MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on discrimination against girls in Pakistan, in particular the case of Malala Yousafzai

23.10.2012 - (2012/2843(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 122 of the Rules of Procedure

Marie-Christine Vergiat; Patrick Le Hyaric; Willy Meyer on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0477/2012

B7‑0495/2012

European Parliament resolution on discrimination against girls in Pakistan, in particular the case of Malala Yousafzai

(2012/2843(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–   , having regard to its previous resolutions on human rights and democracy in Pakistan, in particular that of 20 January 2011 and those of 20 May 2010 and 12 July 2007, 25 October 2007, 15 November 2007 and of 15 December 2011;

–   having regard to Rule 122 of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas Malala Yousafzai has campaigned for girls’ access to education in her region since she was 11 years old, and her father ran one of the last girls’ schools to defy a Taliban ban against female education in Swat valley; whereas Malala Yousafzai received the Pakistani Government's highest civilian award in 2011 for her campaign for girls' education

B.  whereas Gunmen opened fire on Malala Yousufzai and a friend as they were travelling home from school in Mingora town; whereas the Taleban have claimed responsibility for this shocking act of violence;

C.  whereas the almost three decades of the Afghan war has had immense negative consequences on Pakistan's political, economic and social situation; whereas Pakistani tribal regions are the target of US drones killing more than 2.500 people, 80% civilians, 174 of them were children;

D.  whereas decades of violence and the war in Afghanistan resulted in a destabilisation of the whole region and in a preoccupying strengthening of extremist groups; whereas Pakistani Taleban and other armed groups killed civilians in targeted and indiscriminate attacks across the country; whereas in particular girls and women are affected by the violence and discrimination;

E.  whereas nearly one million people remain displaced as a result of continued conflict between the security forces and the Pakistani Taleban; whereas communities returning to regions experience lack of security and access to basic services;

F.  whereas the political and human rights situation in Pakistan in general is a matter of deep preoccupation; whereas security and intelligence officials are often involved in severe human rights violations, whereas the authorities are frequently unwilling or unable to protect the civilian population, in particular women, ethnic and religious minorities, journalists and other vulnerable groups from abuses, and bring perpetrators to justice;

G.  whereas the international community, including the EU for many years closed the eyes vis-à-vis the developments in Pakistan; whereas this contributed to the current developments;

H.  whereas despite the fact there has been progress in legislation on women’s issues in Pakistan and more than half a dozen laws have been enacted for the protection and promotion of women’s rights in the period between 2010 and March 2012 women have experienced an increase in violence including sexual and domestic violence, acid throwing, killings and rape in recent years; whereas the Aurat Foundation ducumented 8,539 cases of violence against women, including 1,575 murders, 827 rapes, 610 incidents of domestic violence, 705 honour killings and 44 acid attacks; ; whereas in particular women and girls in conflict-prone areas in the Northwest and Balochistan faced severe difficulties in accessing education and health care;

I.  whereas according to the Pakistani government, 246 schools (59 girls’ schools, 187 boys’ schools) were destroyed and 763 damaged (244 girls’ schools, 519 boys’ schools) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province as a result of the conflict with the Taleban, depriving thousands of children of access to education; whereas threats of violence from the Pakistani Taleban imposed severe restrictions on access to health services, education and participation in public life for women and girls

1.  Condemns the shocking act of violence against the 14 years old Malala Yousafzai who has bravely been fighting for her right to education; calls on the Pakistani authorities to protect Malalas family and to bring those responsible for the crime against Malala Yousafzai to justice;

2.  Expresses deep concern about the climate of intolerance and violence in many regions of Pakistan and urges the Government of Pakistan to prosecute those inciting violence, in particular those calling for and, in some cases, offering rewards for the deaths of individuals and groups with whom they disagree;

3.  Condemns the violation of the territorial integrity of Pakistan by the US drone attacks; urgently calls for an immediate end of all drone attacks on the territory of Pakistan and Afghanistan;

4.  Expresses deep concern at the fact that 20 million children already out of school in Pakistan; calls on the Pakistani government to undertake the necessary measures to guarantee all children’s rights, including education in a safe and protective environment;

5.  Calls on the Commission and Council to support the Pakistani government in the reconstruction of schools and to propose and implement education programmes aimed at improving the literacy and education with special emphasis on girls and women in Pakistan;

6.  Calls on the competent EU institutions to include the issue of religious tolerance in society in its political dialogue with Pakistan, this matter being of central importance to the long-term fight against religious extremism;

7.  Urges the competent EU institutions to insist that the Government of Pakistan uphold the democracy and human rights clause enshrined in the Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; reiterates its call on the European External Action Service to present a report on the implementation of the Cooperation Agreement and the democracy and human rights clause;

8.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the European External Action Service, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the Government and Parliament of Pakistan.