Posts Tagged ‘European Union’

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The Belgium Parliament adopts a resolution on the place of HRDs in foreign policy

February 20, 2012

On 13 February 2012, the Belgium parliamentarians adopted by unanimity a resolution strengthening its earlier resolutions of 2003 et 2005, in which they urge the Belgium Government to be more active with regard to the protection of human rights defenders. This kind of action by parliaments is rare but extremely important as I believe it helps to focus policy within the broad – and often vague – human rights language and gives long-term stability

The parliamentarians ask for example that the Government meets with HRDs during official visits, that diplomats maintain regular contact with HRDs in prior consultation with local and national human rights NGOs.  They also want to see stronger support for HRDs in the context of conflict prevention, diplomatic dialogues and development aid. Other recommendations relate to the EU and the UN.

Protection International, the Brussels-based international NGO, has rightly welcomed the resolution which is in line with with the best practices it has collected over the years. It now calls on the Government to put the policy into practice.

The Parliament’s Resolution – in French and Dutch – is available at: http://www.lachambre.be/FLWB/PDF/53/1887/53K1887008.pdf

The comments by Protection International (in French) at: http://protectionline.org/PI-se-rejouit-de-l-adoption-d-une.html

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EU Enlargement Commissioner Füle: solidarity with the activists of Viasna in Belarus

January 26, 2012

It is good to see that not only human rights functionaries in the EU express themselves when confronted with human rights issues:  Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Štefan Füle, met the Vice-President of the Belarusian Human Rights Centre “Viasna”, Valiantin Stefanovic, to discuss the situation of human rights activists in Belarus. In this context, the Commissioner expressed his concerns about the ongoing politically motivated targeting of the Human Rights Centre “Viasna”.


Their meeting took place after the Minsk City Court rejected the cassation appeal of renowned human rights defender and President of “Viasna” and Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights Ales Bialiatski, who was sentenced on 24 November 2011 on politically motivated grounds as a consequence of his work to the benefit of victims of repression.

Commissioner Füle expressed his deep concern over this decision and reiterated the EU’s call on Belarusian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Mr Bialiatski and to drop the charges against him and against his deputy Valiantsin Stefanovic.

Belarus: Commissioner Füle with the activists of Viasna and FIDH.

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Quick reminder of the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders

January 13, 2012
European Union

Image by erjkprunczyk via Flickr

The European Union Guidelines on human rights defenders were created to help staff in the embassies of EU member states to protect threatened human rights defenders (HRDs). In short they tell EU diplomatic missions to:

  • Produce periodic reports outlining the broad human rights situation, noting specific cases of concern.
  • Take urgent local action when needed and make recommendations for further EU involvement.
  • Prepare local strategies in co-ordination with HRDs, with special attention given to the protection of women defenders.
  • Organise regular meetings between HRDs and missions diplomats
  • Maintain contact with HRDs through receiving them in the missions and visiting their areas of work.
  • Publicly recognise HRDs and their work through use of traditional and new-media methods of communication.
  • Visit, where appropriate, HRDs in custody or under house arrest and attend trials as observers.
  • Raise specific cases with third country governments.
  • Involve HRDs in the preparation, follow-up and assessment of human rights discussions with third country governments.
  • Provide measures for swift assistance of HRDs in danger, including the issuing of emergency visas and the offer of temporary shelter in EU member states.
  • Provide access to financial support where necessary.

Urgent local action can be organised through “local working groups”, of which HRDs should be members.Integral to the Guidelines is a duty to “proactively” support human rights defenders on the world stage through political dialogue and promotion of the UN Human Rights Council and its Special Rapporteurs.  When, for example, the EU President, High Representative for Foreign Affairs or other relevant official visits a country with human rights issues they should seek to meet with HRDs wherever possible and reflect any concerns in their discussions with third country governments.

This is not news but at the beginning of the new year it is good to have a reminder AND REMIND THE EU DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVES  of all this laid down in 20 short paragraphs; for full text see: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cmsUpload/GuidelinesDefenders.pdf

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