The growing trend towards shrinking civil society space that has been observed across the world in the last decade is a matter of concern because it is damaging to human rights and requires a tougher response from the EU to counterbalance the restrictions and constraints placed on NGOs in developing countries, the European Parliament emphasised in Strasbourg on Tuesday 3 October.
To this end, MEPs formulated their recommendations for the EU and its member states in a resolution adopted by a large majority (509 votes to 70, with 96 abstentions).
Parliament calls on EU delegations to raise this issue with the parliamentarians and authorities of the countries concerned. The EU and its member states should also discuss this matter in dialogue with partner countries and use all the instruments at their disposal to ensure that these partner countries comply with their commitments on human rights and repeal all laws that infringe the freedom of civil society, MEPs say.
The resolution argues for diversification of funding arrangements and mechanisms for civil society players and for the introduction of positive conditionality linking budget support by the EU for the governments of these partner countries with respect for the space reserved for civil society. MEPs recommend, further, that the EU actively engages in the work of the UN to set up an international treaty that holds corporations accountable for any involvement in human rights violations. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)