Compte rendu in extenso des débats

Mercredi 6 février 2013 - Strasbourg

13. 22e session du Conseil des droits de l'homme des Nations unies (débat)

  El Presidente. − El punto siguiente en el orden del día es el debate a partir de la Declaración de la Vicepresidenta de la Comisión y Alta Representante de la Unión para Asuntos Exteriores y Política de Seguridad sobre el 22º período de sesiones del Consejo de Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas.

  Lucinda Creighton, President-in-Office of the Council, on behalf of the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. − Mr President, it is my pleasure to address you on behalf of the High Representative and to outline the EU’s work programme for the upcoming 22nd session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Fully committed to a strong and effective multilateral human rights system, the EU is becoming ever more active in bringing its human rights priorities to this important multilateral forum, and thereby asserting that the United Nations matters.

The awarding of the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize to the EU recognised our sustained effort to promote and protect human rights worldwide. We take this as an encouragement to work even harder for this cause. The adoption of the EU human rights strategy and action plan and the appointment of Stavros Lambrinidis as EU Special Representative for Human Rights will help us to deliver on this task.

Throughout the last year, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva has again demonstrated its willingness to respond to the calls of millions of citizens for their rights. We have warmly supported the fact that more and more partners and other regional groups bring specific country situations to the Human Rights Council.

Turning to the 22nd session, let me first underline that the acute crisis in Syria must stay high on the agenda of the Human Rights Council. The recent report of the UN International Commission of Inquiry presents an alarming account of the increasingly sectarian nature of the conflict in that country.

Strongly committed to the fight against impunity, the EU will insist on the need for accountability for the serious human rights violations, including crimes under international law, perpetrated in Syria. Moreover, the mandate of the Commission should be renewed further, and we will push for a one-year extension to give it a solid basis for its work.

The EU will also continue to draw the attention of the international community to the persistent critical human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), which requires greater scrutiny. Together with Japan, the EU will present a resolution proposing the creation of an independent investigative mechanism, or Commission of Inquiry, in support of the special rapporteur, whose mandate should be renewed. The EU will also reinforce its calls on the government of the DPRK urgently to improve the human rights situation in the country.

Remaining seriously concerned by the worrying human rights situation in Iran, the EU will actively work for the extension of the mandate of the UN special rapporteur, and press to increase the backing for this mandate through outreach and demarches, building on the recent work in the context of the UN General Assembly resolution on Iran.

The EU believes that the issues of accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka should stay on the agenda of the HRC, and is moreover concerned about recent attacks on the independence of the judiciary in that country.

Looking ahead, as last year, a key EU priority for the June session of the Council will be the situation of human rights in Belarus, which continues to give rise to grave concern.

The reports of human rights abuses in Mali are of increasing concern and should be discussed, based on the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which focuses on the North of the country. The EU also appeals to the authorities to immediately investigate the reported human rights abuses and to hold those responsible for human rights violations to account. The EU calls for a rapid mobilisation and deployment of human rights observers.

Moreover, in this or subsequent sessions, the EU will support the call for the Council to address the state of human rights in Bahrain, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, South Sudan and Sudan. We will also closely follow developments in the human rights situation in North Africa, Russia and in some of the Central Asian countries.

It is heartening that one country regularly on the agenda of the Council in recent years, Myanmar/Burma, is a source of good news. This is due in no small part to the tireless international attention and our collective support to the many democracy and human rights activists in the country, including Nobel Peace and Sakharov Price laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

The EU welcomes the cooperation with Myanmar/Burma which led to the consensual adoption of a General Assembly resolution in December 2012, reflecting the important recent progress in the country while also recognising remaining human rights concerns, for instance the remaining political prisoners as well as the situation of the Rohinga in Rakhine State and in the ethnic areas. The resolution, which will be presented at the 22nd session of the Human Rights Council, will encourage further reforms.

I am now turning to the thematic priorities of the EU. Given our conviction that freedom of religion or belief is an inalienable human right and an essential pillar of safe and prosperous societies, the EU will again present a resolution on Freedom of Religion or Belief.

This year we will also aim at the consensual extension of a strong, independent mandate for the Special Rapporteur. High Representative/Vice-President Ashton is concerned by the increasing number of acts of discrimination based on religion or belief across the world, and has condemned on several occasions the violence against persons belonging to religious minorities everywhere in the world.

Gender equality and women’s empowerment is also a core priority for the High Representative, and we are very supportive of the holding of a high-level event celebrating the power of empowered women on 26 February.

As in previous years, together with Latin American and Caribbean countries, the EU will devote particular attention to the rights of the child, this year focusing on the right to the enjoyment by children of the highest attainable standard of health.

Throughout the year, the EU will also work with a cross-regional group of like-minded partners to continue to keep the issue of discrimination and violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity on the agenda of the United Nations, in follow-up to the landmark resolution of the Human Rights Council session of June 2011 and the successful cross-regional activities in New York.

The EU will advocate freedom of association and assembly and pay special attention to the promotion and protection of freedom of expression, notably through the internet.

We all recognise that the work of human rights defenders and civil society organisations is essential for democratic societies, and restrictions placed on NGO activities are a growing concern in many countries. The EU regularly defends the role of civil society representatives and human rights activists in the UN context. We are strongly concerned by reports of threats and reprisals affecting those who cooperate with UN human rights mechanisms, including the Human Rights Council and its Special Procedures, and we strongly condemn and speak out against such incidents.

As the full realisation of human rights is important for achieving sustainable development, the EU is pleased that the ‘mainstreaming panel’ of the Human Rights Council will this year discuss the integration of human rights into the post-2015 global development agenda which the EU will advocate in line with the corresponding commitment in the human rights action plan.

The March session of the Human Rights Council is also a worldwide gathering of human rights activists. The Human Rights Council is a crucial body for the promotion of universal human rights standards and the UN’s main forum affording worldwide scrutiny of the human rights performance of all countries.

With this in mind, the EU reaffirms its attachment to the universal periodic review (UPR) and calls upon all UN member states to effectively cooperate with this universal mechanism. The EU is also making every effort to preserve the universality of the UPR and continues to appeal to Israel to resume cooperation with the Human Rights Council more broadly and with the Office of the High Commissioner.

In closing, allow me to emphasise that the unwavering support of this House is very important for the success of our efforts. We look forward to the participation of a European Parliament delegation in the high-level opening week of the Council.

We count on your engagement and continued vigilance to push us further to make good on our commitments. We know that you will use contacts with your counterparts in support of our initiatives and advocate new issues that should be taken up by the international community.

IN THE CHAIR: ALEXANDER ALVARO
Vice-President

  Laima Liucija Andrikienė, PPE frakcijos vardu. – Žmogaus teisių pakomitečio delegacija artimiausiu metu lankysis Ženevoje, Jungtinių Tautų Žmogaus teisių taryboje, kur vasario 25 d. prasidės 22-oji Tarybos sesija. Sesijos teminiai prioritetai yra žinomi: religijos ir tikėjimo laisvė, vaiko teisės, prievarta prieš moteris, neįgaliųjų teisės. Sesijos metu bus aptariama situacija šalyse, kuriose žmogaus teisių padėtis yra labai sudėtinga ar net kritinė. Sirija, Birma, Korėjos Demokratinė Liaudies Respublika, Malis, Iranas yra sesijos darbotvarkėje.

Praėjusių metų rugsėjį 18 valstybių narių tapo naujomis Žmogaus teisių tarybos narėmis, ir šiuo metu 9 iš 47 yra Europos Sąjungos valstybės narės. Naujuoju Tarybos pirmininku tapo Lenkijos atstovas Remigiusz Henczel. Navanethem Pillay antrajai kadencijai išrinkta Jungtinių Tautų Vyriausiąja žmogaus teisių komisare. Mes ją nuosekliai remiame, pabrėždami jos pareigybės nepriklausomybės svarbą.

Rezoliucijoje, dėl kurios balsuosime rytoj, mes išreiškėme Europos Parlamento poziciją dėl žmogaus teisių padėties Arabų pavasario šalyse, konkrečiai Sirijoje, Libijoje, Jemene, Jungtiniuose Arabų Emyratuose, Bahreine, Egipte, taip pat atkreipiame dėmesį į skaudžiausias problemas ir siūlome jų sprendimo būdus. Svarbi rezoliucijos dalis skirta Europos Sąjungos vaidmeniui Žmogaus teisių taryboje. Mes tikimės aktyvaus ir rezultatyvaus Europos Sąjungos specialiojo atstovo žmogaus teisėms veikimo Taryboje, taip pat raginame Vyriausiąją įgaliotinę dalyvauti vadinamajame „high-level segment“ darbe. Ir, žinoma, tikimės, kad Europos Parlamento delegacija išreikš mūsų susirūpinimą ir poziciją visais klausimais, kurie išdėstyti rezoliucijoje.

  Richard Howitt, on behalf of the S&D Group. – Mr President, I welcome this debate and our resolution, with its emphasis on the importance in the forthcoming Human Rights Council session of dealing with issues ranging from the negative impact of the financial and economic crisis, the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Vienna Declaration, the interactive debate on the rights of people with disabilities and the panel discussion on human rights mainstreaming. We are working very hard to try to mainstream human rights here in the External Action Service in the European Union and it is right that we support efforts to do so in the United Nations.

On country-specific actions, I welcome what the President-in-Office has said about Bahrain. Having been in Bahrain with the Subcommittee on Human Rights just before Christmas and having visited, with my Portuguese colleague beside me, Jau prison, where it is claimed there are some 800 political prisoners and where I heard testimonies about torture and mistreatment, I think it is absolutely right that we keep up the pressure in relation to that country.

I also welcome what the President-in-Office said in relation to Israel. I had the Israeli political counsellor with me today and I talked to him about the importance of his country’s engagement with the Palestinians, while recognising the importance of our engagement with Israel. Therefore it is extremely disappointing that they do not engage with the Universal Periodic Review in the UN Human Rights Council. I thank her for what she said.

In relation to Sri Lanka, I am disappointed because we worked so hard, both in my group and in this Parliament, to try to build bridges with Sri Lanka in order to move forward on some of the human rights issues. But they have to understand that, if the first woman Supreme Court Chair is removed from office and then the International Bar Association is prevented from visiting the country to investigate what has happened, we will criticise. We do not do it for its own sake but those criticisms must be heard.

I am very disappointed that my group’s suggestion for a parliamentary report on the situation of the Western Sahara has been watered down in this Parliament, first of all to the Sahara and now to the Sahel. I agree with the President-in-Office that there are big issues across the Sahel region. We understand that at the moment, but those should not be progressed at the expense of recognising that there are real issues around freedom of expression, freedom of association and the right to demonstrate of the Saharawi people, including political prisoners. A special envoy has of course been appointed and I call on the EEAS to make sure that issue is dealt with in the Human Rights Council.

Finally, on the day of the agreement of my own report on corporate responsibility, I am delighted that there will be thematic attention at the Human Rights Council on the UN guiding principles on business and human rights. Out of 27 of our EU Member States, 19 are undertaking national action plans on the guiding principles. Let us take that enthusiasm and that fervour with us to try to make sure implementation is not just taking place in Europe but is happening worldwide.

(The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149(8))

  Charles Tannock (ECR), blue-card question. – Mr Howitt, do you not accept both my personal assurances as the rapporteur on the Sahel and the written minutes of the enlarged Bureau that this report on the Sahel will also make reference to human rights in Western Sahara, because I thought that was made very clear? The reason the title was changed is because otherwise it would have been too large a report for any reasonable rapporteur to cope with, if it covered the entire Sahel and the Sahara region with it.

  Richard Howitt (S&D), blue-card answer. – First of all I accept your personal good faith: I make no personal criticism of my honourable colleague. But the proposal from the Socialist and Democrat Group was for a report on the Western Sahara, and it is disappointing to me that this has not been respected. I am aware of that minute – I accept it – and I am sure you will do your best within the terms of reference that have been given to you. We too will do our best to contribute to the work on your report in a constructive way.

  Marietje Schaake, on behalf of the ALDE Group. – Mr President, the need to protect and promote human rights in today’s world is becoming an ever more challenging task. It is essential that the UN plays an effective and credible role, especially regarding human rights, and a lot of work needs to be done. After the cowardly assassination of Chokri Belaid today we are reminded that challenges remain in North Africa and the Middle East, especially in those countries which witnessed uprisings as the people sought new hope, freedom and opportunity after decades of repression and human rights violations.

Syria is our highest priority. The violence has to end, full stop. All sides of the conflict must take their responsibility and allow the access of humanitarian aid efforts. We should also work on establishing a UN Security Council resolution to guarantee that the aid reaches people safely.

Iran is facing a crucial year with elections and a new round of negotiations on the nuclear file. It is the new role of the UN Human Rights Council and the EU to ensure that human rights are not forgotten or violated to a greater extent than they are today. The special rapporteur for human rights in Iran needs to be able to continue his work, and we jointly need to condemn the arrest of journalists and the violence and executions.

On Bahrain the European Parliament has been among the most vocal in condemning the ongoing human rights violations, and I also support the calls by this House to adopt a resolution on the human rights situation in Bahrain during the 22nd session. This would also have to include mechanisms to monitor the implementation of the report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI).

Finally, in Egypt we risk seeing increased violence as a result of abuse of power, both politically and by police forces, and this is very problematic. We should continue to let the people of Egypt know that we support the rule of law, democracy and human rights, that we will hold their new leaders accountable, and that we jointly condemn the death penalty and call for a moratorium on the death penalty, including in the context of the most recent convictions of 21 suspects in the Port Said massacre.

  Barbara Lochbihler, im Namen der Verts/ALE-Fraktion. – Herr Präsident! Danke, Frau Ministerin Creighton! Sie haben sehr schön die Prioritäten der EU aufgelistet, die zum großen Teil unsere volle Unterstützung finden, wie sie auch in unserer Entschließung dargelegt ist. Es ist eine sehr umfangreiche Entschließung geworden. Es macht auch deshalb Sinn, sich intensiv damit zu beschäftigen, weil die Ergebnisse im Menschenrechtsrat und die Erkenntnisse, die man dort hat, eine wichtige Grundlage auch für unsere Menschenrechtsarbeit auf europäischer Ebene sind. Deshalb ist die Qualität der Arbeit des Menschenrechtsrates für uns sehr wichtig. Wir bitten Sie – wie jedes Jahr –, dass Sie sich dafür einsetzen, dass die Sonderberichterstatter der UN unabhängig arbeiten dürfen und dass sie verteidigt werden, wenn ihre Arbeit angegriffen wird.

Sie haben auch darauf hingewiesen, Frau Creighton, dass der UPR, der Universal Periodic Review, ein sehr wichtiges Instrument ist. Das können wir nur unterstützen. Wir erleben es, dass gerade die Umsetzung der UPR-Ergebnisse Erfolge erzielt, dass es konkret vor Ort zu Verbesserungen kommt. Umso bedauerlicher ist es, dass Israel die Mitarbeit beim UPR-Mechanismus suspendiert hat. Ich hoffe, es gelingt Ihnen, darauf hinzuwirken, dass dieser Schritt zurückgenommen wird.

Oberste Priorität hat die Entschließung zu Syrien. Frau Schaake hat darauf hingewiesen: auch hier volle Unterstützung. Wir haben viele Anregungen gemacht. Umso bedauerlicher ist es, dass beim Verweis der Situation Syriens an den Internationalen Strafgerichtshof die EU nicht mit einer Stimme spricht. Ich hoffe sehr, dass vielleicht im Rat darauf hingewirkt werden kann, dass Schweden seine Position hier korrigiert.

Neu in unserer Entschließung ist, dass wir die EU bitten, sich dafür einzusetzen, dass die nichtstaatlichen Organisationen nicht mehr so gegängelt werden, wie wir es mit zahlreichen Gesetzen in unterschiedlichen Ländern erleben. Es ist auch vorgekommen, dass Aktivisten in Genf bedroht werden. Das kann eigentlich nicht hingenommen werden.

(Die Rednerin ist damit einverstanden, eine Frage nach dem Verfahren der „blauen Karte“ gemäß Artikel 149 Absatz 8 der Geschäftsordnung zu beantworten.)

  Marek Henryk Migalski (ECR), pytanie zadane przez podniesienie niebieskiej kartki. – Pani wie, że bardzo cenię Pani pracę w Parlamencie, zwłaszcza na rzecz praw człowieka. Wielokrotnie zresztą współpracowaliśmy. Proszę wobec tego przyjąć gratulacje z tego powodu. Moje pytanie dotyczy jednak tego, czy nie uważa Pani za nieszczęśliwe, że w tej rezolucji rzeczywiście napominamy Izrael w sprawie praw człowieka, a nie znalazły się tam właściwie wezwania do przestrzegania praw człowieka w Rosji, gdzie sytuacja się pogarsza. Ostatni raport organizacji Human Rights Watch pokazuje zresztą, że poprzedni rok był najgorszy w ostatnim czasie. Czy nie uważa Pani tego za nieszczęśliwe?

  Barbara Lochbihler (Verts/ALE), Antwort auf eine Frage nach dem Verfahren der blauen Karte. – Zu dem Punkt, warum wir jetzt Israel kritisieren: Da haben wir mehrere Ziffern, die die Situation in der Region behandeln. Ich habe hervorgehoben, dass besonders der Schritt, dass die Regierung nicht mehr mit dem Universal Periodic Review zusammenarbeiten will, eine Schwächung des ganzen UN-Systems ist. Deshalb habe ich das gesagt. Selbstverständlich sollte die EU dort, wo es sich ergibt, auch die Menschenrechtssituation, die Verletzungen der Menschenrechte in Russland kritisieren.

  Charles Tannock, on behalf of the ECR Group. – Mr President, the 22nd session of the UN Human Rights Council offers a comprehensive overview of the world’s major human rights trouble spots. Both my Group and I broadly support its conclusions, particularly regarding the Universal Periodic Review and the necessity of guarding and developing human rights in the Arab Spring countries.

Syria, of course, currently offers the bleakest outlook in this regard as the abuses perpetrated by the Assad regime and, sadly, some of the extremist factions within the rebels, show no signs of abating. We must also watch closely the situation in Egypt, Libya and, increasingly, Tunisia, where only yesterday an opposition secular leader was assassinated. The shock over the Egyptian police’s treatment of protestors last week also demonstrates how this country risks replacing one form of tyranny, a secular one, with another. The situation in Mali is also worrying at the moment.

Elsewhere the report has valuable things to say on the subject of religious rights. I am a longstanding supporter of Christian rights in countries where they form a minority. Governments in countries as diverse as China, Iran, Vietnam and Eritrea actively persecute Christian minorities. More broadly, people everywhere must peaceably worship as they choose. Linked in with the religious rights is freedom of speech, and the report highlights the need for journalists, NGOs and human rights defenders to play a full role in their societies.

I also welcome the section on LGBT rights. Clearly there is a long way to go in this regard, but we can all agree that imprisoning gay people, let alone sentencing them to death, as proposed recently in Uganda, is unacceptable. African leaders who claim that homosexuality is somehow a European import are simply mistaken.

One report element that I dislike is the overtly condemnatory tone towards Israel. But overall, nevertheless, the report is very welcome. The EU must harness all the tools at its disposal, from the European External Action Service and the Commission to Parliament delegations, to work with the United Nations to see changes implemented and success delivered for all of us.

  Willy Meyer, en nombre del Grupo GUE/NGL. – Señor Presidente, mi Grupo valora muy positivamente la próxima reunión del Consejo en Ginebra, pero lamentamos que en el mandato del Parlamento no se hayan introducido tres temas, muy importantes, que tienen que ver con la política exterior y con la propia realidad de la Unión Europea.

En primer lugar, no se habla de la situación de los derechos humanos en los países árabes ocupados, como el Sáhara Occidental, un territorio no autónomo que está pendiente de descolonización. Este viernes se celebra el juicio de 24 activistas saharauis en Rabat, precisamente a raíz de una violenta disolución del Campamento de la Dignidad de El Aaiún en 2010.

Tampoco aparece la ocupación turca del norte de la República de Chipre, con una política de colonización inaceptable que atenta contra la integridad turcochipriota del norte de la isla.

Y, finalmente, los vuelos de la CIA: está acreditado que existieron centros de tortura que fueron consentidos por países de la Unión Europea, y que, efectivamente, se utilizó el espacio aéreo para permitir estas acciones ilegales de la CIA.

Yo creo que es muy importante que el Parlamento Europeo, en línea con sus propias resoluciones, recoja temas como el Sáhara Occidental y la situación en ese territorio no autónomo, con continuas violaciones de derechos humanos, así como la situación del norte de la República de Chipre y, finalmente, los vuelos de la CIA.

Son temas que tienen que ver con lo tratado habitualmente en esta Cámara.

  Daniël van der Stoep (NI). - De Europese Unie gaat er prat op dat zij opkomt voor mensenrechten, waar ook ter wereld en zonder onderscheid des persoons. Dat is een nobel en waardig streven, iets wat wij Europeanen met de lessen uit ons verleden inderdaad in woord en gebaar moeten uitdragen. Er zijn een aantal supermensenrechten die vallen onder het zogenaamde ius cogens. Het ius cogens is het allesoverheersende recht waar nooit ofte nimmer van mag worden afgeweken. Voorbeelden daarvan zijn de verboden op genocide, slavernij en foltering. Het is de taak van iedereen in de wereld om daar tegen op te treden.

De mensenrechten waarover wij hier spreken, zijn mensenrechten ontleend aan verdragen. Maar verdragen hebben als nadeel dat zij politieke keuzes zijn. Dat merken wij bij één van de belangrijkste mensenrechten, namelijk het recht op de vrije meningsuiting. Er zijn maar weinig staten in deze wereld waar die vrijheid echt is gewaarborgd. Zelfs in Nederland is hij niet altijd veilig. Ook andere Europese regeringen zitten in hun maag met het recht dat burgers een eigen mening geeft, om maar niet te spreken van allerhande schurkenstaten in Afrika, het Midden-Oosten, de voormalige landen van de Sovjet-Unie, ja eigenlijk overal ter wereld.

Die constatering móet ons dwingen om de vrijheid van meningsuiting tot absoluut speerpunt te maken van het mensenrechtenbeleid van de Europese Unie. Zonder dat recht zijn burgers niet in staat om autoriteiten uit te dagen en regeringen te controleren. De borging van vrijheid van meningsuiting is ... (de Voorzitter ontneemt de spreker het woord).

  Francisco José Millán Mon (PPE). - Señor Presidente, nuevamente hablamos en este hemiciclo de los derechos humanos. El año anterior este tema fue muy importante para la Unión. Fue el de la aprobación del marco estratégico, el del nombramiento del Representante Especial, el de la creación de un fondo europeo para la democracia y, también, en 2012, tres países más de la Unión fueron elegidos miembros del Consejo de Derechos Humanos, elevándose su número ahora a nueve, una cifra que creo que es un récord y que nos obliga a ser muy activos en el Consejo.

El respeto de los derechos humanos es una destacada seña de identidad de la Unión y un importante principio que inspira nuestra política exterior. Dado que los derechos humanos son indivisibles y universales, tenemos que cooperar estrechamente con las Naciones Unidas y, desde luego, con el Consejo, que desempeña un papel indispensable en su defensa.

En las regiones que rodean a la Unión, la cuestión del respeto de los derechos humanos ocupa ahora un lugar muy relevante: me refiero a la ya llamada «Primavera árabe» y a la necesidad de que la libertad, la dignidad del individuo, la igualdad de género, etc. que impulsaron estas revoluciones sean ahora respetadas por los gobiernos que han surgido de estos cambios y de unas elecciones.

El respeto de los derechos humanos, como se ha dicho ya reiteradamente hoy aquí, es una de las cuestiones que también se debate, lógicamente, en ese conflicto, en esa guerra en Siria, en la que el régimen despótico de El Asad, sigue aferrado al poder. Como decía Marietje Schaake, es necesario que la ayuda humanitaria pueda llegar a las víctimas de esa violencia.

También en nuestra vecindad oriental los derechos humanos son protagonistas. Pienso, por ejemplo, como también ha dicho la Ministra Creighton, en Belarús. Por ello, el Consejo de Derechos Humanos ha nombrado recientemente a un relator especial.

Señorías, he citado las dos regiones vecinas de la Unión, pero son muchos los lugares del mundo en los que debemos prestar atención especial al respeto de los derechos humanos. Creo que con ese objetivo tenemos que participar muy activamente este año en el Consejo de Derechos Humanos, un importante órgano multilateral que vela, precisamente, por que las libertades básicas universales sean respetadas.

  Joanna Senyszyn (S&D). - Popieram rezolucję na 22. posiedzenie Rady Praw Człowieka ONZ. W szczególności zwracam uwagę na trzy kwestie. Konieczne są skuteczne działania Rady Bezpieczeństwa w związku ze wzrastającą liczbą zbrodni wojennych i zbrodni przeciwko ludzkości w Syrii. Liczę, że uda się uzgodnić tekst rezolucji zmierzającej do wywarcia skutecznej presji, aby położyć kres przemocy i łamaniu praw człowieka w tym kraju. Sytuacją w Syrii powinien zająć się Międzynarodowy Trybunał Karny.

Potrzebujemy też międzynarodowej komisji śledczej, która zajmie się łamaniem praw człowieka w Korei Północnej, gdzie w obozach koncentracyjnych jest przetrzymywanych co najmniej 200 000 więźniów politycznych. Na porządku dziennym są tortury, gwałty, zbiorowe egzekucje i niewolnicza praca. Karę śmierci stosuje się za najmniejsze przewinienia, często bez procesu sądowego.

Kolejna kwestia to konflikt palestyńsko-izraelski. Napięcie pomiędzy Izraelem i Palestyną wciąż narasta i grozi eskalacją na inne kraje. Konflikt rozgrywa się na płaszczyźnie militarnej, etnicznej, religijnej i angażuje wiele państw. Zmiana statusu Palestyny w ONZ może nie odegrać kluczowej roli w rozwiązaniu samego konfliktu izraelsko-palestyńskiego, ale jest wyraźnym sygnałem w kierunku Palestyny, że społeczność międzynarodowa wspiera wizję Abbasa i nie popiera zaborczości Izraela.

  Mirosław Piotrowski (ECR). - Przygotowywane jest 22. posiedzenie Rady Praw Człowieka ONZ, podczas którego poruszane będą m.in. kwestie wolności religijnej. W przedłożonym projekcie rezolucji naszej grupy, konserwatystów, nawiązującym do tekstu rezolucji ONZ w sprawie wolności religii i wyznania, w punkcie 23 podkreślamy, że wolność wyznania i swoboda wypowiedzi powinny być priorytetowo traktowane w każdym państwie demokratycznym i społeczeństwie.

Mówimy o wolności religijnej, ale tak naprawdę trzeba powiedzieć, że najbardziej dyskryminowaną grupą religijną na świecie są chrześcijanie, co potwierdza ostatni raport organizacji Open Doors. Według tej organizacji na świecie prześladowanych jest około 100 mln chrześcijan. Prześladowanie chrześcijan przybiera różne formy: od dyskryminacji społecznej i środowiskowej, poprzez gwałty, aż po bestialskie mordy. To powinno wybrzmieć nie tylko w Parlamencie Europejskim, ale także na forum Rady Praw Człowieka ONZ. Nie możemy poprzestać na zapisach, ale musimy powołać stosowne gremia wyposażone w skuteczne instrumenty do zwalczania tego zjawiska. Wstrzymanie prześladowań chrześcijan musi być nie tylko priorytetem ONZ, ale także Unii Europejskiej, której założycielami byli wielcy chrześcijanie, tacy jak Konrad Adenauer, Alcide de Gasperi czy Robert Schuman.

  Franz Obermayr (NI). - Herr Präsident! Der Menschenrechtsrat hat leider ein Grundproblem: seine Zusammensetzung. Da sich jeder UNO-Mitgliedstaat ohne Auswahlkriterien für den Rat bewerben kann und mit einfacher Mehrheit gewählt wird, sind auch Menschenrechte verletzende Staaten in den Rat gelangt. 2010 hat der ehemalige Sonderberichterstatter über Folter, Manfred Nowak, dem Rat attestiert, dass jene Staaten, die die Menschenrechte an meisten verletzen, die Mehrheit haben. Auch werden viele Entscheidungen nicht aus der Perspektive der Menschenrechte getroffen. So schmetterten die stimmenstarken islamischen Staaten regelmäßig Vorwürfe wie zum Beispiel gegen Usbekistan oder Iran ab.

Aber auch Länder, die höchste Ansprüche an die Demokratie stellen, halten sich nicht wirklich an die Spielregeln, wie es leider im Falle Israels der Fall war. So boykottierte Israel einfach eine Sitzung, um sich einer Überprüfung der Menschenrechtssituation auf seinem Staatsgebiet zu entziehen. Wie so der Schutz der Menschenrechte tatsächlich sichergestellt werden soll, wird wohl sehr, sehr schwer erklärbar sein.

  Michèle Striffler (PPE). - Monsieur le Président, Mesdames et Messieurs, Iran, Syrie, Birmanie, Chine et je pourrais citer bien d'autres pays où, aujourd'hui en 2013, les droits de l'homme sont encore bafoués et réprimés. Il est de notre devoir, à nous, Européens, de garantir les droits de l'homme et de porter nos valeurs d'humanité, de solidarité et de fraternité. C'est pourquoi je salue le discours de Mme la vice-présidente/haute représentante de l'Union pour les affaires étrangères et la politique de sécurité, et je salue aussi les résolutions ambitieuses du Parlement européen en vue de la 22e session du Conseil des droits de l'homme de l'ONU, qui se réunira à Genève, du 25 février au 22 mars prochain. Il y va, cher Président, de notre responsabilité de veiller au respect et à la promotion des droits de l'homme dans le monde.

C'est à nous de montrer l'exemple et de défendre toutes les personnes victimes de discriminations ou de violations de ces droits: droits civils, économiques et politiques mais aussi des droits individuels comme les droits des femmes, des minorités et des LGBT. Il nous faut nous saisir de ces sujets trop souvent oubliés ou mis de côté. Le non-respect des droits de l'homme entraîne la xénophobie, le racisme, l'intolérance. Je veux croire, Monsieur le président, que l'Union européenne, avec les outils dont elle dispose aujourd'hui, peut et doit renforcer la liberté et la tolérance.

Certes, le cadre stratégique de l'Union en matière de droits de l'homme est courageux et ambitieux, mais nous devons avoir le rêve qu'un jour chacun aura la possibilité de jouir de ces droits partout dans le monde.

J'espère que mes collègues qui se rendront à Genève pour le Conseil sauront porter notre voix et notre vision d'un monde où nous ne devrons plus nous battre pour l'universalité et l'indivisibilité des droits de l'homme.

C'est à nous de bâtir un monde meilleur où chacun pourra vivre dans le respect et la liberté.

  Ana Gomes (S&D). - A resolução que o Parlamento vai aprovar amanhã é para ser lida com atenção pelos governos, pelas instituições e pelos diplomatas da União Europeia, em particular aqueles que trabalharão no Conselho, em Genebra. Stavros Lambrinidis, o representante da União Europeia para os Direitos Humanos, deve coordenar a atuação dos países membros para garantir mais coerência e eficácia. Para isso, nós temos que começar o trabalho por casa. A União Europeia tem que prestar contas sobre as responsabilidades dos seus Estados-Membros pela colaboração com os chamados voos da CIA, os voos da tortura, porque sem isso não terá credibilidade. Ainda ontem saiu um relatório da Open Society que fala das responsabilidades europeias na matéria.

É lamentável que o Conselho dos Direitos Humanos continue a ter entre os seus membros eleitos países como os recém-eleitos Etiópia e Cazaquistão, que são graves violadores dos direitos humanos relativamente aos seus próprios povos. É uma oportunidade para a União Europeia denunciar essas situações e os confrontar com as suas responsabilidades.

A União Europeia tem também de condenar a recusa de Israel a submeter-se à UPR. É um gravíssimo precedente intolerável.

A Síria tem que ter principal enfoque e tem que se pedir ao Conselho dos Direitos Humanos que consiga que o Conselho das Nações Unidas refira a situação dos criminosos da Síria ao Tribunal Penal Internacional.

Sara Ocidental, Eritreia, Sudão e Sudão do Sul, Barém, Irão, Sri Lanca, Bielorrússia, Birmânia, Rússia e China são situações que deveriam continuar ou estar na agenda do Conselho.

Finalmente, nas questões temáticas, a violência contra as mulheres, crianças e pessoas de orientação LGBT tem…

(O Presidente retira a palavra à oradora)

  Marek Henryk Migalski (ECR). - Panie Przewodniczący! Jako członek Delegacji do spraw stosunków z Białorusią cieszę się, że posłanka Gomes wspomniała o obszarze postsowieckim i że ta tematyka jest zauważana, bo rzeczywiście obserwujemy pogorszenie się sytuacji na Białorusi w kwestii praw człowieka. Bardzo dobrze, że to znajduje wyraz również na tej sali. Widzę tutaj również Jacka Protasiewicza, wieloletniego szefa tej delegacji, myślę, że znajdujemy ukontentowanie, że ta tematyka państwa interesuje. Z kolei jako członek Delegacji do komisji współpracy parlamentarnej UE-Rosja wyrażam zaniepokojenie czy żal – o czym już mówiłem – że ta tematyka nie znalazła się w naszej rezolucji. Czy ma na to wpływ to, że Rosja jest stałym członkiem Rady Bezpieczeństwa? Mam nadzieję, że nie, bo nie powinniśmy odpuszczać tej tematyki, dlatego że sytuacja w Rosji pogarsza się z roku na rok.

  Michael Cashman (S&D). - Mr President, let me start by saying that human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent, and it is indispensable that the EU puts this at the forefront of all its policies. In this respect, I condemn the ongoing attempts to undermine the universality and indivisibility of human rights, in particular with a resolution on so-called traditional values. I welcome the focus of the resolution we will vote on tomorrow in advance of the UNHRC on minority rights, including LGBT rights. I thank the Commission for supporting the regional meeting on violence and discrimination against LGBT people (even though the Commission is not represented here) co-organised by the French Government in Paris in March, and I hope that this is a sign that the Commission is starting to bring forward an LGBT rights roadmap. I take this opportunity to congratulate the work of Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and I encourage our colleague Stavros Lambrinidis to work closely with her to continue to contribute to the EU’s leadership on this vital issue.

  Jacek Protasiewicz (PPE). - Mr President, I am sorry for being a little delayed in arriving for the debate, but in parallel there is a meeting of the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament that is talking precisely about Mr Kwaśniewski and Mr Cox’s mission to Ukraine. Coming from that meeting I have no doubt that it is our moral and political obligation as the European Union to support people who strive for human rights and freedoms, especially in the countries along our borders.

Speaking about our immediate neighbourhood, as the Vice-President responsible for the Eastern Partnership countries, I would like to focus specifically and particularly on Belarus, where human rights defenders go to prison for their activities, where there is violation of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, and where the death penalty still remains a natural form of punishment and, I am sorry to say, has been regularly abused.

And yet Belarus is not the only example of human rights violations and persecutions in our neighbourhood countries. We know about the human rights situation in Russia, which was mentioned by Mr Migalski, and the deteriorating situation in Ukraine as well in other Eastern European countries, the former Soviet Union countries. We need to use all the mechanisms and international tools available here in the European Parliament, in the European Union and in other international organisations such as the United Nations in order to have strong leverage and effective pressure on the authorities in those countries and mainstream the human rights issue in our agendas.

In this regard I welcome the United Nations Human Rights Council decision on the appointment of a special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, another acknowledgement amongst states of the world of a drastic human rights situation in this country. It is a shame that the Belarusian authorities have refused to cooperate with the rapporteur.

(The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149(8))

  Marek Henryk Migalski (ECR), pytanie zadane przez podniesienie niebieskiej kartki. – Szanowny Panie Pośle! Drogi Jacku! Wspomniałeś o trzech krajach obszaru postsowieckiego, w których sytuacja w kwestii praw człowieka się pogarsza, i ja podzielam tę opinię. Ale czy zauważasz konieczność gradacji, to znaczy fakt, że wrzucanie do jednego worka Ukrainy, Rosji, a zwłaszcza Białorusi, jest bardzo niesprawiedliwe wobec Ukrainy, ponieważ jak gdyby wpychamy ją do tej grupy państw, w których nie możemy nawet mówić o łamaniu praw człowieka, w ogóle o braku demokracji? Czy ta różnica jest zauważalna?

  Jacek Protasiewicz (PPE), odpowiedź na pytanie zadane przez podniesienie niebieskiej kartki. – Rzeczywiście różnica jest zauważalna. Wymieniłem te trzy kraje jako trzy najbliższe, sąsiadujące bezpośrednio z Unią Europejską kraje byłego Związku Radzieckiego, ale faktycznie widzimy różnicę pomiędzy sytuacją i demokracji, i praw człowieka na Ukrainie, gdzie ona jest najlepsza, chociaż niestety pogarszająca się; w Rosji, gdzie próbujemy wpływać na tę sytuację, niełatwą, i Białoruś, która jest krajem całkowicie zamkniętym na jakąkolwiek argumentację płynącą ze strony cywilizowanego świata – nie tylko Unii Europejskiej, nie tylko Zachodu, ale takich instytucji powszechnie szanowanych, do których Białoruś należy, jak Rada Europy, OBWE czy ONZ.

Catch-the-eye-Verfahren

  Elena Băsescu (PPE). - Adoptarea cadrului strategic, precum şi a planului de acţiune privind drepturile omului şi democraţia, oferă baza acţiunii Uniunii în domeniul drepturilor omului la nivel global, însă eforturile noastre nu sunt de ajuns.

Mă preocupă în continuare folosirea în unele ţări, în special în Africa, a copiilor soldaţi. Conform unor estimări, cifrele variază de la câteva zeci de mii la peste 250 000 de copii care iau parte la acţiuni militare desfăşurate de unele guverne sau grupuri militare din Africa. Au fost raportate inclusiv cazuri şocante în care copiii erau obligaţi să-şi ucidă membrii familiei pentru a-şi demonstra loialitatea faţă de liderul militar. Cred că problema copiilor soldaţi trebuie abordată mai ferm de Uniune atunci când stabileşte relaţii economice sau comerciale cu state suspectate de astfel de practici.

  Andreas Mölzer (NI). - Herr Präsident! Das Fernbleiben Israels Ende Jänner von jener Sondersitzung, in der seine Siedlungspolitik thematisiert werden sollte, mag man als Eklat werten. Klar ist allerdings, dass im UN-Menschenrechtsrat eine Reihe von Ländern sitzen, die es selber mit den Menschenrechten nicht so genau nehmen. In Russland etwa werden Regimegegner bekanntlich verhaftet, aus Mali und Syrien täglich neue Menschenrechtsverletzungen gemeldet. Leider – und das ist besonders beschämend – haben die USA in ihrem Kampf gegen den Terror, der durchaus legitim ist, auch eine Reihe von anderen UN- und EU-Mitgliedstaaten in Menschenrechtsverletzungen verwickelt. Das wissen wir.

Hinsichtlich Israels sollte jedenfalls kritisch hinterfragt werden, ob die propagierte Zwei-Staaten-Lösung tatsächlich der Weisheit letzter Schluss ist. Mit dem Festhalten an sich selbst auferlegten Dogmen wird man den Konflikt nicht lösen können. Es gilt, nach Mitteln und Wegen zu suchen, wie die Palästinenser zu einer gemäßigten und nicht korrupten politischen Vertretung finden können, statt das Feld weiter radikalen Islamisten wie der Hamas zu überlassen.

  Eduard Kukan (PPE). - Mr President, I fully support Parliament’s resolution on the upcoming Session of the UN Human Rights Council. It is going to be important in relation to the critical situation of human rights in some countries.

We have to pay permanent attention to the challenges faced in Syria, where two and a half million people lack food and the civil population is exposed to violence by the regime and also by opposition groups. Northern Mali has witnessed human rights abuses and the whole region was at risk of turning into an extremist-run state. We should appreciate the engagement of France and also the logistical support given by several Member States. I also welcome the appointment of new special rapporteurs on the situation of human rights in Belarus and Eritrea.

What is most important, I think, is that we must be united, act collectively, and be more coordinated and more ambitious in all international human rights fora.

  Krisztina Morvai (NI). - Mr President, people should do more than pay lip service to EU citizens’ human rights as well. If Baroness Ashton considers freedom of assembly a priority, she should raise her voice against the disproportionate police violence that goes on on the streets of Europe almost daily.

If she is concerned about women’s rights and children’s rights, she should use her powers to rescue the Hungarian woman, Patrícia Nyíri Kovács and her four-year-old child, who have been held hostage on the French Polynesian island of Bora Bora for over a year. I am afraid I do not know why Baroness Ashton is not here in person, but I wonder if Ms Creighton could address these questions in her answer and kindly pass on the message to Baroness Ashton. Anything you need to know about this Hungarian case can be found on the Facebook page, ‘Not without my son’.

(Ende des Catch-the-eye-Verfahrens)

  Lucinda Creighton, President-in-Office of the Council. − Mr President, allow me to thank all honourable Members for their very constructive exchange on this topic and obviously I will transmit all of your concerns and the issues which you have raised to Catherine Ashton.

We are confident that we can count on you to make the Human Rights Council the important venue for human rights issues that we want it to be: a forum for ensuring accountability for human rights abuses, advancing human rights standard-setting and strengthening cooperation with partners in this domain.

The EU has not wasted any time over the last year to take steps towards enabling the EU machinery to deliver on our strong commitment to advancing human rights around the globe. We have sought to further connect activities undertaken by the EU in UN human rights fora in Geneva and New York with the bilateral relations with third countries, and we have created a network of human rights focal points in EU delegations in order to advance this.

We are raising multilateral human rights issues in nearly all bilateral human rights dialogues and consultations, and these issues are reflected in the tailor-made country strategies that we are continuing to finalise at a fast pace.

We are discussing with partner countries ways and means to implement relevant recommendations stemming from the universal periodic review (UPR) as well as recommendations formulated by Treaty bodies and special procedures, including through technical assistance. We support the office of the High Commissioner in this work and we value very much the independence of that office. We encourage partner countries to cooperate with the UN human rights system.

A number of specific issues have been raised by Members and I will try to touch on as many of them as I can.

Firstly, Tunisia has been raised by a number of Members. The High Representative has strongly condemned the killing of the Opposition leader in Tunisia and we will use every opportunity to make our concerns known.

In respect of Sri Lanka, indeed this is a matter of great concern. Therefore the approach is to highlight the problem of encroachment on independence of justice and that work will continue at EU level.

Mr Howitt and other Members raised the question of Bahrain and here we are hoping to join a cross-regional statement, a strong statement on Bahrain at the HRC.

Mr Protasiewicz and others have raised the question of Belarus. Of course Belarus continues to be a high priority for the EU; that was reflected in the 2011 resolution and indeed in the decision to appoint a special rapporteur in 2012, and that work continues.

I addressed the question of the UPR and Israel in my opening remarks. I think the position of the EU is clear and we expect all countries to be part of the periodical review process.

In relation to Syria, which again has been raised by a number of Members, the Foreign Affairs Council, on 18 February, will address all issues related to Syria including the fight against impunity, the question of the ICC and so on. So it is very much to the fore on our agenda.

A number of Members have raised the question of religious minorities, and rightly so. The EU, as you will be aware, organises a very important side event with the special rapporteur on this issue which is hugely important to us and we will continue to focus on the issue of religious minorities – all religious minorities who were subjected to persecution. That is the correct approach and I know Mr Piotrowski and Mr Tannock raised that point in their interventions.

A number of Members also raised the question of digital freedoms. The EEAS is actively working to implement Human Rights Action Plan 24 to promote freedom of expression online and offline. I think it is fair to say that in a variety of multilateral fora the EU has led on this issue and will continue to do so. There is intense cooperation on developing guidelines on this by the end of the year, including in particular the protection of bloggers and journalists, who are of course targeted and have been subjected to abuse and persecution in many countries, and so we will continue that work.

Finally, as regards the issue which was raised by Mrs Morvai, I would simply say that I do not have an answer to the issue that you have raised but I will of course pass it on to the High Representative and the EEAS will look into it.

  Der Präsident. − Zum Abschluss der Aussprache wurden gemäß Artikel 110 Absatz 2 der Geschäftsordnung sechs Entschließungsanträge⁽¹⁾ eingereicht.

Die Aussprache ist geschlossen.

Die Abstimmung findet am Donnerstag, 7. Februar 2013, um 12.00 Uhr statt.

Schriftliche Erklärungen (Artikel 149 GO)

  Kinga Gál (PPE), írásban. – Örömömre szolgál, hogy az ENSZ Emberi Jogi Tanácsának 22. ülésszakáról szóló vita és határozat felkerült e heti plenáris ülésünk napirendjére. Ezáltal is megerősítést nyer az a tény, hogy az EU mint fontos nemzetközi szereplő aktívan részt akar venni az Emberi Jogi Tanács munkájában, egy közös hanggal kíván szólni a tagállamok nevében. Üdvözölni szeretném, hogy a soron következő ülésen az ENSZ Emberi Jogi Tanácsán kiemelt témaként szerepel a gyermekek jogainak védelme. A gyermekek védelme elengedhetetlen a legmagasabb szinteken, hisz ők mindig is a társadalom egyik legvédtelenebb és legsebezhetőbb csoportjához tartoztak. Ők az áldozatok, legyen szó a családon belüli erőszakról, a rendszer és az egyén közötti konfliktusról vagy a háború következményeiről. A kisebbségekhez tartozó gyermekek pedig még védtelenebbek. A roma származású vagy a nemzeti kisebbségekhez tartozó gyermekeknek nap mint nap meg kell küzdeniük a megkülönböztetéssel, néha éppen az anyanyelvük használata miatt az utcán, a játszótéren, az iskolában. Remélem tehát, hogy az ENSZ soron következő Emberi Jogi Tanácsán valóban előrelépés fog születni a gyermekek jogainak védelme területén – vonatkozzon ez az EU-n belüli és az azon kívüli államokra egyaránt.

  Indrek Tarand (Verts/ALE), par écrit. – Le débat d´aujourd´hui est de la plus haute importance, et je souhaiterais vous demander ce qu´il en est de la responsabilité de la France lorsqu'elle vend à la Russie des missiles de défense antiaérienne, système d´armes Mistral. Pensez-vous que cela ameliorera la situation des droits de l´homme dans le monde?

(1) Siehe Protokoll.