Activities of Louis MICHEL 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 (A8-0355/2016 - Josef Weidenholzer) NL
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the Annual Report on human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter 2015
Amendments (40)
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Firmly believes that development and human rights are interdependent, and that respect for and protection and fulfilment of human rights, in the context of good governance, are prerequisites for reducing poverty and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Recalls that good governance refers to a just State which fully assumes, with justice and equity, its sovereign functions, ensures impartial access for citizens to all fundamental rights and is capable of organising a fair redistribution of the wealth created;
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 e (new)
Citation 2 e (new)
- having regard to the report of 28 January 2016 on minorities and caste- based discrimination by the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues1a, __________________ 1a http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC /RegularSessions/Session31/Documents/A _HRC_31_56_en.doc
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Considers that the governance contract should include an adequate social safety net based on strengthened national health systems;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls the need to strengthen the legal arsenal, upstream and downstream of mining, to ensure better traceability of minerals; supports global initiatives to tackle corruption, such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), the Kimberley Process and the principles set out in the United Nations Global Compact for businesses;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 30 c (new)
Citation 30 c (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 10 October 2013 on caste-based discrimination1a, __________________ 1a Texts adopted, P7_TA(2013)0420.
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 30 d (new)
Citation 30 d (new)
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 33 a (new)
Citation 33 a (new)
- having regard to the Annual Report 2015 of the European Endowment for Democracy1a, __________________ 1a https://www.democracyendowment.eu/ann ual-report/
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls the introduction of a human-rights-based approach (HRBA) – while condemning all forms of discrimination, including discrimination based on gender, sex, sexual orientation, religion, caste, ethnicity or origin – in EU development policy aimed at integrating human rights principles into EU operational activities for development; calls for greater dissemination of the HRBA toolbox among our partners, and for its implementation to be closely monitored by the Commission;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas Article 21 TEU commits the European Union to a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) guided by the principles which have inspired its own creation, and which it shall seek to advance in the world: 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, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and international law;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas respect for and the promotion and safeguarding of the indivisibility and universality of human rights are cornerstones of the EU’s foreign and security policies;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recalls the importance of using budgetary support, which, in accordance with the principle of ownership, gives partner countries the financial resources necessary to consolidate their institutions and public services;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas human rights and democracy support policies should be mainstreamed across all other EU policies with an external dimension, such as development, migration, security, counter- terrorism, neighbourhood policy, enlargement and trade;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas internal and external coherence in the area of human rights is essential for the credibility of the EU’s human rights policy abroad, and whereas increased coherence between EU internal and external policies, as well as among the EU’s external policies is also an indispensable requirement for a successful and effective EU human rights and democratisation policy; whereas improved consistency should enable the EU to respond faster and more efficiently, already in early stages of human rights violations;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas, in addition to the holding of fair and free elections, features of democratic regimes include transparent governance, respect for the rule of law, freedom of expression, respect for human rights, the existence of an independent judicial system, and respect for international law and international agreements on human rights;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas respect for human rights is under threat worldwide, and whereas the universality of human rights is increasingly, and seriously, being challenged by a number of authoritarian regimes; whereas non-respect of human rights brings an enormous damage to the individual, his relatives and to the society; whereas there are numerous attempts worldwide to shrink the space of civil society, including in multilateral fora;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas the regular sessions of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the appointment of Special Rapporteurs, the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism and the Special Procedures addressing either specific country situations or thematic issues should all contribute to the international efforts to ensure and to promote and respect human rights, democracy and the rule of law;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K h (new)
Recital K h (new)
Kh. whereas the Sakharov Prize for 2015 was awarded to Raïf Badawi for his relentless struggle for the right to freedom of thought, freedom of expression and freedom of conscience;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M i (new)
Recital M i (new)
Mi. whereas worldwide more and more people are fleeing from war, armed conflicts or other degrading conditions, and while these refugee flows and various forms of migration are a huge challenge for EU policy requiring effective and sustainable solutions that are in line with our common European values;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q c (new)
Recital Q c (new)
Qc. whereas the access to education, nutrition and healthcare should be guaranteed for all children;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital U
Recital U
U. whereas national and international sporting events such as the Olympic Games and the football World Cups should be organised in full respect of all human rights, as enshrined in the Olympic Charter, and should aim at a harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human rights and human dignity, and with no discrimination based on any grounds such as nationality, race, religion, politics, gender or sexual orientation;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the EU to denounce, systematically and unequivocally, the killings and any form of violence, deprivation and threat of human rights defenders, and to step up its public diplomacy in open and clear support of human rights defenders, also when it comes to their testimony in multilateral fora;
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates its call for systematic and comprehensive reporting on steps taken in response to resolutions adopted by Parliament on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of lawthe diplomatic steps that were taken, the results that were achieved and the political conclusions that were drawn to the action in response to resolutions adopted by Parliament on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law; insists on the need to ensure a rapid and appropriate response to human infringements, even in the early stages of human rights violations;
Amendment 287 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Recognises the importance of engaging in human rights-specific dialogues also with countries with serious human rights problems; underlines, however, the need for the EU to draw clear political conclusions when these Human Rights Dialogues do not lead to positive outcomes; warns against side-lining human rights discussions in high-level political dialogues; insists that discussions about human rights should never be subordinated to other interests in high- level political discussions; reiterates its call for an EU policy and diplomacy that should aim to wipe out all discriminations with regard to LGBTI, sex, racial or ethnic origin, caste, age, disability, religion or belief and to use every opportunity to express its grave concern over these discriminations;
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Reiterates, furthermore, the importance of ensuring that the EU engages actively and consistently in UN human rights mechanisms, in particular with the Third Committee, the General Assembly (UNGA) and the UNHRC; supports efforts made by the EEAS, the EU delegations in New York and Geneva, and the Member States to increase further EU coherence on human rights issues at the UN; encourages the EU to intensify the practice of cross-regional initiatives, and to initiate and co-sponsor resolutions; reiterates its call for stronger visibility of EU acstresses the importance and the need for permanent EU representation in all multilateral forums;
Amendment 341 #
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 refugees, migrants and asylum seekers on their route to Europe; highlights the weaknesses and systematic incoherence and the lack of decisiveness of the policies of the EU and thsome Member States in this area and stresses the need for a holistic approach to find sustainable and long-term solutions;
Amendment 392 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. 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 traffickingexploiting the vulnerability of men, women and children who live in war-torn countries, conflict-zones and economically desperate areas, and taking advantage of the lack of safe migration channels; these criminal networks make these extremely vulnerable people into victims of smuggling, trafficking in human beings, slavery and sexual exploitation;
Amendment 405 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 f (new)
Paragraph 35 f (new)
35f. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that unaccompanied minors do not disappear after reaching the EU's borders;
Amendment 437 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Highlights the dramatic situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs), especially of the enormous number of IDPs in Iraq and Syria; stresses that programmes on refugees in a region needs to acknowledge and incorporate the potential fate of IDPs as well; calls on the Commission, the Member States and the international community to take steps to improve their situation on the groundensure that displaced persons should be at least assured of decent housing, access to food, healthcare and education;
Amendment 446 #
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; insists that the global burden of diseases and disabilities related to poverty and malnutrition should be tackled properly;
Amendment 502 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
Paragraph 50
50. Calls for the setting up of mechanisms aimed at ensuring respect of human rights by states and investorcompanies alike, and for the setting up of complaint mechanisms for people whose rights are violated by trade and investment agreements;
Amendment 537 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57
Paragraph 57
57. Reaffirms its condemnation of all forms of abuse, sexual mutilation, exploitation, slavery, forced marriage 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;
Amendment 546 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58
Paragraph 58
58. Is deeply concerned about human rights violations affecting women and girls in refugee camps, 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, healthcare and food supply of girls in refugee camps, in conflict areas and in areas affected by extreme poverty;
Amendment 674 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74
Paragraph 74
74. 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; reiterates that under no circumstances whatsoever can discrimination of any kind, violence, punishment by way of reprisal, torture, sexual abuse of women and children, genital mutilation, child marriage, forced marriage, trafficking in women, slavery or social exclusion on grounds of social class, caste or origin, or domestic violence be justified on grounds of social, religious or cultural convictions or traditions;
Amendment 703 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 78
Paragraph 78
78. Expresses the need for international assistance in efforts to search for and liberate women and children who still remain in the captivity of ISIS and other terrorist or warring groups, and in promoting special programmes for treatment within the European Union of former captives; expresses concern over 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 the liberation, rehabilitation and reintegration of these children;
Amendment 728 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81
Paragraph 81
81. Calls on the VP/HR and the EU foreign ministers to place on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council, on a regular basis, a discussion of EU efforts to pursue the release of human rights defenders, aid workers, journalists, political activists and others, and to arrange a public annual Foreign Affairs Council, with an agenda that includes the shrinking space for civil society and the jailing of human rights defenders, paying special attention to the cases raised in Parliament’s resolutions concerning debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law;
Amendment 760 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 88
Paragraph 88
88. Is concerned about the growth of illegal hate speech, meaning speech that attacks a person or a group on the basis of national origin, colour, religion, gender or sexual orientation, especially on social media platforms; calls on the Commission to involve representatives of civil society organisations to ensure that their views are taken into account in the negotiations on codes of conduct; firmly condemns without exception the dissemination via digital platforms of hate - messages that incite violence and terror;
Amendment 783 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94
Paragraph 94
94. Is deeply concerned about the reinstatement of executions in some countries in recent years, deplores that in other countries political leaders are considering reintroducing the death penalty; expresses its grave concern at the reported rise in the number of death sentences handed down worldwide in 2015, in particular in China, Egypt, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia; reminds the authorities of these countries that they are state parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child which strictly prohibits the death penalty for crimes committed by anyone below the age of 18;
Amendment 788 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 95
Paragraph 95
95. Strongly denounces the increase in the handing down of the death sentence for drug-related offences, and calls for the exclusion of the use of capital punishment, summary executions for such offences;
Amendment 802 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 102
Paragraph 102
102. Urges the EEAS, in the light of continued reports of widespread practice of summary executions, torture and ill- treatment around the world, to step up, at all levels of dialogue and in all fora, the EU’s efforts in the fight against summary executions, torture and other ill-treatment, in line with the Guidelines to EU Policy towards third countries on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;