Human rights breaches in Afghanistan, Belarus, and Cuba | News

The deteriorating situation of women in Afghanistan due to the recent adoption of the law on the “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice”

Parliament condemns the Taliban’s recent decree and enforcement of Sharia law and denounces the erasure of women and girls from public life in Afghanistan. Women are being forced into early marriages, are subjected to sexual violence as well as flogging and stoning to death, MEPs recall, while commending their courage and expressing solidarity with Afghan women.

MEPs want the EU to support the recognition of gender apartheid as a crime against humanity and call for Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to be held accountable, through the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation and the establishment of a UN Independent Investigative Mechanism. They also demand new EU sanctions against the Taliban, and condemn governments that uphold the Taliban by normalising relations. The resolution urges the EU and donor states to increase humanitarian aid and funding to support basic needs, livelihoods and Afghan civil society.

The resolution was adopted by 565 votes in favour, 8 against and 43 abstentions. For further details, the full version will be available here (19;09.2024).

The severe situation of political prisoners in Belarus

MEPs express their utmost concern about the situation of many political prisoners who have not been heard from for months, who face severe health problems or are subject to isolation and torture. They urge the Belarusian authorities to supply information about their situation and allow them access to lawyers, family members and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The Belarusian authorities should immediately and unconditionally release all of them, MEPs add.

The resolution also underlines MEPs’ concern about the 300 000 Belarusians who have been forced to leave Belarus since 2020 and face political persecution abroad. They call on the EU and its member states to strengthen sanctions against the individuals and entities responsible for the repression in Belarus and work towards holding the Lukashenka regime accountable for its crimes.

The resolution was adopted by 549 votes in favour, 21 against and 37 abstentions. For further details, the full version will be available here (19;09.2024).

The case of José Daniel Ferrer García in Cuba

Parliament urges the Cuban regime to immediately and unconditionally release José Daniel Ferrer and all persons politically and arbitrarily detained for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and reiterates MEPs’ support for the Cuban people and human rights defenders in Cuba.

MEPs condemn the systematic human rights violations and abuses, and the torture and inhuman treatment perpetrated by the Cuban authorities against José Daniel Ferrer García and the other political prisoners . They reiterate their call on the EU member states in the Council to apply the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, and to adopt sanctions against those responsible for persistent human rights violations in Cuba.

MEPs also reiterate their position that the political dialogue and cooperation agreement suspension clause should be activated, given that the core human rights clauses of the agreement have been continuously breached by the Cuban regime.

The resolution was adopted by 380 votes in favour, 182 against and 51 abstentions. For further details, the full version will be available here (19;09.2024).