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

Workshop on "Human rights in North Korea: accountability vs. engagement?", held on 20 April 2016 in the European Parliament.
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

In early research on land grabbing, the initial focus was on foreign companies investing abroad, with a particular focus on those based in countries such as China, Gulf States, South Korea, and India. In recent years, it has become evident that the range of countries land investors originate in is far broader, and includes both North Atlantic - and EU-based actors. In this study, we offer both quantitative and qualitative data illustrating the involvement of EU-based corporate and financial entities in land deals occurring outside of the EU. This study also analyses the global land rush within a human rights framework, examining the implications of particular land deals involving EU-based investors and their impact on communities living in areas where the investments are taking place. The research presented here builds partly on Cotula’s 2014 study on the drivers and human rights implications of land grabbing, but differs in that it focuses explicitly on particular cases of possible, actual or potential human rights abuses and violations, in the context of activities involving European corporate and financial entities. In our conclusions, we offer a series of recommendations on how the EU can more effectively address these issues.
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The present study provides a detailed overview of the actual human rights situation in the frozen conflict regions of EU’s Eastern neighbourhood, namely in Crimea, Transnistria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh. The focus of the analysis is on the access to the justice system, as well as on the abilities of the de jure or de facto authorities to administer justice.
Particular attention is paid to Crimea because the rapidly worsening human rights situation there affects far more people than the population of the other four frozen conflicts combined.
Further information
The frozen conflicts of the EU's Eastern neighbourhood and their impact on the respect of human rights
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights requested a study that would feed into the debate on the application of the universal jurisdiction principle. The goal of this study is to help the European Parliament form opinions and make decisions in this respect whilst at the same time providing practical recommendations to the European Union (EU) on ways to improve the application of the principle in its Member States and third countries. For the full study please see link below
Further information
The application of universal jurisdiction in the fight against impunity
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The Chair of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights, Elena VALENCIANO (S&D, ES), and the Chair of the EP Culture and Education Committee, Silvia COSTA (S&D, IT), stress the link between access to information and fundamental freedoms on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day:

"In today's interconnected world, confronted by increasing number of humanitarian, economic and political crises, free access to information is more important than ever. We are therefore most concerned by the constant erosion of press freedom worldwide...."

For full statement see link below

Press statement
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

"Mexican Government to go on with the investigation", says DROI Chair

As the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI) brought its conclusions regarding the disappearance of the 43 students in Ayotzinapa, the Chair of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI), Elena Valenciano (S&D, ES), made the following statement:

"On behalf of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, I wish to express my concern regarding the findings of the second and final report presented by the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI) on the disappearance of the 43 students in Ayotzinapa.

For full statement see link below

Press statement
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Elena Valenciano, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights in the European Parliament, on the attack in Aleppo on the Al Quds hospital, another facility supported by Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF):

"I express my strongest condemnation of this attack that has caused significant loss of life among patients and doctors, including children, and one of Aleppo's last paediatricians. These intentional attacks on civilian facilities are blatant violations of international humanitarian law and have a brutal impact on the already meagre living conditions of thousands of people.

For the full statement see below

Press statement
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Links between foreign investment in agricultural land in third countries and the rights of local populations, the need for a multi stakeholders approach and mechanisms to protect indigenous peoples were among the issues raised in the Human Rights Subcommittee's hearing on human rights defenders and land-grabbing issues on Wednesday afternoon, 20 April.
For the full statement please see link below.
Further information
Programme
Press release
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The next meeting of the Subcommittee on Human Rights will take place on Monday, 30 May 2016, from 15.00 - 18.30 in meeting room ASP - A3G-3.

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, 2016 - EP

Human rights: attack in Lahore, murders in Honduras, abductions in Nigeria

Parliament condemns the attack in Gulshani-Iqbal Park in Lahore, Pakistan, on 27 March 2016, which killed more than 73 people and injured at least 300; recent murders of human rights defenders in Honduras, in particular Berta Caceres, Nelson Garcia and Paola Barraza; and worsening security and human rights in Nigeria, in separate resolutions voted on Thursday.
Press release
Pakistan, in particular the attack in Lahore
Honduras: situation of human rights defenders
Nigeria
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Looming hunger crisis in southern Africa: aid agencies should receive sufficient funding, say DROI and DEVE Chairs.

Elena Valenciano, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights in the EP, and Linda McAvan, Chair of the Committee on Development in the European Parliament (EP), on the worrying situation in southern Africa:

"No fewer than six countries in southern Africa (South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Zambia) are facing a major crisis due to the worst southern African drought in decades. According to the World Food Programme (WPF) over 10 million people across the region will need food aid in the coming year. The WFP estimates that more than 30 million people are currently food insecure and the WFP believes that these numbers are still going to grow. Full statement - see link below.

Press Release
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

European Parliament Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, Elena Valenciano (S&D, ES) on the situation in Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria:

"I am deeply concerned about the civilians in Yarmouk who are once again suffering extreme shortages of food and clean water. Some 6,000 civilian families are continuing to experience a situation of danger, trapped in the intense fighting taking place in the camp between extremist armed groups which since April 6 has been preventing UNRWA from carrying out humanitarian missions to support the population in the Yarmouk-Yalda area.

Full statement - see link below

Press statement
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Links between foreign investment in agricultural land in third countries and the rights of local populations, the need for a multi stakeholders approach and mechanisms to protect indigenous peoples were among the issues raised in the Human Rights Subcommittee's hearing on human rights defenders and land-grabbing issues on Wednesday afternoon, 20 April. For the full statement please see link below.
Press statement
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Durée de la vidéo : 207'
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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, 2016 - PE

Durée de la vidéo : 211'
Vous pouvez télécharger manuellement cette vidéo au format WMV (2.1Gb)

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, 2016 - PE

European Parliament Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, Elena Valenciano (S&D, ES) welcomes the permission given by Baku authorities to Leyla and Arif Yunus, two of Azerbaijan's most prominent human rights defenders, to leave Azerbaijan. For the full statement please see the link below.
Press statement
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Over the past few years, foreign investment in agricultural land in third countries, which involves large-scale land acquisition, has put at risk the land use rights of local populations and their right to food. Repression of human rights defenders who voice concerns about the issue is also a common practice in some countries. Speakers from Oxfam, Colombia, Honduras and Libera will address these issues during the hearing and Members will have the opportunity to put forward questions.
Location : ASP 1G3
Programme and documents
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Elena Valenciano, DROI Chair denounces the critical plight of thousands of civilians in the besieged Iraqi city of Fallujah

"I am profoundly worried about civilians in Fallujah who are at extreme risk. There are reports of lack of medicines and widespread food shortages resulting in people resorting to eating grass and burning anything they have to keep alive..."
Full statement
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP