European Parliament resolution on the rights of homosexuals in Namibia
Date: 2001-04-05
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Namibia, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, human rights

24.1.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 21 E/355

Thursday 5 April 2001

3.
Calls for the re-establishment of the rule of law and democratic freedoms in Pakistan and the holding
of free, plural and transparent elections; urges the government of General Musharraf to hold provincial and
national elections in the near future;

Notes with dismay that the assertions by General Musharraf in his speech are in absolute contra-
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diction with the police actions of barring civil rights activists from attending the Pakistan Day rallies and
arresting such a huge number of civil rights campaigners;

Urges the government of Pakistan, in particular, to rescind the order which bans all political meetings

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in public places, strikes and processions;

Calls on the Pakistan military junta to ensure that individuals are not persecuted for exercising their

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legitimate right to freedom of expression;

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Reiterates its call on the military junta to stop all forms of support to the Taliban regime in Afgha-
nistan and to fight against fundamentalist groups in Pakistan while also ensuring security and equal treat-
ment for religious minorities and women;

Reminds Pakistan of the importance that the EU attaches to respect for human rights as an integral

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part of its external relations and of any cooperation agreement;

Reiterates its call on the Commission to institute cooperation programmes offering active support to

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NGOs in the human rights field;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government

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and Parliament of Pakistan, the SAARC and the Commonwealth.

21. Human rights: Rights of homosexuals in Namibia

B5-0264, 0274, 0282 and 0300/2001

European Parliament resolution on the rights of homosexuals in Namibia

The European Parliament,

(cid:129) having regard to its numerous resolutions condemning the violation of human rights, which include

the right of non-discrimination based on sexual orientation,

A. noting the orders issued on 19 March 2001 during a speech for students of the University of Namibia
by President Sam Nujoma to the Namibian police forces to arrest, deport and imprison and to purge
Namibian society of gays and lesbians,

B. noting that a year ago the Minister of Home Affairs of Namibia, Mr Jerry Ekandjo, uttered comparable

threats towards gays and lesbians,

C. noting that such appeals seem to be part of a strategy followed by other political leaders in the region

as well,

D. whereas the Namibian Constitution prohibits discrimination, but makes no explicit reference to sexual

orientation,

Strongly condemns and expresses its deep indignation at the recent outburst of homophobia within

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the ruling party of Namibia;

Considers the vilification and persecution of persons for their sexuality a violation of fundamental

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human rights;

3.
Calls on the President and Government of the Republic of Namibia to fully protect the rights of all its
people and to uphold the position expressed by the Prime Minister, Hage Geinob, that the human rights of
all Namibians are protected under the Constitution;

C 21 E/356

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

24.1.2002

Thursday 5 April 2001

4.
Calls upon the Council and Commission likewise to condemn this act of the Namibian authorities, to
take appropriate steps to convince the Namibian Government to refrain from further homophobic acts,
and to raise this case in meetings with Namibia at all levels;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the President-in-Office of the Council, the Council,
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the Commission, the Government of Namibia, the President of Namibia, Mr Nujoma, and the High Com-
missioner for Human Rights of the United Nations.

22. Situation in Mexico

B5-0262, 0275, 0283, 0289 and 0297/2001

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Mexico

The European Parliament,

(cid:129) having regard to its previous resolutions on the state of Chiapas,

A. whereas the new political situation has created unexpected hopes for national reconciliation between

the indigenous peoples of Mexico and the rest of the Mexican nation,

B. noting the success of the peaceful (cid:145)march for the dignity of indigenous peoples and the colour of the
land(cid:146) organised by the EZLN (Zapatista National Liberation Army) and supported and encouraged by
the Government of Mexico and President Fox,

C. whereas the new Government, by accepting the Zapatistas(cid:146) conditions, has demonstrated a positive
attitude, which has created the conditions for a resumption of dialogue and the possible adoption of a
law recognising the fundamental rights of the indigenous peoples of Mexico,

1. Welcomes the moves towards peace and reconciliation in Chiapas;

2. Welcomes the initiatives by the President and the Congress with regard to the conflict in Chiapas,
which have paved the way for a commitment by the EZLN to a resumption of negotiations with a view to
putting an end to a situation both inappropriate and anachronistic in a modern society;

3. Welcomes, in this regard, the statements by the Clandestine Revolutionary Indigenous Committee
before the Mexican Congress;

Affirms its support for the Mexican Government, Mexican lawmakers and the EZLN in the process of

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political dialogue;

Reiterates its support for dialogue as the most appropriate means of seeking a solution, and rejects all
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forms of expression that incite violence; calls on all the parties involved to intensify their efforts to secure
progress in this respect;

Calls on the elected representatives of the Mexican people to approve the law on indigenous rights

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and cultures on the basis of the proposal from the Commission for Reconciliation and Peacemaking;

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Calls on the Joint Council created under the auspices of the economic partnership and cooperation
agreement between the European Union and Mexico to give consideration to measures to assist the devel-
opment of the indigenous peoples of Mexico;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the President

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and Congress of the United Mexican States.