23 Amendments of Nicole KIIL-NIELSEN related to 2011/0412(COD)
Amendment 42 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The Union's contribution to democracy and the rule of law and to respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is rooted in the universally accepted general principles established by the International Bill of Human Rights, and any other human rights instrument adopted within the framework of the United Nations, as well as relevant regional human rights instruments such as those of the Council of Europe. The indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms must be reflected in the Union's actions supported by this regulation.
Amendment 45 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) Gender equality and, women's rights, women empowerment, non-discrimination are fundamental human rights and athe question of social justice as well as fight against inequalities and their promotion is a strong component of this Regulation. All of them are cross-cutting issues which shall be mainstreamed in all programmes.
Amendment 49 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Democracy and human rights are inextricably linked and mutually reinforcing, as recalled in the Council Conclusions of 18 November 2009, on democracy support in the EU's external relations. The fundamental freedoms of expression and, association and assembly are the preconditions for political pluralism and democratic processes, whereas democratic control, domestic accountability and separation of powers are essential to sustain an independent judiciary and the rule of law which in turn are required for effective protection of human rights.
Amendment 55 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) The task of building and sustaining a culture of human rights as well as of supporting the emergence of an independent civil society, including the enhancement of its role in its country and making democracy work for citizens, though especially urgent and difficult in emerging democracies, is essentially a continuous challenge, belonging first and foremost to the people of the country concerned but without diminishing the commitment of the international community. It also requires a range of institutions, in particular national democratic parliaments and local elected assemblies that should ensure participation, representation, responsiveness and accountability. It also requires independent civil society organisations that should take part in national good governance processes, including domestic accountability.
Amendment 61 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Union assistance under this Regulation is designed to complement the various other tools for implementing of Union policies on democracy and human rights, which range from political dialogue and diplomatic demarches to various instruments for financial and technical cooperation, including both geographic and thematic programmes. This instrument must be favoured over other instruments only if the Union assistance in this field cannot be part of geographic programmes. It will also complement the more crisis-related actions under the Instrument for Stability, including urgent actions needed during the first phases of transition process.
Amendment 69 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
Amendment 72 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Under this Regulation, the Union will provide assistance to address global, regional, national and local human rights and democratisation issues in partnership with civil society understood to span all types of social action by individuals or groups that are independent from the state and; it ranges from human rights defenders as defined by the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, to individuals or groups that are independent from the state and that are at risk due to the lack of freedom of expression and of association in their countries and that are active in the field of human rights and democracy support.
Amendment 73 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) Furthermore, whilst democracy and human rights objectives must be increasingly mainstreamed in all external assistance financing instruments, Union assistance under this Regulation will have a specific complementary and additional role by virtue of its global nature and its independence of action from the consent of third country governments and other public authorities. This will allow for cooperation and partnership with civil society on sensitive human rights and democracy issues possible, providing the flexibility to respond to changing circumstances. It shouldmay also provide Union capacity to articulate and support specific objectives and measures at international level which are neither geographically linked nor crisis related and which may require a transnational approach or involve operations both within the Union and in a range of third countriesuch as the establishment of shelter cities dedicated to human rights defenders or involve operations both within the Union and in a range of third countries while privileging the use of geographic instruments over this instrument to finance worldwide campaigns promoting fundamental rights. Moreover, it will provide the necessary framework for operations, such as support for independent European Union election observation missions requiring policy coherence, a unified management system and common operating standards.
Amendment 81 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13 a (new)
Recital 13 a (new)
(13a) Developing and consolidating democracy under this Regulation may include democratic parliaments and their capacity to support and advance democratic reform processes. National Constituent Assemblies and parliaments towards a transition process need, therefore, to be included as bodies eligible for funding under this Regulation when this is necessary in order to achieve its objectives, unless the proposed measure can be financed under a related Union external assistance instrument.
Amendment 85 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) In such most difficult countries or situations and in order to address urgent protection needs of human rights defenders, as defined by the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders the Union should be able to respond in a flexible and timely manner by means of ad hoc grants, specific imprest accounts for the EU Delegations and through the existing Human Rights Defenders Mechanism. This will particularly be the case when the choice of procedural modalities could impact directly on the effectiveness of the measures or could subject beneficiaries to serious intimidation, retaliation or other types of risks.
Amendment 99 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) supporting and consolidating democratic reforms in third countries, by enhancing the good governance as well as participatory and representative democracy, strengthening the overall democratic cycle, and improving the reliability of electoral processes, in particular by means of election observation missions.
Amendment 104 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) support to and enhancement of participatory and representative democracy, including parliamentary democracy, and the processes of democratisation at the local, national and international level, mainly through civil society organisations, inter alia in:
Amendment 113 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a – point iv
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a – point iv
(iv) supporting reforms to achieve effective and transparent democratic and domestic accountability and oversight, including that of the security and justice sectors, and encouraging measures against corruption;
Amendment 126 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b – point ii
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b – point ii
(ii) support for, protection of, and assistance to human rights defenders, in terms of Article 1 of the UN Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; these objectives covered by the Human Rights Defenders Mechanism should be completed by a longer-term assistance, including the support and access to shelter cities as well as the development of a network of universities;
Amendment 128 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b – point iii
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b – point iii
(iii) the fight against racism and xenophobia and discrimination based on any ground, including sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or, sexual orientation or gender identity;
Amendment 134 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b – point v a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b – point v a (new)
(va) the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) persons, including measures to decriminalise homosexuality, combat homophobic and transphobic violence and persecution, and promote freedom of assembly, association and expression for LGBTI people;
Amendment 149 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d – introductory wording
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d – introductory wording
(d) building confidence in and enhancing the reliability and transparency of democratic electoral processes, while contributing to the efficiency and consistency of the whole electoral cycle, which should not exceed more than 25% of the total budget of the Instrument and in particular,
Amendment 152 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d – point iii
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d – point iii
(iii) by contributing to the development of the electoral observation capacity of civil society organisations at regional and local levels, and supporting domestic election observation and their initiatives to enhance participation in, and the follow-up to, the electoral process;
Amendment 156 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d – point iv
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d – point iv
(iv) by supporting measures aimed at the consistent integration of electoral processes into the democratic cycle and at implementing recommendations made by Union Election Observation Missions, in particular through civil society organisations;
Amendment 158 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d – point iv a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d – point iv a (new)
(iva) by contributing to the preparation of the pre-electoral cycle in order to meet the necessary requirements aimed at building a democratic environment;
Amendment 165 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Measures shall be taken to uphold the process of decentralisation and hence grassroots political representation, and underpin local democracy by ensuring closer cooperation between civil society organisations and elected local authorities.
Amendment 168 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Aid measures shall be implemented as far as possible together with the democratically elected local authorities so as to enhance their legitimacy and help underpin local democracy.
Amendment 176 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 d (new)
Article 4 d (new)