Activities of Josef WEIDENHOLZER related to 2016/2219(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
Annual Report on human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter 2015 (debate) DE
Annual Report on human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter 2015 (debate) DE
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 (54)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
- having regard to the core international human rights conventions, including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to which the EU is a party,
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
- having regard to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Outcome document of the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples1a, __________________ 1a http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc. asp?symbol=A/RES/69/2
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 c (new)
Citation 2 c (new)
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 30 a (new)
Citation 30 a (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 10 October 2013 on caste-based discrimination1a, the report of 28 January 2016 on minorities and caste-based discrimination by the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues2a and the letter of concern of 29 June 2016 on the topic addressed to the VP/HP Mogherini by Members of the European Parliament3a, __________________ 1a Texts adopted, P7_TA(2013)0420. 2a http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC /RegularSessions/Session31/Documents/A _HRC_31_56_en.doc 3ahttp://idsn.org/wp- content/uploads/2016/06/Letter-to-HRVP- Mogherini-29-06-2016.pdf
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas the EU was a key player in the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which seeks to realize the human rights of all;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas a new Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2015-2019 was adopted by the Council on 20 July 2015, with a view to enabling the EU to meet these challenges through a more focused, systematic and coordinated use of its human rights instruments; whereas this Action Plan should be implemented in coherence with the Gender Action Plan 2016-2020 adopted by the Council on 26 October 20151a; __________________ 1a http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/ press-releases/2015/10/26-fac- conclusions-gender-development/
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q b (new)
Recital Q b (new)
Qb. whereas Article 25 of the UDHR recognises the right of every person to a 'standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family', in which motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance, and which includes medical care; whereas UNHRC Resolution 26/28(36) calls for the next UNHRC Social Forum meeting to focus on access to medicines in the context of the right of everyone to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; whereas the Constitution of the WHO states that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition;
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses firmly that the European Union is committed to a CFSP founded on the advancement of democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity, and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law; reiterates that these principles are also intrinsic to external action beyond CFSP, including development and humanitarian policies;
Amendment 202 #
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, including the right to development, 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 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reiterates its call on the EU Member States to lead by example, by speaking with one voice in support of the indivisibility, interdependence, interrelation and universality of human rights and, in particular, by ratifying all international human rights instruments set up by the UN;
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Reiterates its invitation to the VP/HR to participate in a debate with the Members of the European Parliament in two plenary sessions per year, one at the time the EU Annual Report is presented, and the other in response to Parliament's report; stresses that comprehensive written answers from the Commission and the EEAS to Parliament's resolution on the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy play an important role in a systematic and in-depth follow-up to all the points raised by Parliament, and in parliamentary scrutiny;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Encourages the EUSR to continue to systematically advocate for the EU's human rights priorities, and to enhance the EU's engagement with all relevant regional and international human rights organisations and mechanisms; and calls on the Council to adopt as a general principle the practice of systematically including cooperation with the EUSR for Human Rights in the mandate of future geographic EUSRs;
Amendment 272 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -17 (new)
Paragraph -17 (new)
-17. Reiterates that the HRCSs should correspond to EU actions to be implemented in each country depending on specific situations, and should contain measurable progress indicators and the possibility to adjust them if necessary; points to the need to continuously assess HRCSs; calls for further improvements in cooperation, communication and exchange of information between EU Delegations, Member States' embassies and EU institutions, including Parliament, in drawing up and implementing the HRCSs;
Amendment 276 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Welcomes the nomination of human rights and/or gender focal points in all EU Delegations and recalls its recommendation to the VP/HR and the EEAS to develop clear operational guidelines as to the role of human rights focal points; insists that the work of the human rights focal points should be equally supported by Member States' diplomatic staff; requests that the work of the human rights focal points be independent and free of political interference and harassment from national authorities of third countries, especially in their contacts with human rights activists and civil society; insists on the importance of training all EU Delegations staff on the contents of the EU Guidelines on Human Rights;
Amendment 278 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes the increased budget and streamlined procedures of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) 2014-2020, and calls for the foreseen allocation to the EIDHR mid- term review to be maintained for the remainder of the current Multiannual Financial Framework period ; reiterates the need for coherence and complementarity between the different EU funding instruments and that such reinforcement is applicable to all instruments that serve human rights;
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Reiterates its call for the EEAS to develop a mechanism for reviewing Human Rights Dialogues, with a view to improving them; believes that, if such dialogues persistently fail, alternative tools to support the advancement of human rights in the country concerned should be used;
Amendment 291 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Urges the EEAS to systematically tofurther include a preparatory dialogues with civil society, which shouldith the purpose of feeding directly into the Human Rights Dialogues; further urgesstresses the importance that the VP/HR and the EEAS to raise individual cases of human rights defenders in a transparent and consistent manner during dduring Human Rights Dialogues; calls on the EEAS to systematically to follow up on the commitments made during hHuman rRights dDialogues;
Amendment 337 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Condemns the dramatic number of deaths at sea in the Mediterranean; is extremely concerned about the growing numbers of human rights abuses against migrants and asylum seekers on their route to Europe; in this context, highlights the fact that women and child refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants are particularly vulnerable on migrant routes and within the EU itself; highlights the weaknesses and systematic incoherence of the policies of the EU and the Member States in this area and stresses the need for a holistic approach to find long-term solutions;
Amendment 354 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 h (new)
Paragraph 31 h (new)
31h. Stresses that full access to the right to free, public, and quality education, healthcare services, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, employment that matches the needs and abilities of refugees, and housing that meets the needs of refugees, should be guaranteed by host countries; emphasises that welfare policies are key to integration;
Amendment 393 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. REmphasises that it is important to understand the dynamics of international migration from a gender perspective, including the process of decision-making involved and the mechanisms leading to migration; recalls that criminal networks are taking advantage of the lack of safe migration channels, and of the vulnerability of women, girls and children, in order to subject them to trafficking and sexual exploitation;
Amendment 447 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Welcomes the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; emphasises that EU development cooperation with third countries should aim at creating an international environment conducive to the realisation of social and economic rights, and calls for the implementation of the 1986 UN Declaration on the Right to Development; encourages the inclusion of clearly defined results frameworks in all EU instruments and human rights mechanisms that serve the 2030 Agenda in order to ensure the inclusion of marginalized and vulnerable groups as well as to mainstream a human rights- based approach;
Amendment 450 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 c (new)
Paragraph 39 c (new)
Amendment 463 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. SupportsCalls for the swift, effective and comprehensive implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; urges all UN member states, including the EU Member States, to develop and implement national action plans; considers that trade and human rights can go hand in hand and that the business community has an important role to play in promoting human rights and democracy;
Amendment 495 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 e (new)
Paragraph 48 e (new)
48e. Regrets that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court has not yet been included in the new GSP Regulation list of conventions required for GSP+ status and reiterates its call that the Rome Statute be added to a future list of conventions; regrets that a number of GSP+ applicants are not states parties to the Statute or have not ratified it;
Amendment 508 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 12 a (new)
Subheading 12 a (new)
Sport and human rights
Amendment 509 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 f (new)
Paragraph 50 f (new)
50f. Condemns all human rights abuses caused by mega-sporting events such as the Olympic Games and the football World Cup, including forced evictions without consultation or compensation of the concerned population, exploitation of vulnerable groups such as children and migrant workers which may amount to slavery, and the silencing of civil society organisations denouncing such violations of human rights;
Amendment 510 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 g (new)
Paragraph 50 g (new)
50g. Condemns the awarding of the hosting of mega-sporting events to countries with a very poor human rights record; calls on the International Olympic Committee and the International Association of Football Federations (FIFA) to align their practices with the ideals of sport by putting in place safeguard mechanisms to prevent, monitor and provide remedy to all human rights abuses connected to mega sporting events;
Amendment 512 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51
Paragraph 51
51. Welcomes the new Objectives 12 iand 16, especially subpoint 16f in the Council Conclusions on the Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2015- - 2019 and calls on the Commission to ensure that implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is raised systematically in human rights dialogues with third countries; notes that the specific nature of the needs of persons with disabilities in the context of non- discrimination efforts have to be taken into account;
Amendment 515 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
Paragraph 52
52. Strongly urges the mainstreaming of disabled peoples’' human rights in all EU external policies and actions, especially in EU migration and refugee policies, providing an appropriate response to their specific needs, as they suffer from doubmultiple discrimination; recalls that women and girls with disabilities experience doubmultiple discrimination and are often at greater risk of suffering violence, abuse, maltreatment or exploitation; strongly supports the recommendation to mainstream a gender perspective in all the EU’'s disability strategies, including its external policies and action;
Amendment 517 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53
Paragraph 53
53. Encourages the VP/HR to continue to support the process of ratification and implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by those countries that have not ratified or implemented it as yet, and calls on the EU Special Representative for Human Rights to lead and monitor progress in this field, with special regard to standardisation efforts in terms of accessibility; notes that the EU should lead by example through the effective implementation of the UN CRPD domestically;
Amendment 518 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 a (new)
Paragraph 53 a (new)
53a. Calls for the EU to take a leading role in the implementation of an inclusive 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which would ensure that no one is left behind, as advised by the CRPD Committee in the Concluding Observations to its review of the implementation of the Convention in the EU;
Amendment 523 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54
Paragraph 54
54. Welcomes the adoption of the Gender Action Plan (2016-2020) which provides a comprehensive list of actions to improve the situation of women with regard to equal rights and empowerment, and the adoption of the Strategic Engagement for Gender Equality (2016- 2019) which promotes gender equality and women’s rights across the world; stresses that this Action Plan should be implemented together with the Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy to ensure that women's and girls' human rights are recognized as such;
Amendment 525 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55
Paragraph 55
55. Requests that the EU steps up the implementation of the obligations and commitments in the area of women’'s rights arising from the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Platform for Action, the Cairo Declaration on Population and Development and respective outcome reviews, and the Sustainable Development Goals;
Amendment 534 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 56 a (new)
Paragraph 56 a (new)
Amendment 539 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57
Paragraph 57
57. Reaffirms its condemnation of all forms of abuse and violence against women and girls, especially the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and domestic violence, and calls on the EU and its Member States swiftly to ratify the Istanbul Convention in order to ensure coherence between EU internal and external action on violence against women and girls; stresses the need to integrate gender considerations that, inter alia, promote the active participation of women in humanitarian aid and incorporate protection strategies, including against sexual and gender-based violence and basic health measures comprising sexual and reproductive health services;
Amendment 545 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58
Paragraph 58
58. Is deeply concerned about human rights violations affecting women and girls in refugee camps and reception centres, including reported cases of sexual violence and unequal treatment of women and girls vis-à-vis men; asks the EEAS to push for stricter rules and good practices in third countries; stresses the need for continuity in the education of girls in refugee camps, in conflict areas and in areas affected by extreme poverty;
Amendment 578 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63 c (new)
Paragraph 63 c (new)
63c. Underlines the importance of supporting organisations defending LGBTI rights around the world by empowering them to challenge homophobic and transphobic laws and discrimination against LGBTI people, by launching awareness campaigns, also financed via the EIDHR, among the general public on discrimination and violence experienced by people of different sexual orientations and gender identities, and by ensuring the provision of emergency assistance (including psychosocial and medical help, mediation and reintegration assistance) to those in need of such support;
Amendment 580 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63 e (new)
Paragraph 63 e (new)
63a. Recommends the implementation of the Guidelines to promote and protect the enjoyment of all human rights by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons, including through training of EU staff in third countries;
Amendment 629 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69 c (new)
Paragraph 69 c (new)
69c. Reiterates its call on the EU to adopt a common position on the crime of aggression and the Kampala Amendments, and calls on the Member States to align their national legislation with the definitions set out in the Kampala Amendments, as well as other obligations under the Rome Statute, so as to facilitate national investigations and prosecutions by Member States and enhance cooperation with the Court;
Amendment 643 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72 e (new)
Paragraph 72 e (new)
Amendment 664 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73
Paragraph 73
73. Condemns, in keeping 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 around the world; stresses that the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief is a fundamental human right, interrelated with other human rights and fundamental freedoms and encompassing the right to believe or not to believe, the right to manifest or not to manifest any religion or belief, and the right to adopt, change and abandon or return to a belief of one's choice, as enshrined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; calls on the EU and its Member States to ensure that religious minorities are respected worldwide;
Amendment 669 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74
Paragraph 74
74. Stresses that the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religEncourages therefore the international community and the EU to provide protection for belief is a fundamental human right, interrelated with other human rights and fundamental freedoms and encompassing the right to believe or not to believe, the right to manifest or not to manifest any religion or belief, and the right to adopt, change and abandon or return to a belief of one’s choice, as enshrined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rightminorities, to install safe zones, and to build a coalition, with a view to preventing abductions and preserving the diversity of ethnic, cultural and religious identities; calls for the recognition and self-administration of ethnic and religious minorities living in areas where they have historically had a strong presence and lived peacefully alongside each other – for example in the Sinjar mountains (Yazidis) and the Nineveh plains (Chaldean-Syrian- Assyrian peoples); calls further for special assistance in order to preserve (mass) graves in areas of current or recent conflicts, with the aim of exhuming and forensically analysing the human remains therein, in order to secure evidence and enable the investigation and prosecution of suspected crimes against humanity, and in order to allow for decent burial of the victims' remains;
Amendment 675 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74 a (new)
Paragraph 74 a (new)
74a. Supports the EU's commitment to promoting the right to freedom of religion or belief within international and regional forums including the UN, the OSCE, the Council of Europe and other regional mechanisms, and encourages the EU to continue tabling its yearly resolution on freedom of religion or belief at the UN and supporting the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief; encourages the VP/HR and the EEAS to engage in a permanent dialogue with NGOs, religious or belief groups and religious leaders;
Amendment 678 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75
Paragraph 75
75. Calls on the EU and its Member States to ensure that religious minorities arExpresses the need for international assistance in efforts to search for and liberate women and children who are held in captivity by terrorists, and in promoting special programmes within the European Union for the trespected worldwide, including in the Middle East, where Yazidis, Christians and Muslim minorities are being persecuted by ISISatment of former captives; expresses concern at the recruitment of children by terrorist groups and their participation in terrorist activities; stresses the need to establish policies to guide the search for, and other terrorist groups liberation, rehabilitation and reintegration of these children;
Amendment 690 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 76
Paragraph 76
Amendment 696 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 77
Paragraph 77
Amendment 700 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 78
Paragraph 78
Amendment 712 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 79
Paragraph 79
79. Recognises that civil society organisations are key development actors; recognises the fact that persecution and marginalisation of human rights defenders is growing all over the world; is concerned that the public space for civil society is shrinking and that human rights defenders are increasingly under attack worldwide; considers a free civil society to be one of the foundations for the protection and support of human rights and democratic values;
Amendment 791 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 97 a (new)
Paragraph 97 a (new)
97a. Is particularly concerned about the increasing number of death sentences imposed in mass trials, without guarantees of the minimum fair trial standards required by international law;
Amendment 813 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 104
Paragraph 104
104. Expresses its grave concern overat the use of armed drones in the absence of an appropriatoutside the international legal framework; urges the EU to adopt an EU common position on the use of armed drones that upholdsMember States to articulate clear policy and legal positions on armed drones, and the EU to adopt an EU common position on the use of armed drones that respects international law, including the UN Charter, international human rights law and international humanitarian law;
Amendment 823 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 105
Paragraph 105
105. Emphasises the EU ban on the development, production and use of fully autonomous weapons that, which enable strikes to be carried out without human intervention; calls onfor the EU to oppose and ban the practice of extrajudicial andunlawful targeted killings;
Amendment 831 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 106
Paragraph 106
106. Calls on the VP/HR, the Member States and the Council to include armed drones in relevant European and international disarmament and armsHigh Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Member States and the Council to reiterate that armed drones currently fall within relevant European and international disarmament and arms control mechanisms but that more Member States must engage with and strengthen these control mechanisms;
Amendment 837 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 107
Paragraph 107
107. Calls on the EU to take all possible measures towards ensuringguarantee greater transparency and accountability on the part of EU Member States as well as third countries in the use of armed drones aswith regards to the legal basis for their use and to operational responsibility, to allow for judicial review of drone strikes and to ensure that victims of unlawful drone strikes have access to effective remedirules;