MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Human rights in Uzbekistan
21.10.2014 - (2014/2904(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Mark Demesmaeker, Charles Tannock, Janusz Wojciechowski, Ryszard Czarnecki, Kazimierz Michał Ujazdowski, Zbigniew Kuźmiuk, Beata Gosiewska, Valdemar Tomaševski, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Karol Karski, Marek Jurek, Beatrix von Storch, Dawid Bohdan Jackiewicz, Marek Józef Gróbarczyk on behalf of the ECR Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0166/2014
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions of 15 November 2007, of 26 October 2006 , of 27 October 2005 and 9 June 2005 on Uzbekistan,
– having regard to the EC-Uzbekistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) of 12 March 1999,
– having regard to the EU Strategy for a new partnership with Central Asia, adopted by the European Council on 21-22 June 2007 and to the joint progress reports by the Commission and the Council of 24 June 2008 and 28 June 2010,
– having regard to the concluding observations of the UN Human Rights Committee (2005 and 2010 ), the concluding observations of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (2006) , the concluding observations of the Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women (2010) , the Concluding observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (2006) , the Report of the Working Group on Universal Periodic Review on Uzbekistan (2009) and the Report the ILO Conference Committee on the Application of Standards (2010 ), the Report of the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations regarding the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (2010 and 2011 ) and the Report of the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations regarding the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (2010 and 2011 ), which all express concern over the continued use of child labour in Uzbekistan,
- having regard to Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the importance of EU-Uzbekistan relations and acknowledges Uzbekistan's crucial role in the Central Asia region; whereas the EC-Uzbekistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) of 12 March 1999;
B. whereas the preparations for the new EU-Uzbekistan assistance programme for 2014-2020; whereas the EU assistance to Uzbekistan focuses on rural and local development, rule of law and judiciary reform, trade facilitation, support to the private sector and small businesses;
C. whereas a new EU Special Envoy has been appointed to the region of Central Asia with a task of ensuring the continued engagement with the countries;
D. whereas Uzbekistan made commitments relating to the protection of human rights, including the freedom of expression, assembly, and religion guaranteed in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the prohibition on torture enshrined in the Convention against Torture;
E. whereas the human right situation in Uzbekistan remains a cause of concern, in spite of the many efforts undertaken by the EU and international organisations to improve the situation;
F. whereas many of Uzbek citizens like human rights defenders, journalists and opposition activists and other are imprisoned on politically motivated charges;
G. whereas the Uzbek government refuses an independent investigation into the 2005 massacre of hundreds of people in Andijan;
H. whereas the International Labour Organisation (ILO) was able to monitor cotton harvest and that in its report in 2013 efforts appear to have been made by the Uzbek authorities to prevent children working in the cotton fields, whereas according to the latest reports forced labour in cotton harvesting are still widespread;
1. Stresses the importance of the relations between the EU and Uzbekistan and the strengthening of political and economic cooperation, but stresses that those relations must be based on mutual respect for the principles of democracy, rule of law and human rights, as is clearly laid down in the EU-Uzbekistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement;
2. Calls for the immediate release of all persons imprisoned on politically motivated charges;
3. Calls on the Uzbekistani authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all prisoners of conscience, including Isroil Kholdorov, Murad Dzhuraev, Erkin Musaev and Dilorom Abdukadirova;
4. Calls on the Uzbekistani authorities to allow an international independent investigation into the killing of hundreds of people in Andizhan in May 2005, after government security forces fired on mainly peaceful demonstrators;
5. Calls the Uzbekistani authorities to ensure that domestic legislation is compatible with the UN Convention Against Torture (CAT);
6. Calls on the Uzbekistani authorities to conduct prompt, effective, independent and impartial investigations into allegations of torture and other ill-treatment with a view to bring the perpetrators to justice, and facilitate full and effective reparations;
7. Calls for the ensuring access for the prisoners to appropriate medical treatment and to provide families of prisoners with all the information regarding location and health conditions;
8. Regrets that, despite the commitment to 'follow the situation closely', since October 2010 no further specific discussion on Uzbekistan has taken place at the Foreign Affairs Council and there have been no further Council Conclusions adopted;
9. Calls for a specific discussion at the Foreign Affairs Council on Uzbekistan and for the adoption of Council conclusions before the tenth anniversary of the Andizhan killings in May 2015;
10. Requests that the Council, Commission and EEAS provide Parliament with a public assessment of measures taken by the EU to press Uzbekistan to meet the benchmarks in the October 2010 Council conclusions, including an assessment of the EU-Uzbekistan human rights dialogue and its achievements in securing tangible progress on human rights;
11. Given the ongoing violations in the country, and the lack of any progress on the ground since 2010, calls on the Council, Commission, EEAS and member states to increase attention to addressing human rights violations in Uzbekistan as part of all EU bilateral relations and at political dialogues at all levels, in line with the EU Strategic Framework on Human Rights and Democracy;
12. Calls on the Uzbekistani authorities to allow independent international monitors unimpeded access to the country, including the UN Special Rapporteur on torture;
13. Calls on the EU Delegation to Tashkent to fully implement its commitments under the EU human rights guidelines, including with regards to making and issuing public statements, requesting information on allegations of torture, ensuring contact with HRDs, undertaking prison visits and trial monitoring, and carrying out human rights reporting;
14. Urges the EEAS to address all the cases of human rights violations at the meeting of the EU-Uzbekistan Human Rights Dialogue which takes place in November;
15. Calls on the new EU special envoy to challenge the Uzbek authorities to ensure access to justice and the rule of law;
16. Calls on the EU, and in particular the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to monitor developments closely, to raise all issues of concern with the Uzbek authorities, to offer assistance, and to report regularly to Parliament;
17. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the HR/VP and to the Council, the Commission, the Governments and Parliaments of the Member States, the Government and Parliament of the Republic of Uzbekistan.