WRITTEN QUESTION E-0088/01 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Position of the EU on the persecution of Afghan women in their own country by the Taliban regime.
Date: 2001-02-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Afghanistan, international affairs, position of women, sexual discrimination, women's rights

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/115

(2001/C 235 E/120)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0088/01

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(1 February 2001)

Subject: Position of the EU on the persecution of Afghan women in their own country by the Taliban

regime

The eye-witness accounts received from Afghanistan and the reports of Amnesty International and the UN
Commission on Human Rights confirm that under the Taliban regime, whose policies in general are
deplorable, involving cruel and barbarous forms of repression that affect the entire population, women are
living in a state of slavery or are treated as domestic animals: their rights are systematically violated and
they are subjected to highly degrading treatment in every sphere of life, under a regime which represents
the antipodes of all civilised behaviour. What political action is the EU taking against those in power in
Afghanistan to remedy the appalling situation of the country(cid:146)s women? Are the measures being taken
proportionate to the Union(cid:146)s political and economic influence and the gravity of the situation which these
unfortunate women are obliged to suffer?

Reply

(14 May 2001)

The Council fully shares the Honourable Parliamentarian(cid:146)s preoccupations concerning the suffering of
Afghan women under the Taliban regime.

The Council deplores that, in spite of the continued efforts of the Union and the international community,
the sad reality on the ground shows that the Taliban remain so far insensitive to arguments and pressure
from the outside. Both parties to the conflict pursue military operations and a political solution to the
conflict remains distant. In this overall context, the prospects for an urgently needed improvement of the
appalling human rights situation remain, unfortunately, gloomy.

The Taliban control approximately 90 percent of the Afghan territory. However, given the frequently
changing military situation in Afghanistan, the Council does not have precise indications as to how many
women are subjected to the regime in Kabul at any specific point in time. Furthermore, the disastrous
humanitarian and human rights situation in the country have resulted in a massive exodus of refugees to
neighbouring countries,
the
demographic situation in Afghanistan even more difficult. The Council has frequently raised the critical
situation of Afghan refugees with host countries in the region and will continue to do so, and the
Community, as well as many member states, will also continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the
Afghans, whenever conditions allow. Women benefit from most of this assistance.

in particular to Iran and to Pakistan, which makes the assessment of

The recently updated Common Position of 25 January 2001 remains the basis for the Union(cid:146)s policy
towards Afghanistan. The Union pursues its efforts to bring about a lasting peace, to put an end to foreign
intervention and to encourage intra-Afghan dialogue. The Union puts particular emphasis on the
including the rights of
promotion of respect for international humanitarian law and human rights,
women and children.

To this end, the Union will continue to:

(cid:129) call on all parties to recognise, protect and promote all human rights and fundamental freedoms and
also to respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which Afghanistan has subscribed;

(cid:129) urge Afghan factions to end discriminatory policies and recognise, protect and promote the equal
rights and dignity of men and women, including access to education and health facilities, employment,
personal security and freedom from intimidation and harassment. In this context, the Union will also
emphasise the negative implications of discriminatory policies for the effective supply of aid;

(cid:129) support the UN secretary General(cid:146)s proposals relating to the operation of civilian human rights

monitors in the Civil Affairs Unit of the UNSMA;

C 235 E/116

Official Journal of the European Communities

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21.8.2001

(cid:129) support aid programmes in Afghanistan which integrate gender concerns and actively attempt to
promote the equitable participation of both men and women, and which promote peace and human
rights;

(cid:129) attach special importance to human rights aspects in the international co-ordination of humanitarian

assistance to Afghanistan.

The Council hopes that the latest sanctions on the basis of UNSCR 1333, which the Council is currently
examining with a view to the adoption, at the earliest possible date, of the corresponding common
position and EC-regulation, will contribute to reduce outside interference and to promote a negotiated
settlement of the Afghan conflict.

(2001/C 235 E/121)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0094/01

by Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(18 January 2001)

Subject: Improved construction of vehicles for transporting livestock

In July 1997, the Commission presented a proposal for a directive on motor vehicles and trailers for the
transport of certain animals. This proposal amended Directive 70/156/EC (1). Parliament delivered its
opinion in July 1998 and proposed several amendments to the vehicle construction provisions, all of
which would have improved animal welfare. The Commission accepted many of those amendments, and
an amended proposal was published in April 1999. A common position is now awaited as the proposal
for a directive was submitted under Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty and is long overdue. Can the Council
give an assurance that it will shortly establish a common position and allow this legislation to progress so
that further improvements may be made to the welfare of farm animals being transported?

(1) OJ L 42, 23.2.1970, p. 1.

Reply

(7 May 2001)

As mentioned in the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question, the Commission in 1997 submitted a proposal

1.
concerning the construction of vehicles for transporting livestock.

The proposal has been examined on a number of occasions within the Council in an effort to reach
a common position, most recently in March 2000. There remain a number of unresolved questions, in
particular the technical specifications for loading and unloading ramps and the duration of journeys, which
stand in the way of overall agreement being reached.

2.

There are no plans to resume examination of the proposal in the Council for the time being.

(2001/C 235 E/122)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0095/01

by Herman Schmid (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(1 February 2001)

Subject: Crisis-intervention in sovereign states

What is the EU(cid:146)s position on crisis-intervention in sovereign states?

Does such intervention require a request from the state where the intervention is to take place, or is it
possible for the EU to intervene when EU values and/or interests are at stake, irrespective of the will of the
state concerned?