"A critical assessment of the European Parliament’s 2002 human rights reports"
In a detailed critique released today (see attached), Amnesty International and the International Federation for Human Rights say the draft report, to be considered by the EP’s Foreign Affairs Committee on Monday (25 March), lacks serious analysis or evaluation of the EU’s expanding human rights mandate.
In their critique, the human rights organisations state that "does not take into account the criticism with the Parliament’s performance on human rights that has been voiced by our organizations for over a year."
Human rights organisations have been urging the European Parliament since November 2000 to address its structural failure on human rights, eventually proposing the creation of a fully-fledged Human Rights Committee. This came after a decision by the Parliament on the last annual human rights report in July 2001 to review its own structures and working methods remained without consequence.
Today’s critical assessment states: "That no such action has been taken or is being planned should by now be cause for serious concern to all those in the European Parliament who are committed to advancing the cause of human rights." Its single appeal is that this be put on the agenda as a matter of urgency.
The critique also discusses a second draft report to be presented to the Foreign Affairs Committee: The EU’s Role in Promoting Human Rights and Democratisation in Third Countries.
"A critical assessment of the European Parliament’s 2002 human rights reports"