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

The Monthly Highlights publication provides an overview, at a glance, of the on-going work of the policy departments, including a selection of the latest and forthcoming publications, and a list of future events.
Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Tuesday, 1 December 2015
from 09.00 - 12.30 and from 15.00 - 18.30 in meeting room ASP A1G2

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.
Further information
Watch the meeting live
Draft agenda and meeting documents
Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

The New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition in Africa (NAFSN) launched in May 2012 under the auspices of the G8 aims to create the conditions that will allow the African countries concerned to improve agricultural productivity and develop their agrifood sector by attracting more private investment in agriculture. The participating countries (Burkina Faso, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal and Tanzania) adopted 'country cooperation frameworks' (CCFs) listing their policy commitments, and companies provided 'Letters of Intent' identifying intended investments. While the general objective of the NAFSN is sound, certain deficiencies remain: the CCFs are silent on the need to shift to sustainable modes of agricultural production and to support farmers' seed systems, on the dangers associated with the emergence of a market for land rights, or on the regulation of contract farming; and they are weak on nutrition as well as on the recognition of women's rights and gender empowerment.
Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

"I welcome the release of imprisoned Azerbaijani human rights activist Arif Yunus, ordered by the Baku Court of Appeals due to his deteriorating health. This is an important initial step and long-awaited positive news from Azerbaijan."
Full statement
Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

In view of the increasingly deteriorating humanrights and security situation in Burundi, the Chair of the Subcommittee onHuman Rights appeals to the Burundian government to prevent further violence, putan end to human rights violations and conduct talks with all parties involvedto ensure the stability of the country and region.
Press statement
Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

The breach of international humanitarian law and human rights in the Gaza conflict was highlighted by the Human Rights Subcommittee in a debate with experts on Thursday morning, 12 November. MEPs asked to speed up the peace process. In a separate debate they discussed the deteriorating human rights situation in Burundi.
Press statement
Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Durée de la vidéo : 179'
Vous pouvez télécharger manuellement cette vidéo au format WMV (1.8Gb)

Clause de non-responsabilité : L'interprétation des débats facilite la communication mais ne constitue en aucun cas un enregistrement authentifié des débats. Seuls le discours original ou la traduction écrite révisée du discours original peuvent être considérés authentiques.
Source : © Union européenne, 2015 - PE

Source : © Union européenne, 2015 - PE

The Valletta Summitshould not be about building higher walls and barbed wire around our borders,but about shared responsibility" says DROI Chair Elena Valenciano.

In view of tomorrow's VallettaSummit on migration between the EU and 35 African countries, the Chair of theSubcommittee on Human Rights underlines the need for a genuine partnership withAfrica, based on the shared value of respect for human rights.
Full press statement
Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Source : © Union européenne, 2015 - PE

In association with the Delegation for relations with Palestine. Mary Davis, Chair of the United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict, will brief members on the COI's report followed by a Questions and Answers session
Further information
Watch the debate live via webstreaming
Meeting documents
Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

During the first quarter of 2014 hearings on topics such as the human rights situations in Mexico and Kazakhstan and the link between human rights and business were held. Exchanges of views on prison conditions in Russia as well as on human rights criteria in arms exports were also organised.
Issue 18
     Issue 18 : [EN]
Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Highlights in this issue include: * Hearing on human rights and technologies * Exchange of views with Ambassador Robert King * Update on Raif Badawi in Saudi Arabia * Hearing on freedom of religion or belief


Issue 20
Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Main points : Human rights situation in Eritrea with Sheila B. Keetharuth; Discussion with Michel Forst, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders; Situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon with Ninette Kelley; Sakharov Prize laureate Denis Mukwege; Evaluation of the activities of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) since its establishment; Exchange of views with the Delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula (DARP);
Issue 21
Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Main points include: Hearing on Sport and Human Rights; Human rights in Central Asia; Exchange of views with Habib Essid, Prime Minister of Tunisia; Human rights situation in Egypt; Human rights in Venezuela; Respect of human rights and international humanitarian law in the Gaza Conflict; Human rights situation in Ukraine and Human rights in Angola;
Issue 22
Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Monday 2 November Elena Valenciano, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, during the 70th session of the UN General Assembly.

Members of the Subcommittee on HumanRights and of the Committee on Foreign Affairs are visiting the UN GeneralAssembly as part of a European Parliament delegation, to discuss issues relatedto human rights. The General Assembly, comprised of all 193 Members of theUnited Nations, provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the fullspectrum of international issues.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

"An extremey good man"

"The conference of Presidents decided that the Sakharov Prize will go to Saudi blogger Raif Badawi," said Schulz announcing the 2015 laureate in plenary. "This man, who is an extremely good man and an exemplary good man, has had imposed on him one of the most gruesome penalties that exist in this country which can only be described as brutal torture." The EP President added: "I call on King of Saudi Arabia to stop the execution of this sentence, to release Mr Badawi, to allow him to back to his wife and to allow him to travel here for the December session to receive this prize."
Press release on the winner of the Sakharov Prize 2015
President Schulz announces the winner of the Sakharov Prize 2015
Sakharov Prize webpage
Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Raif Badawi is the laureate of this year's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, following an October 29 decision by EP President Martin Schulz and the political group leaders. Badawi is a blogger from Saudi Arabia currently serving a 10-yearprison sentence for insulting Islam on his website promoting social, political and religious debate. The Sakharov award ceremony will be held in Strasbourg on16 December
Further information
Press release on Laureate Raif Badawi
President Schulz announces the winner of the Sakharov Prize 2015
More on the Sakharov Prize
Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

In reaction to recurrent tragedies in the Mediterranean Sea, the European Union (EU) has adopted a series of measures seeking to improve the protection of migrants trying to reach the borders of the EU by sea and to share responsibility among countries involved by increasing cooperation with transit countries. This study focuses on the existing and planned EU policies and actions to protect the human rights of migrants before entering the EU by sea or after they have left the territory of the EU. The picture that emerges from the evaluation of EU policies and actions is a mixed one. On the one hand, it cannot be denied that instruments of sea borders surveillance and instruments of cooperation with third countries have now generally included human rights safeguards. On the other hand, implementation, monitoring and control remain problematic. Furthermore, the primary aim of existing EU policies and actions still seems to be the protection of the external borders against so-called ‘illegal’ immigration and the return of illegally staying migrants, rather than the development of effective strategies to protect human rights of migrants and the saving of lives on the Mediterranean. The study therefore offers specific recommendations to ensure a coherent human rights-based EU approach to improve the protection of the rights of migrants aiming to reach the EU.
Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP