El Presidente. − El siguiente punto es la Declaración de la Vicepresidenta de la Comisión/Alta Representante de la Unión para Asuntos Exteriores y Política de Seguridad sobre el 16º período de sesiones del Consejo de Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas (Ginebra, 28 de febrero a 25 de marzo de 2011).

  Catherine Ashton, Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. − Mr President, I am pleased we also have the chance this afternoon to debate the work of the UN Human Rights Council and, in a sense, to look at how we can strengthen its overall impact.

As honourable Members may know, I addressed the Council last week together with many Foreign Ministers from across the world. For obvious reasons on that occasion, the situation in Libya was at the heart of our discussions.

I am pleased that the international community sent a strong and united political signal regarding the ongoing human rights violations in Libya. Already before the High-Level Segment, the Council had called for an inquiry and recommended the suspension of Libya’s membership of the Council – which, as you know, has since been confirmed by the General Assembly in a unanimous decision.

All that is proof that multilateral institutions can live up to their mandate and can act in what we call real time. As I stressed in my remarks there, the UN Human Rights Council has a responsibility to ensure that stated intentions are translated into real action and real progress. I think that Ms Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, whom I met in Geneva, is giving exactly the right direction politically in order to make a difference on the ground. What matters in the end is not the number of resolutions that are passed, but results in the real world that make a difference to people who are in need.

I also emphasised that human rights are universal. I pointed out that we in Europe reject the accusation that somehow the EU is trying to ‘export’ so-called European values to other countries. The rights to free speech, freedom of assembly, justice and equality are not European rights: they are universal rights. We must never fall into the trap of believing that people in other parts of the world – whether it is Africa, Asia or Latin America – should be any less passionate about their rights. That is why we speak out and we act against human rights violations wherever they occur.

We also recognise that Europe’s own path on human rights protection has not been a straight line and that constant efforts are also needed inside Europe. At the Human Rights Council we are ready to discuss our own challenges, share experiences and offer support to those working to improve respect for human rights around the world.

We have several priorities for the 16th session of the Human Rights Council and we have discussed these actively with our partners.

The EU will present an initiative on freedom of religion or belief. Faced in recent months with an increasing number of acts of religious discrimination and violence in different parts of the world, we need to send a strong, collective message against religious intolerance and in favour of the freedom of religion or belief for all people everywhere.

We will also table resolutions on Burma/Myanmar and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. We believe that in both cases the severity and number of human rights violations justify the extension of the mandates of the respective UN Special Rapporteurs.

The EU also supports the initiative to create a Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, as proposed by several countries and regions. We are seriously concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran. This was highlighted by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Navi Pillay. A particular concern is the dramatically increasing number of death penalty cases – more than 100 so far this year, as we discussed in our previous debate – and the repression of those exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

We feel the Council should address the situation in Egypt in an appropriate manner, taking into account the rapidly evolving situation in that country. The EU welcomes Egypt’s invitation to Ms Pillay to send members of her Office to the country. We hope this mission will be dispatched without delay.

The EU also is engaging with the Tunisian authorities to jointly present a draft resolution on the subject of boosting UN technical assistance on human rights in the context of ongoing transition.

Other key situations that need to be addressed by this session of the Human Rights Council are Belarus, where we are deeply concerned at the number of political prisoners, the Democratic Republic of Congo – where there are distressing reports of continuing human rights violations, in particular widespread sexual violence – as well as Côte d'Ivoire.

Let me conclude by stressing once again the importance of the Human Rights Council for the EU: the debates, the resolutions and the rapporteurs. But in the end, these are only inputs. What truly matter are the outputs. The real test is whether we make a difference on the ground. For that reason, the EU will work hard to strengthen the Human Rights Council and especially its ability to address urgent situations. This is a key objective of the ongoing review process. We will continue to push for an ambitious result.

  Laima Liucija Andrikienė, on behalf of the PPE Group. – Mr President, I would like to take this opportunity to express my full support for the decision taken by the UN General Assembly on 1 March to suspend Libya’s membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council. I think this sends a strong signal, not only to Colonel Gaddafi and his regime but also to those countries in the world where human rights violations are frequent and widespread.

In my report on the UN Human Rights Council and the EU’s role in it – adopted by this House in February 2009 – I strongly advocated the introduction of membership criteria for this important UN body.

In the case of Libya, the United Nations General Assembly acted in line with the European Parliament resolution and took a correct and timely decision.

Speaking of the 16th session, I would like to draw special attention to the Council’s review process. It is important that the EU Member States and the European External Action Service actively engage in the 2011 review of the Council to strengthen compliance with its mandate.

The UNHRC should become more an early-warning and preventive mechanism. There is also a need for a transparent and all-inclusive review process, including NGOs, civil society and all relevant stakeholders.

Last but not least, I would like to welcome the establishment of the Directorate for Human Rights and Democracy in the EEAS system. The establishment of the External Action Service also provides us with a unique opportunity to streamline our action on the protection of human rights in the United Nations Human Rights Council.

I therefore want to encourage the High Representative to make sure that European efforts in the Human Rights Council are well coordinated and that EU Member States belonging to this body are united and effective as never before.

  Richard Howitt, on behalf of the S&D Group. – Mr President, I shall start by welcoming yesterday’s appointment of Mariangela Zappia as Head of Delegation in Geneva. Her appointment contributes to advancing gender equality in the External Action Service. We look forward to working with her.

Our Parliament will be present at a crucial time for the review of the Human Rights Council, as the global fulcrum for respect of human rights, the universal periodic review of all UN members, the independence of its experts or so-called special procedures, and the enhanced role for civil society participation. They are key characteristics of the Council that we should work to protect at all costs.

I am disappointed that the outcome document for the working group on the review omits any independent trigger for special sessions, that there is no requirement for member countries to justify failure to respond to recommendations, and that there is no provision at all for addressing specific country situations. It is ironic that this session will address seven individual country situations. As it is doing in the cases of Libya and Côte d’Ivoire, the EU must continue to find creative ways within existing rules to make sure that human rights violators can never escape accountability.

To show in this debate that the High Representative does answer questions, can I ask her three in particular? Firstly, given what she said about the Democratic Republic of the Congo, will Europeans support the appointment of a special mandate holder for that country? Secondly, does she accept that, at some stage, a judgment has to be made as to whether the Palestinian and Israeli investigations in relation to the Goldstone report meet international standards, with a deliberation on the possible referral to the International Criminal Court if they do not? Thirdly, will the EU lodge an objection to Pakistan’s reservation on Article 40 – the obligation to report – of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights?

In conclusion, I believe that Libya’s suspension from the Human Rights Council creates a historic precedent for respect for human rights in the UN system, which in these dark days shines a light on the silver thread.

  Marietje Schaake, on behalf of the ALDE Group. – Mr President, the UN Human Rights Council has the potential to address the ever more urgent and elaborate human rights violations across the world in different countries – Iran, Belarus, Burma, Tunisia, Libya, etc., there are too many to mention – but also horizontal themes such as LGBT rights, free expression, rape as a war crime and the role of human rights defenders.

In a sense, the UN Human Rights Council is in a similar position to the EU and it has to act as a global player. But both bodies suffer from the same problem – a lack of credibility, double standards at times, and they are not able to act quickly enough. The EU thus far has been unwilling to scrutinise its own human rights record sufficiently, for example its participation in renditions and the lack of press freedom in some of our Member States.

Until last week Libya was a member of the UN Human Rights Council. It has, rightfully, been removed. This is a very important precedent.

  Heidi Hautala, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, with decisive and timely action towards Libya, the EU and the Human Rights Council have indeed shown that they can take action when needed. They can indeed. They can show that different regional groups can come together and they can show that the Council does not need to be divided.

Today there is no longer a reason why action on Iran, North Korea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burma and Sudan could not be next in line.

This time is significant for another reason. A first comprehensive review of the working methods of the Council has come to a conclusion and, like my colleagues, I feel disappointed by the fact that the Council failed to appreciate the importance of the review.

The EU prepared itself well but failed to win the support of others. But at least the independence of the Human Rights Commissioner and of the special procedure was not damaged, so this is already an achievement under the present conditions.

In any future discussions of the Council’s work, the European Union must be able to build alliances and to reach across to other partners. It must also be willing to listen and able to compromise. I think we had a very welcome participation by the High Representative in the meeting some weeks ago. High Representative, I salute you for taking this step and giving a very impressive presentation there.

So to my last point: the EU’s performance. After the creation of the Human Rights and Democracy Directorate at the European External Action Service, the EU delegation in Geneva will have a central role to play in EU human rights policy in the world. It needs increased resources and its work must be integrated into all fields of EU foreign policy.

I am very honoured to be leading Parliament’s delegation to the Human Rights Council’s 16th session at this critical time next week.

  Willy Meyer, en nombre del Grupo GUE/NGL. – Señor Presidente, señora Ashton, usted se estrenó en un mundo convulso, en un mundo en crisis financiera, alimentaria, energética, resultado de una apuesta de regular el mercado. La verdad es que usted tiene una gran dificultad precisamente porque esa orientación de fondo, de que el mercado libre sin regular nos organice la vida, ha ocasionado un problema muy serio de derechos humanos, tanto en los países desarrollados como en los países empobrecidos. Este es un problema que tenemos y que no acabamos de resolver, y nada apunta a que haya una reorientación en esa política económica que nos está llevando a un callejón sin salida en el conjunto de la humanidad.

Yo creo que este es un problema que tenemos que resolver antes que cualquier otro, y, en segundo lugar, la instrumentalización desde la Unión Europea de los derechos humanos, así como nuestra política exterior y de vecindad, que, a resultas de todo lo que están significando las revoluciones en el norte de África, merecería una reflexión a fondo.

Hemos dado la impresión —y usted heredó esa política exterior— de que nos preocupaba más el libre comercio que los derechos humanos. Nunca hemos aplicado el artículo 2 de los acuerdos de asociación, ni con Túnez ni con Egipto, ni en los acuerdos de asociación que queríamos firmar con Gadafi o con Netanyahu o con Mohamed VI. Ese artículo nunca se ha aplicado. Pareciera como si no nos importara la exigencia del estricto cumplimiento de los derechos humanos a través de los acuerdos de asociación. Es una asignatura pendiente y espero que alguna vez la aprobemos en la Cámara y en la Unión Europea.

  Νικόλαος Σαλαβράκος, εξ ονόματος της ομάδας EFD. – Κύριε Πρόεδρε, Επίτροπε Ashton, δεν θα πω ότι εμείς οι άνθρωποι είμαστε υποκριτές, θα πω όμως ότι είμαστε αντιφατικοί. Όλη η παγκόσμια φιλοσοφία, όλη η λογοτεχνία, όλοι οι λόγιοι, και εμείς όλοι σ' αυτήν την αίθουσα, αναγνωρίζουμε τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα και όμως, όπως είπατε εσείς, στις μισές χώρες μέλη του ΟΗΕ παραβιάζονται τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα. Κάνουμε μια ραψωδία, όχι ουσία. Ξέρουμε ότι εν ονόματι μεγάλων ιδεών έχουν γίνει τα μεγαλύτερα εγκλήματα στην ανθρωπότητα.

Με την έννοια αυτή, χαιρετίζω την 16η Σύνοδο για τα Ανθρώπινα Δικαιώματα στη Γενεύη και ελπίζω, στην εποχή που εξελίσσεται και με τα διδάγματα από την πείρα που έχουμε, να λάβει ουσιαστικές αποφάσεις. Ξέρετε, έχω σαράντα χρόνια δικηγορίας και έχω αντιληφθεί, και έχω ως πίστη μου, το γεγονός ότι ο σεβασμός στα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα είναι στάση ζωής, δεν επιβάλλεται εύκολα. Σας παρακαλώ κάντε ουσιαστικότερη πολιτική πάνω στο θέμα.

  Inese Vaidere (PPE). - ANO Cilvēktiesību padome ir unikāla starptautiska platforma, kas ir radīta, lai veicinātu cilvēktiesības un demokrātiju pasaulē. Tās darba uzdevumi ir grūti un ārkārtīgi nozīmīgi. Daudz pozitīva ir paveikts: tostarp īpašas misijas nosūtīšana uz Ēģipti, lēmums par Lībiju. Tomēr padomei bieži var pārmest arī politiskas stingrības, aktīvas darbības un savlaicīgas reakcijas trūkumu. Tieši tādēļ, pirmkārt, ir ļoti svarīgi veikt objektīvu un caurskatāmu padomes darba analīzi. Padomei jāpapildina darbības mehānismi, lai spētu efektīvi strādāt pie ilgstošām problēmām, kādas ir vērojamas Irānā, Baltkrievijā, Krievijā un citviet, kā arī ātri reaģēt uz ārkārtas situācijām, kā, piemēram...

(runa tika pārtraukta)

Aktīvam dialogam starp Padomes dalībniekiem jārisinās arī sesijas starplaikos. Ir jāizskauž valstu bloku politika, kas sāk dominēt Padomes darbā, novedot pie selektīvas jautājumu izskatīšanas, apdraudot tās autoritāti un politisko uzticamību. Otrkārt, jāveido aktīvāks dialogs ar pilsonisko sabiedrību un nevalstiskajām organizācijām. Treškārt, es vēlētos uzsvērt nepieciešamību pēc aktīvākas Eiropas Savienības lomas Cilvēktiesību padomē, kur mums jāpauž vienota pozīcija. Tieši tādēļ aicinu augsto pārstāvi nodrošināt skaidru un spēcīgu pārstāvību un koordinācijas darbu padomē. Savukārt Eiropas Ārlietu dienestam jāiesniedz Parlamentam, tai skaitā Cilvēktiesību apakškomitejai, regulāri pārskati par padomes darbu un tā izvērtējums. Būtisks Cilvēktiesību padomes izaicinājums šobrīd ir veicināt mierīgu demokrātisko pārmainu procesu Tuvajos Austrumos, jācenšas novērst radikālisma izplatīšanos, kas pasliktinātu cilvēktiesību situāciju reģionā, apdraudētu starptautisko drošību, un arī Izraēlas valsts tiesības uz pastāvēšanu, tādēļ pēc Ēģiptes misijas jāseko jaunām misijām uz citām Tuvo Austrumu valstīm, kur protesti ir bijuši vēl agresīvāki, un politiskā situācija pat sarežģītāka. Paldies!

  Jörg Leichtfried (S&D). - Herr Präsident, Frau Hohe Beauftragte, geschätzte Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Menschenrechte, Freiheit, Gleichheit sind für uns alle viel zu wichtig, als dass wir zulassen können, dass damit Spiele getrieben werden, dass dagegen Machtinteressen abgewogen werden und dass vielleicht auch Handelsinteressen diesen so wichtigen Werten vorgehen. Sie verlangen unseren vollen Einsatz und es ist unglaublich wichtig, dass in Menschenrechtsfragen die internationale Gemeinschaft schnell, zielgerichtet und wirksam hilft.

Der Menschenrechtsrat ist hier auf dem richtigen Weg. Man hat gesehen, die Mission in Tunesien hatte Sinn, die Mission in Ägypten hatte Sinn. Dass Libyen seinen Sitz im Menschenrechtsrat verloren hat, war ein richtiges und wichtiges Zeichen, um zu zeigen, dass es so nicht geht. Aber es ist schon auch so, dass Missionen, Resolutionen und vielleicht auch Dinge, die so passieren, auf den Boden gebracht werden. Sie haben Recht, Frau Hohe Beauftragte, es genügt nicht nur, etwas zu beschließen, man muss auch dafür sorgen, dass die Dinge umgesetzt werden. Die Europäische Union könnte hier einen noch viel größeren Beitrag leisten, als sie es derzeit tut.

Es ist aber auch notwendig, dass die Vereinten Nationen akzeptieren, dass die Situation der Europäischen Union nach dem Vertrag von Lissabon eine andere ist als zuvor. Ich möchte Sie auffordern, Frau Hohe Beauftragte, dafür zu sorgen, dass insbesondere diejenigen, die sich immer als unsere Freunde bezeichnet haben und die wir auch als unsere Freunde bezeichnen und auf die wir sehr stark – gerade auch im Bereich der Handelspolitik – Rücksicht nehmen, sich in Zukunft auch daran erinnern, dass sie unsere Freunde sind und die Europäische Union nicht wie bei der Abstimmung im September im Stich lassen.

  Charles Goerens (ALDE). - Monsieur le Président, dans ce débat, on va souligner une fois de plus l'importance de traiter sur un pied d'égalité ...

(le Président interrompt l'orateur)

les droits sociaux, culturels, civiques et politiques. Très bien. Malheureusement, dans la pratique, il n'est pas si évident de répondre pleinement à cette attente, certes justifiée. Pourquoi n'arrivons-nous pas à rendre les droits de l'homme de la deuxième génération aussi contraignants que ceux de la première? Cela est dû au fait que les droits de l'homme classiques, ceux issus de la Révolution française, sont aujourd'hui bien codifiés, ce qui n'est, hélas, pas le cas pour les droits sociaux, par exemple. Il ne faut cependant pas être fataliste. L'Union européenne avec sa batterie d'instruments, notamment au niveau des Nations unies, peut peser de tout son poids afin de peaufiner des textes portant sur les droits encore insuffisamment codifiés et notamment les droits sociaux. Ajoutons qu'à travers la coopération au développement et l'aide humanitaire, ladite exigence devient un peu moins illusoire.

  Marek Henryk Migalski (ECR). - Pani Komisarz! Przyznam się, że nie byłem wielkim zwolennikiem objęcia przez Panią tego zaszczytnego stanowiska, które Pani dzisiaj piastuje, ale muszę powiedzieć, że dzisiaj jestem mile zaskoczony przynajmniej trzema rzeczami, które wymieniła Pani w swoim wystąpieniu. Chciałbym to podkreślić i Panią pochwalić. Otóż po pierwsze podkreśliła Pani ową powszechność praw człowieka. Zgadzam się w pełni, że niezależnie od tego, gdzie jesteśmy, w Strasburgu, Libii, Rosji czy Iranie, ta powszechność musi obowiązywać. Bardzo się cieszę, że nadajemy na tych samych falach. Druga rzecz to podkreślenie przez Panią owej nietolerancji religijnej, a raczej walki z nią. Rzeczywiście rezolucja Parlamentu Europejskiego wzywa przedstawicieli państw członkowskich do tego, żeby zajmowali się tymi tematami. Bardzo się cieszę, że Pani to podkreśliła. I trzecia rzecz, którą witam z radością jako członek delegacji ds. kontaktów z Białorusią, to podkreślona przez Panią możliwość interwencji w sprawach białoruskich, gdzie łamane są elementarne prawa człowieka. Jest szansa na powołanie Rady Regionalnej. Bardzo się cieszę, że Pani to popiera, bo jest to nasze zadanie. Dziękuję bardzo.

  Gay Mitchell (PPE). - Mr President, I welcome the opportunity to participate in this debate and can I say at the outset that I appreciate the briefing arranged by the High Representative yesterday on the issues surrounding Libya.

Six million Jews were murdered in the Second World War here in Europe. Between the two World Wars – the First World War and the Second World War – 60 million Europeans were killed, leaving aside the people from all other parts of the world who died.

According to a recent edition of The Economist magazine, there is a deficit of 100 million women because of gender-based abortion. This is not to do with abortion because a woman’s life is in danger, or because she is in danger of having a back-street abortion. It is because she is a woman.

Yesterday was Women’s Day. This was not raised here. When is political correctness going to be overcome, so that we can have respectful debates here, so that we do not turn our heads the other way, as happened in the first half of the last century, so that we raise these issues, so that we ask why this is?

This House disgraced itself. It voted down an amendment not to fund infanticide. Not to fund coercive abortion. How in the name of God could we vote down something like that? I am sick of this political correctness that does not allow debate on issues in this House in a respectful manner that allows different views to be expressed.

I want to know from the High Representative if you are you going to raise this issue with the UN?

May I say in conclusion that I find the attitude and some of the decisions of the Court of Human Rights here in Strasbourg, which is not an institution of the European Union, absolutely extraordinary.

When are we going to be able to discuss this issue? Why were there no women yesterday who asked about the missing 100 million women who have been terminated because they were women? It is wrong and there should be no disagreement in this House on that issue in particular.

(The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149(8))

  Véronique De Keyser (S&D). - Monsieur le Président, chers collègues, au cours de la journée des femmes, vous n'avez peut–être pas remarqué que dans le rapport de Mme Nedelcheva de votre groupe, la question de l'avortement n'était pas taboue, elle a été traitée, et elle a été débattue et votée démocratiquement. Cela n'est pas un tabou, c'est la démocratie.

  Gay Mitchell (PPE). - Mr President, I know Ms De Keyser’s position on this and I respect it. It is more than I received from her in relation to my view.

We have to have respectful debate in this House, where people hear each other’s views and then we come to conclusions. I have not heard anybody from the Socialist or Liberal side raise in this House the issue of gender-based abortion. Not only did they not raise it, they voted down a resolution put to this House not to fund infanticide or coercive abortion. It is a shameful occurrence, on the record of this House, for those people who did it.

Please let us have respectful debate in this House. That is what this European Union is supposed to be about – unity in diversity.

(The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149(8))

  Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck (ALDE). - Mr President, of course I respect Mr Mitchell’s views. Like most, if not all, of the Members of this Parliament, I deplore the fact that in a number of societies in the world, female foetuses are aborted, whether with the consent of the mother or under coercion.

However, I fear that, by mixing up this issue with the issue of reproductive freedom, Mr Mitchell is obscuring the issue. If the issue were limited to the fact that female foetuses are aborted, it might be easier for us to reach an agreement on it.

  Gay Mitchell (PPE). - Mr President, I would like to thank the honourable Member for that point. If we were a bit more respectful of each other’s positions and tried to reach common ground, we would find that there is a lot we can do to roll back on this agenda, but please can we all open our minds?

I really do find it hard that Parliament would vote down an amendment not to fund coercive abortion, not to fund infanticide. Let us have this sort of discussion and see what we can do to stop this gender-based abortion. We can have disagreements in other areas.

I personally have no difficulty with reproductive health support; it is when it comes to the abortion area I have difficulty for very good reasons and I would be happy to debate them. I am not an ogre; I am not something from the past. I have a well thought out view on this and I would be happy to discuss it with anybody. I thank the Members for what they have said.

  Μαρία-Ελένη Κοππά (S&D). - Κύριε Πρόεδρε, λαίδη Ashton, η Σύνοδος του Συμβουλίου για τα Ανθρώπινα Δικαιώματα διεξάγεται φέτος στη σκιά των γεγονότων στη Βόρεια Αφρική και τον ευρύτερο αραβικό κόσμο, τα οποία έχουν πολλά να μας διδάξουν. Πρέπει, ως Ευρώπη, να σταθούμε στο ύψος των περιστάσεων. Είναι λοιπόν ευκαιρία να προχωρήσουμε σε ουσιαστική αξιολόγηση του Συμβουλίου ώστε να βελτιώσει περαιτέρω τις μεθόδους εργασίας του αλλά και να υπογραμμίσουμε τη στήριξή μας στην ανεξαρτησία του και στον ρόλο του στην προάσπιση των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων στον κόσμο.

Σ' αυτή την περίοδο των ιστορικών αλλαγών στη γειτονιά μας, το μήνυμα της οικουμενικότητας των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων είναι πιο επίκαιρο από ποτέ. Όμως, παράλληλα, οφείλουν και όλοι οι διεθνείς παράγοντες να εργαστούν για την εξάλειψη της πρακτικής των ‘δύο μέτρων και δύο σταθμών’ στην επίκληση των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων. Επιβάλλεται να είμαστε συνεπείς και δίκαιοι. Όπως χαιρετίζουμε την πρόσφατη υιοθέτηση του ψηφίσματος που καταδικάζει τις παραβιάσεις των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων στη Λιβύη, την ίδια σκληρή στάση πρέπει να κρατήσουμε και για την παράνομη συνέχιση του εποικισμού στα κατεχόμενα της Παλαιστίνης.

  Sari Essayah (PPE). - Arvoisa puhemies, haluan ilmaista tunnustukseni herra Mitchellin puheenvuorolle, sillä kyllähän ensimmäinen ihmisoikeus on jokaiselle tytölle ja pojalle oikeus syntyä tähän maailmaan.

Ihmisoikeusneuvosto on YK:n tärkein ihmisoikeuksista vastaava elin, jonka asemaa ja menettelytapoja on nyt vihdoinkin uskallettava arvioida kriittisesti. Neuvostolla voisi parhaimmillaan olla ratkaiseva rooli ihmisoikeuksien ja demokratian edistäjänä. Ikävä kyllä neuvoston työtä on leimannut kaksinaismoralismi, valikoivuus ja politisoituminen sekä blokkiutuminen ihmisoikeuskysymyksissä.

Kuvaavaa on, että neuvosto oli hyvin vähällä hyväksyä päätöslauselman Libyan edistymisestä, siis huomatkaa edistymisestä, ihmisoikeustilanteessa. Libyalle tunnustusta antavien maiden joukossa olivat muun muassa Iran, Pohjois-Korea, Egypti, Sudan ja Pakistan. Onko näiden maiden lausumilla jotakin painoarvoa? Eikö nämä maat pitäisi seuraavaksi olla erottamassa ihmisoikeusneuvostosta? Jo se, että tällaista päätöslauselmaa edes harkittiin, kertoo siitä, kuinka pihalla kansainvälinen yhteisö on ollut tai halunnut olla Libyan tilanteesta.

Sen sijaan ihmisoikeusneuvosto on viimeisten vuosikymmenien aikana antanut noin kaksi kolmasosaa tuomitsevista päätöslauselmistaan Israelista, joka kuitenkin on tuon Lähi-idän alueen ainut demokratia. Samanaikaisesti ihmisoikeusneuvosto on jättänyt huomioimatta naisten ja vähemmistöjen oikeuksien heikon aseman kaikissa ympäröivissä arabimaissa. Ihmisoikeusneuvoston oma työ on vailla uskottavuutta ellei se muuta omaa työtänsä ja työskentelytapojansa.

  Raimon Obiols (S&D). - Señor Presidente, no quisiera reiterar cosas que han dicho mis colegas y que me parecen importantes, por lo que simplemente quiero señalar que la participación de la señora Ashton en este período de sesiones del Consejo, que ha tenido lugar en un momento especialmente importante, ha sido una buena noticia.

Esperamos que sea un paso adelante para que la Unión Europea aumente la coherencia y la visibilidad de su acción, sume posiciones comunes en todos los temas relevantes de derechos humanos y construya, en el Consejo, las coaliciones con países y con las sociedades civil e internacional necesarias para hacer avanzar concretamente, en el terreno de los cambios reales —como ha señalado en su intervención la señora Ashton—, la causa de los derechos humanos, y también para que la Unión Europea pueda afirmar el carácter universal de los derechos humanos frente a toda visión relativista y logre, finalmente, algo que está al alcance de nuestras generaciones contemporáneas, que es conseguir que, así como en el pasado se logró la abolición universal de la esclavitud, nosotros podamos ver la abolición universal de la pena de muerte.

  Salvatore Iacolino (PPE). - Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, non v'è dubbio che l'inviolabilità dei diritti umani è l'essenza più intima di ogni società, che si nutre appunto di valori democratici. Per questo il Consiglio dei diritti umani, che si svolgerà a Ginevra, deve avere precise e puntuali priorità: sicuramente il contrasto alla discriminazione nelle sue varie forme – razza, sesso, religione, orientamento politico – così come di converso la tutela delle minoranze, così come la tutela delle categorie vulnerabili.

Il contesto nel quale si svolge il Consiglio è un contesto particolarmente delicato: quello che sta accadendo nel Nord Africa, in Libia soprattutto, è noto a tutti quanti. Oggi abbiamo ascoltato in un lungo dibattito gli interventi, che abbiamo apprezzato nel complesso, da parte della signora Ashton. Ma c'è anche un problema di Medio Oriente e c'è nel contempo un trattato di Lisbona che ci suggerisce di avere un riconoscimento ancora più forte e più deciso in favore dell'Unione europea.

Ci vuole fermezza, ci vuole solidarietà, che devono essere le linee guida di interventi concreti, concreti e decisi, perché poi i libici, i tunisini e i marocchini vogliono continuare a stare là dove oggi vivono e per far questo bisogna agire con tempestività.

Un'ultima riflessione che è anche una domanda nei confronti della signora Ashton: abbiamo registrato i suoi interventi, l'ho detto poco fa, complessivamente apprezzabili. Una forte discriminazione è quella che riguarda le religioni: come mai, tenuto conto che le violenze più sanguinarie degli ultimi tempi si sono registrate in danno dei cristiani, non ha mai fatto cenno nel suo intervento alla cristianofobia?

  Norica Nicolai (ALDE). - Nu ştiu dacă această sesiune care se derulează în momentul de faţă va fi un succes sau un eşec, dar ştiu că această dezbatere ar fi meritat să aibă loc cu mult mai devreme, pentru ca, la sesiune, Uniunea Europeană să aibă o voce coerentă, articulată şi, mai ales, de eficienţă. Este un semnal foarte dificil dat cu această reformă care începe acum, parte la New York, parte la Geneva, dat unei lumi care se schimbă şi are o mare problemă cu un eşec al unui anumit tip de politică în ceea ce priveşte drepturile omului.

Cred, stimaţi colegi, că va trebui să discutăm foarte serios acest mecanism instituţional creat de ONU, sigur, fără să dăm priorităţi unor anumite drepturi, dar trebuie să îi discutăm eficienţa şi, mai ales, să ne gândim dacă nu ar merita să fie unul din organismele globale de prevenţie imediată şi, în acest context, cred că nu trebuie să ne limităm doar la a constata ceea ce s-a întâmplat până acum, ci a încerca să şi prevenim. O altfel de abordare a problematicii drepturilor omului cred că este iminentă.

  Charles Tannock (ECR). - Mr President, the fact that Libya was a member of the UN Human Rights Council tells us everything we need to know about this discredited and politicised organisation. Gaddafi’s 42-year rule has systematically crushed any vestige of human rights in his country and we have now seen the consequences of the culture of violence on which his reign-of-terror regime was based.

However, it would be unfair to single out just Libya. Other human rights abusers also enjoy membership of the Council, including China, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Uganda, where homosexuals are persecuted. Bizarrely, it was even mooted that Iran should head up the Women’s Equality Commission at one stage. The UNHRC also spends much of its time vilifying our democratic ally Israel.

However, I suppose, on reflection, that this Council is all that there is on human rights at UN level, so we will have to engage, albeit fully cognisant of the inherent contradictions of having brutal non-democratic regimes as members of the UN Human Rights Council.

  Struan Stevenson (ECR). - Mr President, I would like to say to Baroness Ashton that she did not answer my colleague Jan Zahradil in the last debate on Iran on the question of Camp Ashraf. The 3 400 people there are suffering psychological torture. This is a breach of their human rights. We give EUR 1.2 billion to the rebuilding of Iraq and yet every time we pass a resolution in this House, every time we pass a written declaration with a big majority, we are simply ignored by the Iraqi Government and by their Iranian cohorts.

They are psychologically torturing the people in Camp Ashraf with 210 loudspeakers blaring propaganda and threats at a high-decibel level day and night for the last year. They are prohibiting access to medicines and the hospital for injured people and people dying of cancer.

Why are we not saying, ‘Stop, or you get no more help, no more money, from this House’?

  Diane Dodds (NI). - Mr President, I would like to ask the High Representative, in the light of all of the events that are going on in Libya at the moment and the much vaunted anguish that we rightly display about the violation of human rights in Libya, whether she will support the cause of those people in the United Kingdom who had relatives, friends and loved ones blown up by Semtex or killed by guns that were supplied by Colonel Gaddafi and his murderous regime in Libya. Will she support their case in any new regime that would emerge from the conflict in Libya?

  José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra (PPE). - Señor Presidente, en el contexto del debate que estamos teniendo sobre la situación de los derechos humanos y en relación con el informe anterior que se ha debatido, quería formularle, señora Ashton, la siguiente pregunta:

¿Considera usted que, habida cuenta de las circunstancias que se están viviendo en algunos países del norte de África y de la región, es oportuno en estos momentos abrir una delegación de la Unión Europea en Irán?

  Catherine Ashton, Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. − Mr President, again this was a very interesting and full debate, which has raised a large number of issues that honourable Members feel very strongly about.

Firstly, I would like to thank all honourable Members for the energy and passion with which they have conducted this debate. I reflect on the fact that it is two years since the publication of Ms Andrikienė’s report on the development of the UN Human Rights Council, including the role of the EU, and on the resolutions that have been passed since that report was produced. I would like to thank her for her comments about the work we are doing in the External Action Service and the beginnings of our work to build the new pieces of work on human rights.

I am also very pleased to see that Ms Hautala will be going to the session of the Council. I think it is extremely important, with her knowledge and expertise, that she is able to participate there. I also hope that she will back up the efforts that we have been making to try to ensure that the work of the Council improves and increases. I hear the criticisms that are made of it. I think we have all been pushing hard with the review to try to make that review as strong as possible. It is certainly not quite where we would have wished it to be, but now that we have seen the transfer to New York of some of the discussions, we can continue to work there as well. This really is an area of work where parliamentarians working with us can make a significant difference. I have full confidence in Ms Hautala’s strength in pushing forward on that.

I want to deal with some of the particular questions that have been asked of me. I will start with Mr Howitt’s, because he said that there were three in particular. Regarding the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we are in favour of a strong resolution and indeed we have said there ought to be a specific mandate now on this particular situation. On Goldstone, we are trying to engage to find a consensual resolution. That is what we are doing at the present time. In Pakistan we made a démarche on 5 March specifically on Article 40, which is the point concerned.

To those honourable Members who specifically talked about freedom of religion and belief, let me first of all say that I do indeed talk about the terrible tragedies for Christian communities anywhere in the world where these terrible tragedies occur. My general point is that we believe in the right of freedom of religion and belief, whatever that religion or belief might be in that context. It is important that we continue to make those statements as clearly as possible, when you see terrorism or attacks on any religions, including Christianity.

My team has just been meeting with a group of MEPs to talk further about what more we should do on this. I have already said that we plan to do something at this session of the Human Rights Council specifically on this because it is so important.

I apologise that I did not answer on Camp Ashraf. I intended to, but I turned the paper over too quickly. I think we have a total of 3 000 people – or perhaps 3 400, the numbers vary – and we are in weekly touch with the UN who, as you know, are visiting the camp. They assure me that the basic needs are being met. There are really difficult issues, as the honourable Member knows very well, in looking at what might be done around Camp Ashraf. I am very conscious of the very different opinions that we hear on this. However, the honourable gentleman is completely right that the significant part of this is to make sure that people’s rights are not violated and that we ensure humanitarian support is given. We do indeed – hence I know about the weekly reports. That is not by accident, it is because we are engaging on this issue and engaging with the government there to try to deal with that in the best possible way that we can.

I also agree that it is now important to get a strong delegation in Geneva. Again Mrs Hautala raises specifically the fact that we have just appointed a new Head of Delegation. I talked with the team while I was in Geneva. We have split the delegation in two so that one can concentrate on the issues, particularly of the World Trade Organisation, and the other can focus much more on the UN agencies.

In my conversations on this, I am also clear on the need to think better and more creatively about how we operate in Geneva. We need to build alliances on human rights and to have the opportunity to talk with partners across the world where we can make common cause on some of the most important issues that concern us. I hope that we will be able to move forward on that over the coming weeks and months.

If I might just finish with this, I was very taken by what Mr Salavrakos said when he said that human rights is a way of life. I think that is probably right. I describe it as being this simple: for human rights to apply to you, you simply have to be here and human. There are no other criteria that should apply. I think that in all that we do, it is really important that we do not forget that very simple basic principle.

Honourable Members, there will be many issues upon which we disagree, many issues which create – as I witnessed – real passion and concern, but the ability to be able to debate those issues and the ability to put our strength of feeling on human rights at the core of what we think is absolutely essential.

Very finally, I have not made any decision about opening a delegation in Iran. That is partly a resources question, but of course I will keep honourable Members informed about that.

Meanwhile, I would like to thank everyone for this debate and to assure honourable Members that I will do all I can to make the Human Rights Council as effective as possible and – more important even than that – to represent the European Parliament and the European Union on issues of human rights as effectively as I possibly can.

  José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra (PPE). - Señor Presidente, no he entendido muy bien la respuesta de la señora Ashton. No sé si me ha respondido o si me ha dicho que la respuesta a la pregunta que yo le he formulado sobre la conveniencia, en el contexto del respeto a los derechos humanos, de abrir una delegación de la Unión Europea en Irán queda para más adelante o, si, directamente, no me ha respondido. Me gustaría insistir en la pregunta que le he formulado porque no he entendido la respuesta.

  Catherine Ashton, Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. − Mr President, in response to Mr Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, I was trying to say that there are two issues. One is resources, inevitably. The second is that this will require a decision to be made and for proposals to be put by me, obviously not least to the Commission, on the opening of a delegation. There will be a discussion in the Foreign Affairs Council and Parliament will also take a view on this. I have had no discussions with anybody about doing this at the moment. As you well know, at the present time my engagement with Iran is very much on the nuclear talks and the human rights issues.

  El Presidente. − Para cerrar el debate se han presentado seis propuestas de resolución⁽¹⁾de conformidad con el apartado 2 del artículo 110 del Reglamento.

Se cierra el debate.

La votación tendrá lugar el jueves 10 de marzo a las 12.00 horas.

Declaraciones por escrito (artículo 149 del Reglamento)

  Tunne Kelam (PPE), in writing. – In light of the current situation in North Africa, and taking into account the fact that human rights are being violated more than ever across the world, the work of the UNHRC needs to be reformed. The UNHRC has to act in time and to react efficiently to the new challenges. Regrettably, this is not the reality. The problem could be partly solved if additional meetings beyond the current sessions would take place. Further, the UNHRC needs to seriously review its membership to make sure that its members fulfil the minimum criteria. It is shameful that dictatorships, such as Libya, could so easily take a seat in the body intended to safeguard human rights. More than ever, the credibility of the UNHRC is being challenged by politically motivated behaviour. Using the EEA, the EU now has an opportunity to speak with one voice and to function as a global actor. The Vice-President/High Representative has to make sure that the actions are coherent and that an efficient coordination takes place between the EU Representations in Geneva and New York. There is no practical alternative to EU value-based foreign policy.

  Alexander Mirsky (S&D), in writing. – No convincing and efficient resolution can be adopted while human rights are being strongly violated within European Union. All loud statements and words turn into cynicism and undermine the basis of the fight against global injustice and lies. The European Union should not give advice to third countries while in its own territory, namely in Latvia, the government treats Parliament’s resolution of 11 March 2004 with scorn and derision. It is not acceptable to demand that other countries do what the European Union is not able to demand that the Latvian Republic should do. How can the EU be called ‘united’ when rules are not for every Member State? Until the resolution on 335 000 Latvian non-citizens is implemented there is no sense in asking for changes in the area of human rights in third countries. It is a rough derision of democracy and human rights.

  Joanna Senyszyn (S&D), na piśmie. – Dobrze, że w programie 16. sesji UNHRC, obok ogólnej problematyki przestrzegania praw człowieka, znalazły się raporty i panele dot. praw dziecka, przemocy wobec kobiet, praw mniejszości narodowych, etnicznych, religijnych i językowych oraz walki z terroryzmem. Podczas sesji ma zostać przedstawione także międzyregionalne oświadczenie na temat praw osób LGBT. UNHRC potrzebuje nowych narzędzi prawnych do stałego monitorowania permanentnego łamania praw człowieka oraz szybkiego reagowania na sytuacje nagłe, wynikające z politycznej sytuacji na świecie (Tunezja, Egipt, Iran, Białoruś. Dlatego wspieram zaproponowaną w rezolucji ideę niezależnych „alarmów” pozwalających na szybkie reagowanie na kryzysy w zakresie przestrzegania praw człowieka. Cieszy mnie powstanie nowej dyrekcji odpowiedzialnej za prawa człowieka i demokrację oraz ustanowienie grupy roboczej Rady UE ds. praw człowieka z siedzibą w Brukseli, gdyż pozwoli to na lepszą koordynację i monitoring polityki UE w zakresie praw człowieka. Dużą rolę powinien odegrać specjalny przedstawiciel wysokiego szczebla UE ds. praw człowieka. Panele UNHRC powinny być organizowane także poza sesją, a same sesje przenoszone w inne regiony, także tam, gdzie są aktualne konflikty. Na zakończenie apeluję także do państw członkowskich UE o przestrzeganie praw człowieka we własnej polityce wewnętrznej, gdyż nieprzestrzeganie ich osłabia pozycję Unii w UNHRC.

PŘEDSEDNICTVÍ: PAN LIBOR ROUČEK
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