On the side of life” “

Once again the roads of the European Union and the Council of Europe have crossed. What emerges from this encounter is a reinforced commitment to the safeguard of human rights, both within and beyond the frontiers of the continent, and to the defence of life from the threat of euthanasia. This commitment was expressed by two votes. At Strasbourg, the parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe rejected, in a vote on Wednesday, 27 April, a resolution tending to support – albeit within certain limits – the possibility of putting an end to the life of patients in their terminal stage (138 no, 26 yes, 5 abstentions). On Thursday, 28 April, the European Parliament in Brussels approved the Report on the state of human rights in the world 2004, in which grave violations in five continents are denounced. TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS. There was a heated debate on euthanasia on 27 April, during the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe now being held in Strasbourg (until Friday 29 April). The assembly in fact rejected a draft resolution “on the accompaniment of terminally ill patients”. The document had been prepared by the Swiss representative Dick Marty (social affairs committee), who asked the 46 member states of the Council of Europe to “define and implement” a “genuine policy of accompanying terminally ill persons”. The proposals in his resolution included “the promotion of palliative treatments” and the definition of codes of medical ethics to prevent therapeutic persistence”. But the assembly saw behind the resolution an attempt to introduce euthanasia through the back door. “Only the controlled legalization of euthanasia – declared Marty himself – may provide transparency and prevent abuses”, by respecting “the right of patients in their terminal phase to refuse medical treatment”. But the fear of “the consequences that the liberalization of euthanasia might cause” was underlined in the chamber. The fact that euthanasia contravenes the European Convention of Human Rights was also pointed out. 71 amendments were made to the draft; then the amended resolution was put to the vote and rejected by 138 votes against, 26 in favour and 5 abstentions. HUMAN RIGHTS, CHILDREN AND WOMEN THE FIRST VICTIMS. Seventy countries monitored; hundreds of violations ascertained; various forms of violence committed against children, women, the poor, the underprivileged, ethnic and religious minorities denounced. The Parliament of the European Union discussed and approved the 2004 Report on human rights. The violations ascertained include – according to the rapporteur, Irish MEP Simon Coveney – summary executions, torture and mistreatment of political opponents and journalists, and corruption in the institutions”. The violence committed against minors bulks large in the report (the problem of “child soldiers” is widely reported and is giving rise to great concern). So too is “the maltreatment to which women are subjected”, even in rich and developed countries. The document devoted particular attention to such issues as “the war on terrorism, the rights of juveniles, the death sentence, the trafficking of human organs, and the trafficking of human beings” for purposes of prostitution. But the report also underlines the important role played by the International Penal Tribunal, “so as to be able to pursue those guilty of crimes against persons and humanity as a whole”. RIGHTS DENIED IN Iran, CHina, Africa… The sheer quantity of information and data contained in the Report is impressive, and daunting. It is emphasized, for example that “one child in 12 in the world is the victim of the gravest forms of forced labour, sexual exploitation or forced military enrolment”, while 104 million children “are completely denied their right to education”. The Report condemns “the barbarous recourse to rape as an weapon of war”. The finger is pointed at various national cases: the European Parliament appeals to Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro “to guarantee the proper holding of war-crimes trials”, by cooperating with the International Penal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. As for Russia, the Report deplores “the tragic and unforgettable terror of which the children of Beslan were the victim”. More general concerns, but also precise denunciations, are expressed about the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, the unresolved Iraqi situation, and the deterioration of the situation of personal and collective liberties in Iran, China, Syria, North Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Pakistan and many African countries. THE COMMITMENT OF THE EU INSTITUTIONS. The EU institutions have made a renewed commitment to work in favour of fundamental rights and liberties, by supporting – as the Luxembourg MEP Nicolas Schmit explained on behalf of the European Council – the action of those international institutions and non-governmental organizations that work at the side of the less protected communities in the world”. The pledge to provide concrete support to “the development of the poor countries, combat some of the causes that generate violence, and also tackle the social roots of international terrorism” was also re-affirmed. The European Council of Ministers for its part has confirmed its intention to create an independent Agency for Fundamental Rights. Speaking on behalf of the Executive, the Spanish Commissioner Joaquìn Almunia recalled “the importance of the organizations in defence of human rights that are our collective conscience, as well as a source of vital information”: for that reason they “must be supported”.