MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Iraq: kidnapping and mistreatment of women
25.11.2014 - (2014/2971(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Fabio Massimo Castaldo, Ignazio Corrao, Rolandas Paksas, Valentinas Mazuronis on behalf of the EFDD Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0295/2014
B8‑0297/2014
European Parliament resolution on the situation in Iraq: kidnapping and mistreatment of women
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Iraq, in particular the European Parliament resolution of 14 March 2013 on Iraq: the plight of minority groups, including the Iraqi Turkmen and the European Parliament resolution of 18 September 2014 on the situation in Iraq and Syria, and the IS offensive, including the persecution of minorities
– having regard to the Council conclusions on on the IS/Da'esh crisis in Iraq and Syria of 20 October 2014,
– having regard to the conclusions adopted at the Special meeting of the European Council of 30 August 2014, on Iraq/Syria,
– having regard to the UNAMI Report on the Protection of Civilians in the Non International Armed Conflict in Iraq: 5 June – 5 July 2014
– having regard to the statements by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on Iraq and Syria,
– having regard to the Statement by the UN Security Council on Iraq, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights of 18 November 2014,
– having regard to UN Security Council resolution 2170 (2014) and UN Human Rights Council resolution S-22/L.1 (2014),
– having regard the Resolution 2122 (2013) adopted by the Security Council at its 7044th meeting, on 18 October 2013;
– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,
– having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, to which Iraq is a party,
– having regard to the EU guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief adopted on 24 June 2013,
– having regard to Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the women situation in Iraq, which was already critical, has further deteriorated as a result of the occupation of parts of their territory by the terrorist jihadist al-Qaeda splinter group Islamic State (IS);
B. whereas the disintegration of the Iraqi-Syrian border has provided IS with opportunities to enhance its presence in both countries;
C. whereas both physical and moral violence against women remain among the major human rights violations reported in Iraq, particularly in certain regions;
D. whereas in the last months, there has been a tragic stream of reports about thousands of women and girls abducted from their families and sold in markets; whereas, while captive, these women and children have been tortured, raped, given to ISIL thugs as “brides,” or kept as sex slaves; whereas reports indicate that ISIL has abducted between 1,500 to 4,000 women and girls, mainly from Iraq’s religious community of Yazidis and other minority groups;
E. whereas the ISIL have forced to watch as beat their children to coerce the Yazidi women into converting to Islam;
F. whereas hundreds of women and girls have been taken from Iraq to IS camps in Syria and never heard from again;
G. whereas it appears that Islamic State fighters dumped more than 60 Turkmen and Yazidi children in an orphanage in Mosul after they had witnessed the killing of their parents by the fighters and it appears some of the older children may have been physically and sexually assaulted;
H. whereas three Sunni women were killed after sentencing by an Islamic State-appointed court in Mosul on Sept. 5; whereas 40 men were killed on the orders of the same court on Sept. 7; whereas two women were shot in the back of the head on Sept. 9.
I. whereas women and girls often continue to face trafficking, forced marriages and being traded in settlement of disputes;
J. whereas, in most cases, the perpetrators of violence against women remain unpunished;
K. whereas the intensifying armed violence and continuous acts of terrorism have impacted severely on Iraqi children, women and civilian men both directly and indirectly, and displaced one million civilians from their homes;
L. whereas women have been dealt with particularly cruelty by IS; whereas ISIL attacked and killed female doctors, lawyers, among other professionals;
M. whereas UNAMI received reports of the suicides of four women who were allegedly raped by members of IS in Mosul, Ninewa and whereas four other women committed suicide when their families were requested to marry them under jihad al-nikah, or Sexual Jihad, to ISIL fighters, whereby women are temporarily married to Jihadist fighters to provide sexual services;
N. whereas the Yazidi community continues to be systematically targeted by ISIL and subjected to gross human rights abuses;
O. whereas the protection and the basic humanitarian needs of civilians who remain in areas affected by conflict or have been displaced because of it, is of critical importance; whereas there are serious concerns for the protection and welfare of members of vulnerable groups, particularly women, female-headed households, children, people with disabilities, the elderly, and members of diverse minority groups (ethnic, cultural or religious);
1. Is deeply concerned about the situation of women, girls and children and the repeated reports of brutal violations of women's rights in Iraq; stresses that closer international attention must be paid as a matter of urgency to the situation of women, girls and children in this country; is seriously concerned about the human rights abuses and sectarian violence that are being committed in Iraq;
2. Expresses its deep concern about the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Iraq; strongly condemns the attacks perpetrated by the IS against Iraqi women, leading to kidnapping, mistreatments, sexual abuses, summary executions, and other atrocities;
3. Strongly condemns the executions and sexual violence in the conflict; underlines the fact that there should be no impunity for the perpetrators of these acts; is deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis and the increasing abuse made on women;
4. Firmly condemns the any form of execution, human rights abuses, including systematic sexual and gender based violence, perpetrated in Syria and Iraq by IS/ Da'esh and other terrorist organisations, in particular against Yazidi and other religious and ethnic groups, women and children;
5. Supports the Iraqi authorities in the fight against IS terrorism and other armed/terrorist groups, in particular the protection of women; stresses, further, that in the fight against terrorism, human rights and international humanitarian law must be respected; urges the Iraqi Security Forces to act in line with international and national law and with respect for Iraq’s commitments to international agreements on human rights and fundamental freedoms; calls on the Iraqi Government and on all political leaders to take the necessary measures to provide security and protection for all people in Iraq, in particular women and members of vulnerable groups and religious communities;
6. Reiterates its rejection without reservation of the illegitimate announcement by the IS leadership that it has established a caliphate in the areas it now controls, and reiterates the rejection of the notion of any unilateral changes to internationally recognised borders by force while also respecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of people in the IS-controlled territories;
7. Stresses, with particular concern, the situation of groups at risk–including women, women-headed households, children, people with disabilities, elderly persons, and members of minority cultural, religious and ethnic groups – in areas affected by the conflict;
8. Expresses concern at the increasing number of cases of kidnapping and mistreatment of women in Iraq; encourages the Commission to engage with partners – including international organisations – to prepare a comprehensive programme to address the need to protect women affected by armed conflict;
9. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take specific actions to address the situation of women in Iraq in order to guarantee their freedom and respect for their most fundamental rights, and to adopt measures to prevent exploitation, abuse and violence against women and children; is particularly concerned about the increase of all forms of violence against Yazidi women, who are imprisoned, raped, sexually abused and sold by the members of IS;
10. Believes that the commitment, and respect for human rights, particularly women's rights, are essential to the democratic development of Iraq;
11. Reiterates that the support of the European Union and its Member States for the reconstruction of Iraq and the protection of its borders must include concrete measures to eradicate abuses against women in order to strengthen respect for human rights and the rule of law;
12. Calls on all actors to contribute to efforts to promote security and stability in Iraq, and in particular to encourage the Iraqi Government to reach out to the Yazidi minority;
13. Calls on all regional actors to do everything in their power to stop all activities by official or private bodies to propagate and spread extreme Islamist ideologies against women in words and acts;
14. Urges the European Commission and the Council, as well as the international community, to significantly address the use of funds aimed at efforts to protect women from rape, abuse and violence and to outline practical measures to support the minorities;
15. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the Government and Parliament of the Iraq.