MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation of Ethiopian migrants in the detention centres of Saudi Arabia

6.10.2020 - (2020/2815(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 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Anna Fotyga, Karol Karski, Witold Waszczykowski, Jadwiga Wisniewska, Raffaele Fitto, Angel Dzhambazki, Valdemar Tomasevski, Elzbieta Kruk, Ruza Tomasic, Adam Bielan, Assita Kanko, Joanna Kopcinska, Jan Zahradil, Veronika Vrecionova, Emmanouil Fragkos, Andrey Slabakov
on behalf of the ECR Group

B9‑0329/2020

European Parliament resolution on the situation of Ethiopian migrants in the detention centres of Saudi Arabia

(2020/2815(RSP))

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on Saudi Arabia;

- having regard to the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

- having regard to the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;

- having regard to the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,

- having regard to the Arab Charter on Human Rights, ratified by Saudi Arabia in 2009,

- having regard to Saudi Arabia’s Human Rights Commission’s statement on the conditions in detention centres, of 18 September 2020,

- having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure;

A. Whereas since early March 2020, Houthi forces in Yemen have expelled thousands of migrant workers, mainly Ethiopians, to Saudi Arabia in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic;

B. Whereas certain border areas see thousands of individuals crossing into Saudi Arabia in a single day, pushing existing detention facilities into overcapacity;

C. Whereas thousands of Ethiopians, even up to 500 000 illegal migrants, went to Saudi Arabia for work, making the Kingdom a key investor and source of foreign remittances for Ethiopia;

D. Whereas According to UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM), some 2,000 Ethiopians remain stranded on the Yemeni side of the border, without food, water or healthcare.

E. Whereas conditions in the migrants centers have been described as grossly insufficient and dehumanising with reported cases of brutality and systematic ill treatment against detainees;

F. Whereas Saudi Arabia’s Human Rights Commission has stated that the Kingdom is treating the reports about the detention centres with urgency and states to be committed to ensuring that those staying at the centres are treated with respect and dignity;

G. Whereas the Ethiopian government has expressed that it is “thankful” to Saudi Arabia for accepting Ethiopian migrants entering the country and has cooperated with the Saudi authorities to repatriate around 5,500 citizens between April and September 2020;

1. Expresses deep concern about the various reports of inadequate and inhumane conditions at the detention centres; calls for a swift and dignified resolution of the matter;

2. Underlines that all persons staying at the detention centres should be treated and cared for in manners that are in line with human rights conventions and international standards;

3. Supports the facilitation with third countries to ensure swift, voluntary, safe and dignified repatriation of all migrants to their home countries;

4. Calls on the EU to assist Ethiopian authorities with their efforts to create enough space in quarantine facilities to welcome the people back to ensure they are not bringing coronavirus with them;

5. Calls on Saudi Arabia to fulfil its promise to launch an investigation into the allegations of cruelty in the detention centres;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EEAS, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, the parliaments and governments of the Member States, His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia H.E. Abiy Ahmed.