MEP questions delivery on Human Rights
08 May 2008
Speaking the European Parliament's annual debate on Human Rights abuses throughout the world, Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister questioned just how serious the EU is in delivering change, suggesting trade considerations were often more important.
Pointing to China and India, as countries the EU is wooing for trade, but each with appalling human rights records, Mr Allister asked if their trade mattered more to us than their repression.
The Ulster Euro MP also attacked the use of EU development aid to promote abortion, particularly in Africa.
In the course of his remarks Mr Allister said:-
"Is this debate just an annual ritual to preen our human rights conscience, or are we serious in the EU about forcing real change by countries who are serial abusers? Yes, the EU protests, but is our action measured in inverse proportion to the trading importance of those we target? Take India and China, both countries we are wooing for trade, just how serious are we in pushing the human rights agenda. Why do our trade agreements not have real human rights teeth? Is the truth that trade matters more to us than repression?
I look at India with its caste-based discrimination, its appalling record on bonded labour and sex trafficking and widespread religious freedom abuses, and then I discover that all we have is an ad hoc dialogue with India and the absence of meaningful engagement on human rights issues. Little wonder things are not improving.
I must also say, sometimes our focus is skewed. The EU presses hard on a rights agenda, including promotion of abortion, even where it offends the local culture, as in Kenya where EU funded NGOs used the money for funding abortions in breach of local custom and law. Shouldn't our focus be on fundamental rights and our development money better employed helping in food and water provision than in pedaling our own agenda, even under the guise of a health policy."
