Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2013-02-06-Speech-3-565-000"
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"en.20130206.36.3-565-000"2
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"Mr President, I welcome this debate and our resolution, with its emphasis on the importance in the forthcoming Human Rights Council session of dealing with issues ranging from the negative impact of the financial and economic crisis, the commemoration of the 20
anniversary of the adoption of the Vienna Declaration, the interactive debate on the rights of people with disabilities and the panel discussion on human rights mainstreaming. We are working very hard to try to mainstream human rights here in the External Action Service in the European Union and it is right that we support efforts to do so in the United Nations.
On country-specific actions, I welcome what the President-in-Office has said about Bahrain. Having been in Bahrain with the Subcommittee on Human Rights just before Christmas and having visited, with my Portuguese colleague beside me, Jau prison, where it is claimed there are some 800 political prisoners and where I heard testimonies about torture and mistreatment, I think it is absolutely right that we keep up the pressure in relation to that country.
I also welcome what the President-in-Office said in relation to Israel. I had the Israeli political counsellor with me today and I talked to him about the importance of his country’s engagement with the Palestinians, while recognising the importance of our engagement with Israel. Therefore it is extremely disappointing that they do not engage with the Universal Periodic Review in the UN Human Rights Council. I thank her for what she said.
In relation to Sri Lanka, I am disappointed because we worked so hard, both in my group and in this Parliament, to try to build bridges with Sri Lanka in order to move forward on some of the human rights issues. But they have to understand that, if the first woman Supreme Court Chair is removed from office and then the International Bar Association is prevented from visiting the country to investigate what has happened, we will criticise. We do not do it for its own sake but those criticisms must be heard.
I am very disappointed that my group’s suggestion for a parliamentary report on the situation of the Western Sahara has been watered down in this Parliament, first of all to the Sahara and now to the Sahel. I agree with the President-in-Office that there are big issues across the Sahel region. We understand that at the moment, but those should not be progressed at the expense of recognising that there are real issues around freedom of expression, freedom of association and the right to demonstrate of the Saharawi people, including political prisoners. A special envoy has of course been appointed and I call on the EEAS to make sure that issue is dealt with in the Human Rights Council.
Finally, on the day of the agreement of my own report on corporate responsibility, I am delighted that there will be thematic attention at the Human Rights Council on the UN guiding principles on business and human rights. Out of 27 of our EU Member States, 19 are undertaking national action plans on the guiding principles. Let us take that enthusiasm and that fervour with us to try to make sure implementation is not just taking place in Europe but is happening worldwide."@en1
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"th"1
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