The European Parliament has adopted three resolutions addressing gang violence and child exploitation in Haiti, China’s new law on “ethnic unity and progress”, and the shortcomings of Venezuela’s Amnesty Law.
The European Parliament has adopted three resolutions on human rights situations in Haiti, China and Venezuela, setting out calls for action on gang violence, ethnic and religious freedoms, political prisoners and sanctions policy.
The resolutions were adopted on 30 April during the plenary session in Strasbourg. They are non-legislative texts, but they provide a formal parliamentary position on three external-relations files that remain relevant to EU diplomacy, sanctions and international human rights policy.
In the resolution on Haiti, MEPs expressed concern over the rise in child trafficking and gang recruitment. The text states that children may account for up to half of all gang members and says those minors should be treated as victims rather than criminals. It calls for disarmament, dismantlement of gangs and reintegration measures adapted to children.
The Haiti text also addresses sexual violence by gangs against women and girls. Parliament called for access to medical care, legal protection and psychosocial support for survivors, as well as stronger investigations into abuses and impunity. It also referred to alleged extrajudicial killings and the need for accountability.
The resolution urges Haitian authorities to strengthen social protection systems, ensure access to safe education, and prioritise justice and accountability. It also calls for continued international support for a rights-based response to the crisis. The text was adopted by 511 votes in favour, 21 against and 42 abstentions.
The Haiti resolution also refers to the UN arms embargo and calls for stronger action to curb illicit financial and arms flows. It identifies border monitoring and judicial cooperation as areas requiring further work, and notes that the UN-mandated Gang Suppression Force remains under-resourced.
The China resolution focuses on the new law on “ethnic unity and progress”. Parliament called on Chinese authorities to repeal the law, arguing that it has serious consequences for people from Tibet, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia.
MEPs said the law encourages assimilation policies and restricts cultural, religious and linguistic freedoms. The text states that those restrictions conflict with China’s obligations under international law. Parliament also called for the release of political prisoners, including Ilham Tohti, the Uyghur academic and 2019 Sakharov Prize laureate.
The resolution also states that the succession of the Dalai Lama is a religious matter and should be determined in accordance with Tibetan Buddhist traditions alone. It warns that enforcement of the new law would have consequences for EU-China relations.
Parliament also raised the issue of transnational repression against people living in the EU. It urged member states to suspend extradition treaties with China and called on the Council to use the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against those responsible for the new law. The China text was adopted by 439 votes in favour, 52 against and 71 abstentions.
The Venezuela resolution concerns the country’s Amnesty Law and the announcement on 23 April of its termination. Parliament criticised the law’s limited scope, premature end, lack of independent monitoring and discriminatory implementation.
MEPs said the law had failed to provide a basis for political reconciliation and had not secured the unconditional release of political prisoners. The text states that at least 470 people remain unjustly detained under inhuman conditions. Parliament repeated its call for their release and for the restoration of their civil and political rights.
The resolution also says the Amnesty Law must not be used to protect individuals responsible for human rights violations. It calls for reform of judicial, law enforcement and electoral institutions, and for the closure of facilities used for arbitrary detention.
On sanctions, Parliament said the EU should not lift measures against individuals responsible for human rights violations until meaningful steps are taken towards a Venezuelan-led peaceful transition. It also called for the withdrawal of politically motivated charges against the opposition. The Venezuela resolution was adopted by 507 votes in favour, 31 against and 35 abstentions.
The three resolutions differ in subject matter, but they share a common external-policy function. Parliament is attempting to frame EU attention towards security and governance in Haiti, identity and religious freedoms in China, and political detention and sanctions in Venezuela.
Their practical effect will depend on follow-up by the Council, the Commission, member states and international partners. Parliament cannot by itself impose sanctions, deploy assistance or change bilateral relations. However, its resolutions can increase pressure for action and provide a political basis for later EU decisions.
