and the development of international law, including respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter’ ;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 41 b (new) 41b. Calls on the Commission to take into account, when drawing up its future trade strategy, the important role of trade and international agreements in the promotion of human rights internationally;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 27 a (new) - having regard to the European Social Charter, signed in Turin on 18 October 1961 and revised in Strasbourg on 3 May 1996
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Asks the European Union and its Member States to support full participation by women in political and economic decision making, particularly in processes of peace building, democratic transition and conflict resolution; encourages the Member States, the Commission and the EEAS to focus on the economic and political emancipation of women in developing countries, promoting their involvement in companies and in the implementation of regional projects and local development projects;
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 41 c (new) 41c. Stresses the need to continue multilateral cooperation and dialogue on human rights, between the EU and, in particular, the World Trade Organisation and the United Nations, in order to secure a multilateral trade framework which contributes to respect for human rights ;
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 41 d (new) 41d. Points out that the Generalised System of Preferences was designed in such a way as to ensure that beneficiary countries respect the principles of international human rights conventions and core labour standards and includes a special scheme of supplementary tariff preferences to promote the ratification and effective implementation of core international conventions on human and labour rights, environmental protection and good governance; reiterates that failure to comply with the conditions can lead to the trading arrangement being suspended; stresses the importance of regular monitoring and assessment of the implementation of international conventions by countries benefiting from GSP+;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 41 e (new) 41e. Welcomes the entry into force on 1 January 2014 of the revised GSP; points out that GSP+ has been kept in the Generalised System of Preferences and that it requires countries requesting to benefit from it to commit to cooperating fully and completely with international organisations as regards compliance with international conventions relating to human and workers’ rights;
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 41 a (new) 41a. Stresses the importance of a genuine, transparent and inclusive assessment by the European Commission of the human rights situation in third countries benefiting from preferential trade arrangements, notably under the revised GSP+ scheme; calls on the Commission to provide technical and financial support to national authorities and civil society actors to assist in respectively meeting and monitoring the commitments made under these schemes;
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 41 b (new) 41b. Underlines the Treaty-based obligation of the EU to ensure that all its external policies and activities are designed and implemented in a manner which consolidates and supports human rights and the rule of law; in this regard, calls on the EU to substantially improve the methodology, scope and quality of the ex ante and ex post human rights impact assessment of its trade and investment agreements, notably through genuine consultation of civil society; calls on the EU to explore means to allow for adequate enforcement and redress mechanisms, accessible to affected populations and their representatives in cases where EU policies or activities lead to, contribute to, or benefit from human rights violations;
Amendment 265 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 42 42. Strongly supports the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; recalls the importance of promoting corporate social responsibility (CSR), including in business operations outside the EU, and ensuring its respect along the whole supply chain, in particular with regard to the illegal timber trade, wildlife trafficking and trading of minerals from conflict zones; is convinced that European companies and their subsidiaries and subcontractors should play a key role in the promotion and dissemination of international standards on business and human rights worldwide;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 42 42. Strongly supports the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; recalls the importance of promoting corporate social responsibility (CSR) and stresses the need to include corporate accountability, including in business operations outside the EU, and ensuring its respect along the whole supply chain; is convinced that European companies and their subsidiaries and subcontractors should play a key role in the promotion and dissemination of international standards on business and human rights worldwide;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 42 a (new) 42a. Condemns the illicit business of human trafficking, human trafficking for removal of organs and any other exploitative business related to violating the right to bodily integrity and inflicting violence; calls for intensifying and reviewing EU efforts towards combating human trafficking and engaging with countries at risk;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 43 43. Requests that the Commission and the EEAS encourage EU Delegations around the world to engage with EU businesses in order to promote respect for human rights, and to ensure that ‘business and human rights’ is included among the focus themes in the local calls for proposals of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR); calls on the Member States to ensure that companies which come under their national law do not disregard human rights and the social, health and environmental standards they are subject to when moving to, or doing business in, a third country;
Amendment 269 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 43 43. Requests that the Commission and the EEAS encourage EU Delegations around the world to engage with EU businesses in order to promote respect for human rights
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 30 Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Calls on the authorities in war and conflict regions to ensure suitable medical and psychological support, free legal services and access to justice, and to complaint mechanisms for female victims of and witnesses to violence;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 43 a (new) 43a. Notes that globalisation, along with its many advantages, has also brought increased insecurity, uncertainty, and outsourcing of jobs and the possibility of working across borders under different laws in each environment; calls for ensuring that workers are protected and treated fairly, having recognition and an effective implementation of international labour standards on freedom of association, equality, and forced and child labour; stresses the necessity to ensure that workers' rights should become a guidance point for global industry and good governance by preventing competitive social dumping and ensuring equal treatment, responsibility and respect for labour laws;
Amendment 271 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 43 a (new) 43a. Points out in particular the urgent need to respect freedom of association and the fight against all forms of repression, including the assassination of trade unionists;
Amendment 272 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 44 44.
Amendment 273 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 44 44. Reiterates its call on the Commission to report on a regular basis on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights by the EU Member States, including their national action plans; regrets the lack of progress made by the Commission in following up Parliament’s request that it propose legislation requiring EU companies to ensure that their
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 44 44. Reiterates its call on the Commission to report on a regular basis on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights by the EU Member States, including their national action plans; regrets the lack of progress made by the Commission in following up Parliament’s request that it propose legislation requiring EU companies to ensure that their purchases do not support perpetrators of conflicts or grave human rights violations; points out that this will emerge on the back of resolutions adopted by EU committees set up for this purpose,
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 44 a (new) 44a. Calls upon the Commission and Council to ensure that companies owned by third country nationals or third country States set up in the Member States do not support perpetrators of conflicts or grave human rights violations including modern forms of slavery such as trafficking of persons and their employment under abhorrent conditions.
Amendment 276 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 45 45. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to take strong initiatives to improve access to justice for victims of human rights violations linked to business operations outside the EU, in particular with regard to the environment, land- grabbing and extractions of natural resources; calls on the Commission, inter alia, to take the necessary measures against European companies which do not compensate in a satisfactory manner the victims of accidents for which those companies are directly or indirectly responsible;
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 46 Amendment 278 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 46 46. Calls on the EU to
Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 46 46. Calls on the EU to support the emerging initiatives aimed at concluding a legally binding international instrument on business and human rights within the UN system, including an accountability mechanism, and to engage from early on in the debate on this issue;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution Recital -A (new) -A. Whereas Article 25 of the UDHR recognises the right of every person to an adequate standard of living, in which motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance; whereas the UN Child Rights Convention celebrates its 25th Anniversary as the most widely ratified human rights treaty;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Emphasises the particular importance, with a view to the development of viable, democratic societies, of reducing gender inequality, combating gender-based violence and promoting equality and women’s rights;
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 46 46. Calls on the EU to
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 46 46.
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 46 a (new) 46a. Recalls the four core and universal labour standards as anchored in the instruments of the International Labour Organisation, namely the freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining; the elimination of all forms of forced labour, exploitation and slavery; the abolition of child labour; and the elimination of discrimination in the area of employment;
Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 46 a (new) 46a. Notes that the poorly regulated, uncontrolled and opaque arms trade leads to irresponsible trading in weapons, has caused human suffering, fuelled armed conflict, instability and corruption, undermined peace-building processes, good governance and socio-economic development and led to the overthrow of democratically elected governments and the violation of the rule of law, human rights and international humanitarian law; calls on the EU to ensure that European companies do not contribute to this phenomenon;
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 46 a (new) 46a. Reaffirms that European businesses should undertake adequate due diligence to ensure that their operations respect human rights, wherever they are performed; stresses the importance for meaningful reporting on the human rights, social and environmental impact of projects supported by European Financial Institutions; insists on the need for these institutions to ensure compliance of their activities with Article 21 of the Treaty of the European Union, which inter alia contains an obligation to respect human rights;
Amendment 285 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 47 47. Recognises that the rapid evolution of information and communications technologies has transformed the environment for the exercise of freedom of expression and access to information across the world, generating both profound advantages and serious concerns; welcomes, in this context, the adoption by the Council in May 2014 of the dedicated EU Guidelines on freedom of expression online and offline;
Amendment 286 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 47 a (new) 47a. Reiterates that freedom of expression and media freedom, independence and pluralism are essential elements of a sustainable democracy, maximising the involvement of civil society and empowering citizens and are therefore indispensable for ensuring transparency and accountability in public life;
Amendment 287 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 47 b (new) 47b. Calls for increased support in the areas of promoting freedom of media, protecting independent journalists and bloggers, reducing the digital divide and facilitating unrestricted access to information and communication and uncensored access to the Internet (digital freedom);
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 47 a (new) 47a. Calls on the EU and its Member States to enhance their monitoring of, and clearly and rapidly condemn, all restrictions on freedom of expression, including aggressive use of criminal defamation laws and other restrictive laws, restrictive criteria or burdensome procedures in accessing registration as a journalist or any one of the professions related to media, as well as establishing a media house, and to take strong initiatives to support better access to information which is of public interest.
Amendment 289 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 47 a (new) 47a. Condemns all restrictions on digital communication; including closing down websites and blocking personal accounts, especially when targeting civil society, civil liberties activists, and free media.
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas Article 21 TEU further strengthened the EU’s com
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses the need to ensure that women in Europe and the rest of the world have the right to be able freely to make their own individual choices, on a par with men, without any ideological, political or religious impositions;
Amendment 290 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 48 48. Expresses its concern at the spread of
Amendment 291 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 48 48.
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 48 48. Expresses its concern at the spread of monitoring and filtering technologies, which represent a growing threat to human rights and democracy activists in autocratic
Amendment 293 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 48 48.
Amendment 294 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 48 48. Expresses its concern at the spread of monitoring and filtering technologies, which represent a growing threat to human rights and democracy activists in autocratic countries and also pose troubling questions regarding privacy rights in democratic countries, even when used with the pretext of legitimate aims such as counter- terrorism, state security or law enforcement;
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 48 48. Expresses its concern at the
Amendment 296 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 48 a (new) 48a. Recognizes that important producers of hacking and surveillance technologies are located in Europe, which can be used for human rights violations and to attack European digital infrastructure; calls on the Commission to revise the European export control system in order to prevent dangerous technology from falling into the wrong hands;
Amendment 297 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 48 a (new) 48a. Considers that the climate of impunity surrounding the CIA programme has allowed the fundamental rights violations committed in the context of the counter-terrorism policies of the EU and the United States to continue, as is evidenced by the mass espionage activities carried out under the US National Security Agency’s surveillance programme; calls for the immediate suspension of negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the United States and of all counter-terrorism cooperation agreements with the United States until such time as European citizens’ rights are guaranteed;
Amendment 298 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 49 49. Commends the Commission on its publication in June 2013 of the ICT (information and communication technologies) Sector Guide on Implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; remains concerned, however, at the trade in products and services aimed at denial of internet access or enabling mass surveillance and monitoring of internet traffic and mobile communications, or at intruding on private conversations; calls, therefore,
Amendment 299 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 49 49. Commends the Commission on its publication in June 2013 of the ICT (information and communication technologies) Sector Guide on Implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; remains concerned, however, at the trade in products and services aimed at denial of internet access or enabling mass surveillance and monitoring of internet traffic and mobile communications, or at
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 1 a (new) - having regard to the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child and the European Parliament resolution on the 25th anniversary of the Right of the Child adopted on the 27th November 2014;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Citation 1 c (new) - having regard to the final declaration adopted by the 4th World Congress Against the Death Penalty, held in Geneva from 24 to 26 February 2010, which calls for universal abolition of the death penalty;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas Article 21 TEU further strengthened the EU’s commitment to act on the international scene guided by the principles of democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity, and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and international law; whereas the European Union acceded to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms pursuant to Article 6 TEU,
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Calls on all Council of Europe member states, accordingly, to sign and ratify the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women; calls on the EU as such to take steps to accede to the Convention in order to ensure coherence between EU internal and external action on violence against women;
Amendment 300 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 49 49. Commends the Commission on its publication in June 2013 of the ICT (information and communication technologies) Sector Guide on Implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; remains concerned, however, at the trade in products and services aimed at denial of internet access or enabling mass surveillance and monitoring of internet traffic and mobile communications, filtering search results, or at intruding on private conversations; calls, therefore, for the adoption of
Amendment 301 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 50 50. Calls on the Commission to continue support initiatives related to the development and dissemination of digital security technologies in order to empower only those organisations that have been proven to comply with the EU treaties and defend human right
Amendment 302 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 51 51. Expresses its serious concern over the shrinking space of legitimate civil society action in many countries around the world; considers a free civil society to be one of the foundations for the protection and support of human rights and democratic values in all societies; in this respect welcomes all EU programmes that aim at training of young professionals from third countries and simplifying student exchange programs for third country nationals as these foster the active participation of youth in democracy building and contribute effectively to the development of civil society;
Amendment 303 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 51 a (new) 51a. Stresses that EU contacts with civil society should be built on a real partnership, including systematic and regular dialogue, which should guarantee the active participation of civil society actors in the process of good governance; underlines the necessity to improve information sharing between the different actors involved in the defence of human rights across the world, in order to allow them to gain a better understanding of the activities and actions carried out, particularly with regard to specific cases, as well as the difficulties encountered; stresses that a civil society monitoring mechanism should be set up to ensure that civil society is systematically involved in the implementation of agreements and programmes;
Amendment 304 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 52 52. Calls on the EU and its Member States and on the countries that are candidates for accession to the Union to enhance their monitoring of, and clearly and rapidly condemn, all restrictions on freedom of assembly and association, including bans on civil society organisations, aggressive use of criminal
Amendment 305 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 52 52.
Amendment 306 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 52 a (new) 52a. Calls on the EU and its Member States to raise violations of freedom of assembly and association at every level of political dialogue, including at the highest level, when other forms of dialogues, such as the human rights dialogue, have failed to bring any concrete improvement on the ground; urges the EU and its Member States to use these dialogues to raise individual cases of concern, particularly of all those imprisoned only for exercising their right to peaceful assembly and association;
Amendment 307 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 52 b (new) 52b. Encourages representatives of the EU Delegations and Member State embassies to monitor trials of human rights defenders and all those detained only for exercising their right to peaceful assembly and association, and when relevant publicly condemn the lack of respect for fair trial rights;
Amendment 308 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 52 c (new) 52c. Calls on the EU to make the respect and promotion of freedom of assembly and association a key priority in the future EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy, and lay out specific actions in that regard, as freedom of assembly and association are vital elements for democracy and an open society;
Amendment 309 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 53 Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas Article 207 TFEU stipulates that the EU’s commercial policy is to be based on the principles and objectives of the Union’s external action;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses that in order to effectively combat violence against women, a change of attitude towards women and girls in society is necessary, where women are too often represented in subordinate roles and violence against them is too often tolerated or undermined;
Amendment 310 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 53 53.
Amendment 311 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 53 53. Reiterates its endorsement of the majority of the funding for the EIDHR being allocated to support for human rights defenders and civil society actions around the world and supports the development of legal defence funds to help persecuted journalists and activists to get access to a lawyer and a fair trial;
Amendment 312 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 53 a (new) 53a. Underlines the importance of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI) at the national level for human rights monitoring and awareness raising as well as to ensure redress for victims of violations; calls on the EU to develop a policy in support of NHRIs, in line with the Paris principles, and to make it a priority in external assistance, notably under the European Neighbourhood Instrument;
Amendment 313 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 53 a (new) 53a. (new) calls for the fundamental rights of the people of Western Sahara, including freedom of association, freedom of expression and the right to assembly, to be respected;
Amendment 314 #
Motion for a resolution Subheading 19 Amendment 315 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 53 b (new) 53b. Reiterates the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities of 1992; emphasises the need for equal treatment of minorities, especially in the fields of education, employment, healthcare, social services and other public services;
Amendment 316 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 53 c (new) 53c. Regrets the fact that the Roma minority remains subject to discrimination, racism and social exclusion, both within the European Union as well as in EU candidate countries in the Western Balkan and Turkey; notes in this regard that respect for the rights of minorities is one of the key challenges identified in the Commission's Enlargement Strategy for 2014-2015;
Amendment 317 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 54 54. Condemns all violence and discrimination on the basis of religion or belief; expresses its serious concern over the continued reports of violence and discrimination against religious minorities around the world; stresses that the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, is a fundamental human right, interrelated with other human rights and
Amendment 318 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 54 54. Condemns all violence and discrimination on the basis of religion or belief; expresses its serious concern over the continued reports of violence and discrimination against religious minorities around the world, in particular Eastern Christians; stresses that the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, is a fundamental human right, interrelated with other human rights and fundamental freedoms, encompassing the right to believe or not to believe, the freedom to practise theistic, non-theistic or atheistic belief alike, and the right to adopt, change and abandon or return to a belief of one’s choice;
Amendment 319 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 54 54. Condemns all violence and discrimination on the basis of religion or belief; expresses its serious concern over the continued reports of violence and discrimination against religious minorities around the world, in particular the persecutions of religious minorities in the East; stresses that the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, is a fundamental human right, interrelated with other human rights and fundamental freedoms, encompassing the right to believe or not to believe, the freedom to practise theistic, non-theistic or atheistic belief alike, and the right to adopt, change and abandon or return to a belief of one’s choice;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas respect for, and the promotion and safeguarding of, the universality and indivisibility of human rights are cornerstones of the EU’s action on the international scene; whereas the universality of human rights is being seriously challenged by a number of authoritarian regimes, notably in multilateral fora;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Stresses that gender stereotypes are among the main reasons for violations of women’s rights and inequalities between men and women; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to emphasise the involvement of men in information and awareness-raising campaigns on women’s rights; notes that particular attention must be paid to constitutional, legislative or regulatory provisions which discriminate against women on the basis of their sex, for example with regard to access to justice, property, credit, health care or education; reiterates that child marriage, early and forced marriage and failure to enforce a legal minimum age of marriage constitute not only a violation of children’s rights but also an obstacle to women’s empowerment;
Amendment 320 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 54 54. Condemns all violence and discrimination on the basis of religion or belief; expresses its serious concern over the continued reports of violence and discrimination against religious minorities, including Christians, around the world; stresses that the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, is a fundamental human right, interrelated with other human rights and fundamental freedoms, encompassing the right to believe or not to believe, the
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 54 54. Condemns all violence and discrimination on the basis of religion or belief, as Article 5 of the Lisbon Treaty prescribes; expresses its serious concern over the continued reports of violence and discrimination against religious minorities around the world; stresses that the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, is a fundamental human right, interrelated with other human rights and fundamental freedoms, encompassing the right to believe or not to believe, the freedom to practise theistic, non-theistic or atheistic belief alike, and the right to adopt, change and abandon or return to a belief of one’s choice, as enshrined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
Amendment 322 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 54 54. Condemns all violence and discrimination on the basis of religion or belief; expresses its serious concern over
Amendment 323 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 54 54. Condemns all violence and discrimination on the basis of ideology, religion or belief; expresses its serious concern over the continued reports of violence and discrimination against religious minorities around the world; stresses that the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, is a fundamental human right, interrelated with other human rights and fundamental freedoms, encompassing the right to believe or not to believe, the freedom to practise theistic, non-theistic or atheistic belief alike, and the right to adopt, change and abandon or return to a belief of one’s choice;
Amendment 324 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 53 a (new) 53a. Is concerned about the increased violence against religious and belief minorities in many parts of the world; calls for the protection of refugees who have been forced to flee their place of origin as a result of violence and discrimination directed against them on the basis of their religion or belief; expresses the view that in accordance with international human rights instruments, all States have to protect religious and belief minorities against any form of discrimination and violence; encourages the EEAS to establish a horizontal focal point for religion or belief matters;
Amendment 325 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 54 a (new) 54a. Calls on the European Union and its Member States to ensure that religious minorities are respected worldwide, particularly in the Middle East where Christians, such as Catholics, Apostolic Armenians, Copts and Yezidis, as well as Muslim minorities are being persecuted by ISIS and other terrorist groups
Amendment 326 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 54 a (new) 54a. Reiterates its deep concerns about intolerance, repression and violence directed against members of Christian communities, particularly in the countries of Africa, Asia and the Middle East; calls for the protection of members of Christian communities; is concerned about the exodus of Christians from various countries, especially Middle Eastern countries, in recent years; expresses its solidarity with the members of the Christian communities being persecuted and facing the danger of extinction in their motherlands;
Amendment 327 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 54 a (new) 54a. Strongly condemns attacks against Christians in several countries around the world and expresses solidarity with the families of the victims; is deeply concerned about the growing number of episodes of repression, discrimination, intolerance and violent attacks against Christian communities, in particular in Africa, Asia and Middle-East; further calls on governments to bring all those responsible to justice; is deeply concerned about the current situation of Christians in North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Nigeria and many other countries, where Christians live in fear of being killed, face torture, rape and abduction and see their churches damaged or destroyed;
Amendment 328 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 54 a (new) 54a. Welcomes the fact that political and ideological convictions can be expressed without hindrance; condemns the prosecutions brought on the basis of political convictions; asks that complaints concerning human rights violations by EU Member States also be looked into, especially where they concern political rights; condemns the persecution of ideas and the fact that there are political prisoners in democratic societies;
Amendment 329 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 54 c (new) 54c. Expresses deep concern about the situation of persons belonging to the Rohingya Muslim minority in Burma/Myanmar, who are denied Burmese citizenship and face systematic human rights violations and persecution; recalls the European Parliament resolution of 13 June 2013 on the situation of Rohingya Muslims (2013/2669(RSP));
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas respect for, and the promotion and safeguarding of, the universality and indivisibility of human rights are cornerstones of the EU’s
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. 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 330 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 55 55. Welcomes the adoption during the reporting year 2013 of the EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief, and calls on the EU institutions and the Member States to pay particular attention to the implementation of these guidelines, both in international and regional forums and in bilateral relations with third countries with particular attention for the vulnerable situation of apostates;
Amendment 331 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 55 55. Welcomes the adoption during the reporting year 2013 of the EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief, and calls on the EU institutions and the Member States to pay particular attention to the
Amendment 332 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 55 a (new) 55a. Welcomes the EU's commitment to promoting the right to freedom of religion or belief within international and regional fora including the UN, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe (CoE) and other regional mechanisms; encourages the EU to continue tabling its yearly resolution on freedom of religion or belief at the UN General Assembly and supporting the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief;
Amendment 333 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 56 56. Welcomes the EU’s support for UN resolutions on gender issues, notably on the elimination of violence against women and girls, on discrimination against women, on the role of freedom of expression and opinion in women’s empowerment, and for the UN’s statements on early and forced marriage and on female genital mutilation;
Amendment 334 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 56 56.
Amendment 335 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 56 a (new) 56a. Calls on the Council to include the issue of "gender-selected" abortion in the EU guidelines on violence against women and girls; encourages the Commission and the Council to develop data-gathering methods and indicators on this phenomena, and encourages the EEAS to include this issue in the development and implementation of the human rights country strategies;
Amendment 336 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 57 57. Calls on the EU to actively participate in the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, and to continue to fight against all attempts to undermine the UN Beijing Platform for Action concerning, among other elements, access to education and health as basic human
Amendment 337 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 57 57. Calls on the EU to actively participate in the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, and to continue to fight against all attempts to undermine the UN Beijing Platform for Action concerning, among other elements, access to education and health as basic human
Amendment 338 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 57 57. Calls on the EU to actively participate in the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, and to continue to fight against all attempts to undermine the UN Beijing Platform for Action concerning, among other elements, access to education and health as basic human rights
Amendment 339 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 57 57. Calls on the EU to actively participate in the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, and to
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas respect for, and the promotion and safeguarding of, the universality and indivisibility of human rights
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Stresses the need to ensure that women who arrive in Europe are able to change their habits and lifestyles without fearing repercussions or vendettas from family members or third persons;
Amendment 340 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 57 57. Calls on the EU to actively participate in the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, and to continue to fight against all attempts to undermine the UN Beijing Platform for Action concerning, among other elements, access to education and health as basic human rights, and sexual and reproductive rights; abortion shall not be promoted as a form of family planning.
Amendment 341 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 57 57. Calls on the EU to actively participate in the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, and to continue to fight against all attempts to undermine the UN Beijing Platform for Action concerning, among other elements, access to education and health as basic human rights, and sexual and reproductive rights; abortion shall not be promoted as a sexual and reproductive right.
Amendment 342 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 58 58. Reaffirms its condemnation of all forms of abuse and violence against women and girls, especially the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and domestic violence; calls on all Council of Europe member states, accordingly, to sign and ratify the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women; calls on the EU as such to take steps to accede to the Convention in order to ensure coherence between EU internal and external action on violence against women and girls;
Amendment 343 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 58 58. Reaffirms its condemnation of all forms of abuse and acts of violence against women
Amendment 344 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 58 58. Reaffirms its condemnation of all forms of abuse and violence against women and men, especially the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and domestic violence; calls on
Amendment 345 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 58 a (new) 58a. 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; stresses that the role of the Commission and the Member States in this area, both within and outside the EU, cannot be limited to combating violence towards women in all forms, be it physical, psychological, social or economic, and priority should be given to educating boys and girls from the youngest possible age, in addition to combating stereotypes;
Amendment 346 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 59 59. Strongly condemns the use of sexual violence against women as a tactic of war, including crimes such as mass rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, gender- based forms of persecution including female genital mutilation, trafficking, sex tourism, early and forced marriages, honour killings and all other forms of sexual violence of comparable gravity; remains particularly concerned in this regard at the situation in the Great Lakes region of Africa; expresses its support for the work of UN Women, the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, and the UN Special Representative on Conflict-
Amendment 347 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 59 59. Strongly condemns the use of sexual violence against women and girls as a tactic of war, including crimes such as mass rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, gender-
Amendment 348 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 59 59. Strongly condemns the use of sexual violence against women as a tactic of war, including crimes such as mass rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, gender- based forms of persecution including female genital mutilation, trafficking, early and forced marriages, honour killings and all other forms of sexual violence of comparable gravity; remains particularly concerned in this regard at the situation in the Great Lakes region of Africa; expresses its support for the work of UN Women, the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, and the UN Special Representative on Conflict- related Sexual Violence; welcomes that the Sakharov Prize was awarded in 2014 to Dr Denis Mukwege for his outstanding fight for the protection of girls and women who became victims of sexual violence during armed conflicts;
Amendment 349 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 59 a (new) 59a. Expresses alarm concerning the situation of women subjected to forced marriages, the excision of their daughters, threatened honour killings, human trafficking or other forms of violence, and who have not managed to obtain the right to asylum on EU territory and are living with the threat of expulsion; calls on the EU and its Member States to grant protection to women who are victims of violence;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Ba. Whereas more than half of the world's population still lives in undemocratic regimes and during the last years global freedom has constantly declined;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Considers that violence against women, such as honour killing, forced marriage, trafficking, female genital mutilation, domestic violence are serious violations of human rights that should never be justified by religion, culture and tradition;
Amendment 350 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 61 61. Recalls the EU
Amendment 351 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 61 a (new) 61a. express its deep concern of turning a blind eye by governments to inhumane cases of the sexual abuse of women at a time when one in three of women worldwide will experience violence in their lives; urges the EEAS to further set up good practices on combating rape and sexual violence of women in third countries in order to tackle the causes at the root of this problem
Amendment 352 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 61 a (new) 61a. Considers women´s underrepresentation in political decision- making to be a question of fundamental rights and democracy, that underlines the capacity of governments to devote themselves fully to democracy-building and maintenance processes; Calls for a legislation which enshrines gender parity.
Amendment 353 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 63 a (new) 63a. Urges Europol to develop more strategic and operational partnerships with third countries with a view to combating corruption and organised crime more effectively;
Amendment 354 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 64 Amendment 355 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 64 64. Calls on the Commission to develop innovative financial mechanisms to implement fiscal reforms and strengthen the fight against corruption, illicit financial flows and tax evasion; encourages, in this context,
Amendment 356 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 64 64. Calls on the Commission to develop
Amendment 357 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 64 64. Calls on the Commission to develop innovative financial mechanisms to implement fiscal reforms and strengthen the fight against corruption, illicit financial flows and tax evasion; encourages, in this context, consideration of public-private partnerships, the blending of grants and loans, and helping developing countries to better mobilise their domestic resources;
Amendment 358 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 64 64. Calls on the Commission to develop innovative financial mechanisms to implement fiscal reforms and strengthen the fight against corruption, illicit financial flows and tax evasion; encourages, in this context, consideration of public-private partnerships, the blending of grants and loans, and helping developing countries to better mobilise their domestic resources; notes calls for an international tax on financial transactions that could act as an additional source of funding for development, and reminds the Member States that they have already agreed to introduce a financial transaction tax domestically and undertaken to set aside a share of the funds raised to finance global public assets, including development;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B b (new) Bb. Whereas democratic regimes are not only defined by the organization of elections, but also by respect for the rule of law, freedom of speech, respect for human rights, an independent judiciary and impartial administration;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 c (new) 1c. Stresses the need to do more to secure the right to education and access to education, especially for girls; welcomes the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi for their struggle for children’s rights; notes that access to education is, in part, a precondition for the full exercise of other human rights, such as freedom of conscience and religion and participation in political life;
Amendment 360 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 65 a (new) 65a. Calls on the EU to prioritise the fight against trafficking in human beings in both its internal and external policies with a particular focus on the protection of victims; reiterates the need for all EU Member States to implement the EU Directive (2011/36/EU) and the Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings 2012-2016;
Amendment 362 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 65 b (new) 65b. Condemns the continuing human rights violations committed against people suffering from caste hierarchies and caste-based discrimination, including the denial of equality and of access to the legal system and to employment, continued segregation and caste-induced barriers to the achievement of basic human rights and development; Calls on the EU to adopt a policy to direct action for elimination of caste based discrimination; and include policy objectives on caste-based discrimination in its new EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy;
Amendment 363 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 66 Amendment 364 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 66 66.
Amendment 365 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 66 66. Points out that 78 countries still criminalise homosexuality, including
Amendment 366 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 66 66. Points out that 78 countries still criminalise homosexuality, including seven which provide for the death penalty, and 20 countries still criminalise transgender identities; firmly condemns the recent increase in discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, worldwide, and most notably in Nigeria and Uganda; encourages close monitoring of the situation in Nigeria, Uganda, India and Russia, where new laws or recent legal developments seriously threaten the freedom of sexual minorities; reaffirms its support for the continuing work of the High Commissioner on Human Rights to combat these discriminatory laws and
Amendment 367 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 66 a (new) 66a. Supports the idea that the EEAS should prioritize its actions in this area and put particular emphasis on situations where the death penalty is in force, and/or torture and ill-treatment take place against LGBTI persons, by condemning these practices in accordance with the EU Guidelines on the death penalty and the EU Guidelines on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Amendment 368 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 67 Amendment 369 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 67 67. Welcomes the adoption in 2013 of the EU Guidelines to promote and protect the enjoyment of all human rights by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to raise the issue of LGBTI rights in political and human rights dialogues with third countries and multilateral forums; emphasises the importance of the Commission and the EEAS continuing to raise the issue of LGBTI rights in political and human rights dialogues
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the EU’s credibility in its external relations will be bolstered by increasing consistency between its internal and external policies in relation to democracy and human rights;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 c (new) 1c. Condemns the serious subjugation of women in third countries and the violence to which they are subjected, including and especially by men in a family setting; asserts the right of women to have equal social rights and rights to life and freedom;
Amendment 370 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 67 67. Welcomes the adoption in 2013 of the EU Guidelines to promote and protect the enjoyment of all human rights by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to raise the issue of LGBTI rights in political and human rights dialogues with third countries and multilateral forums; emphasises the importance of the Commission and the EEAS continuing to raise the issue of LGBTI rights in political and human rights dialogues and of using the EIDHR to support organisations defending LGBTI rights by empowering them to challenge homo- and transphobic laws and discrimination against LGBTI people, raising awareness among the general public of the discrimination and violence experienced by persons of different sexual orientations and gender identities, and ensuring the provision of emergency assistance (from psychosocial and medical help to mediation and reintegration assistance) to those in need of such support;
Amendment 371 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 68 Amendment 372 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 68 Amendment 373 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 68 Amendment 374 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 68 Amendment 375 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 68 Amendment 376 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 68 Amendment 377 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 68 68.
Amendment 378 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 68 68. Welcomes the legalisation of same-sex marriage or same-sex civil unions in an increasing number of countries, seventeen at the moment, around the world;
Amendment 379 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 68 68. Welcomes the legalisation of same-sex marriage or same-sex civil unions in an increasing number of countries, seventeen at the moment, around the world
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the EU’s credibility in its external relations will be bolstered by increasing consistency between its internal
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 c (new) 1c. Calls on the Commission, the European External Action Service and the Member States to take specific actions to address the situation of women and guarantee their freedom and respect for their most fundamental rights, and to adopt measures to prevent exploitation of, and abuse and violence against, women and children;
Amendment 380 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 68 68.
Amendment 381 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 68 a (new) 68a. Calls upon the European Commission and the World Health Organisation to withdraw gender identity disorders from the list of mental and behavioural disorders; calls on the Commission to reinforce its efforts towards ending the pathologisation of trans identities; encourages states to ensure quick, accessible and transparent gender recognition procedures respecting the right to self-determination;
Amendment 382 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 68 b (new) 68b. Welcomes the growing political support to outlaw sterilisation as a requirement for legal gender recognition, as expressed by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and supports the view that such requirements should be treated and persecuted as a breach of the right to bodily integrity and sexual and reproductive health and rights;
Amendment 383 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 69 Amendment 384 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 69 Amendment 385 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 69 Amendment 386 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 69 Amendment 387 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 69 69. Welcomes the annulment in October 2013 of the Moldovan law prohibiting the ‘propagation of any other relations than those related to marriage or family’, and calls on
Amendment 388 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 69 69. Welcomes the annulment in October 2013 of the Moldovan law prohibiting the ‘propagation of any other relations than those related to marriage or family’,
Amendment 389 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 69 69. Welcomes the annulment in October 2013 of the Moldovan law prohibiting the ‘propagation of any other relations than those related to marriage or family’, and calls on Lithuania and Russia to follow the Moldovan example; regrets the outcome of the Croatian referendum of December 2013, which endorsed a constitutional ban on equal marriage; stresses that such referendums contribute to a climate of homophobia and discrimination; considers that LGBTI persons’ fundamental rights are more likely to be safeguarded if they have access to legal institutions
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the EU’s credibility in its external relations will be bolstered by increasing consistency between its internal and external policies in relation to human rights; 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 completely contrary to a universal vision of human rights;
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 d (new) 1d. Urges the UN, in particular its Special Rapporteur on Violence against women, Rashida Manjoo, to make an utmost effort to trace the victims, investigate and establish the facts and circumstances of abuses and violations against girls and women with a view of avoiding impunity and ensuring full accountability; supports the work of the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Zainab Hawa Bangura;
Amendment 390 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 69 69. Welcomes the annulment in October 2013 of the Moldovan law prohibiting the ‘propagation of any other relations than those related to marriage or family’, and calls on Lithuania and Russia to follow the Moldovan example; regrets the outcome of the Croatian referendum of December 2013, which endorsed a constitutional ban on equal marriage; highlights that such a referendum will take place in Slovakia in February 2015; regrets that in Macedonia, a bill constitutionally banning same-sex marriage is currently considered in Parliament; stresses that such
Amendment 391 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 69 a (new) Rights of persons belonging to national minorities
Amendment 392 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 69 b (new) 69b. Emphasises that national minority communities have specific needs, therefore full and effective equality between persons belonging to a national minority and those belonging to the majority should be promoted in all areas of economic, social, political and cultural life;
Amendment 393 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 70 70. Welcomes the ratifications of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD); reiterates the importance of efficient implementation
Amendment 394 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 70 70. Welcomes the ratifications of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD); reiterates the importance of efficient implementation both by the Member States and the EU institutions and stresses, in particular, the need to credibly
Amendment 395 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 70 70. Welcomes the ratifications of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD); reiterates the importance of efficient implementation both by the Member States and the EU institutions and stresses, in particular, the
Amendment 396 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 70 70. Welcomes the ratifications of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD); reiterates the importance of efficient implementation both by the Member States and the EU institutions and stresses, in particular, the need to credibly integrate, on the basis of the Convention, the rights of persons with disabilities into all EU policy instruments,
Amendment 397 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 70 a (new) 70a. Encourages the VP/HR to continue to support the process of ratification and implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) by those countries which have not as yet ratified or implemented it;
Amendment 398 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 70 b (new) 70b. Encourages the EEAS to pay detailed attention to the country observations and recommendations published by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as to the State Reports, and to raise these concerns systematically in political dialogues with the countries concerned as well as in public statements; calls on the European Commission to prepare and draft EU Guiding Principles to promote and protect the enjoyment of all human rights by persons with disabilities so as to ensure a systematic and coherent policy in this regard even in its dialogues and negotiations with third countries;
Amendment 399 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 70 c (new) 70c. Requests the Commission and the EEAS to encourage EU Delegations around the world to engage with civil society in order to promote the effective enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities;
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 1 a (new) – having regard to the UN Millennium Declaration of 8 September 2000 (A/Res/55/2), the UN post-2015 development agenda and the resolutions of the UN General Assembly,
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Recital -A (new) -A. whereas the European Union has a Special Representative for Human Rights and the holder of that post should help the Union to coordinate its activities so as to make its work in promoting the observance of human rights throughout the world, and especially women’s rights, clearer and more visible;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the new Vice-President of the Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) has stated that human rights will be one of her overarching priorities and that she intends to use them as a compass with regard to all
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 e (new) 1e. 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 400 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 70 a (new) 70a. Reiterates its call on the Commission to propose an ambitious and comprehensive Child Rights Strategy and Action Plan for the next five years, as requested in its resolution on the 25th Anniversary of the Right of the Child of 27 November 2014;
Amendment 401 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 71 71. Welcomes the EU’s cooperation with UNICEF and other organizations and NGOs committed to children rights, which has resulted in a toolkit for the mainstreaming of children’s rights in development cooperation; welcomes
Amendment 402 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 71 71. Welcomes the EU
Amendment 403 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 71 71. Welcomes the EU’s cooperation with UNICEF and other organizations and NGOs committed to children rights, which has resulted in a toolkit for the mainstreaming of children’s rights in development cooperation; welcomes the use of the Nobel Prize money awarded to the EU to assist children in conflict situations; welcomes the EU’s participation in the October 2013 Third Global Conference on Child Labour held in
Amendment 404 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 71 a (new) 71a. Recommends that consideration be given to establishing a legal framework to strengthen protection of the rights of children, including before the moment of birth;
Amendment 405 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 71 a (new) 71a. Stresses the need to combat all forms of forced child labour and child exploitation; calls for the better implementation of existing national and international legislation that foster awareness of child abuse in the labour market;
Amendment 406 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 71 a (new) 71a. Reiterates that whilst there are rights of the child, there is no such thing as a ‘right to a child’, and emphasises, therefore, the ethical and legal impossibility of officially recognising practices such as surrogate motherhood and medically assisted procreation, which reduce children to the status of commodities and thus deny them their rights and their dignity;
Amendment 407 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 72 72. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to continue to take action regarding the rights of the child, with a specific focus on violence against children, including torture, as cases of torture and detention of children have been reported by organisations such as UNICEF and Amnesty International; calls for particular focus on the issues of forced child labour, child marriage, enlistment of children in armed groups and their disarmament, rehabilitation and subsequent reintegration, as well as placing the issue of child witchcraft on the agenda of human rights
Amendment 408 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 72 72. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to continue to take action regarding the rights of the child, with a specific focus on violence against children, including torture, as cases of torture and detention of children have been reported
Amendment 409 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 72 72. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to continue to take action regarding the rights of the child, with a specific focus on violence against children, including torture
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the new Vice-President of the Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) has stated that human rights will be one of her overarching priorities and that she intends to use them as a compass with regard to all her relations with third countries; whereas she has also reiterated the EU’s commitment to promoting human rights in all areas of foreign relations ‘without exception’, and particularly where trade is concerned; whereas the adoption of the new EU Action Plan for human rights and democracy and the renewal of the mandate of the EU Special Representative for human rights will be on the EU agenda at the beginning of 2015;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Welcomes the recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on conflict prevention and conflict and post-conflict situations, and reminds the international community of the necessary safeguards for women, notably protection against rape and forced prostitution; stresses that victims of gender violence should be assisted in legal proceedings, and points out that statutory and non-statutory organisations can be of real help to victims in this respect;
Amendment 410 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 72 72. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to continue to take action regarding the rights of the child, with a specific focus on violence against children, including torture, as cases of torture and detention of children have been reported by organisations such as UNICEF and Amnesty International; calls for particular focus on the issues of forced child labour, child poverty and child malnutrition, child marriage, enlistment of children in
Amendment 411 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 72 72. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to continue to take action regarding the rights of the child, with a specific focus on violence against children, including torture, as cases of torture and detention of children have been reported by organisations such as UNICEF and Amnesty International; calls for particular focus on the issues of forced child labour, child marriage and harmful practices, enlistment of children in armed groups and their disarmament, rehabilitation and subsequent reintegration, as well as placing the issue of child witchcraft on the agenda of human rights dialogues with the countries concerned; stresses the importance of prioritising children’s rights within EU external policy;
Amendment 412 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 72 72. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to continue to take action regarding the rights of the child, with a specific focus on violence against children, including torture, as cases of torture and detention of children have been reported by organisations such as UNICEF and Amnesty International; calls for particular focus on the issues of forced child labour, child marriage, enlistment of children in armed groups and their disarmament, rehabilitation and subsequent reintegration, as well as placing the issue of child witchcraft on the agenda of human rights dialogues with the countries concerned; emphasises the fact that children and adolescents should participate only in work that does not affect their health and personal development and does not interfere with their schooling; stresses the importance of prioritising children
Amendment 413 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 72 a (new) 72a. Notes that the Convention on the Rights of the Child calls for legislative, administrative, social and educational measures on child labour, recognizing the need for a multi-dimensional approach; calls for the necessity that, for effective application, laws should be accompanied by policy interventions that provide alternatives in the form of education and vocational training, as well as social protection measures that benefit children and families;
Amendment 414 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 72 b (new) 72b. Calls on the EU to continue to promote an enabling environment to prevent and eliminate child labour, a social dialogue as well as concerted action between the public and private sectors around the eradication of child labour; stresses the need to provide support to and build capacities in conflict and post conflict countries to combat child labour;
Amendment 415 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 73 73. Reiterates the need to step up efforts to implement the Revised Implementation Strategy of the EU Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict; encourages the EU to further deepen its cooperation with the UN Special Representative for Children
Amendment 416 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 73 73. Reiterates the need to step up efforts to implement the Revised Implementation Strategy of the EU Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict; encourages the EU to further deepen its cooperation with the UN Special Representative for Children affected by Armed Conflicts supporting the Action Plans and the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanisms - MRM; calls for the universal ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and notably the third Optional Protocol which will allow children to submit their complaints to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child;
Amendment 417 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 73 73. Reiterates the need to step up efforts to implement the Revised Implementation Strategy of the EU Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict; calls, in this context, for more effective use to be made of resources available under the Stability Instrument and the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights in order to address the phenomenon of child soldiers; encourages the EU to further deepen its cooperation with the UN Special Representative for Children affected by Armed Conflicts; calls for the universal ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and notably the third Optional Protocol which will allow children to submit their complaints to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child;
Amendment 418 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 73 a (new) 73a. Points out that child undernutrition and malnutrition in developing countries raises serious concerns; welcomes in this regard the recently adopted Framework for Action during the Second International Conference on Nutrition that sets out as global target the reduction with 40% of the number of children under five who are stunted globally;
Amendment 419 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 73 a (new) 73a. Reiterates that access to education is a fundamental right for all children, as laid down in Article 28 of the 1989 International Convention on the Rights of the Child; stresses the need for all measures taken by the Union and the Member States to improve children's access to high-quality health services and healthcare;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F F. whereas the EU’s Annual Report, and events after its reporting period, serve as a stark reminder of the grave human cost of the non-observance of human rights; whereas the
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Welcomes the recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on conflict prevention and conflict and post-conflict situations, and reminds the international community of the necessary safeguards for women,
Amendment 420 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 73 a (new) 73a. Rights of Indigenous people Notes with concern that indigenous people are in particular danger of being discriminated against, and that they are especially vulnerable to political, economic, 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 421 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 73 a (new) 73a. deplores that worldwide still countries are reluctant to sign the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which provides detailed guidance for the development of inclusive societies for the protection of children with disabilities
Amendment 422 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 73 b (new) 73b. Calls on the Union and the Member States to implement concerted humanitarian aid and development policies in an effort to combat child malnutrition;
Amendment 424 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 Amendment 425 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 74. Stresses the urgent need to develop stronger policies
Amendment 426 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 74. Stresses the urgent need to develop stronger policies at Union level to address
Amendment 427 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 74. Stresses the urgent need to develop stronger policies at Union level to address the pressing issues related to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in a manner consistent with international human rights law and fundamental human dignity, and calls on the EU to guarantee effective common standards for reception procedures throughout the Union in order to protect unaccompanied minors and the most vulnerable; invites the VP/HR, the Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs and the EEAS to
Amendment 428 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 74.
Amendment 429 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 74. Stresses the urgent need to develop stronger policies at Union level to address the pressing issues related to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in a manner consistent with international human rights law and fundamental human dignity, and calls on the EU to guarantee effective common standards for reception procedures throughout the Union in order to protect the most vulnerable; invites the VP/HR, the Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs and the EEAS to promote a true spirit of cooperation and equitable
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F F. whereas the EU’s Annual Report, and events after its reporting period, serve as a stark reminder of the grave human cost of the non-observance of human rights; whereas there is also a major material and budgetary cost to the EU as a result of the non-observance of human rights, when failure to respect human rights and lack of legitimate democratic participation lead to instability, failed states, humanitarian crises and armed conflicts
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Welcomes the recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on conflict prevention and conflict and post-conflict situations
Amendment 430 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 74. Stresses the urgent need to develop stronger policies at Union level to address the pressing issues related to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in a manner consistent with international human rights law and fundamental human dignity, and calls on the EU to guarantee effective common standards for reception procedures throughout the Union in order to protect the most vulnerable; invites the VP/HR, the Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs and the EEAS to promote a true spirit of cooperation and equitable burden-sharing among Member States in order to tackle the multiple challenges that persist in this regard; stresses the need to tackle the roots of illegal migration, working jointly with the countries of origin and transit and boosting the highest level of cooperation with these countries in order to fight illegal mafias profiting from human trafficking; recalls the commitment of the Commission to developing adequate legal migration channels, and, to this end, calls for a revision of the Dublin Regulation, which places disproportionate responsibility on Member States for the Union
Amendment 431 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 74. Stresses the urgent need to develop
Amendment 432 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 74. Stresses the urgent need to develop stronger policies at Union level to address the pressing issues related to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in a manner consistent with international human rights law and fundamental human dignity, and calls on the EU to guarantee effective common standards for reception procedures throughout the Union in order to protect the most vulnerable; invites the VP/HR, the Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs and the EEAS to promote a true spirit of cooperation and equitable burden-sharing among Member States in order to tackle the multiple challenges that persist in this regard; draws attention to the importance of stepping up cooperation with the EU’s partner countries, in particular in the Mediterranean region, in an effort to dismantle illegal networks used to traffic migrants and combat people trafficking; recalls the commitment of the Commission to developing adequate legal migration channels, and, to this end, calls for a revision of the Dublin Regulation, which places disproportionate responsibility on Member States for the Union’s external borders and hinders migrants’ ability to seek and obtain asylum;
Amendment 433 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 74. Stresses the urgent need to develop stronger policies at Union level to address the pressing issues related to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in a manner consistent with international human rights law and fundamental human dignity, and calls on the EU to guarantee effective common standards for reception procedures throughout the Union in order to protect the most vulnerable; invites the VP/HR, the Commissioner for Migration
Amendment 434 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 74. Stresses the urgent need to
Amendment 435 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 Amendment 436 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 74. Stresses the urgent need to develop stronger policies at Union level to address the pressing issues related to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in a manner consistent with international human rights law and fundamental human dignity, and calls on the EU to introduce a common European asylum system and to guarantee effective common standards for reception procedures throughout the Union in order to protect the most vulnerable; invites the VP/HR, the Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs and the EEAS to promote a true spirit of cooperation and equitable burden-sharing among Member States in order to tackle the multiple challenges that persist in this regard; recalls the commitment of the Commission to developing adequate legal migration channels, and, to this end, calls for a revision of the Dublin Regulation, which places disproportionate responsibility on Member States for the Union’s external borders and hinders migrants’ ability to seek and obtain asylum;
Amendment 437 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 74. Stresses the urgent need to develop stronger
Amendment 438 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 a (new) 74a. Expresses its outrage at the number of death at sea in the Mediterranean, estimated by the International Organisation for Migration in its "Fatal Journeys" Report at 3,000 for the year 2013 – making this sea the deadliest region in the world for irregular migration. Calls on all EU institutions and Member States to start a discussion on concrete measures to increase responsibility sharing, including in hosting and resettling refugees and contributing to search and rescue services to assist migrants in distress at sea while attempting to reach EU shores;
Amendment 439 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 a (new) 74a. Calls on the EU to ensure that the negotiation and implementation of all migration cooperation and readmission agreements with non-EU states comply with international human rights, refugee law and international maritime law and asks to be consulted prior to their conclusion; demands to ensure greater transparency in the negotiation of such agreements and to integrate monitoring mechanisms to evaluate the human rights impact of cooperation on migration with non-EU states and of border control measures, including Frontex and Eurosur; insists that human rights need to be mainstreamed and monitored in all activities carried out by Frontex;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G G. whereas the EU’s commitment to effective multilateralism
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Welcomes the recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on conflict prevention and conflict and post-conflict situations, and reminds the international community of the necessary safeguards for women, notably protection against rape and
Amendment 440 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 b (new) 74b. Calls on the European Commission and Member States to ensure that the negotiation and implementation of all migration cooperation agreements with non-EU states complies with international human rights, refugee law and international maritime law. Demands these institutions to ensure greater transparency in the negotiation of such agreements and to integrate monitoring mechanisms to evaluate the human rights impact of cooperation on migration with non-EU states and of border control measures, including Frontex and Eurosur;
Amendment 441 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 a (new) 74a. Welcomes the addition of the criterion of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms to the list of key criteria to be taken into account prior to the opening of negotiations on visa- exemption agreements with third countries1; calls on the Commission to use this new criterion as a lever to persuade third countries to accept more meaningful dialogue on human rights in the strategically and economically significant context of negotiations on visas; __________________ 1 Regulation No 509/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders of Member States and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement.
Amendment 442 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 b (new) 74b. Calls on the European Commission to carry out an independent evaluation of its migration and border control programmes in EU and non-EU states with a view to propose improved measures to prevent human rights violations;
Amendment 443 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 c (new) 74c. Calls on the European Commission commands an independent evaluation of its migration and border control programmes in EU and non-EU states to ensure with a view to propose improvement measures in order to prevent human rights violations.
Amendment 444 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 a (new) 74а. Calls on the Commission to present a report on the application of existing readmission agreements with third countries; calls on the Commission to draw up, and open negotiations on the conclusion of, readmission agreements with countries bordering the EU and with those major transit countries for illegal immigration with which such agreements have not yet been concluded;
Amendment 445 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 a (new) 74a. Condemns the inability of the European Union, its Member States and their partner countries to guarantee the right of asylum and organise rescue operations at sea; criticises readmission agreements, in particular on the grounds that they determine the substance of other agreements, including in the area of development, with third countries; considers immigration policies of this kind to be indicative of prejudice towards the inhabitants of the countries of the South; calls for a visa liberalisation policy for nationals of the countries of the South, and in particular countries in transition to democracy, such as Tunisia, and for the implementation of resettlement policies in all the Member States;
Amendment 446 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 a (new) 74a. Calls upon the VP/HR and Member States to further strengthen the Union external dimension responding to illegal and unlawful causes of migration predominantly to strengthen its action against trafficking in human beings and action against human smuggling;
Amendment 447 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 a (new) 74a. Is extremely concerned about reports of mass deaths and human rights abuses of migrants and asylum seekers on their way to the EU; calls on the Union and the Member States to cooperate with the UN, regional mechanisms, governments and NGOs to tackle these issues;
Amendment 448 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 a (new) 74a. Urges the European Asylum Support Office to build partnerships with third countries with a view to enhancing international protection for asylum seekers;
Amendment 449 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 a (new) 74a. Considers that migrant children are particularly vulnerable, especially when they are unaccompanied; recalls that unaccompanied children are above all children and that child protection, rather than immigration policies, must be the leading principle when dealing with them, thus respecting the core principle of the best interests of the child.
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Reiterates that female genital mutilation is a grave violation of human rights, and a subject to which particular attention must be paid in the EU’s dialogue with countries where the practice is highly prevalent; points out, furthermore, that female genital mutilation has serious, long-lasting effects on women’s health and hence on prospects for development;
Amendment 450 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 b (new) 74b. Encourages the VP/HR and the EEAS to continue to support the process of ratification of the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, its Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children, Protocol against the smuggling of migrants by land, sea and air and the Protocol against the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition;
Amendment 451 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 c (new) 74c. Encourages the EEAS and Member States to pay detailed attention to countries in which human trafficking or smuggling originates, countries of passage and countries of destination and to raise these concerns systematically in political dialogues with the countries concerned as well as in public statements;
Amendment 452 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 74 d (new) 74d. Condemns the increasing criminalisation of irregular migration within the EU at the expense of the human rights of these persons; and urges to provide without delay for the sitting up of the needed human rights safeguards, accountability and enforcement mechanisms.
Amendment 453 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 75 Amendment 454 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 75 Amendment 455 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 75 Amendment 456 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 75 75. Reiterates its view that climate change undermines the most basic human rights, gives rise to displacements of persons and thereby creates a new form of forced migration, which the EU must properly address; requests that the Commission and the EEAS participate actively in the debate on the term ‘climate refugee’, including its
Amendment 457 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 76 76. Calls for concerted EU action to address the problem of land-grabbing; notes that the denial of access to land and natural resources to the rural and urban poor is one of the key causes of hunger and poverty in the world, thereby having an impact on the local communities’ enjoyment of their human rights, and particularly on their right to adequate food; welcomes the EU’s involvement in the development of the voluntary global guidelines on tenure of land, fisheries and forests, adopted under the aegis of the UN; emphasises, nevertheless, the urgent need to mainstream human rights and poverty reduction considerations in decision- making regarding the acquisition or long- term lease of large areas of land by investors; considers the EU’s response to this issue to be an important test of its commitment to move toward a rights-based approach in its development cooperation policy, as envisioned in the Lisbon Treaty through which the EU's development policy would further contribute to the sustainable economic, social and environmental development of developing countries with the primary aim of eradicating poverty in the world;
Amendment 458 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 76 76. Calls for concerted EU action to address the problem of land-grabbing;
Amendment 459 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 76 a (new) 76a. Calls on the EU and Member States to better coordinate their development agendas in the spirit of the Lisbon Treaty placing development policy at the forefront of the Union's external relations, so that national priorities and European agendas on human rights promotion are better coordinated via development, considering the complexities embedded in EU development policy;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I a (new) Ia. whereas the number of people who are unemployed has risen by 28 million since 2007, and whereas it is estimated that 67 million people are out of work as a result of the systemic crisis; whereas 60.9% of workers in developing countries are still living on less than 4 dollars a day; whereas 1.2 billion people all over the world are living in extreme poverty, and 805 million are suffering from hunger; whereas although the priority MDG of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger had very nearly been attained in part, austerity measures in developed and developing countries have had an adverse impact on the labour market and on living conditions, and have widened the gap between the richest and poorest in society;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Condemns in the strongest terms serious human rights violations perpetrated in armed conflict situations in recent and ongoing crises, and in particular summary executions, rape and other forms of sexual violence, acts of torture, arbitrary arrests and detentions, especially regarding the situation of women and children, who are particularly vulnerable; calls on the EU to fight against impunity in all of these cases and to support action by domestic judiciaries and the ICC to bring the perpetrators to justice;
Amendment 460 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 76 b (new) 76b. Calls on the EEAS, under the coordination of the High Representative/Vice-President of the Commission, to better link foreign and security policy with development policy in order to build synergies and ensure a coherent approach aimed at the universal application of human rights via EU development policy; it further calls on the EU to better coordinate externally with emerging economies, such as the BRICS, in multilateral fora to address global governance issues and to promote human rights via the coordination of their different development agendas;
Amendment 461 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 76 a (new) 76a. Urges the EU to undertake additional efforts, mainstream more effectively human rights and democracy in the framework of the development cooperation and ensure that EU development programmes contribute to the fulfilment by partner countries of their international human rights obligations; calls for human rights and democracy to be integrated into programmes linking relief, rehabilitation and development, because of their importance in the process of transition from humanitarian emergency to development;
Amendment 462 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 76 a (new) 76a. Welcomes the new EU Aid Volunteers initiative that from 2014-2020 will create opportunity for some 18.000 persons from the EU and third countries to participate worldwide in humanitarian operations where aid is most urgently needed and to demonstrate solidarity by helping communities struck by natural or man-made disasters;
Amendment 463 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 76 a (new) 76a. Urges the EU to mainstream more effectively human rights and democracy across development cooperation and ensure that EU development programmes contribute to the fulfilment by partner countries of their international human rights obligations;
Amendment 464 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 76 a (new) 76a. Emphasizes the importance of linking development aid with credible efforts for democratization;
Amendment 465 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 76 b (new) 76b. Calls on the Impact Assessment Board, under the supervision of the President of the Commission to ensure that the impact on the human rights situation is taken into consideration when speaking about EU development cooperation projects and vice-versa;
Amendment 466 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 76 b (new) 76b. Encourages the EU to continue to focus its development assistance on strengthening institution-building and civil society development of recipient countries, these elements being crucial for good governance; calls for a strengthening of the human rights and conditionality clauses in EU supported programmes; calls on the European External Action Service and the Commission to further improve and seek new ways to ensure better linkages between dialogues on human rights with partner countries and development cooperation;
Amendment 467 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 76 a (new) 76a. Recalls that the UN has recognised that without a human rights-based development approach, development goals cannot be fully reached; calls on the EU to remain vigilant in ensuring that the issue of human rights defenders and civil society space is explicitly integrated into the post-MDG discussions; to ensure that citizens in developing countries can freely express their right to poverty-reduction policies;
Amendment 468 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 76 b (new) 76b. Welcomes the development by the European Commission of a Human Rights-based approach to development toolkit and calls on for its full implementation in close collaboration with the civil society concerned in each country; encourages the European Commission to prepare a regular assessment of its instrument to ensure its improvement, including its effective application to all relevant development policies, including blending approaches involving private actors in development policies;
Amendment 469 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 76 c (new) 76c. Emphasises the interdependence between extreme poverty and the lack of human rights, and 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;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution Recital J a (new) Ja. whereas free primary education for all children is a fundamental right established by the 1989 international Convention on the Rights of the Child; whereas educating children and adults helps reduce poverty and infant mortality and promote good environmental practices; whereas access to education for all is intrinsically linked to the gender equality MDG, notably in terms of completing primary education; whereas this goal is far from being achieved;
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Emphasis that universal respect for and access to sexual and reproductive health and rights contributes to prenatal care and the ability to avoid high-risk births, reduce infant and child mortality; points out that family planning, maternal health and safe abortion services are important elements to save women's live;
Amendment 470 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 76 d (new) 76d. Notes that around 70% of the world's poor live in rural areas and depend directly on biological diversity for their livelihoods; calls on the EU to defend access for populations to the natural and vital resources of their countries, access to land, water and food security as a fundamental right; deplores the fact that a significant number of people do not have basic commodities such as water; draws attention to the rights set out in the UN Social Responsibility Pact, such as the rights to appropriate nutrition, minimum social standards, education, health care, fair and favourable working conditions and participation in cultural life, which should all be treated equally;
Amendment 471 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 76 a (new) 76a. Calls on the EU and its Member States to make the Millennium Development Goals the top priority in their internal policies and their relations with third countries; emphasises that the achievement of these goals, and more specifically those concerning the eradication of poverty, universal access to education and gender equality, is contingent on the availability of better, universally accessible public services;
Amendment 472 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 76 a (new) 76a. Points out that implementing development, education and health programmes contributes not only to the fight against poverty, but also to the fight against international terrorism; calls on the EU to develop further strategies along the lines of the EEAS strategy for ‘the security and development of the Sahel’;
Amendment 473 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 76 a (new) 76a. Stresses that despite the progress already achieved regarding access to drinking water and sanitation, there are still approximately2.6 million people who lack a latrine and 1.1 billion people with no access to any type of drinking water. Argues that this is due not only to a lack of resources but also a lack of political will. Calls therefore on governments to guarantee the access to safe drinking water and sanitation with particular attention to women and children
Amendment 474 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 76 b (new) 76b. Call for an ambitious long-term political strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and access to medicines that, inter alia, explores new incentive schemes for research and development as outlined in the WHO Consultative Expert Working Group report on Research and Development: Financing and coordination (2012, to safeguard the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition. Stresses that women and girls remain most affected by the HIV pandemic and also are most involved in caring for patients in their communities.
Amendment 475 #
Motion for a resolution Subheading 26 a (new) International culture and sports events and human rights
Amendment 476 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 76 a (new) 76a. Denounces the increasing practice by authoritarian states of hosting mega sports or cultural events in order to boost their international legitimacy whilst further restricting domestic dissent; calls on the EU and Member States to engage with national sports federations, corporate actors and civil society organizations on the modalities of their participation in such events, including with regards to the first European Games in Baku in 2015 and the FIFA World Cup in Russia in 2018; calls for the development of an EU policy framework on sports and human rights, and relevant commitments to be included in the forthcoming Action Plan on Human Rights;
Amendment 478 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 76 b (new) 76b. Reiterates its call for the development of an EU common position on the use of armed drones, giving utmost importance to the respect for human rights and international humanitarian law and addressing issues such as the legal framework, proportionality, accountability, the protection of civilians and transparency; urges once again the EU to ban the development, production and use of fully autonomous weapons which enable strikes to be carried out without human intervention; calls on the EU to oppose and ban the practice of extrajudicial and targeted killings and to take legal measures wherever an individual or entity may be connected to an unlawful targeted killing abroad; insists that human rights are part of all dialogues with third countries on counter- terrorism;
Amendment 479 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 77 77. Reiterates its commitment to the continued improvement of Parliament’s own procedures, processes and structures in order to ensure that human rights and democracy are at the core of its actions and policies; draws attention to the European Parliament's long-term commitment to human rights, as reflected in its award of the Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought; considers, furthermore, that effective Parliament-wide cooperation and mainstreaming of human rights is required for the Subcommittee on Human Rights to fulfil its mission, as specified in the Rules of Procedure, to ‘ensure coherence between all the Union’s external policies and its human rights policy’;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L L. whereas
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Emphasises that gender-based violence, including harmful customary or traditional practices, is a violation of basic rights and especially of human dignity, the right to life and the right to the integrity of the person;
Amendment 480 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 78 78. Calls for a
Amendment 481 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 78 78. Calls for a review of the Guidelines for the European Parliament
Amendment 482 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 78 78. Calls for a review of the Guidelines for
Amendment 483 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 79 79. Emphasises the need for continued reflection regarding the most appropriate ways to maximise the credibility, visibility and effectiveness of Parliament’s resolutions on breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law and the necessity of an appropriate synchronization between and follow-up by all the European Institutions, as well as by the European Endowment for Democracy;
Amendment 484 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 79 79. Emphasises the need for continued reflection regarding the most appropriate ways to maximise the credibility, visibility and effectiveness of Parliament’s resolutions on breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law; stresses in particular the need for institutional follow-up on issues raised in urgency resolutions;
Amendment 485 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 79 79.
Amendment 486 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 80 80. Encourages discussion on the inclusion of the different tools available to
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L a (new) Lа. whereas basic freedoms, human rights and equal opportunities should be guaranteed for all the citizens of countries seeking to join the European Union; whereas, however, the protection of national minorities and regional and minority languages in some of these countries is a major issue, which cannot be resolved simply by combating xenophobia and discrimination but which requires the adoption of specific legal, linguistic, cultural, social and other arrangements and ways of treating people;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Strongly condemns the continued use of sexual violence against women as a weapon of war; stresses that more needs to be done to ensure respect of international law and access to psychological support for women and girls abused in conflicts; welcomes the fact that the Sakharov Prize 2014 was awarded to Dr Denis Mukwege for his commitment in the fight against sexual violence against women and calls on the EU, the Member States, international organisations, civil society to increase cooperation to raise awareness and combat impunity;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 1 b (new) – having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights,
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Recital A A. whereas
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L a (new) La. Whereas the business community has a great role to play in promoting human rights and whereas such efforts are deeply desirable and should be supported by public institutions worldwide; whereas the promotion of human rights should be considered as a platform of cooperation between government and private sectors;
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 b (new) 2b. Stresses the importance of strengthening women’s role in promoting human rights and democratic reform, in supporting conflict prevention and in consolidating political participation and representation; notes, also, in this regard that the recommendations made in the reports of EU Election Observation Missions concerning women’s full and equal participation in the electoral process, should be taken into account and acted upon;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L a (new) La. whereas a clause on compliance with international conventions on human rights and labour rights is a requirement of the GSP+ system for third countries;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 b (new) 2b. Calls for an immediate end to all acts of violence, sexual assault and other forms of degrading treatment against women demonstrating for democracy and in defence of their rights, particularly in the ‘Arab Spring’ countries, and against women‘s rights activists, and calls for serious and impartial investigations into all such cases and full accountability for those responsible;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution Recital М М. whereas Article 16 of the UDHR states that men and women of full ages, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family, and are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, both during marriage and at its dissolution, and the family, as the natural and basic nucleus of society, is entitled to protection from society and from the state;
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 b (new) 2b. Points out that the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence is an important and binding international instrument and, therefore, that if more and more countries sign up to it this will contribute significantly to the development of an integrated policy for protecting and empowering victims and for promoting international cooperation in this field;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution Recital M M. whereas Article 16 of the UDHR states that men and women of full ages, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family, and are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, both during marriage and at its dissolution; and that marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 c (new) 2c. Stresses the need to tackle human trafficking, the majority of whose victims are women exploited for sexual purposes; stresses the need for enhanced cooperation with third countries on the exchange of good practices and the dismantling of international trafficking networks, which also make use of the internet to find new victims;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N N. whereas Article 1
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 c (new) 2c. Stresses the importance of conducting information and awareness campaigns in communities where female genital mutilation (FGM), sexual abuse of young girls, early and forced marriages, femicides and other gender-based human rights violations are practised, and of involving human rights defenders already fighting for an end to these practices in the preparation and implementation of these campaigns; encourages the EEAS and the Member States to continue to address the issue of FGM in their political and policy dialogue with partner countries where FGM is still practised;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N N. whereas Article 14 of the UDHR recognises the right of persons to seek asylum from persecution in other countries; whereas the UN Convention on the Status of Refugees clearly states that all refugees are entitled to special protection
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 d (new) 2d. Stresses the importance of not undermining the ‘acquis’ of the Beijing Platform for Action regarding access to education and health as a basic human right, and the protection of sexual and reproductive rights; calls on the EU to continue to protect sexual and reproductive health and related rights, and highlights the need to place these policies at the core of development cooperation with third countries;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution Recital Н Н. whereas Article 14 of the UDHR recognises the right of persons to seek asylum from persecution in other countries, although that right does not apply in the case of persons being pursued in respect of a non-political crime or deed at odds with the UN aims and principles; whereas the UN Convention on the Status of Refugees clearly states that all refugees are entitled to special protection and that no state shall expel or return a refugee to a territory where he or she faces persecution or threats to life or freedom;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to actively promote non- discrimination on grounds of sex, race and ethnic origin and on grounds of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation in its foreign policy including through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N a (new) Na. Whereas Article 18 of the UDHR recognises the freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; whereas the number of incidents relating to the freedom of religion or belief has sharply risen, inter alia, as a consequence of an increasing number of conflicts with a religious dimension;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls on the Commission to pay particular attention, in developing its foreign policy in general and the future plan of action on gender equality and women’s empowerment in development 2015-2020 in particular, to the issue of health and sexual and reproductive rights, including by means of political dialogue and specific actions involving civil society in the countries concerned.
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N a (new) Na. Whereas Article 25 of the UDHR recognises the right of every person to an adequate standard of living, in which motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance; whereas the UN Child Rights Convention celebrates its 25th Anniversary as the most widely ratified human rights treaty;
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls on the EU and the Member States to strongly promote and protect the enjoyment of all human rights by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons.
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution Recital O O. whereas the effects of climate change, such as increasing temperatures, rising sea levels and more extreme weather conditions, will intensify the challenges of global instability and, consequently, the threat of serious human rights violations;
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls on the Member States for sexual violence to be regarded as a serious crime giving rise to mandatory prosecution, particularly in the case of women with disabilities, where the burden of proof is upon the accused; calls on the Member States, in connection with the application of Directive 2000/78/EC, for harassment at the workplace to be prevented by means of an effective protocol on harassment with a view to reducing the high incidence of sexual violence – particularly prevalent in large organisations – and sexual harassment and violence and compulsory sterilisation, with particular regard to further emphasising the seriousness of prosecution and stepping up the dissuasive effect of the relevant criminal offence.
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 1 a (new) – having regard to Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union,
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Recital A A. whereas the consequences of
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution Recital O O. whereas the effects of climate change, such as increasing temperatures, rising sea levels and more extreme weather conditions, will intensify the challenges of global instability and, consequently, the threat of serious human rights violations; whereas the
Amendment 60 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls on the Commission to make more widespread use of gender impact assessments when developing foreign policy, particularly as regards the conclusion of international agreements.
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution Recital O a (new) Oa. Whereas access to safe drinking water and sanitation is a human right, that stems from the right to an adequate standard of living and is inextricably linked to the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, as well as the right to life and human dignity; whereas approximately 2.6 billion people – half the developing world – lack even a simple 'improved' latrine and 1.1 billion people have no access to any type of i drinking water.
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Stresses the importance of preventing violations of human rights, with particular emphasis on the situation of Roma women and children, who are often subject to multiple discrimination; stresses the importance of strengthening the position of Roma women and of putting in place an appropriate housing policy as a starting point to improving their situation;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution Recital O a (new) Oa. Whereas Article 25 of the UDHR states that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including medical care; whereas UNHRC resolution 26/28 calls for the next UNHRC Social Forum meeting to focus access to medicines in the context of the right of everyone to the enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; whereas the WHO constitution states that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.78
Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Welcomes and supports the Addis Ababa Declaration on Accelerating the Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, adopted in November 2014 during the Ninth African Conference on Women, on women's reproductive health and HIV/AIDs, which calls for invest in sexual and reproductive health rights, including by adopting and implementing laws on sexual and reproductive health, awareness raising and information services for teenagers and women, including comprehensive sexual health education, information and services; highlights that it also calls to expand the provision of family planning services and contraceptives and access to safe and legal abortion services in accordance with national laws and policies, and protect the reproductive rights of women by authorizing medical abortion in the case of sexual assault, rape, incest, in line with the Maputo Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution Recital P P. whereas this report, while drafted in response to the EU Annual Report adopted by the Council, is a forward-looking analysis of the EU’s activities in this policy area; whereas Parliament, in its resolutions on the previous Annual Reports and on the review of the EU human rights strategy, has stressed the need for a continued reflection on its own practices related to the mainstreaming of human rights in its activities
Amendment 63 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Considers women's underrepresentation in political decision- making is a question of fundamental rights and democracy, that underlines the capacity of governments to devote their full talent to democracy building and maintenance processes; welcomes the legislated parity systems and gender quotas and calls to foster legislative process needed as soon as possible.
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Recalls that the preamble to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European
Amendment 64 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls on the EU to actively continue defending a stand-alone goal for gender equality, girls' and women's empowerment and their human rights, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, in the upcoming post-2015 development agenda.
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Recalls that the preamble to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union affirms that the EU ‘places the individual at the heart of its activities’; stresses that this
Amendment 65 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Stresses the importance of fighting stereotypes by not only presenting positive images, but also by inspiring real examples of women with disabilities and showing how their compensating abilities allow them to enjoy a rewarding working and private life, as well as by avoiding the exacerbation of negative stereotypes in the language used, discourse entered into and policies pursued regarding women with disabilities; calls on the European Union together with Member States to implement positive action measures in order to include women with disabilities in the labour market;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Recalls that the preamble to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union affirms that the EU ‘places the individual at the heart of its activities’; stresses that this was not intended as an abstract concept but, on the contrary,
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Reiterates its long-standing opposition to the death penalty under all circumstances, and calls for an immediate moratorium on executions in those countries where the death penalty is still applied.
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses the inalienable right of peoples to self-determination without any outside interference in the political, economic and social life of third countries; warns the EU and its Member States once more against any exploitation of the human rights issue, which would undermine its very credibility;
Amendment 67 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Urges the Member States, while respecting their own national education systems, to be consistent in implementing the principles of inclusive education in dealing with children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds and children with disabilities;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Calls on all the EU institutions and Member States to place human rights at the centre of the EU’s relations with all third countries, including its strategic partners and in all high-level statements and meetings, as well as association agreements; emphasises the importance of effective, consistent and coherent implementation of the EU’s human rights policy, in line with the clear obligations laid down in Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union and in the EU Strategic Framework on human rights and democracy; commends the new Vice- President of the Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) for openly stating her forthright commitment to the implementation of these principles;
Amendment 68 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Calls for an ambitious long-term political strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and access to medicines that inter alia explores new incentive schemes for research and development as outlined in the WHO Consultative Expert Working Group report on Research and Development: Financing and coordination (2012), to safeguard the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief or economic and social condition. Stresses that women and girls remain at the centre of the HIV pandemic and sustain caring for patients in their communities.
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Stresses the importance for the EU Member States of speaking with one voice in support of the indivisibility and universality of human rights and, in particular, of ratifying all the international human rights instruments established by the UN; calls on the EU to uphold the indivisibility of human rights, including those enshrined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in conformity with Article 21 TEU; calls for the EU to further promote universal human rights standards
Amendment 69 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Regrets that women's and girls' bodies, specifically their sexual and reproductive health and rights, remain an ideological battleground to this day and calls on the EU and its Member States to recognize the inalienable rights of women and girls to bodily integrity and autonomous decision-making; among other, the right to access voluntary family planning, safe and legal abortion and to be free from violence, including FGM, child, early and forced marriage, and marital rape.
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 2 – having regard to Article 2, Article 3(5) and Article 21 of the Treaty on
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas the consequences of gender- based violence affect the well-being of the victims in all the spheres of their life;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Stresses the importance for the EU Member States of speaking with one voice in support of the indivisibility, inviolability and universality of human rights and, in particular, of ratifying all the international human rights instruments established by the UN; calls on the EU to uphold the indivisibility and inviolability of human rights, including those enshrined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in conformity with Article 21 TEU; calls for the EU to further promote universal human rights standards as the basis for its engagement among the Member States and with third countries and regional organisations, in both political and human rights dialogues;
Amendment 70 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 c (new) 3c. Calls on the EU to actively continue defending a stand-alone goal for women's and girls' rights and gender equality, while keeping the importance of access to comprehensive sexuality education and universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, in the upcoming post-2015 sustainable development agenda.
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) (1) Welcomes the European Commission's decision to place the rule of law at the heart of the enlargement process; urges the EU to follow closely the implementation of provisions protecting human rights and of the rights of persons belonging to minorities throughout the enlargement process;
Amendment 71 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 c (new) 3c. Urges the EU and its Member States to come up with an extensive review of the Beijing Platform for Action to mark its twenty years anniversary in 2015.
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Warns, however, for the unintended consequences of continuously expanding the list of human rights and including ideologically or politically controversial issues, as this could ultimately reduce general support for the very idea of universality and indivisibility of human rights;
Amendment 72 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 d (new) 3d. Calls on the EU and the Member States to ensure a rights-based approach encompassing all human rights, and to include a strong focus on the empowerment and the promotion, respect and fulfilment of women's and girl's rights, including their sexual and reproductive rights and gender equality as preconditions to combat gendercide, as a key issue in the post-2015 development policy agenda.
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Points out that in addition to human suffering, the EU should also
Amendment 73 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 d (new) 3d. Urges the European Commission to include SRHR, as basic human rights, in its next EU Health Strategy to ensure coherence between EU's internal and external policy.
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Points out that in addition to human suffering, the EU should also note
Amendment 74 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 e (new) 3e. Insists that gender balance needs to be rooted in the EEAS overseas missions and a dedicated girls' and women's rights and gender equality strategy for each mission; plus a specific gender equality chapter rooted in the next EEAS Human Rights Action Plan.
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Points out that in addition to human suffering, the
Amendment 75 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 f (new) 3f. Urges that the provision of EU humanitarian aid and that of its Member States should not be subject to restrictions imposed by other partner donors regarding necessary medical treatment, including access to safe abortion for women and girls who are victims of rape in armed conflicts.
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Points out that in addition to human suffering, the EU should also note the material and budgetary cost of non- observance of human rights where failure to respect human rights and lack of legitimate democratic participation lead to instability, corruption, failed states, humanitarian crises or armed conflicts, phenomena which undermine the EU’s efforts in its development policy
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Points out that in addition to human suffering, the EU should also note the material and budgetary cost of non- observance of human rights where failure to respect human rights and lack of legitimate democratic participation lead to instability, corruption, failed states,
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Points out that in addition to human suffering, the EU should also note th
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Recalls that long term stability and peace, but also economic development necessitate the priorisation of the rule of law, democracy, good governance and anti-corruption efforts; underlines in this matter the precious work of human right defenders in pushing for progress at the national and local levels;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 2 a (new) – having regard to Article 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU),
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas the exercise of democracy presupposes that women and men enjoy equal rights and civil status,
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Calls on the EU to place the issue of the closing international space for civil society and for human rights defenders at the forefront of the international policy agenda, and to engage political leaders to give priority to the issue; request that HRVP Mogherini and EU Foreign Minister to regularly place this issue on the agenda of the FAC, and show strong international leadership;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 c (new) 4c. Call on the HRVP Mogherini and EU Foreign Ministers to regularly place on the agenda of the FAC, the discussion of EU efforts to pursue release of human rights defenders, journalist, political activist and others who exercise their rights peacefully;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Encourages the EU to ensure there is synergy between the opportunities for support afforded by the Instrument for Stability, the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights and the European Endowment for Democracy (EED);
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. expresses its deep concern of the increase of serious human rights violations by terrorism across the world, specifically amongst Middle Eastern countries; refers to a recent 2014 report which indicated a 62% of terrorist activity from 2012 to 2013 and an increase from 15 to 24 countries that experienced terrorism causing more than 50 deaths.
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. urges the VP/HR and the EEAS, with referral to the increase of terrorist activity in countries mostly located in the Middle East and the Mesopotamian area, to cooperate better and more efficiently with governments to combat all forms of terrorism
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Upholds that denials of genocide and other crimes against humanity, as well as acts of racism, xenophobia or religious hatred, constitute a clear violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and as such should be condemned.
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Upholds that denials of genocide and other crimes against humanity, as well as acts of racism, xenophobia or religious hatred, constitute a clear violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and as such should be condemned;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Expresses its concern at the deterioration of human rights in Western Sahara; calls for the fundamental rights of the people of Western Sahara, including freedom of association, freedom of expression and the right to assembly, to be respected; demands the release of all Sahrawi political prisoners; demands access to the territories of Western Sahara to members of parliament, independent observers, NGOs, and the press; urges the United Nations to establish an international mechanism to monitor human rights in Western Sahara; supports a fair and lasting settlement of the conflict, on the basis of the right to self-determination of the Sahrawi people, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Condemns the continuing occupation of Palestine by the State of Israel and the latter’s violation of international law and international humanitarian law; reiterates its call for an end to Israeli colonisation in the Palestinian territories and to criminal attacks and the isolation of the Gaza Strip; stresses the urgent need to bring about a fair and lasting solution to the conflict in the Middle East with a view to achieving a two-State solution – an independent and viable Palestinian State and the State of Israel, living side by side in peace and security on the basis of the internationally recognised 1967 borders;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 c (new) 4c. Condemns the use of systematic torture by the United States at its military base in Guantánamo; stresses once again the illegal nature of this base and calls for it to be closed immediately and for all the land on which it is situated to be returned to Cuba;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 2 a (new) – having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Recital B B. whereas, in times of armed conflict, women and children, including female and child refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons, are among the most vulnerable groups in society, and the risks posed to displaced adolescent girls during humanitarian crises are significantly heightened;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 d (new) 4d. Highlights the importance of compliance with the provisions of ILO Convention 169 on indigenous and tribal peoples in ensuring that their fundamental rights are respected; is deeply concerned by the situation of the Mapuche people and of indigenous peoples in countries such as Guatemala, condemns the repression directed against indigenous leaders and the assassination of trade union leaders and asks that the United Nations International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala should not be wound up;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 e (new) 4e. Is extremely concerned at continuing impunity in many parts of the world and condemns in particular the case of Mexico, where more than 22 000 people have disappeared, more than half of them in the past few years, but where 98% of crimes remain unpunished, including a large number of femicides; condemns the criminalisation and repression of students, journalists, social activists, peasant leaders and trade unionists in the country, including disappearances and assassinations;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Regrets that no written answer was given by the Commission to the Resolution of the Parliament on the Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2012 and considers that such written answers are extremely important for the inter-institutional cooperation on this subject and cannot be replaced by the debate in the plenary, which allows less time for reflection and for a systematic reply to all points raised by the Parliament;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Commends the External Action Service and the Commission for their comprehensive and clear reporting on EU action taken during the reporting period; reiterates, however, its view that the country reports in particular should
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6.
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Commends the External Action Service and the Commission for their
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Maintains the view that the EU institutions should strive together to improve the format of the report with a view to enabling it to
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Maintains the view that the EU institutions should strive together to improve the format of the report with a view to enabling it to fulfil its potential as a communication tool while not losing its comprehensiveness as an implementation
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Recalls that human rights have become an essential component of the EUʼs external action and a real element of its identity in its bilateral, multilateral and institutional relations;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Calls on the
source: 544.314
2014/12/16
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37 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Stresses that respect for human rights, including economic, cultural
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Highlights the need to address human rights in a holistic and indivisible fashion by emphasising and strongly committing both to civil and political rights and to economic, social and cultural rights, since without these rights there can be no development; stresses the need to tackle the root causes of poverty; highlights the obligation to respect international labour standards, in line with the fulfilment of the ILO Decent Work Agenda
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Highlights the need to address human rights in a holistic and indivisible fashion by emphasising and strongly committing to economic, social and cultural rights, since
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Highlights the need to address human rights in a holistic and indivisible fashion by emphasising and strongly committing to economic, social
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Notes that a deteriorating security situation worldwide and the increasing financial crisis ever since the 2008 meltdown has increased the use of child labour in the world’s poorest countries and could have legal and reputational implications for companies that source goods from the developing world; urges the VP/HR and the EEAS to further promote the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour particularly in developing countries where a deploring amount of children are put to work to supplement family income;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Highlights the need for the EU and its delegations to implement the human rights- based approach in
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Highlights the need for the EU and its delegations to implement the human rights- based approach in development policy and aid, especially the new toolbox; also encourages the Member States to adopt a human rights-based approach in their development policies and aid, for example by emphasising the importance of human rights, good governance and democracy in budget and sector support dialogues; at the same time, calls on the EU
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Notes that third countries with weak governance and large flows of aid also have a higher rate of corruption which as a consequence diverts the intended purpose of development aid and weakens the development of human rights; calls on the EEAS to support development programs where humanitarian aid and transparency go hand in hand for the sake of advancing human rights in third countries;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Calls on the European Union to help strengthen national, regional and international accountability mechanisms such as the International Criminal Court, national judicial authorities, parliaments, and national human rights and civil society institutions in foreign policy activities;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Calls on the Commission to act more forcefully and coherently in combating discrimination against the most disadvantaged groups, and those who are most frequently discriminated against and excluded on grounds such as race, disability, migrant or indigenous status, age, sexual orientation or gender identity;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Stresses that respect for human rights, including economic, cultural and social rights, good governance, a fair and efficient judicial system, peace and security, is a prerequisite for the reduction of poverty and the achievement of the MDGs;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Recognises the importance of actively engaging the NGOs in planning, implementing and evaluating human rights provisions so as to have the widest possible involvement of civil society in policy-making and in ensuring the effectiveness of human rights provisions;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Highlights the importance of supporting the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the need for corporate accountability;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Highlights the importance of supporting the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the need for corporate accountability;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5.
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Notes that, instead of a challenge, companies should regard it as an opportunity to create new business potential in regions that need sustainable and responsible investment the most, and which should contribute to respecting human rights in developing countries;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Highlights the importance of Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) in achieving respect for human rights; calls on the EU, t
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Highlights the importance of Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) in achieving respect for human rights; calls on the EU to ensure that the necessary guidelines, impact assessments and monitoring and reporting mechanisms make PCD a reality in Union policies and in those of the Member States
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Stresses that repeated infringements of core labour standards have been reported in several countries with GSP Plus status, but that this has not led to suspension of preferences
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Calls for a concentrated EU effort against land-grabbing, by means of
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Calls for a concentrated EU effort against land-grabbing, by means of calling for adequate safeguards to prevent it
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Stresses that respect for human rights, including economic, cultural and social rights, good governance, democratic values, peace and security, is a prerequisite for the reduction of poverty and the achievement of the MDGs; takes the view that human rights must be a cross-cutting feature of all goals, targets and indicators in the post-2015 agenda, placing the individual at the heart of the matter and supporting integrated, sustainable human development; emphasises that the agenda must be based on strong transparency and accountability mechanisms and be grounded in human rights; asserts that commitments on governance and human rights are measurable and can be followed up;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Calls for a concentrated EU effort against unlawful land-grabbing, by means of calling for adequate safeguards to prevent it and highlighting the direct responsibility of the EU and European companies in the matter; calls for an assessment of the impact of EU trade policy on land-grabbing, the implementation of the global Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security, and the adoption of binding guidelines for preventing unlawful land-
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Notes with deep concern that indigenous peoples are particularly affected by human rights violations related to resource extraction; calls on EEAS to support rigorous legal frameworks and initiatives aiming at transparency and good governance of mining and other resource sectors which respect local people’s free, prior and informed consent and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Notes with deep concern that vulnerable groups are particularly affected by human rights violations related to environmental degradation, since the expansion of monoculture plantations, logging, infrastructure, and support for gas and oil development, biofuels, mining or large scale hydropower are all driving deforestation and forest degradation; calls on the Commission to implement the 7 EAP and to put in place a comprehensive plan to tackle deforestation and forest degradation and its environmental, social and human rights impacts;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9. Takes the view that the EU, including its delegations, should identify early warning signals, such as human rights violations, that point to potential conflicts and humanitarian catastrophes; calls on the EU to design best practices for promoting and protecting human rights in post-disaster and post-conflict situations, paying special attention to disabled people, women and children and other vulnerable groups and with a focus on human rights mainstreaming in relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts, while respecting the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence and the needs-based approach to humanitarian assistance;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9. Takes the view that the EU, including its delegations, should identify early warning signals, such as human rights violations, that point to potential conflicts and humanitarian catastrophes; calls on the EU to design best practices for promoting and protecting human rights in post-disaster
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9. Takes the view that the EU, including its delegations, should identify early warning signals, such as repression of minorities and human rights violations, that point to potential conflicts and humanitarian catastrophes; calls on the EU to design best practices for promoting and protecting human rights in post-disaster and post- conflict situations, paying special attention to disabled people and other vulnerable groups and with a focus on human rights mainstreaming in relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts, while respecting the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence and the needs-based approach to humanitarian assistance;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Reiterates the importance of eliminating all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls; urges the EU to set the elimination of all forms of violence, such as domestic violence, trafficking, sexual exploitation and sexual harassment, as well as all harmful practices including child, early or forced marriage and female genital mutilation, as one of the top priorities of its external action;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 10 10. Highlights the importance of linking security, development and human rights; in this regard, strongly condemns the use of sexual violence in armed conflicts,
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the EU to redouble its efforts to ensure in the upcoming intergovernmental negotiations that the human rights-based approach (HRBA) and the reduction of inequalities become underpinning concepts of post-2015 global development and are also included in concrete fashion in the goals and targets themselves; stresses the need to ensure that the post-2015 agenda includes, inter alia, women’s rights, children’s rights, good governance, democracy, freedom of association and expression, and sexual and reproductive health and rights, as being key elements for development;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the EU to redouble its efforts to ensure in the upcoming intergovernmental negotiations that the human rights-based approach (HRBA) and the reduction of inequalities become underpinning concepts of post-2015 global development and are also included in concrete fashion in the goals and targets themselves; stresses the need to ensure that the post-2015 agenda includes, inter alia, women’s rights, children’s rights, good governance, democracy, and
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the EU to redouble its efforts to ensure in the upcoming intergovernmental negotiations that the human rights-based approach (HRBA) and the reduction of inequalities become underpinning concepts
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Underlines that global development efforts, including efforts of the EU and its external action, must be aimed at ensuring the respect of fundamental human rights, beginning with the right to life and the equal dignity of all human beings;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Highlights the need to address human rights in a holistic and indivisible fashion by emphasising and
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3.
source: 544.394
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