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B8-0478/2015
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Zimbabwe, the case of human rights defender Itai Dzamara

19.5.2015 - (2015/2710(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 135 of the Rules of Procedure

Josef Weidenholzer, Victor Boștinaru, Richard Howitt, Norbert Neuser, Elena Valenciano, Ana Gomes, Pier Antonio Panzeri, Liisa Jaakonsaari, Kati Piri, Miriam Dalli, Krystyna Łybacka, Viorica Dăncilă, Victor Negrescu, Tibor Szanyi, Theresa Griffin, Michela Giuffrida, Siôn Simon, Doru-Claudian Frunzulică, Hugues Bayet, Miroslav Poche, Zigmantas Balčytis, Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, Nicola Danti, Sergio Gutiérrez Prieto, Nicola Caputo, Neena Gill, Marlene Mizzi, Biljana Borzan, Momchil Nekov, Enrico Gasbarra, Marc Tarabella, Alessia Maria Mosca, Nikos Androulakis, Demetris Papadakis, Arne Lietz, Inmaculada Rodríguez-Piñero Fernández, José Blanco López, Isabella De Monte, Tonino Picula, Goffredo Maria Bettini, Daciana Octavia Sârbu, Eric Andrieu, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, Eider Gardiazabal Rubial, Jonás Fernández, Damiano Zoffoli, Kashetu Kyenge, Afzal Khan, Jeppe Kofod on behalf of the ALDE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0465/2015

Eljárás : 2015/2710(RSP)
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B8‑0478/2015

European Parliament resolution on Zimbabwe, the case of human rights defender Itai Dzamara

(2015/2710(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to its previous resolutions on Zimbabwe,

–   having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States, of the one part, and the European Community, on the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000 (the Cotonou Agreement),

–   having regard to the Council of the European Union conclusions on Zimbabwe,

–   having regard to the Statement by the Spokesperson of the EEAS of 31 October 2014

–   having regard to the EU Delegation to the Republic of Zimbabwe’s statements of 11 March and 9 April on the abduction of Itai Dzamara,

–   having regard to the UN Millennium Declaration of 8 September 2000, which sets out the Millennium Development Goals,

–   having regard to the African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights of June 1981, which Zimbabwe has ratified,

–   having regard to the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance of January 2007, which Zimbabwe has ratified,

–   having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of December 1948,

–   having regard to the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders of December 1998,

–   having regard to Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure,

 

A. whereas Itai Dzamara is a prominent journalist and human rights activist in Zimbabwe who is also the leader of the Occupy Africa Unity Square protest group;

 

B.  whereas the protest group has led a number of peaceful protests against the deteriorating environment in the country, petitioned President Robert Mugabe to resign and called for reforms of the electoral system;

 

C. whereas on 9 March 2015, five men abducted Itai Dzamara from a barber shop and he has not been heard of since;

 

D. whereas according to reports from his wife and colleagues, state security agents had repeatedly threatened him prior to his abduction;

 

E.  whereas Itai Dzamara had been assaulted on several occasions by supporters of the ruling party Zanu-PF and uniformed police officers.

 

F.  whereas the ruling party Zanu-PF is denying his enforced disappearance and denounces a staged act by opposition parties;

 

G. whereas upon request from his wife, the High Court of Harare ordered the home affairs minister, the police commissioner general and the director general of teh Central Intelligence Organziation to do all things necessary to determine the whereabouts of Itai Dzamara and to report back to the Court every 2 weeks; whereas the state authorities have yet to comply to this ruling;

 

H. whereas on the contrary on April 25 police arrested activists who had organised a car procession to raise awareness about Itai Dzamara's disappearance;

 

I.   whereas freedom of assembly, association and expression are essential components of any democracy,

J.   whereas the police often misuses existing laws to ban lawful public meetings nad gatherings and prosecute opposition and other activists;

 

K. whereas provisions regarding good governance, transparency in political offices and human rights have to be respected in accordance with Articles 11b, 96 and 97 of the Cotonou Agreement;

L.  whereas in November 2014 the appropriate measures under article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement concerning Zimbabwe expired;

M. whereas as a consequence the EU together with the Government of Zimbabwe prepared a 234 million euros National Indicative Programme aimed at helping Zimbabwe become a more democratic and prosperous country;

 

1.  Is extremely concerned by the enforced disappearance of Itai Dzamara, and stands shoulder to shoulder with his family, friends and activist colleagues;

 

2.  Recalls the overall responsibility of the Zimbabwean Government of ensuring the safety of all its citizens;

 

3.  Calls on the Zimbabwean authorities to immediately comply with the ruling of the High Court of Harare and do take all necessary measures to determine the whereabouts of Itai Dzmara, safeguard his wellbeing and accord him the full protection of the law;

 

4.  Notably urges the authorities to conduct an urgent and credible investigation, advertise his disappearance on all state media, publicly report on its findings, work closely with the lawyers appointed by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and hold accountable those responsible;

 

5.  Asks the authorities to ensure the safety and protection of Itai Dzamara's family, including his wife and children, friends and colleagues;

 

6.  Calls on Zimbabwe to abide by the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1998, and in particular Article 1 thereof, which states that ‘everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels’;

7.  Calls on the EU delegation in Harare to continue to offer its assistance to Zimbabwe’s Government in order to improve the human rights situation;

8.  Asks the EU to step up its political dialogue on human rights on the basis of Article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement, and notably to encourage the Government to repeal or appropriately amend the Public and Security Act and the Access to Information and protection of privacy Act in order to bring an end to their abuse;

9.  Insists that the EU must ensure that the development funding to Zimbabwe effectively addresses the needs of the population and that political and economic reforms financed by it are implemented;

10. Supports the renewal in February of the EU’s targeted measures currently in place, as well as the arms embargo, which are a response to the political and human rights situation in Zimbabwe;

11. Deplores the absence of a strong human rights clause in the interim EPA concluded with four Eastern and Southern African (ESA) States, including Zimbabwe; repeats its call for trade agreements concluded by the EU to include binding and non-negotiable human rights clauses; urges the European Commission to make this a priority in the continuing negotiations for a full EPA with the ESA States;

12. Instructs its President to forward this Resolution to the Council, the European Commission, the VP/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and the Parliaments of the Member States, the EEAS, the government and the Parliament of Zimbabwe, the governments of the South African Development Community, the World Bank, the Commonwealth Secretary-General and the Pan-African Parliament.