B4-0062, 0063, 0077, 0091, 0094, 0095, 0098, 0111, 0123, 0124, 0134 and 0142/97

Resolution on the 53rd session of the UN Commission on Human Rights

The European Parliament,

- having regard to Article J.1(2) of the Treaty on European Union and Article 130u of the EC Treaty, which establish the promotion of human rights as an objective of the CFSP,

- having regard to its resolution of 12 December 1996 on human rights throughout the world in 1995-1996 and the Union's human rights policy ((Minutes of that sitting, Part II, Item 14.)),

- having regard to its resolution of 27 March 1996 on the 52nd session of the UN Commission on Human Rights ((OJ C 117, 22.4.1996, p. 13.)),

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the abolition of the death penalty, and to its resolution of 17 May 1995 on the functioning of the Treaty on European Union with a view to the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference - implementation and development of the Union ((OJ C 151, 19.6.1995, p. 56.)), in which it called for an article specifically referring to a ban on capital punishment to be incorporated into the Treaty,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the People's Republic of China,

A. whereas the Final Act of the Vienna Human Rights Conference (July 1993) reaffirmed the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of human rights,

B. whereas a number of Union Member States are currently members of the UN Commission on Human Rights,

1. Calls on the Council and the Member States to pursue vigorously those human rights cases referred to in its resolutions, and in particular the human rights situation in Burma, China, Colombia, East Timor, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Sudan and Turkey;

2. Calls on the Council and the Member States to make China a main priority for the forthcoming session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in view of China's worsening human rights record and to oppose any attempt to prevent the UN Commission from discussing the situation in China, while making every effort to gain support for this resolution from other members of the UN Commission on Human Rights;

3. Calls on the EU Working Party on Human Rights to begin drafting a resolution on China forthwith and suggests that it include points such as the release of China's political prisoners, a guarantee in writing that international humanitarian organizations will be allowed regular and confidential access to detainees in Chinese prisons, the abolition of arbitrary administrative detention and the holding of fair trials in line with international standards, the repealing of laws on crimes of 'counter-revolution', and the signing of the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;

4. Calls, further, on the EU and the Member States to employ all political and diplomatic means to ensure that a resolution on the human rights situation in occupied Tibet and in Inner Mongolia and East Turkestan, which takes account of the resolutions adopted by the European Parliament, is adopted by the UN Commission on Human Rights;

5. Proposes that the EU should submit a draft of an International Convention against Impunity at the forthcoming session of the UN Commission on Human Rights;

6. Urges the adoption of improved legal standards concerning the protection of children against sexual abuse, exploitative labour practices, and the consequences of war;

7. Calls on all Member States to support a resolution urging a universal moratorium on executions during the 1997 session of the UN Commission on Human Rights as a first step towards the abolition of the death penalty for all crimes by the year 2000;

8. Calls for the adoption of the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the UN Commission on Human Rights, as agreed by all parties involved, including indigenous peoples;

9. Calls on the Council and the Member States to help improve the effectiveness of the UN Human Rights Centre, both through continued reforms and the provision of the necessary financial resources;

10. Calls on the UN Commission on Human Rights to discuss the allegations of human rights abuses in connection with some oil companies and some other transnational companies;

11. Asks the Council Presidency to submit a written report to Parliament on the Council's activities during the forthcoming session of the UN Commission on Human Rights;

12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and the states which are members of the UN Commission on Human Rights.