China, Russia and Iran: these three countries are the focus of the Yearly Report on Human Rights in the World, approved by the Foreign Affairs Commission of the European Parliament and to be reviewed by the floor during the session of May 8th. Many breaches have been reported by the document, which also states "that the state of human rights in China has not improved at all", despite the forthcoming Olympic Games. In addition, China is blamed for "the highest number of executions in the world". About Iran, it recalls "the increased use of death penalty" and the arrest of thousands of women and men "under the pretext of immoral behaviour". As to Russia, there is concern about the situation in Chechnya. Then the report highlights "the persecutions and arrests of journalists and human rights defenders" and recalls the reticence to invite international observers at the recent election. Death penalty in the world, women’s rights and children’s rights are as many delicate chapters of the Report, which praises instead the moratorium on death penalty decided by the UN, even if the MEPs would like to see it "completely repealed".
