Plenary sitting
22.5.2012 B7‑0239/2012
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure
on the possible withdrawal of Venezuela from the Inter-American Commisson on Human Rights
( 2012/2653(RSP) )
Raül Romeva i Rueda, Catherine Grèze, Ana Miranda, Ulrike Lunacek
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
European Parliament resolution on the possible withdrawal of Venezuela from the Inter-American Commisson on Human Rights
( 2012/2653(RSP) )
The European Parliament,
having regard to its Rule 122 (5) of the Rules of Procedure,
A. Whereas the Organisation of American States (OAS), created its own regional human rights system, with an Inter-American Commission, which came into force in 1967, and an Inter-American Court, which rules since 1979 on the basis of the Inter-American Convention or Pact of San José, adopted in 1978, as a complement and corrective to faltering national justice,
B. Whereas 24 out of the 34 members of the OAS have ratified so far the Inter-American Commission and the Court, with Canada remaining outside this system, the USA regrettably not being part of this system either, as they signed, but did not ratify the Convention, and Trinidad & Tobago regrettably having cancelled membership over the death penalty question, without major consequences,
C. Whereas young Latin American and Caribbean regional cooperation systems such as UNASUR and more recently CELAC have engaged into the creation of regional human rights bodies which should comprise all countries of the region without exception,
D. Whereas Venezuela is currently member of the Inter-American Commission and Court, as well as of the Convention, and actively participates in the mechanisms of the United Nations Human Rights Council,
E. Whereas the Venezuelan State Council has on its agenda a decision taken by the Supreme Court on December 18, 2008, whether to leave the Inter-American Convention, and whereas a recommendation of the State Council in either sense has to be discussed and decided upon by the National Assembly,
1. Strongly supports regional human rights bodies, as part of the international human rights system, and explicitly invites the EU Commission as well as EU member states to spur up its overall support of the Inter-American Human Rights Court, Commission and Convention, as well as corresponding mechanisms of UNASUR and CELAC, as soon as these come into life,
2. Regrets that procedures are slow and often take a considerable number of years before findings a republished and judgments are taken, and urges the EU Commission as well as MS to renew its financial support for the Inter-American Court and Commission in order to further strengthen their work and speed up procedures,
3. Further regrets that certain judgments which incommodate governments are not or only partially implemented, such as the landmark judgment on feminicide against Mexico, the so called Campo Algodonero (Cotton Fields) case; and asks the EU Commission to take delays and non or partial implementation of Inter-American Commission findings and Inter-American Court judgments into enhanced consideration in its human rights dialogues and cooperation with the concerned countries,
4. Invites those countries which have not yet ratified the Inter-American system of Human Rights to swiftly do so and fully participate in it, thus strengthening the institutional authority of this system,
5. Invites the State Council and National Assembly of Venezuela to positively decide upon continuing its adherence to the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights; and to actively engage into the improvement and acceleration of its functioning,
6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EEAS, the Council, the Commission, the Bolivarian republic of Venezuela and the Inter-American Commission and Court and the UN Human Rights Council.