Sous-commission Droits de l'homme (DROI) - Parlement européen

Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

Regarding Malaysia's accession to the ICC, the Chair of the EP Subcommittee on Human Rights, Antonio Panzeri, made the following statement:

"We welcome Malaysia's decision to accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. This reflects a strong engagement of the country in favour of human rights, the rule of law and justice and sends a clear signal as to the importance of the system of international criminal justice to fight impunity and prevent the most serious crimes under international law."

Statement in full
Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

Regarding the increase in repression and attacks on fundamental freedoms in Cameroon, Antonio Panzeri, Chair of the EP Subcommittee on Human Rights, made the following statement:

Since the presidential election on October 7, 2018, Cameroon is experiencing a wave of demonstrations challenging the re-election of President Biya, as well as repression of all forms of peaceful protests, resulting in multiple arrests, including that of Cameroonian opposition leader and presidential candidate, Mr. Maurice Kamto.

Statement in full
Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

Regarding the case of the prominent Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, EP Vice-President Heidi Hautala, and Pier Antonio Panzeri, Chair of the EP Human Rights Subcommittee, stated:

"We are concerned by the situation of Nasrin Sotoudeh, arrested last June and convicted in December 2018 to a five-year prison sentence. The trial was held in absentia and she was not represented by a lawyer during the process".

Press statement in full
Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

The next meeting of the Subcommittee on Human Rights will take place on Thursday 21 March 2019 from 9.00 - 12.30 in room ASP 1G2.

Representatives of NGOs as well as other organisations are requested to accede to the EU Transparency Register and follow the procedures therein for access to the European Parliament.
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Draft agenda and meeting documents
Press statements issued by the DROI Chair
Calendar of DROI Meetings 2019 (first half)
List of urgency resolutions from July 2014
Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

Regarding the case of the prominent Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, EP Vice-President Heidi Hautala, and Pier Antonio Panzeri, Chair of the EP Human Rights Subcommittee, stated:

"We are concerned by the situation of Nasrin Sotoudeh, arrested last June and convicted in December 2018 to a five-year prison sentence. The trial was held in absentia and she was not represented by a lawyer during the process".

The charges against Sotoudeh are politically motivated: spreading propaganda, membership of illegal groups, encouraging people to commit corruption and prostitution, and appearing without the sharia-sanctioned hijab.

Nasrin Sotoudeh is renowned internationally for her peaceful struggle for personal and political freedoms in Iran. Prior to her arrest, she represented activists and journalists, as well as defending victims in child abuse and other criminal cases. In 2012, the European Parliament awarded Nasrin with the prestigious Sakharov Prize.

Further information
Press release in full
Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

On 8 March 2019, International Women’s Day, the Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the European Parliament, Mr Antonio Panzeri, made the following statement:

"On this particular day, I would like to pay tribute to the work of women human rights defenders across the globe. Gender equality is at the very heart of human rights and all those addressing gender discrimination should be strongly supported," said Mr. Panzeri.

"Women across the world play an indispensable role in advancing human rights and contributing to making and building sustainable peace. Those women who, individually or with others, act to promote human rights face significant risks. They face not only the same threats that defenders who are men face, but also additional ones. In particular, women human rights defenders are frequently exposed to gender based violence and gender stereotypes limiting their capacity to pursue their professional careers and make choices about their lives."

"Women human rights defenders must be protected. Every woman who defends human rights should be able to do so without fear of retaliation."

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Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

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Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

Regarding the upcoming final appeals court ruling on 25 February 2019, the Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights Mr Antonio Panzeri made the following statement:

"Three family members of the exiled Bahraini human rights defender Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei are currently serving a sentence of three years imprisonment: his mother-in-law Hajer Mansoor Hassan, his brother-in-law Sayed Nazar Alwadaei and his cousin, Mahmood Marzooq Mansoor.

Statement in full
Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

"I strongly condemn yesterday's executions of nine men who were denied a fair trial" stressed Mr Panzeri.

The executions were carried out despite the fact that the men claimed to have been subjected to torture in order to confess the 2015 killing of the country's former Public Prosecutor. I deplore the government's increasing use of the death penalty and actively encourage Egypt to immediately stop executions and put in place a moratorium on the use of the capital punishment..."

Statement in full
Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

The situation in Chechnya, and the case of Oyub Titiev
Zimbabwe
Women's rights defenders in Saudi Arabia
Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

Statement by EP Vice-President Heidi Hautala and the Chair of the EP Subcommittee on Human Rights, Pier Antonio Panzeri.

"The immediate release of all political prisoners could create a positive momentum. And this is precisely what we need now to overcome the stalemate in Venezuela", Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D, IT), Chair of the EP Subcommittee on Human Rights, stated.
Press statement in full
Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

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Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

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Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

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Source : © Union européenne, 2019 - PE

The Subcommittee on human rights will hold a public hearing on “Attacks on the legal profession and lawyers defending human rights”, on 19 February 2019, from 09.00-10.30, at the European Parliament in Brussels.
Attacks on lawyers defending human rights have increased in many countries over the last years, including in Europe. The hearing aims at providing an overview of the latest developments (including testimonies of persecuted lawyers), to present and assess the existing EU tools to support lawyers/human rights defenders worldwide and to reflect on possible further initiatives at EU and multilateral level to improve the situation.
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Poster
Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

The Subcommittee on human rights will hold a public hearing on “Attacks on the legal profession and lawyers defending human rights”, on 19 February 2019, from 09.00-10.30, at the European Parliament in Brussels.
Attacks on lawyers defending human rights have increased in many countries over the last years, including in Europe. The hearing aims at providing an overview of the latest developments (including testimonies of persecuted lawyers), to present and assess the existing EU tools to support lawyers/human rights defenders worldwide and to reflect on possible further initiatives at EU and multilateral level to improve the situation.

Further information
Poster
Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

The Chair of the EP Subcommittee on Human Rights, Pier Antonio Panzeri, condemns the harassment of Egyptian human rights defenders in reprisal for their meeting with French President Macron.

"I express full solidarity with the prominent Egyptian human rights defenders who are being harassed and pressured since their meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron...."

Press statement
Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

The Chair of the EP Subcommittee on Human Rights, Pier Antonio Panzeri, condemns the harassment of Egyptian human rights defenders in reprisal for their meeting with French President Macron. “I express full solidarity with the prominent Egyptian human rights defenders who are being harassed and pressured since their meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron...."
Further information
Press statement in full
Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

On the historic visit of Pope Francis to the Arabian Peninsula, Antonio Panzeri, Chair of the EP Subcommittee on Human Rights, stated:

"His Holiness Pope Francis pays the first ever visit by a Pontiff to the Arabian Peninsula, the cradle of Islam. This historic moment is praised by both Catholics and Muslims in the Middle East and worldwide.

Press statement in full
Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP