MEPs debate human rights

MEPs held their monthly debate on human rights, democracy and the rule of law on 24 May 2012.

The debate focused on Venezuela, the situation in Azerbaijan, and the plight of North Korean refugees in China.

Venezuela has announced it is to establish a committee to evaluate the possibility of withdrawing from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), which seeks to promote and protect human rights in the Americas.

The country's president, Hugo Chavez, described the human rights body was "a tool the US uses against us".

MEPs were divided in their response to the decision, as the debated the matter in the European Parliament.

Several MEPs expressed their worry about Venezuela's intentions, stressing that the IACHR is instrumental in promoting democracy and tackling human rights abuses.

Romanian liberal Renate Weber feared Venezuela's actions could influence other countries to leave international or regional human rights systems.

European Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik stressed the importance of IACHR's work and told MEPs the Commission was monitoring the situation carefully.

However, others questioned why the parliament was debating the matter, with Belgium socialist Veronique de Keyser stating that there were more pressing human rights issues to be discussed.

Portuguese Cristina Ines Zuber claimed the resolution was an attempt by parliament to try to influence the forthcoming elections in Venezuela.

Meanwhile, Spanish Socialist María Muniz de Urquiza supported the work of the human rights organisation, but said it was not right to criticise a country for something it has not done yet.

Later in the debate MEPs raised concerns about the plight of North Korean refugees in China, and urged China to do more to look after them.

The parliament went on to vote on a series of resolutions relating to the debate.

Read Democracy Live's guide to how the plenary sessions work here.

The European Parliament's disclaimer on the use of simultaneous interpretations can be found here.