Human rights: Guinea Conakry, Iran and Sri Lanka

Published: 23 October 2009 y., Friday

Žmonės
Parliament adopted three urgent resolutions on the need for the EU to impose sanctions further to the violent repression of a demonstration in Guinea Conakry, the abolition of the death penalty in Iran, and access for humanitarian organisations to the 250,000 civilians displaced by the civil war and held in camps in Sri Lanka.

Guinea

Further to the military junta's violent repression of a demonstration for democracy, MEPs call in a resolution for the EU to impose sanctions (including an arms embargo) against this West African country. In particular, MEPs condemn acts of sexual violence against women and girls.

Parliament calls on the Council to take "appropriate measures", under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement, which provides for measures, including suspension of the agreement, in the event of human rights violations or failure to respect democratic principles.

Member States are urged to suspend deliveries of arms and munitions to the army and police.

The resolution, which welcomes the setting up of an independent international committee of inquiry under UN auspices calls for measures to guarantee the safety of witnesses and victims' family members who will be heard by this committee.

Iran

MEPs call for the release of prisoners arrested in the demonstrations that followed the June 2009 elections, the abolition of the death penalty and respect for press freedom, in a resolution on the human rights situation in this Islamic republic.

The resolution condemns the massive and excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests and possible torture to repress protest movements since Iran's controversial presidential election. MEPs ask that the International Committee of the Red Cross be permitted to see all prisoners, without exception.

MEPs reiterate their call for the death penalty to be abolished. (6). They condemn death sentences and executions in Iran, and in particular those passed or enforced on juvenile delinquents or minors. MEPs protest against the execution in Iran, on 11 October, of minor Behnood Shojaee, who was hanged in breach of recognised international legal guarantees in this area. 

The resolution deplores the systematic restriction of freedom of information by blocking internet sites, which are prevented from reporting on unauthorised demonstrations, and the creation of new restrictions, which require journalists to obtain an authorisation before reporting on any event. MEPs call for the immediate release of Fariba Pajooh, a young Iranian-Canadian journalist and celebrated blogger, who was arrested at home in Teheran on 24 August 2009.

Sri Lanka

MEPs deplore the fact that over 250,000 Tamil civilians are still held in camps, contrary to undertakings given by the Colombo government. The resolution asks that their return be organised and that humanitarian organisations be given free access to the camps in order to provide the necessary humanitarian assistance. 

Tamil leaders must commit themselves to a political settlement and renounce terrorism and violence once and for all.  The government must respect human rights in the conduct of trials of LTTE members, says the resolution.

The Sri Lankan government must cease its repression of the media in the name of its anti-terrorist legislation, which must be overhauled, and press freedom must be recognised, stress MEPs.

The Sri Lankan government must also put more effort into clearing minefields, which are serious obstacle to reconstruction and economic recovery in this south-east Asian country. Members call on the government to take measures to comply with the Ottawa Treaty (Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction).

 

Šaltinis: europa.eu
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.

Facebook Comments

New comment


Captcha

Associated articles

The most popular articles

India: Pensioners parade on catwalk

Getting on their glad rags, pensioners in the India capital New Delhi stepped out on to the to strut their stuff. more »

No agreement on working time directive opt out

Attempt to reach agreement over the working time directive - which limits workers to 48 hours including overtime - broke down late Monday night (27 April) as MEPs and EU Ministers failed to agree. more »

Michelle gets high marks after 100 days

She has only been on the job for 100 days, but First Lady Michelle Obama has managed to dazzle the public. more »

Mums and dads at home with newborns: how long should they have off?

Across Europe the amount of time new mums can have off after the birth of their child varies from 14 to 52 weeks. more »

Auschwitz victims' message found

The note was written by prisoners at the Nazis' Auschwitz death camp during World War Two and stuffed into a bottle. more »

Fatal horse collision in Kentucky

Spectators at a Kentucky race course were left shocked after an horrific crash involving a rider-less horse. more »

Swine flu continues to spread

As a family in Mexico mourned the death of the latest suspected victim of the swine flu, the deadly virus pushed its way into New Zealand and Israel. more »

Spring Day for Europe 2009

For the seventh time in a row spring will not be only a season of blossoming flowers but also a time when students all over the world can get to know more about the European Union. more »

Hungarian herds head for hills

Traditional Hungarian herdsmen don the clothes of an age gone by as they mark the start of the summer season by parading their flocks. more »

Investing in young people

The jobless rate is rising faster among the young, underscoring the need for a new long-term strategy to address their plight. more »