86

résultat(s)

Mot(s)
Type de publication
Domaine politique
Auteur
Ionel ZAMFIR
Mot-clé
Date

Children's rights and the UN SDGs: A priority for EU external action

11-11-2019

The United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for sustainable development includes a strong commitment by all states to respect human rights, in line with international law and other relevant international documents, in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This covers the rights of the child as enshrined mainly in the UN Covenant on the Rights of the Child and other relevant human rights treaties. No action to implement the SDGs can be detrimental to the rights of the child. More ...

The United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for sustainable development includes a strong commitment by all states to respect human rights, in line with international law and other relevant international documents, in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This covers the rights of the child as enshrined mainly in the UN Covenant on the Rights of the Child and other relevant human rights treaties. No action to implement the SDGs can be detrimental to the rights of the child. More than a normative framework guiding the implementation of the SDGs, the rights of the child are a fundamental enabling factor for sustainable development and vice versa. Healthy, well-nourished, well-educated children, who are protected from violence and abuse, are the best guarantee of long-term sustainable development. On the other hand, the rights of the child can only be realised in an appropriate environment – peaceful, prosperous, protective of the child and fostering human development. Thus, there is a natural convergence between the SDGs and specific children's rights. The SDGs, through the comprehensive and regular monitoring they put in place, provide an opportunity for an assessment of the state of the most fundamental rights of the child, as enshrined in the Covenant. Most recent data actually warn that many relevant SDGs may not be achieved by 2030. While progress has been steady in certain areas, particularly on health-related issues, in others, progress has been less conclusive. The EU prioritises children's rights and relevant SDGs in its external action. It aims at mainstreaming human rights including children's rights in its development assistance to connect the normative and developmental dimensions. The European Parliament has repeatedly defended the need to protect and promote children's rights through EU external action, and has asked the Commission to propose a strategy and action plan in this sense.

    Briefing pdf  

Oleg Sentsov: The 2018 Sakharov Prize laureate

09-10-2019

Thirty years since it was first awarded, the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought retains all its symbolic meaning, as human rights are continually under threat in many parts of the world. By awarding the 2018 Prize to the Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, Parliament aimed to increase the pressure on the Russian government to release him. The award also drew attention to all Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia and the annexed Crimean peninsula. On 7 September 2019, Sentsov ...

Thirty years since it was first awarded, the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought retains all its symbolic meaning, as human rights are continually under threat in many parts of the world. By awarding the 2018 Prize to the Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, Parliament aimed to increase the pressure on the Russian government to release him. The award also drew attention to all Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia and the annexed Crimean peninsula. On 7 September 2019, Sentsov was released as part of a major prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine. He is due to receive the award in person in Strasbourg on 26 November 2019.

    En bref pdf  

Connecting parliamentary and executive diplomacy at EU and Member State level

27-09-2019

Parliaments are increasingly active in external policy, engaging in various ways with counterparts from third countries and other stakeholders. The European Parliament is very active in the field, having established complex networks of contacts and relations with other parliaments and international parliamentary assemblies. These are fostered through exchanges of views organised in committee and inter-parliamentary meetings with external partners, and through regular visits to third countries. Other ...

Parliaments are increasingly active in external policy, engaging in various ways with counterparts from third countries and other stakeholders. The European Parliament is very active in the field, having established complex networks of contacts and relations with other parliaments and international parliamentary assemblies. These are fostered through exchanges of views organised in committee and inter-parliamentary meetings with external partners, and through regular visits to third countries. Other areas of external activity range from electoral observation to conflict mediation in third countries. In order to organise such activities, parliaments rely to a high degree on the support of the executive branch, particularly of the diplomatic service. This support usually covers organisational and logistic matters, and includes regular exchanges of information between the representatives of the two branches of power. This raises interesting questions about the added value of parliamentary diplomacy in relation to traditional state diplomacy, about governments' awareness and recognition of this added value, and about the scope for autonomous parliamentary action. A comparison between the EU level and selected Member States with regard to the executive's support for parliamentary diplomacy reveals that the executive, and particularly diplomatic services, provide a high degree of support. More unequal across countries on the other hand are efforts to coordinate their actions in pursuit of common policy objectives, while preserving their autonomy and distinct roles. Recognition of the added value of parliamentary diplomacy remains crucial in this respect. Parliamentary diplomacy has specific advantages in comparison with executive diplomacy, such as an increased flexibility in establishing contacts with various local stakeholders, as well as communicating with fewer constraints and on more sensitive issues.

    Briefing pdf  

Human rights in EU trade agreements: The human rights clause and its application

08-07-2019

The practice of linking human rights with trade liberalisation has gained ground among many trade partners. Not only the EU, but also other important trade powers, such as the US and Canada, embed human and labour-rights provisions in their new trade agreements. For the EU, this ensues inevitably from the normative vision underlying all of its external policies, as enshrined in the Treaties. Accordingly, the EU has committed to respecting and promoting human rights and democracy through its external ...

The practice of linking human rights with trade liberalisation has gained ground among many trade partners. Not only the EU, but also other important trade powers, such as the US and Canada, embed human and labour-rights provisions in their new trade agreements. For the EU, this ensues inevitably from the normative vision underlying all of its external policies, as enshrined in the Treaties. Accordingly, the EU has committed to respecting and promoting human rights and democracy through its external action. The main mechanism for incorporating human rights into the EU's bilateral agreements consists of an 'essential elements' human rights clause that enables one party to take appropriate measures in case of serious breaches by the other party. The clause, which also covers democratic principles and often the rule of law, is more than just a legal mechanism enabling the unilateral suspension of trade commitments in times of crisis. It enshrines the parties' commitments to human rights and thus puts EU relations with third countries on a solid regulatory base, opening the path to dialogue and cooperation on human rights issues. So far, the EU has clearly preferred a constructive engagement to more restrictive measures, and has not activated the clause to suspend trade preferences under any of its trade agreements. Civil society and the European Parliament have, on the other hand, encouraged the European Commission to use the clause in a more robust way in order to respond to serious breaches of human rights and democratic principles. This briefing focuses exclusively on the EU's bilateral and regional free trade agreements. EU unilateral human and labour rights provisions in trade arrangements are addressed in a separate briefing. A forthcoming EPRS paper will provide more information about labour rights (many of which also form part of the human rights enshrined in international conventions) in EU bilateral agreements.

    Briefing pdf  

Les politiques de l’Union – Au service des citoyens: Soutien de l’Union à la démocratie et à la paix dans le monde

28-06-2019

L’Union européenne a été conçue de sorte à constituer un projet d’intégration visant à préserver la paix parmi ses États membres, défi crucial qu’elle relève avec brio depuis plus de 60 ans. En tant que communauté d’États partageant les mêmes idées, l’Union repose également sur des valeurs fondamentales, telles que la démocratie et l’état de droit, qu’elle aspire à promouvoir, aussi bien en son sein qu’en dehors de son territoire, et qui constituent le fil d’Ariane de l’ensemble de ses actions. Dans ...

L’Union européenne a été conçue de sorte à constituer un projet d’intégration visant à préserver la paix parmi ses États membres, défi crucial qu’elle relève avec brio depuis plus de 60 ans. En tant que communauté d’États partageant les mêmes idées, l’Union repose également sur des valeurs fondamentales, telles que la démocratie et l’état de droit, qu’elle aspire à promouvoir, aussi bien en son sein qu’en dehors de son territoire, et qui constituent le fil d’Ariane de l’ensemble de ses actions. Dans cette perspective, l’Union élabore des politiques spécifiques afin de soutenir la démocratie et la paix dans le monde. Elle tend également à intégrer la quête de la paix et de la démocratie dans toutes les autres actions extérieures qu’elle mène dans des domaines tels que le commerce, le développement, les politiques d’élargissement et de voisinage, sa politique étrangère et de sécurité commune, et les relations politiques et diplomatiques entretenues avec des pays tiers et des institutions multilatérales. L’Union s’est forgée une réputation, d’une part, d’organisation à la puissance douce guidée par une vision normative et, d’autre part, d’acteur œuvrant de manière efficace en faveur de la paix et de la démocratie. Le renforcement de la paix et de la démocratie dans le monde n’a jamais été une tâche aisée, mais le contexte géopolitique actuel pose de nouveaux défis. La multiplication, l’aggravation et la prolongation des conflits, dont certains ont pour théâtre le voisinage immédiat de l’Union européenne, ainsi que l’émergence de menaces nouvelles, telles que le terrorisme ou la prolifération nucléaire, et la crise des systèmes libéraux incitent l’Union à intensifier ses efforts et à en accroître la portée. Ces défis ont également fait naître une nouvelle approche de l’action qui s’appuie sur le concept de «société résiliente», lui-même fondé sur deux piliers se renforçant mutuellement, à savoir la paix et la démocratie, et se sont traduits par l’octroi d’une attention particulière aux États fragiles. Dans ce contexte, des études menées récemment montrent que les citoyens attendent de l’Union qu’elle joue un rôle encore plus actif dans la promotion de la paix et de la démocratie en dehors de son territoire, ce qui devrait certainement renforcer sa détermination à réaliser des avancées supplémentaires dans ces domaines cruciaux. Le présent document est une mise à jour d’une note plus ancienne, publiée avant les élections européennes de 2019.

    Briefing pdf  
    Multimédia  

Les politiques de l’Union – Au service des citoyens: Droits de l’homme

28-06-2019

Au cours des 70 années qui se sont écoulées depuis l’adoption de la déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme (le premier document international à définir des normes communes que tous les États doivent respecter), le rôle central et la signification morale, juridique et politique des droits de l’homme sur la scène internationale sont devenus indiscutables. Toutefois, malgré les progrès considérables réalisés dans de nombreux domaines concernant leur reconnaissance, leur codification et leur application ...

Au cours des 70 années qui se sont écoulées depuis l’adoption de la déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme (le premier document international à définir des normes communes que tous les États doivent respecter), le rôle central et la signification morale, juridique et politique des droits de l’homme sur la scène internationale sont devenus indiscutables. Toutefois, malgré les progrès considérables réalisés dans de nombreux domaines concernant leur reconnaissance, leur codification et leur application, les droits de l’homme sont également visés par un nombre croissant d’attaques. Que ce soit dans des zones de guerre ou dans la sphère politique, on assiste désormais souvent à un rejet des droits de l’homme pour des raisons idéologiques. L’Union européenne elle-même n’est pas épargnée par ce contrecoup. Dans ses États membres, une vague populiste a donné du pouvoir à certaines forces politiques qui remettent de plus en plus en question l’importance des droits fondamentaux, tels que le droit à la liberté d’expression. En ces temps troublés pour les droits de l’homme, les sondages d’opinion montrent que les citoyens européens considèrent ces droits comme l’une des valeurs les plus importantes au niveau personnel et les plus représentatives de l’Union elle-même. Au lendemain de la Seconde Guerre mondiale et de ses atrocités, les pays européens étaient déterminés à garantir une paix durable et l’Union qu’ils ont créée est fondée sur le respect de la démocratie, de l’état de droit et des droits de l’homme, principes qui guident et façonnent sa législation et ses politiques. L’Union a récemment, en ce sens, adopté une nouvelle législation sur la protection des données et l’accès à la justice, proclamé le socle européen des droits sociaux et lancé des initiatives pour lutter contre les inégalités, la discrimination et les discours de haine. Il est également admis qu’il reste encore beaucoup à faire pour compléter le cadre juridique en vue de lutter contre la discrimination et de renforcer les mécanismes internes de préservation de l’état de droit. Les droits de l’homme constituent en outre un objectif général de l’action extérieure de l’Union. Cette dernière est profondément attachée à promouvoir les droits de l’homme, tels qu’ils sont consacrés par les traités internationaux, dans ses relations avec les pays tiers et les autres institutions multilatérales régionales et mondiales. Au cours de la dernière législature du Parlement européen, l’Union a constamment appliqué et approfondi une série de stratégies politiques qui renforcent son rôle et son image de puissance normative exemplaire. Le maintien et la consolidation de cette politique restent indispensables pour préserver l’image et la crédibilité de l’Union en tant que puissance normative fondée sur des valeurs et capable d’agir, alors même que le principe du multilatéralisme est de plus en plus remis en cause. La présente note d’information est une révision d’un document publié avant les élections européennes de 2019.

    Briefing pdf  
    Multimédia  

Women in politics: A global perspective

28-02-2019

Fair representation of women in political life has a positive impact on gender mainstreaming in various policies. The United Nations has set a dedicated target within the sustainable development goals dealing specifically with women's access to leadership. The available data on the presence of women in parliaments and in governments show a positive trend, but much still remains to be done to ensure an equal presence of both genders in decision-making. The European Union supports gender equality in ...

Fair representation of women in political life has a positive impact on gender mainstreaming in various policies. The United Nations has set a dedicated target within the sustainable development goals dealing specifically with women's access to leadership. The available data on the presence of women in parliaments and in governments show a positive trend, but much still remains to be done to ensure an equal presence of both genders in decision-making. The European Union supports gender equality in politics, and the European Parliament has reaffirmed the importance of such a policy on various occasions.

    Briefing pdf  

The death penalty and the EU's fight against it

12-02-2019

The European Union is strongly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances, and fighting it is a foremost priority of its external human rights policy. While most countries in the world have abolished capital punishment, death sentences continue to be handed down and carried out in a number of countries. The Union uses its diplomatic and political weight to encourage these countries to join the abolitionist ranks, or at the very least to respect international minimum standards. It funds campaigns ...

The European Union is strongly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances, and fighting it is a foremost priority of its external human rights policy. While most countries in the world have abolished capital punishment, death sentences continue to be handed down and carried out in a number of countries. The Union uses its diplomatic and political weight to encourage these countries to join the abolitionist ranks, or at the very least to respect international minimum standards. It funds campaigns to increase awareness of the need to end capital punishment, and restricts trade in substances that could be used for executions.

    En bref pdf  

Gender equality and trade

31-01-2019

Trade liberalisation has a gender-differentiated impact inside and outside Europe. The EU, which is committed to promoting gender equality in all policies, has established specific mechanisms in its trade policy to enforce women's labour and human rights, and monitor the gender impact of its trade preferences. The European Parliament supports this policy and asked for it to be reinforced. This is an update of an ‘at a glance’ note from March 2018.

Trade liberalisation has a gender-differentiated impact inside and outside Europe. The EU, which is committed to promoting gender equality in all policies, has established specific mechanisms in its trade policy to enforce women's labour and human rights, and monitor the gender impact of its trade preferences. The European Parliament supports this policy and asked for it to be reinforced. This is an update of an ‘at a glance’ note from March 2018.

    En bref pdf  

Child labour: A priority for EU human rights action

15-01-2019

Despite a comprehensive normative international framework that prohibits child labour, it persists in many areas of the world, particularly in developing countries. In sub-Saharan-Africa, it has even increased in recent years. More efforts are therefore needed to combat child labour. However, not all work performed by children is harmful to their health and development. The first task is therefore to distinguish child labour – which entails harmful forms of work – from other forms of children's involvement ...

Despite a comprehensive normative international framework that prohibits child labour, it persists in many areas of the world, particularly in developing countries. In sub-Saharan-Africa, it has even increased in recent years. More efforts are therefore needed to combat child labour. However, not all work performed by children is harmful to their health and development. The first task is therefore to distinguish child labour – which entails harmful forms of work – from other forms of children's involvement with work that are acceptable and have an educational component. While international conventions provide a broad definition of child labour, they leave the task of defining more precise criteria, such as the acceptable number of working hours per week or what constitutes hazardous work, to national legislation. Child labour is a complex phenomenon that has a multiplicity of causes, among which poverty usually features first. It requires a comprehensive approach to fight it, including awareness-raising among families and local communities, due diligence by companies involved in global supply chains, and action by governments, international organisations and civil society. The European Union protects children's rights through both its internal and external policies. It has deployed measures to fight child labour through cooperation with international organisations and has funded development projects whose aim is to counter it. The human rights conditionality enshrined in the EU's trade arrangements provides another path for tackling child labour. Nevertheless, there are numerous calls from civil society and the European Parliament to impose binding legal obligations on EU-based companies, to make sure their imports of goods from developing countries are free of child labour.

    Briefing pdf  
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