Brussels, 04/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 3 October, the European Commission published the EU's annual report 2010 on human rights and democracy in the world, the first to cover a whole year under the Lisbon Treaty provisions.
The document points out pro-democracy movements have gained ground in different countries. It underlines the impact of the social media for organising protest movements, which precipitated a crackdown by unstable regimes against freedom of expression. There has been an increase in legislation and repressive acts against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals, especially on the African continent. Finally, questions of freedom of worship and religion have been raised, as has the role of private security service providers, which again entails questions with regard to regulations on the same.
Considerable European action. The report underlines that 2010 has been a period of intense activity with regard to the EU's work on human rights and democracy. The EU has continued dialogue on human rights in over 40 countries with specific assessments in China and Russia. The Union has also placed emphasis on women's rights and the rights of the child. The report also underlines that a number of countries have moved forward towards democracy and the Foreign Affairs Council has endorsed the list of proposed pilot countries: Republic of Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Ghana, Benin, Solomon Islands, Central African Republic, Bolivia, Mongolia, Philippines, Indonesia and the Maldives.
Alongside the United Nations, the EU has thrust forward a number of resolutions on, for example, freedom of religion, and contributed to a moratorium on the death penalty. Furthermore, the conference for review of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) ended with the definition of crimes of aggression and the establishment of conditions under which the ICC could exercise jurisdiction with respect to that crime, and three new states signed up to the Rome Statute: Bangladesh, Seychelles and Moldova.
Pledges for 2011. For 2011, the EU hopes to go still further. “In its relations with countries around the world, the EU can be even more effective in safeguarding and promoting human rights. I want to see human rights dialogue established as an integral part of the formal meetings we hold with third countries”, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton announces in the report. She adds: “Over 150 strategies will be developed by the end of 2011, and 90 are already under review. They will look not just at civil and political rights but also at social, economic and cultural rights”.
The report is available at: http://eeas.europa.eu/human_rights/docs/2011_hr_report_en.pdf . (CG/transl.jl)