Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, during the EP plenary session (11-14 April 2016) in Strasbourg. Statements on Pakistan, in particular the attack in Lahore, by Jean LAMBERT (Greens/EFA, UK), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), Afzal KHAN (S&amp;D, UK), and Marianne THYSSEN, Member of the EC in charge of Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility&nbsp;- Statements on Honduras, situation of human rights defenders by Ulrike LUNACEK (Greens/EFA, AT), Miguel URB&Aacute;N CRESPO (GUE/NGL, ES), Marianne THYSSEN, Member of the EC in charge of Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility&nbsp;- Statements on Nigeria by Davor Ivo STIER (EPP, HR), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL)

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - Pakistan (T)

EU - Nigeria (T)

respect for human rights in the world (T)

LAMBERT, Jean (Greens/EFA, UK)

LUNACEK, Ulrike (Greens/EFA, AT)

URBÁN CRESPO, Miguel (The Left, ES)

TANNOCK, Timothy Charles Ayrton (ECR, UK)

SCHAAKE, Marietje (ALDE, NL)

THYSSEN, Marianne (EPP, BE, EC)

KHAN, Afzal (S&D, UK)

EU - Honduras (T)

STIER, Davor Ivo (EPP, HR)

Cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law: extracts from the debates on Pakistan, Honduras and Nigeria

SOUNDBITE (English), Jean LAMBERT (Greens/EFA, UK), <p> I want to add my condolences and that of the delegation to the families and loved ones of those killed in the recent atrocity in Lahore, designed to attack children and families on the Easter Public holiday. And also, condolences on other recent attacks. We've been seeing an overall decrease in such attacks by violent extremists, and seen a more consistent and coordinated effort from government and the army, and it's essential that they work together; We welcome the government's commitment to a reform of the education system and curriculum to engender a wider understanding of Human Rights and respect for diversity.</p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), I do call today oupon the Pakistani government to do more foster an atmospeher of tolerance and respect for all communities; Part of the problem is the apparent inability to confront Pakistan's deeply troubling legislation on religion, such as the blasphemy laws, and the Hudood Ordinances (laws in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan">Pakistan</a> enacted in 1979 as part of  military ruler <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Muhammad_Zia-ul-Haq_Sharization_of_Pakistan&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1">Zia-ul-Haq's "Islamisation"</a> process), laws that should be repealed as a matter of priority.

SOUNDBITE (English), Afzal KHAN (S&amp;D, UK), Terrorism is a global problem, this is not a clash between different cultures or different faiths. This is simply extremists, wanting to see our societies break up, as creating division is what makes them strong. We need to work together to eradicate root causes and prevent further radicalisation, stop terrorist financing and promote integration.

SOUNDBITE (English), Marianne THYSSEN, Member of the EC in charge of Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, The EU regrets the lifting of the moratorium on the death penalty in Pakistan, and the large number of executions this has led to, with Pakistan now being the third largest executor.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Ulrike LUNACEK (Greens/EFA, AT), The murder of Berta CACERES on March the 3rd, an individual who was fighting for indigenous rights and the murder of another worker, someone who was working in terms of doing something about water pollution, and there's also Paula BARASA, an LGBT person who was murdered too, we want to make sure that Honduran authorities fully investigate these murders, and that the legal system finds out who is guilty and who ordered the murders, and investigate fully. We want to see also international independent investigation under InterAmerican Human Rights body.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Miguel URB&#193;N CRESPO (GUE/NGL, ES), We need independent international investigation into these assassinations and we need to immediately put the hole to the 'Aqua Saga' project and also need to look at our associations agreements with Latin America and look at failure to comply with all obligations when it comes to Human Rights and that is why I like to call on all activist, putting their lives on the line to defend their peoples and to make sure, that they know they are not alone.

SOUNDBITE (English), Marianne THYSSEN, Member of the EC in charge of Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, The European Union was deeply saddened by the heinous killings in Honduras of Human Rights defenders, Mrs Berta Caceres, Mr Nelson Garcia and LGBTI activist Paulo Barasa. Ms Berta Caceres was a prominent Human Rights defenders, as we all know and was very well known by the European Union for her courageous commitment in defending the environmental and indigenous rights of the Lenca community, to which she belonged. An immediate reaction to these odious murders, the EU has called for a thorough expedite and transparent investigation of the cases.

SOUNDBITE (Croatian), Davor Ivo STIER (EPP, HR), It is still unknow where 119 out 276 girls obducted by Boko Haram from the school in Chibok are, this happened 2 years ago. On behalf of the EPP group I would like to express solidarity with their families and with Nigeria. I would also like to express my support to President Buhari, who addressed this House and who presented an ambitious plan of reforms, to address the issues that Nigeria has been facing.

SOUNDBITE (English), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL), Nigeria is a country so full of potential through natural ressources and with an enormous Human capital, that it is sad how much of it is wasted through corruption, poverty and violent extremism. It is exactly 2 years ago that Boko Haram abducted the Chibok girls and we are still calling: 'bring back our girls all of them'.