Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2011-12-13-Speech-2-434-000"
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"en.20111213.30.2-434-000"2
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"Mr President, this is my first parliamentary speech since last week’s events and I regret having to use the first sentence to say to you, my parliamentary colleagues, that the actions of the government of my country do not represent the views of my party or many of the people who I represent, and those actions do not represent me.
As the Socialist and Democrats’ human rights spokesperson, can I welcome, however, the strategic review of human rights presented today by Baroness Ashton – long awaited. I absolutely endorse the aspiration to raise effectiveness, to achieve concrete results, to emphasise civil society, to better implement the recommendations of election observation missions, to continue the priority given to the defence of human rights defenders, to support the proposals for thematic campaigns and to move to a Brussels-based Council working group.
We agree with the High Representative emphasising a bottom-up approach, but may I tell her that in the last year, I have asked EU delegations in two critical countries – I will not name them – who is their focal point on human rights and where is their human rights country strategy? I met silence in response. We know we have a long way to go. We agree with her that worldwide, there is an attempt at erosion of international human rights and international humanitarian law, which is why I welcome her statement today towards considering the appointment of a special representative, perhaps specifically on international justice.
Just as we have failed states, let us be honest and say that the EU human rights dialogues and human rights clauses are close to being failed mechanisms – not to be abolished but requiring life-saving surgery. Meanwhile, bolstering our external advocacy, by strengthening internal respect for human rights, requires a mechanism, not just an aspiration. The mainstreaming of human rights – a development in particular trade policies – has yet to really begin, not just compatibility in the language of the communication, but coordination for common ends, using all our external relations instruments at one and the same time. I believe the benchmarks she identifies are the way forward.
Finally, as has been said, in the annual report this year, I have been asked to provide an input to the review and I am pleased to do so. There will always be the need for some confidential communication on human rights abuses. But just as those who perpetrate war crimes or crimes against humanity must always be held to account, we who seek to uphold human rights must be held to account too."@en1
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