Activities of Godelieve QUISTHOUDT-ROWOHL related to 2016/2219(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Annual Report on human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter 2015 (debate) DE
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the Annual Report on human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter 2015 PDF (1 MB) DOC (175 KB)
Amendments (55)
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 b (new)
Citation 8 b (new)
- having regard to the EU Guidelines on the Promotion and Protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief1a, __________________ 1ahttp://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52013 IP0279
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas the values of freedom, respect for human rights and the principle of holding periodic and genuine elections are essential elements of democracy; whereas democracy provides the environment for the protection and effective realization of human rights;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the EU’s commitment to effective multilateralism, with the UN at its core, is an integral part of the Union’s external policy, based on the belief that a multilateral system founded on universal rules and values is best suited to addressing global crises, challenges and threats; whereas engaging with third countries, in all bilateral and multilateral fora, is one of the most effective tools for addressing human rights issues in third countries;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas the EU has played a leading role in negotiating and implementing a number of initiatives for global responsibility which go hand in hand with the promotion and respect of international human rights standards;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L c (new)
Recital L c (new)
Lc. whereas the freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief must be unconditionally enhanced through interreligious and intercultural dialogues;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M k (new)
Recital M k (new)
Mk. whereas migration represents a global challenge requiring immediate and effective solutions; whereas the humanitarian aid provided by the European Commission, being the leading global donor, helps refugees and displaced people in over 30 countries;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M l (new)
Recital M l (new)
Ml. whereas the fight against migrant smuggling, trafficking and labour exploitation necessitates both short, medium and long-term responses, including measures to disrupt criminal networks and to bring criminals to justice, the gathering and analysis of data, measures to protect victims and to return irregularly staying migrants, as well as cooperation with third countries and longer-term strategies to address the demand for trafficked and smuggled persons and the root causes of migration which force people into the hands of criminal smugglers;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital R
Recital R
R. whereas violence against LGBTI peopleminorities continues in many places around the world, and discrimination in health care, education, employment and other sectors is widespread;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital T
Recital T
T. whereas the UNGPs on Business and Human Rights apply to all states and to all business enterprises, whether transnational or other, regardless of their size, sector, location, ownership and structure, but whereas effective control and sanction mechanisms remain a challenge to the worldwide implementation of the UNGPs; whereas special features of SMEs must be taken proper account of and bundled with flexible corporate social responsibility approach adapted to their potential;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Expresses its serious concern that the promotion and protection of human rights and democratic values are under threat worldwide, that the universality of human rights is increasingly, and seriously, being challenged by a number of authoritarian regimes as well as terrorist groups such as ISIS;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Expresses its serious concern at the numerous, ever-increasing attempts made to shrink the space of civil society and human rights defenders, and the growing number of repressive laws adopted throughout the world, under the pretext of combating terrorism (through the introduction of counter-terrorism laws);
Amendment 200 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on all the EU institutions and the Member States to act on their commitments to promote, protect and realise human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to place human rights at the centre of the EU’s relations with all third countries – including its strategic partners – and at all levels;
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that, in order for the EU to be a credible actor in external relationsto advance human rights and democracy in the world, it should ensure increased coherence between its internal and external policies with regard to respect for human rights and democratic values, and it should aim towards a systematically consistent and coherent implementation of the EU’s human rights policy;
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Draws attention to its long-term commitment to promote human rights and advance democratic values, as reflected, inter alia, in the annual award of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, in the work of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group, in support and active involvement in European Endowment for Democracy and in the monthly plenary debates and resolutions on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law;
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Encourages the EU to developWelcomes a work plan, with a clear timetable, measurable benchmarks, and a clear division of roles and responsibilities, for the implementation of the Action Plan;
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Reiterates its belief that the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy should be strengthened by a more crianalytical approach whereby, in addition to achievements and best practices, the report would highlight very specific challenges and constraints faced in third countries;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls onWelcomes that the EUSR to consults systematically with civil society, including local civil society organisations, ahead of his visits to third countries;
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Reiterates its support for dedicated Human Rights Dialogues as aone of the most effective tools of the EU’s human rights policy; acknowledges that they can be an efficientare a useful tool for bilateral engagement and cooperation, provided they allow counterparts to engage on issues of substance and send meaningful political messages, rather than merelyas well as exchanging information on best practices and challenges;
Amendment 290 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. UrgesWelcomes the efforts of the EEAS systematically to include a preparatory dialogue with civil society, which should feed directly into the Human Rights Dialogues; further urges the VP/HR and the EEAS to raise individual cases of human rights defenders in a transparent and consistent manner during dialogues; calls on the EEAS systematically to follow up on the commitments made during human rights dialogues;
Amendment 319 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Firmly reiterates that human rights provisions agreed under UN conventions are universal, indivisible, inter-dependent and inter-related, and that respect for these rights must be enforced; stresses that it is important that the Member States ratify all international human rights instruments established by the UN,; including those enshrined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and, notably, the Optional Protocol establishing complaints and inquiry mechanisms, in conformity with Article 21 TEU;
Amendment 334 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Condemns the dramatic number of deaths at sea in the Mediterranean; is extpremely concerned about the growingsses its solidarity with the high numbers of human rights abuses against migrants and asylum seekers on their route to Europe; highlights the weaknesses and systematic incoherence of the policies of the EU and the Member States in this area andrefugees and migrants who suffer grave human rights violations as victims of conflicts, persecutions and networks of illegal immigration and trafficking; stresses the urgent need for a holistic approach to find long-term solutions, with the particular aim to tackle the very root causes of migration flows;
Amendment 368 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Recalls the need to respect the principle of non-refoulement in European and international waters, as upheld by the European Court of Human Rights and existing EU legislation; recalls the commitment to develop adequate legal and safe migration channels;
Amendment 389 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Recalls that criminal networks are taking advantage of the lack of safeincreasing migration channelpressures, and of the vulnerability of women, girls and children, in order to subject them to trafficking and sexual exploitation;
Amendment 407 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 h (new)
Paragraph 35 h (new)
35h. Welcomes the increase in resources for the Triton and Poseidon operations; notes the launch of the EUNAVFOR Med/Sophia operation against smugglers and traffickers in the Mediterranean and supports the reinforcement of the management of the Union's external borders;
Amendment 425 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 d (new)
Paragraph 36 d (new)
36d. Acknowledges the recent Commission proposal for a Union list of safe countries of origin, amending the Asylum Procedures Directive;
Amendment 426 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 e (new)
Paragraph 36 e (new)
36e. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that implementation of the Returns Directive goes hand in hand with respect for the procedures, standards and fundamental human rights which allow Europe to ensure humane and dignified treatment of returnees, in line with the principle of non-refoulement; urges the EU and the Member States to pay particular attention to asylum cases relating to possible political persecution, so as to prevent any return potentially entailing a violation of human rights in the country of origin or a third country;
Amendment 428 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 g (new)
Paragraph 36 g (new)
36g. Understands that the safe return of those people who, following an individual assessment of their asylum application, are determined not to be eligible for protection in the Union is something that must be carried out as part of the proper implementation of the CEAS;
Amendment 429 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 h (new)
Paragraph 36 h (new)
36h. Acknowledges that, in the light of the fact that, in 2014, 36 % of third country nationals who were ordered to leave the Union were effectively returned, there is a need to improve the effectiveness of the Union's return system;
Amendment 430 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 i (new)
Paragraph 36 i (new)
36i. Considers that in order to increase the efficiency of readmissions, and in order to ensure the coherence of returns at a European level, it will be necessary to adopt new EU readmission agreements which should take preference over bilateral agreements between Member States and third countries;
Amendment 443 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Expresses its profound concern over the rise of extreme poverty and inequality across the world, which jeopardises the full enjoyment of all human rights; believes that respect for human rights and the right to development are intrinsically linked; stresses that respect for human rights, gender equality, good governance, the rule of law, peace and security are prerequisites for eradicating poverty and inequalities;
Amendment 452 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 e (new)
Paragraph 39 e (new)
Amendment 458 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Notes the persistent financing gap, due to increasing humanitarian needs, with regard to humanitarian aid and the shortcomings in the World Food programme resulting in cutting food; calls on the member states of the United Nations, and on the European Union and its Member States, at a minimum, to honour their financial pledges; welcomes the generous EU commitments in regards to the humanitarian aid and civil protection;
Amendment 475 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Recalls the different but complementary roles of states and companies with regard to human rights protection; strongly reiterates that, where human rights abuses occur, states must grant the victims access to effective remedy; recalls, in this context, that respect for human rights by third countries, including guarantees of effective remedy for people under their jurisdiction, constitutes an essential element of the EU’s external relations with these countries; welcomes that the EU has played a leading role in negotiating and implementing a number of initiatives for global responsibility which go hand in hand with the promotion and respect of international standards, whereas human rights breaches require effective remedies;
Amendment 477 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 a (new)
Paragraph 45 a (new)
45a. Reiterates that attention needs to be drawn to the special features of SMEs, which mainly operate at local and regional level inside specific sectors; considers it essential, therefore, for Union CSR policies, including national CSR action plans, to take proper account of the specific requirements of SMEs, to be in keeping with the 'think small first' principle, and to recognise the informal, intuitive SME approach to CSR; voices again its opposition to all measures that could result in additional administrative or financial constraints for SMEs, and its support for measures enabling SMEs to take joint action;
Amendment 485 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
Paragraph 47
47. Welcomes the adoption of new guidelines on the analysis of human rights impacts in impact assessments for trade- related policy initiatives27 , but regrets the Commission’s refusal to conduct such; is deeply concerned that the Commission did not carry out a human rights impact assessment for the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement with Vietnam, which amoun, and reiterates its support for a comprehensive assessment of Vietnam, including human rights, to be conducted, according to the European Ombudsman, to maladministration28 s part of the ex-post evaluation of that agreement and as a follow-up to the Sustainability Impact Assessment launched in 2009; __________________ 27 http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2015/j uly/tradoc_153591.pdf.
Amendment 492 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 b (new)
Paragraph 48 b (new)
48b. Welcomes the new Generalised Scheme of Preferences Regulation (GSP+), which entered into force on 1 January 2014, as a key EU trade policy instrument to promote human and labour rights, environmental protection and good governance in vulnerable developing countries; welcomes, in particular, the stringent and systematic GSP+ monitoring mechanism and calls for a focus on effective implementation at national level of the conventions listed in the convention;
Amendment 528 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 56
Paragraph 56
56. Stresses the importance of not undermining the acquis of the Beijing Platform for Action regarding access to education and health as a basic human right, and the protection of sexual and reproductive rights, and to ensure that all necessary safe medical assistance is provided to female war rape victims; points out that family planning, maternal health, easy access to contraception and safe abortion are important elements in saving women’s lives, and highlights the need to place these policies at the core of development cooperation with third countries;
Amendment 571 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
Paragraph 63
63. Firmly condemns the recent increase in discriminatory laws and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity;
Amendment 587 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
Paragraph 64
64. Requests that the EEAS prioritisestrengthen its actions in situations where the death penalty is in force, and/or where LGBTI people are subjected to torture and ill- treatment, by condemning these practices in accordance with the EU Guidelines on the Death Penalty and the EU Guidelines on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and by continuing to work with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in this field;
Amendment 592 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
Paragraph 65
65. Calls on the EEAS and the Commission to raise the issue of LGBTI rights in political and human rights dialogues with third countries, and in multilateral fora, and emphasises the importance of making the EU Guidelines to Promote and Protect the Enjoyment of all Human Rights widely available to LGBTI persons;
Amendment 598 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
Paragraph 66
Amendment 627 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69 a (new)
Paragraph 69 a (new)
Amendment 634 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71
Paragraph 71
71. Deeply regrets the lack of respect for international humanitarian law, and expresses its grave concern over the alarmingly increasing rate of collateral damage in armed conflicts around the world, and of deadly attacks against hospitals, schools, humanitarian convoys and other civilian targets;
Amendment 636 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71 a (new)
Paragraph 71 a (new)
71a. Expresses its serious concerns about the rising influence of non-state actors' perpetrations in conflicts around the world;
Amendment 661 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73
Paragraph 73
73. Condemns, in keeplinge with Article 10 TFEU, all acts of violence and discrimination on the basis of ideology, religion or belief; expresses its serious concern over the continued reports of violence and discrimination against religious minorities, mainly Christians, around the world;
Amendment 742 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 85
Paragraph 85
85. Calls on the EU to adopNotes that free and open-source software, and to encourage other actors to do so, as such software might provides for better security and for greater respect for human rights;
Amendment 789 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 97
Paragraph 97
97. Calls on those states that have abolished the death penalty, or that have a long-standing moratorium on it, to uphold their commitments and not to reintroduce it; calls on the EU to continue to use cooperation and diplomacy in all possible forums worldwide, as well as to ensure that the right to a fair trial is fully respected for each and every person facing execution; stresses the importance of the EU continuing to monitor the conditions under which executions are carried out;
Amendment 799 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 101
Paragraph 101
101. Welcomes the progress made in 2015 in reviewing Regulation (EC) No 1236/2006 on trade in goods which could be used for capital punishment and torture, in order to improve further the EU’s export control regime and to strengthen provisions to guard against European governments or companies providing aagainst any complicit contribution to acts of torture or to the death penalty outside of the EU;
Amendment 812 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 104
Paragraph 104
Amendment 817 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 104 a (new)
Paragraph 104 a (new)
104. Reiterates its call for an EU common position on the use of armed drones which upholds human rights and international humanitarian law and should address issues such as legal framework, proportionality, accountability, protection of civilians and transparency; urges once again that the EU ban the development, production and use of fully autonomous weapons which enable strikes to be carried out without human intervention; calls for the EU to oppose and ban the practice of extrajudicial and targeted killings and to commit to ensuring appropriate measures, in accordance with domestic and international legal obligations, where there are reasonable grounds for believing that an individual or entity within its jurisdiction may be connected to unlawful targeted killings abroad;
Amendment 821 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 105
Paragraph 105
Amendment 827 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 106
Paragraph 106
Amendment 836 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 107
Paragraph 107
Amendment 842 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 108
Paragraph 108
Amendment 857 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 110 f (new)
Paragraph 110 f (new)
110f. Recalls that the experience gained by the EU, politicians, academics, the media, NGOs and civil society, and the lessons learned from transitions to democracy in the framework of the enlargement and neighbourhood policies, could positively contribute to the identification of best practices that could be used to support and consolidate other democratisation processes worldwide; in this context welcomes the work of the European Endowment for Democracy;