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Proposition de résolution - B8-0103/2014Proposition de résolution
B8-0103/2014
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Human rights violations in Bangladesh

16.9.2014 - (2014/2834(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure

Cristian Dan Preda, Davor Ivo Stier, Bogdan Brunon Wenta, Tunne Kelam, Philippe Juvin, Giovanni La Via, Mariya Gabriel, Jeroen Lenaers, Monica Luisa Macovei, Ska Keller, Petri Sarvamaa, Eduard Kukan, Jarosław Leszek Wałęsa, Ivo Belet, Dubravka Šuica, Pavel Svoboda, on behalf of the PPE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0097/2014

Procédure : 2014/2834(RSP)
Cycle de vie en séance
Cycle relatif au document :  
B8-0103/2014
Textes déposés :
B8-0103/2014
Débats :
Textes adoptés :

B8‑0103/2014

European Parliament resolution on Human rights violations in Bangladesh

(2014/2834(RSP))

The European Parliament,

        having regard to its previous resolutions on Bangladesh,

–     having regard to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights,

–     having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

–      having regard to Rule 135(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.    whereas the EU has good, long-standing relations with Bangladesh, including through the Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development;

 

B.     whereas there are concerns about human rights violations in Bangladesh, including enforced disappearances, torture and other ill-treatment and restrictions on the right to freedom of expression;

 

C.     whereas in some cases, the motives for the enforced disappearances appear to have been

political, with the targets being members of the opposition parties; whereas in some other cases, enforced disappearances have been linked to allegations of corruption;

 

D.    whereas the use of torture and other ill-treatment persists in Bangladesh despite safeguards in the Constitution, the Penal Code and the Torture and Custodial Death (Prohibition) Act; whereas the Constitution stipulates that no person shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhumane or degrading punishment or treatment; whereas the Government of Bangladesh, in collaboration with International Committee of the Red Cross, is carrying out advocacy and training programmes for law enforcing agencies and prison authorities on international safeguards against torture;

 

E.  whereas at least four bloggers and two human rights defenders have been charged in the last two years under Section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act;  

 

F.      whereas in the beginning of July 2014, dozens of armed men attacked the convent of PIME (Pontifical Institute of Foreign Missions nuns in Boldipuku), a village mission in north Bangladesh;

 

G.     whereas recent acts of violence have been committed against trade union representatives such as the murder on Aminul Islam;

 

1.      Expresses its concern about human rights violations in Bangladesh, including enforced disappearances, torture and other ill-treatment and restrictions on the right to freedom of expression;

 

2.      Strongly condemns the attack on the convent in Boldipuku; underlines Bangladesh’s reputation as a tolerant society within a secular state, and calls on the Bangladeshi authorities to provide increased protection for ethnic and religious minorities;

 

3.      Calls on the Government of Bangladesh to immediately release anyone subjected to an enforced disappearance, unless they can be charged with a recognizably criminal offence, in which case they should be immediately presented before a court; calls on the Bangladeshi authorities to investigate who were the perpetrators, taking into account command responsibility, and bring those found to be responsible to justice in a fair trial;

 

4.      Calls on the Government of Bangladesh to establish an independent body to investigate complaints of torture and other ill-treatment; calls on the Bangladeshi authorities to bring those responsible for torture or other ill-treatment to justice in a fair trial; welcomes the advocacy and training programmes for law enforcing agencies and prison authorities on international safeguards against torture;

 

5.      Calls on the Government of Bangladesh to repeal Section 57 of the ICT Act; calls on the Bangladeshi authorities to drop the charges under the ICT Act against the bloggers and human rights defenders;

 

6.      Calls on the Government of Bangladesh to ensure the freedom of association and to ensure the enforcement of labour laws;

 

7.      Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the European Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the United Nations Human Rights Council and the Government and Parliament of Bangladesh.