by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the
Commission
(11 February
2002)
|
Subject: Violation
of the human rights of women in the Russian Federation |
|
E-0463/02EN Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (12 April 2002) The Commission is aware of the report by Amnesty
International on violations of women’s Human Rights, particularly in
Chechnya. The Commission is also aware of other recent Human Rights reports
(e.g. Human Rights Watch report of 28 February 2002), which present similarly
worrying findings regarding the treatment of the Chechen population at large,
and of women in particular. In spite of a number of Russian initiatives to
normalise the situation in Chechnya politically, economically and socially,
the situation on the ground is far from normal. All plans undertaken so far
have failed to improve the extremely dangerous security conditions. In this
regard, the Union continues to raise the issue of the conflict in Chechnya
with Russian authorities at every appropriate opportunity offered by the
intense political dialogue between the Union and the Russia Federation. The
Union's position remains that, without prejudice to the territorial integrity
of the Russian Federation, ultimately only a political solution will
guarantee stability in Chechnya. In its contacts with the Russian authorities, the
Union continues to draw a clear distinction between the fight against
terrorism and Human Rights violations. Whereas the former is fully
legitimate, the latter cannot be condoned under any circumstances. In this
regard, the Union has welcomed a number of Russian steps to address the
continued reports of Human Rights violations committed by Russian servicemen,
notably the establishment of the office of the Presidential Representative
for Human Rights in Chechnya, Mr Kalamanov, with Council of Europe support.
However, the Union has also made it clear that reported violations should
lead to a more active follow up by both military and civilian prosecutors, in
order to dispel any notion of impunity. We shall continue to press this
message to the Russian authorities until the situation improves. Finally, the Commission has constantly argued for
the Russian authorities to ensure better co-operation over the effective
delivery of humanitarian aid to civilian victims of the conflict in Chechnya.
In spite of some recent minor improvements, the Community, in its capacity as
largest donor, has insisted that Russia provide guarantees related both to
safer communications and access to the population by non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) implementing Community humanitarian aid. In addition to continuing to raise these issues in
the framework of its bilateral political dialogue with Russia, the Commission
supports raising all of the above issues at the forthcoming United Nations
Human Rights Commission in Geneva. |