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The defence of human rights in the world is a top priority of the European Parliament. Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, with the help of its Subcommittee on Human Rights, directly addresses the issue of the defence of human rights outside the Union.
Each year, the European Parliament issues a report on the human rights situation in countries outside the European Union, and another on respect for fundamental rights within the Union.
The Council informs the European Parliament of any decision taken to suspend an agreement with a country on human rights grounds. It can thus put pressure on the country concerned to release political prisoners or to subscribe to international undertakings on human rights protection.
At each of its monthly part-sessions, the European Parliament holds debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. It has adopted a host of resolutions condemning governments that breach human rights. Parliament’s Chamber is thus an international forum in which human rights issues can be discussed. As a result, Members of Parliament and the public can be made aware of breaches of human rights in certain countries.
In 1988, the European Parliament established the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Each year, the prize is awarded to individuals or international organisations who – like the Russian nuclear physicist Andrei Sakharov, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975 – have distinguished themselves in the struggle for human rights.
The European Parliament strongly condemns the death penalty in all cases and all circumstances. Its Members have several times called for an unconditional, worldwide moratorium on executions, to be put into effect following the United Nations General Assembly resolutions of 2007 and 2008. Parliament considers that this measure would enhance human dignity and the progressive development of human rights.