25 Amendments of Ana GOMES related to 2013/2020(INI)
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the scope of this resolution encompasses the countries identified by the EU Sahel Strategy, specifically Mauritania, Mali, Niger, and relevant parts of Burkina Faso and Chad; whereas the broader geographic and ecological definition of the Sahel also remains crucial with regard to the region's shared human rights challenges deriving from conflict and various human security failures, including state fragility; whereas this report will also discuss the human rights situation in the non-self- governing territory of Western Sahara and the Tindouf camps;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas Tuareg resentments in northern Mali were exploited by extremist groups who in early 2012 allied with, and subsequently displaced, the secular National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) in their rebellion; whereas these groups, in particular Ansar Dine, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), further benefited from the instability arising from the subsequent coup in Bamako, as well as from the wider regional instability and fuelled by the uncontrolled arsenals in Libya; whereas the systematic violations of human rights in the north, combined with the impending existential threat to the Malian state itself, precipitated the international interventions to help shore up democracy, restore the rule of law and improve the situation of human rights;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas complex and interdependent problems require efficient coordination of different EU policies, linking EU efforts in the areas of human rights, democracy support and the rule of law, to EU objectives on crisis management, the security sector, development co-operation and ecological sustainability; whereas a comprehensive strategy to the region should encompass effective coordination via HR/VP among relevant Commissioners, such as Development and Humanitarian Aid, and the EEAS, the EUSR for Human Rights, the EUSR for the Sahel and other relevant EUSRs, and the EU Counter-terrorism Coordinator, as well as EU Member States;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas EU co-operation with the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), regional human rights institutions and, UN human rights bodies and civil society organisations remains a pre- requisite for productively advocating the protection and advancement of human rights in the Sahel;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas a ceasefire in Western Sahara between the Moroccan Government and the Polisario Front has been in place since 1991; whereas the UN considers Western Sahara a non-self-governing territory; whereas no country recognises Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara; whereas the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is currently recognised by the AU and over 45 UN states, but not by the UN collectively or by any EU Member State; whereas the UN and EU do not explicitly consider Morocco to be an occupying power; whereas a referendum on the status of Western Sahara, first agreed on principle in 1988, has still not taken placeMorocco has legal obligations to account on its exercise of the de facto administrating power over the territory and the people of Western Sahara; whereas a referendum on the status of Western Sahara, first agreed on principle in 1988, has still not taken place; whereas other way to enable the people of Western Sahara to exercise their right to self- determination has not yet been explored;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the refugee camps near Tindouf in Algeria, having first been established thirty-seven years ago, remain the second longest-operating in the world; whereas a political stalemate precludes any realistic prospect of their dissolunegotiated political solution should lead to their dissolution and their repatriation, or the resettlement or repatriationelsewhere of their inhabitants, in the near future;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas both the Moroccan Government and the Polisario Front have been accused of human rights violations; whereas the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) is the only UN mission not to include a human rights dimension in its mandate, and offers no mechanism for alleged human rights violations to be reported; whereas both the Moroccan Government and the Polisario Front have been accused of human rights violationsEU Member States in the UNSC shamefully failed to support a US proposal to give MINURSO a human rights mandate, which led to violently repressed popular demonstrations in Western Sahara;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that the situation of human rights in the Sahel has acquired greater international prominence as a result of the armed conflict in Mali and the international response to it; acknowledges that this conflict has created specific problems in that country, as well as exacerbating fundamental underlying challenges already present in Mali and, elsewhere in the region and was also fuelled by conflict and instability in the neighbourhood, namely in Libya; stresses, however, that the immediate concerns in Mali should not deflect attention from the chronic and pervasive problems that seriously impact on human rights in the rest of the Sahel, in particular, slavery and human trafficking, jihadi extremism and radicalisation, organised crime, fragile governance and institutional corruption, and systemic and debilitating poverty;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes with great concern the role of these factors in facilitating the regional surge in international organised crime, such as trafficking of human beings and trafficking of drugs and arms, and jihadi networks; emphasises the serious threats that they pose to human rights and, regional stability, state governance and rule of law and consequently development prospects, and the need to confront such threats for the benefit of Sahelian populations; expresses particular alarm at the ‘'trafficking highways’' across Africa from west to east, and south to north from the West African coast, transporting arms, narcotics, cigarettes, and people; notes that the Sahel risks further destabilisation from the proliferation of light weaponry originating in Libya; further condemns the region's increased incidences of kidnapping and hostage-taking, which have proved highly lucrative for criminal and terrorist groups, and welcomes the work of the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Group on the impact of terrorist hostage-taking on human rights; draws attention to the impact of these activities on the wider region, as well as the EU, which is the destination for much of the illicit traffic;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Considers that the residual effects of the situation in Libya have a severe impact on the stability of the Sahel; urges the swift deployment of EUBAM, which will provide support to the Libyan authorities in securing the country's borders; underlines that institutional and governance frailty in Libya, its tradition as a passage for illegal migrants heading for Europe, a trend exacerbated during the political instability in the region, the porous nature of Libya's land and sea borders, the protracted detention without due process of alleged Sub-Saharan African mercenaries in Libya, many of whom are underage boys, call for Libya to be prioritised in DDR/SSR support efforts, in the framework of the CSDP and the ENP; stresses that instability and poor governance in Libya aggravates regional arms trafficking and SALW proliferation, drugs trafficking and illicit trade; highlights that further deterioration of the situation in Libya will have devastating human rights consequences for the neighbouring Sahel region;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Warns against a perceived spread of extremism in the Arab Spring countries, Tunisia, Egypt and Libya and invites the HR/VP to provide leadership in the process of cooperation with these countries´ governments, institutions, civil society organisations in a way as to support truly democratic transition processes, so as to simultaneously ensure the stabilisation of the conflict-prone neighbouring regions, namely the Sahel;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Considers it crucial, therefore, to encourage the reform of institutions responsible for the judiciary, security and basic services in the Sahel countries, in order to help restore the rule of law and create better conditions for democratic transition, human rights, sustainable development and institutional legitimacy; encourages Sahel governments to continue the process of decentralisation, to transfer more power and resources to local authorities and boost their capacity, legitimacy and accountability; stresses, in particular, the importance of clear accountability structures for promoting efficiency and transparency, and calls on the EU to work with local authorities to strengthen mechanisms for civilian control and oversight; points out the imperative in Mali, in particular, of ensuring adequate human and financial resourcing of the Ministry of Justice, as well as the professional training of its staff;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Applauds Senegal's decision to trythe agreement between Senegal and the African Union to establish a Special Tribunal to prosecute former Chadian President Hissène Habré for war crimes, torture and crimes against humanity, and the agreement between the two governments of Senegal and Chad to allow Senegalese judges to conduct investigations in Chad; strongly encourages a continued resolve to end the culture of impunity for alleged war criminals and human rights violators in Chad and elsewhere in the region;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Notes that Mauritania is the only Sahelian country, and one of the very few African countries, not to have acceded to the Rome statute of the ICC; encourages it to do so, as a strong signal of rejecting the culture of impunity; emphasises in this context the importance of developing an EU policy on transitional justice as specified in the EU Action Plan on Human Rights;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Welcomes the appointment of the EUSR for the Sahel, and the strong human rights element in his mandate; expects the new EUSR to cooperate closely with the EUSR for Human Rights, the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the human rights defenders and observers in the region; calls for appropriate coordination between EUSR for the Sahel with the EUSR for the Southern Mediterranean in particular, and with the EUSR for the Horn of Africa as well, since crises in Africa bear strong regional implications, they tend to have a spill-over effect and bear geostrategic considerations; urges therefore the EU to invest itself in effectively coordinating all EU endeavours in Africa, especially crisis management and post-conflict efforts and, thus, calls on the HR/VP to ensure such coordination;
Amendment 247 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Notes the April 2013 report of the UN Secretary-General on the situation concerning the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara, which stresses ‘'the critical importance of addressing the Western Sahara conflict as part of a broader strategy for the Sahel’', and that ‘'the issue of human rights remains important for any resolution of the conflict’'; notes the negative impact of the conflict in the regional integration, which should involve Morocco and Algeria and could offer significant opportunities for economic development and political democratisation, enhancing human security in the whole region; further notes the conclusions of many observers that Western Sahara and the wider regions risks becoming destabilised by the conflict in the Sahel and the groups participating in it;
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Emphasises the need for human rights in Western Sahara to be consideredaddressed, even without anticipating any final political settlement or expressing a view on such a settlement; stresses the opportunity deriving from the process of political reforms towards democracy started in Morocco, while taking note of the sounder obligations that these reforms entail regarding respect for the human rights of the people of Western Sahara in particular; reiterates, nevertheless, that self-determination is a fundamental human right, as specified by Article 1 of the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; moreover, recalls UN Security Council Resolution 1754, urging the parties to enter into negotiations in good faith, without preconditions, ‘'with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which would provide for the self- determination of the people of Western Sahara’'; fears that the 25-year delay in arranging a referendum, or any other form for a negotiated political settlement, such as other modalities of popular consultation, is increasing Sahrawi alienation and the potential for violence, particularly amongst the young;
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37a. Since the political solution of the Western Sahara conflict, reconciliation and the human rights situation are closely linked, calls on the Commission and Member States to be more active in Western Sahara conflict resolution, not only supporting the UN negotiations but also using its various external policy instruments (e.g. strengthening human rights monitoring and awareness among police and security forces, supporting democratic reforms, including decentralisation, fighting discrimination in the region) to promote much needed confidence building between the conflict parties;
Amendment 271 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Expresses deep concern at the recent report from the UNSR on torture, who found evidence that Moroccan officials have detained individuals on political grounds, inflicted torture and rape on Sahrawi inmates, kidnapped and abandoned protesters in the desert to intimidate them, and deliberately and frequently targeted pro-independence advocates, including in their homes; notes further widespread allegations of forced disappearances and unfair trials; draws particular attention to the dismantling of the Gdeim Izik protest camp in November 2010, where significant violence claimed Moroccan and Sahrawi lives, and the subsequent trial of 25 Sahrawis, many of them known human rights activists, in February 2013; notes Morocco's insistence regarding the trial's fairness and due process, and the positive conclusions of some international observers, but also recalls the UNSR's concern at the use of a military court, the allegations of torture, and the Moroccan authorities' failure to investigate them; notes the conclusions by some NGOs and human rights observers relating to the case's alleged politicised prosecutions, deficient evidence and excessive sentences; welcomes the fact that Morocco allowed the visit of a group of EP parliamentarians to visit Western Sahara in June 2013, allowing them to visit the Laayoune prison, but regrets that authorisation was denied to meet with Saharawi political prisoners, namely a minor; calls therefore on the Moroccan authorities to work with civil society and other actors to guarantee the transparency and fairness of its judicial processes, and to investigate and prosecute security officials alleged to have been involved in arbitrary detentions, torture and other abuses of power;
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Reiterates the concerns of the 2006 OHCHR report about restrictions on freedom of speech, assembly and association in Western Sahara; notes Morocco's claim to allow sit-ins and other forms of protest; regrets Morocco's apparent institutional obstruction of NGOs advocating a pro-independence position by preventing their legal registration and recognition; condemns the often severe punishments for ‘'undermining Moroccan territorial integrity’', an item of legislation reportedly used to target Sahrawis peacefully advocating independence; recalls the findings of the UN Independent Expert on cultural rights that the Moroccan authorities suppress certain aspects of Sahrawi culture, and repeats her call to overturn such measures and promote full cultural diversity; notes that the EP members who visited Laayoune last June witnessed a disproportionate police and military presence in the streets;
Amendment 290 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Welcomes the significant economic and infrastructural development implemented by the Moroccan Government in Western Sahara; notes, however, that it fails to benefit the urban living conditions and to provide job opportunities, reinforcing the feeling of discrimination in the Sahrawi population, who also bitterly complain of corruption within the Administration of the territories´ resources; remains concerned, however, by the ongoing dispute over the exploitation of the territory's natural resources, particularly relating to phosphate mines, fisheries, and preliminary oil exploration; recalls the UN Under- Secretary-General for Legal Affairs' advice in 2002, which stressed the Western Saharan people's ‘'inalienable rights’' to their territory's natural resources, and determined that further exploitation ‘'in disregard of the interests and wishes of the people of Western Sahara’' would be illegal; stresses, therefore, that Western Saharan goods and resources should be exempt from any trade agreements between Morocco and the EU unless the Sahrawi population's consent and benefit can be clearly demonstrated and Morocco authorities account fully on how that benefit the population of Western Sahara; expresses particular concern that the EU should not re-institute a fisheries agreement with Morocco while this controversy remains unresolved;
Amendment 316 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Expresses concern that the poverty in Tindouf, coupled with an absence of long- term prospects for many refugees, leaves them vulnerable to radicalisation along religious fundamentalist lines; draws attention to the region's porous borders, which risk facilitating deeper infiltration of the camps by jihadi groups from northern Mali and elsewhere; stresses, therefore, the paramount importance of ensuring the safety and security of the camps; expresses full support for the UNHCR programme aimed at fostering confidence-building by facilitating family exchanges between Tindouf and Western Sahara;
Amendment 326 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Welcomes efforts to improve the documentation of alleged human rights abuses in Western Sahara, in particular through the institution of the Moroccan National Council for Human Rights (CNDH), with offices in Laayoune and Dakhla; but regrets that many Saharawis complain that it does not ensure a proper follow-up of the many complaints lodged; also regrets that the EP members who recently visited the territory could not meet with the local CNDH representatives; notes the positive work of the CNDH, and calls on the Moroccan Government to help strengthen its independence and remit, and to ensure the implementation of its recommendations; furthermore welcomes Moroccan invitations to, and acceptances of, ad-hoc international delegations, including the UNSR on torture, and urges all relevant parties to continue such engagement with UN human rights bodies;
Amendment 335 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Notes, nevertheless, the serious and contested allegations against both the Moroccan and Polisario administrations, and recalls the UN Secretary-General's recent emphasis on ‘'independent, impartial, comprehensive and sustained monitoring of the human rights situation in both Western Sahara and the camps’'; notes, in this regard, that the UN did not upgrade the mandate of MINURSO in April 2013 to incorporate a human rights dimension and condemns the EU Member States who did not support the US proposal in that sense in the UNSC; encourages the UN to do so, or else to establish a new, permanent, impartial human rights body for the purpose of supervising and reporting on the overall situation of human rights, and investigating individual complaints; calls on such a body to encompass the Moroccan-controlled section of Western Sahara, the Tindouf camps, and other territory controlled by the Polisario Front;
Amendment 337 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46 b (new)
Paragraph 46 b (new)
46b. Urges the HR/VP and the EUSR for Human Rights to offer the Moroccan authorities and the Polisario human rights training programmes in Western Sahara and in Tindouf, which would target police and other security agents, the judiciary, local administration officers, media and civil society organisations, building on the political reforms towards democracy, the rule of law and human rights initiated by Morocco, and without prejudice to a negotiated political settlement on the Western Sahara conflict but aiming at encouraging that negotiation;