EU Presidency Statement - Human rights in the world [2/4]

Since the first days of the crisis, the European Union has expressed its great anxiety and its disapproval of the tragic consequences of the clashes in the occupied Palestinian territories. The seriousness of the situation justified the holding of a special session of the Commission of Human Rights. The European Union unreservedly condemns the serious incidents that have occurred and in particular reiterates its rejection of the extremist provocations which, cynically playing on people's deepest feelings, gave those who threaten the peace and future of the region an opportunity to go about their destructive work, stirring up fear and hatred. The European Union calls for respect for human rights and international humanitarian law and supports the efforts made to bring an end to the violence and restart the peace process. In this context, the decision taken in Sharm el Sheikh to set up a fact?finding mission should allow the necessary light to be thrown on recent events and help to avoid their being repeated. Once again, the European Union calls for an immediate halt of violence in occupied Palestine territories. It calls on the parties to demonstrate the sense of responsibility that have prevailed at Charm el Sheikh. Everything must be undertaken to put an end to violence and promote the necessary conditions to continue the path towards peace.

In Afghanistan, civilians continue to be the targets of atrocities, such as forced displacements and the destruction of the means of subsistence by the Taliban, causing people to flee. The problem of anti-personnel mines, particularly in the north, continues to worsen. Besides these serious violations of humanitarian law, serious and deplorable breaches of human rights continue to occur, including the use of torture and the abuse of the death penalty. In territories controlled by the Taliban, the situation is still marked by public executions, summary justice and policies discriminating against women in all fields, particularly education, employment and health. The European Union is concerned by recent allegations about the use of child soldiers by both sides in the conflict. This is unacceptable and must stop. The European Union again calls on all the Afghan parties to recognise, protect and promote all the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people of Afghanistan.

In Sri Lanka, the European Union reiterates its appeal to the LTTE to seek a negotiated settlement, to cease its terrorist action and put an end to the recruitment of children. It urges all parties to take all steps necessary to put an end to human rights violations, especially in the areas of conflict. Those responsible for such acts should be brought to justice. It also requests the government to lift the restrictions imposed on the media under the emergency measures currently in force. The European Union welcomes the fact that despite a number of anomalies noted in the course of the electoral campaign, the ballot of 10 October 2000 did, on the whole, allow Sri Lankans to cast their votes in a democratic process.

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• 58 Sesión de la Comisión de Derechos Humanos: Tema 4 (16/4/2002)
• 58 Sesión de la Comisión de Derechos Humanos: Tema 7 (16/4/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - Commission on Human Rights: High Commissioner's Report (16/4/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - Commission on Human Rights: Right to development (16/4/2002)
• Discurso de S.E. El Embajador D. Joaquín Pérez-Villanueva Y Tovar en Derechos Humanos  (10/4/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - Commission on Human Rights: Middle East (30/3/2002)
• UE informe sobre la alta Comisionada para los Derechos Humanos (21/3/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - H.R. Javier Solana's at the 58th UN Human Rights Commission (19/3/2002)