The first objective for the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) is to restore its standing and credibility after being implicated in the Qatargate scandal of 2022. I will put all my energy into ensuring that DROI regains the reputation and place it deserves within the European Parliament, as well as in relation to European institutions and our partners around the world.
Human rights and international institutions are more endangered than ever. Lawmakers on DROI must objectify our discussions and reject partisan interpretations of human rights based on political contingencies.
Human rights are not a moral police force; they represent a set of indivisible, interdependent, universal and inalienable fundamental rights that protect us all as human beings. At this pivotal time in international law, our democracies are at risk. We can no longer allow double standards to fuel injustice.
Any inconsistencies in our human rights policies harm our diplomacy. I will therefore concentrate my efforts on supporting international justice and the United Nations architecture for protecting human rights. The fight against impunity, the protection of civilians and the promotion of peace need to be achieved not only in Ukraine but also in Palestine and Sudan.
We will also advocate for DROI’s right to fully oversee the European Commission. Ensuring compliance with the treaties by monitoring respect for human rights in the EU's external policies is our raison d’être. The impact of internal policies on external policies will be a common thread, primarily focusing on migration policy and corporate social responsibility legislation.
Monitoring the proper use of European funds, and ensuring we are not contributing to human rights violations, will also be important. Keeping an eye on a coherent and systematic use of our tools to promote and defend human rights in international agreements and partnerships will also be high on the agenda.
Standing alongside those who protect our rights and promote our values is our obligation. Supporting civil society, journalists and human rights defenders, especially women, will remain a key priority.
Finally, the new challenges we face require us to broaden our actions. Given the scale of climate change, solidarity rights, such as the right to a healthy environment, can no longer be ignored. Similarly, artificial intelligence is poised to disrupt our lives in ways social networks have already done, making it urgent to continue our efforts in supervising algorithms and digital technologies.