B4-0238, 0248, 0266, 0281, 0291, 0300 and 0303/99

Resolution on the EU's priorities for the 55th Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its resolution of 17 December 1998 on human rights throughout the world (1997-1998) and the Union's human rights policy ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 9(b).)),

- having regard to its earlier resolutions on the UN Commission on Human Rights, adopted on 19 February 1998 ((OJ C 80, 16.3.1998, p. 237.)), 23 October 1997 ((OJ C 339, 10.11.1997, p. 154.)), 20 February 1997 ((OJ C 85, 17.3.1997, p. 143.)) and 27 March 1996 ((OJ C 117, 22.4.1996, p. 13.)),

- having regard to the Declaration of the European Union on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights,

A. whereas the promotion of human rights is established in the Treaties as an objective of the Common Foreign and Security Policy,

B. whereas the UN Commission on Human Rights is the pre-eminent forum for the discussion of human rights in the UN system, and whereas human rights violations in specific countries are a legitimate concern of such a body,

C. whereas the 55th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights is scheduled to start on 22 March 1999 in Geneva,

D. recognising that poverty remains a fundamental obstacle to the realisation of human rights around the world,

1. Calls on the UN Commission on Human Rights to support the 'Millennium Amnesty' for prisoners of conscience proposed by the European Parliament;

2. Calls for coordinated efforts to combat racism, in the run-up to the forthcoming World Conference on Racism;

3. Calls on the Council to seek practical measures to prevent the harassment of human rights campaigners, in the light of the Declaration on this subject adopted in 1998;

4. Asks the Council to inform the Commission on Human Rights of its concern that the international economic and financial institutions (WTO, IMF, World Bank, G7 etc.) should take measures to defend democracy and fundamental human rights in a global economy;

5. Reiterates its support for improved social and legal standards concerning the protection of children from the effects of warfare, urges in particular strong action against the use of children as soldiers and calls on the Council to propose a resolution in Geneva banning all military service for anyone under the age of 18;

6. Calls on the Council and the EU Member States to propose a resolution condemning sexual exploitation and the trafficking of children and women;

7. Calls for greater recognition of the importance of respecting women¨s rights, which is a crucial element in creating a just and prosperous society;

8. Urges the Council to raise the issue of religious intolerance, since there is an increasing trend towards violations of freedom of religion;

9. Calls for special efforts to assist and protect migrants and refugees throughout the world;

10. Deplores the continuing use of the death penalty in many countries and calls on the EU and its Member States to make the most substantial, practical efforts possible to follow up the resolutions on the abolition of the death penalty adopted by the Commission on Human Rights in 1997 and 1998 and, in particular, to propose the adoption, at the forthcoming session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, of a resolution calling on the Economic and Social Council to seek the adoption by the UN General Assembly in 1999 of a resolution establishing a worldwide moratorium on executions;

11. Calls for the policies pursued by the UN and its specialist organisations to be consistent with human rights and the rule of law and calls on the Council to emphasise this fact at the Geneva meeting;

12. Calls on the Council to encourage the adoption by the Commission on Human Rights of a resolution calling on the United Nations member countries to ratify as quickly as possible the Statutes of the International Criminal Court, without having recourse to the article enabling them to delay their participation for seven years;

13. Calls on the Council to pursue vigorously at the Geneva meeting the human rights concerns addressed in all European Parliament resolutions;

14. Considers, notwithstanding the welcome establishment of a human rights dialogue with China, that the recent crackdown on dissidents shows disregard for the principles of the international agreements which China has now signed, and therefore calls on the Council to make China a priority at the forthcoming session and to table a draft resolution on human rights in that country;

15. Calls on the Council and Commission to report to Parliament on the outcome of the forthcoming session of the Human Rights Commission at the first meeting of Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs following that session;

16. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the UN Commission on Human Rights, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Council of Europe.

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