Statement by the Chair of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights, Maria Arena, on International Human Rights Day on 10 December.
"2019 was marked by waves of protests, often expressed peacefully, in Algeria, Chile, Hong Kong, Iraq, Lebanon and Sudan. These movements show how relevant the Universal Declaration of Human Rights still is decades after its adoption by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948..."
Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs express their deep concern over the unremitting attacks on democracy and shrinking space for civil society worldwide, in a resolution adopted on Wednesday.
In their annual resolution assessing the situation for human rights in the world, Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs denounce the ongoing pushback against multilateralism and the rule-based international order that continues to pose a serious challenge to human rights.
Suite à l'arrestation de l'opposant politique algérien Karim Tabbou, la Présidente de la sous-commission des droits de l'homme du Parlement européen Maria Arena a déclaré:
« C'est avec un profond sentiment d'inquiétude que nous apprenons l'arrestation à son domicile de M. Karim Tabbou, une des figures populaires et respectées par les manifestants algériens.
Nous condamnons cet acte arbitraire qui intervient après une vague récente d'arrestations de citoyens, d'étudiants et de militants unis par leur détermination de construire une Algérie libre et démocratique.
"Ignoring the will of the people is unacceptable", said Maria Arena (S&D, BE), after the Turkish authorities recent decision to replace legitimately elected mayors.
I am dismayed by the recent Turkish police operation against HDP representatives in southeast Turkey. The decision to replace the legitimately elected mayors of Diyarbakir, Van and Mardin over terrorism-related investigations is disturbing. I express my full solidary with Adnan Selçuk Mızraklı, Ahmet Türk, and Bedia Özgökçe Ertan, who were elected by overwhelming majorities in the 31 March 2019 local elections.
The next meeting of the Subcommittee on Human Rights will take place on Wednesday 25 September 2019 from 09.00 to 12.30, and from 14.30 to 18.30 and on Thursday 26 September from 09.00 to 12.30 in meeting room PHS 5B001.
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.