MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the forced abortion scandal in China
3.7.2012 - (2012/2712(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure
Helga Trüpel, Eva Lichtenberger, Raül Romeva i Rueda, Barbara Lochbihler, Nicole Kiil-Nielsen, Reinhard Bütikofer on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0388/2012
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on China,
- Having regard to its resolution on the Annual Report on Human Rights in the World and the European Union's policy on the matter, including implications for the EU's strategic human rights of 18 April 2012,
– having regard to the reports submitted under the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Optional Protocol thereto, and to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,
- having regard to the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, (1994)
- Having regards to the EU-China Human rights dialogue
- having regard to China's family planning policy, and to China's law on abortion;
- having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas on June 2 2012, in Zhenping, Shaanxi province, a seven-months pregnant woman called Feng Jianmei was kidnapped, forcibly taken to the hospital, beaten and injected with a product that induced abortion provoking the death of the foetus,
B. Whereas this violent act was performed in violation of China's law prohibits abortion beyond six months,
C. Whereas the municipal government of Ankang conducted an investigation that concluded that officials in Zhenping county used "crude means" and "persuaded" her to abort the foetus; whereas the report stated that this decision violated her rights and two top officials involved in this case were sacked for violating state and provincial government planning policies and five other officials were given demerits,
D. Whereas according to this investigation, local officials had asked Feng's family a "guarantee deposit" of 40.000 RMB which according to Feng's husband was a fine for having a second child; whereas local authorities had no legal ground to collect such deposit;
E. Whereas this financial demand exceeded by far the means of the family, and amounts to pure extortion;
F. whereas Feng was forced to sign a consent form to terminate her pregnancy because she would not pay the fine, and was being kept by guards in the hospital
G. Whereas Feng's husband Deng Jiyuan was beaten and prevented to talk to foreign journalists, and has meanwhile disappeared,
H. Whereas the family has been hassled by demonstrators and thugs demanding that Feng and his family leave their hometown,
I. whereas current family planning regulations in China deeply restrict women’s reproductive rights and contribute to an increasing gender-imbalance,
1. Strongly condemns the decision to forcedly abort Feng Jianmei as well as the subsequent harassment of her family and the disappearance of Deng Jinyuan;
2. Expresses its concern about the implementation of family planning policies at the local level and urges the Chinese government to take action to improve the rule of law everywhere on its territory, thus preventing local authorities from exerting forceful practices to meet birth-control targets in violation of citizens rights duly guaranteed by the Chinese law;
3. Welcomes the apologies of Ankang municipal government to Ms Feng as well as the decision to offer Feng's family compensation and to strongly sanction local officials involved in this case;
4. Takes note of the fact that Feng’s case became widely known thanks to the internet and stresses the importance of freedom of expression including online; welcomes with satisfaction the emergence of a public debating sphere partly thanks to microblogging;
5. Calls on an enquiry on Deng Jiyuan's whereabouts and insist he must be able to return home;
6. Demand public protection for Feng's family against the thugs that hassle them;
7. Reiterates its previous calls for freedom of work of foreign journalists operating in China;
8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to 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, the Government and Parliament of the People's Republic of China and the local authorities of the Shaanxi province.