Speeches

Madam President, Commissioner, six months of war, six months of human disasters, 34,000 dead including 14,500 children, more than 76,000 injured, 129 hostages, famine, lack of care, demolition of homes, schools and hospitals, 1.7 million Palestinians in exodus, 257 aid workers killed, colonisation and violence on the rise in the West Bank, and 105 journalists killed – the deadliest and most dangerous conflict for journalists according to the UN. We must do everything we can to stop these horrors and the regional flare-up that is already threatening. International law, through the UN Security Council resolution of last March, must be applied to finally achieve an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the release of hostages and the delivery of humanitarian aid. Incidentally, I would like to commend the work done by the Colonna report, which acknowledges the irreplaceable and indispensable role of UNRWA for the Palestinian people. The two-state political solution is the only way to a lasting peace that guarantees security and dignity for all. We must have the courage to work for a future where peace and security prevail for both peoples.

Madam President, 28 million people around the world are victims of forced labour. This shocking reality must alert us all. In this context, this crucial and historic regulation has strengths, finally tracing and banning products from forced labour or linked to state systems in companies’ supply chains. We call for the establishment of a database to facilitate the identification of forced labour by area or enterprise at risk. We also demand compensation for victims from companies. We provide additional support to SMEs. We call for the destruction of the products of forced labour. As this progress has been achieved, as rapporteur on human rights, I call on the Commission to apply this regulation as a matter of urgency. Together, we must work towards a genuine instrument of change that guarantees dignified and humane conditions for everyone. We owe it to the Uighurs, the unfortunate symbols of forced labour, and we owe it to all the victims, on all continents.

Madam President, I would like to add, as part of the wording for the HR/VP, the word ‘journalists’ after ‘humanitarian workers’. In other words, we would have the following title: Statement by the HR/VP on the repeated shelling of aid workers, journalists and civilians by Israeli forces in Gaza.

Mr President, I stand before you today not only as a human rights defender, but also as a voice for oppressed women in Afghanistan. Since the return of the Taliban, women no longer exist in Afghanistan. Public executions, floggings, prohibition to attend school, prohibition to travel without a tutor: we are witnessing the brutal suppression of all the rights they have acquired over the past two decades. In a deafening international silence, the Taliban erases women from public space, dismantles government structures, imposes Sharia law instead of the judicial system. Domestic violence and forced marriages are exploding. Almost every day, a new ban destroys the few rights women have left. The lives of Afghan women are now reduced to being under the yoke of men, walled alive. A few days ago, we celebrated International Women's Day. More than ever, Afghan women need us to end the terror they have endured since the Taliban returned in August 2021.

Mr President, the situation in Gaza is inhumane. The urgency is absolute: the massive destruction of Gaza by bombing, the forced displacement of Gazans and the blocking of humanitarian aid have led to a catastrophic famine in Gaza. We can only condemn in the strongest terms the obstruction of humanitarian aid orchestrated by Israel and the attacks on convoys, one of which killed more than 120 people on 29 February and another which still took place today in Rafah. Of course we need an independent international investigation, but that is enough, this horror in horror! The drops will not be enough to feed and treat more than 2 million people. We urge the Israeli authorities to urgently ensure safe access to humanitarian aid. Israel’s right to self-defence cannot under any circumstances justify the death and starvation of Palestinian civilians, of those men, women and children who have died in their thousands over the past five months. A permanent and immediate ceasefire is vital to ensure that no new lives are taken away, that humanitarian aid is finally delivered to the Palestinian people, that all Israeli hostages are released and that the two-state solution is finally implemented, for a lasting peace.

Madam President, Commissioner, silence, we are killing! In appalling media silence, the Great Lakes region in eastern Congo has already suffered one of the greatest tragedies in our modern world with 10 million dead and more than 7 million displaced. Today, the March 23 movement uses the worst weapons of war: famine, rape, destruction of health systems and hate speech. The M23 escalated its attacks in February with the capture of Shasha, leaving 6.7 million people trapped in inhumane living conditions. It is now around Goma to be threatened. We must give massive support to diplomatic initiatives through the Luanda and Nairobi processes, so that the M23 finally stops fighting and withdraws from all areas it occupies, so that Rwanda ceases its support for the M23 and withdraws from Congolese territory, so that the armed forces of the DRC cease collaboration with the FDLR. Europe must act swiftly, forcefully and decisively to bring peace and security back to the DRC. We owe it to the Congolese people!

Madam President, Commissioner, today I invite you to embrace the very essence of our humanity, to defend the fundamental rights that define us as a society. The 2023 Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World is much more than a compilation of facts and figures. It is a call to action, a wake-up call to the growing rise of authoritarianism and extremism threatening our world. This report highlights our unwavering commitment to the values that unite us as Europeans. We want to strengthen the role of civil society organisations. Let us observe around us, without looking away, with the same will to guarantee human rights for every citizen of the world, to remain credible and legitimate. The Russian-Ukrainian war, the conflicts in the Middle East, the crimes against the Uyghurs, the massacres in eastern Congo are all events that require a strong and fair response from us. Forced displacement, war crimes, hostage-taking, oppression, forced labour, persecution, these dark realities call for action. Let’s unite for a world where human rights and democracy are not just ideals, but tangible realities!

Mr President, Commissioner, after four months, we come here to say about the same thing: 1,200 dead, including 36 children in Israel, 138 Israeli hostages, nearly 30,000 dead Palestinians, including 5,350 children and 3,250 women, thousands of missing Gazans, more than a million displaced. The situation today is dramatic and inhumane: 300,000 Palestinians are malnourished and there is a threat of mass starvation in Gaza. It is imperative that an agreement on the ceasefire be reached without delay. I believe that the vast majority of us are in agreement to urgently deliver humanitarian aid and allow the release of the hostages. We must also firmly oppose a ground offensive in Rafah, which would lead to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. The recent demolitions of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem by the Israeli authorities constitute violations of international law, increasing the risk of regional escalation. It is also crucial to avoid regional flare-ups, especially in Lebanon and the Red Sea, at the risk of threatening Egypt. I strongly recall that the only solution to meet Israel’s security needs and the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians is the two-state solution along the 1967 borders. It’s time to get started.

Mr President, I have repeatedly said this throughout my term of office: The future of Europe must be written by today's youth. To enable our young people to take their full part in the European project, teachers have a decisive role to play. Education is the cornerstone that supports the future of our young Europeans. More than ever, we must invest in education for our young people, build with them the European citizenship of tomorrow and strengthen their sense of belonging to ensure the development and sustainability of our European project. The teachers are the hussars of our democracies, the hussars of our Europe, the vectors of the emancipation of our youth. But that is not all to say, we must legitimise this ambition with concrete actions, giving them their rightful place in our social projects and giving them the full means to carry out these major tasks for the future of our youth. All too often, their mission and role are still underestimated, and their working conditions continue to deteriorate. Yet despite these obstacles, our teachers remain dedicated to their mission, reflecting their exemplary commitment during the pandemic, characterised by creativity and pugnacity. Together, let us commit to investing massively in the education of our youth by finally enabling our teachers to fulfil their mission in dignified, attractive and ambitious conditions. It is also a teacher who tells you today.

Madam President, unfortunately, prejudice and discrimination persist in our societies. There is an urgent need to mobilise collectively against antisemitism, but also against Islamophobia. These are manifestations of ignorance and fear that threaten our core values of tolerance and respect. The European Union must act concretely and decisively, at the risk of our societies dividing and confronting each other. Let us fight so that each individual, regardless of his origin or religion, can live without fear of discrimination and denounce it by activating justice and thus contribute to promoting a more just, equitable and peaceful society. The fight against all forms of discrimination must not be selective, but fair and inclusive. Whenever a minority is discriminated against, society as a whole must stand up to condemn these acts and take appropriate action. Our strength lies in our unity, to build a future where diversity is a wealth and justice is our common good. Nelson Mandela said that racism was a disease of the soul, for which there was no vaccine or treatment, and that only education could overcome it. So let’s educate – to cure our societies of antisemitism, Islamophobia, but also of all forms of racism.

Mr President, 1,139 Israelis have been killed, including 36 children. 24,000 Gazans killed, including 8,000 children, and more than 60,000 wounded, almost all without care. Thousands of missing Gazans, 100 journalists killed, 1 million displaced, more than half of Gaza's hospitals shut down, 70% of homes damaged or destroyed by bombing, 136 Israeli hostages still missing, an imminent famine according to the UN and a risk of escalation and spread of the conflict throughout the region at its peak. This disaster took place before our eyes in just 100 days. This is an absolute tragedy and we cannot resolve to wait for the Israeli army to finish its intensive phase soon, as announced. We call for an immediate ceasefire to stop the destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people, to help civilians and the wounded, to release all hostages, to stop the burning of this region and to finally build the foundations for a lasting peace solution through the creation of a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its shared capital. ‘Courageous people do not fear forgiving for the sake of peaceNelson Mandela.

Madam President, Dharamsala is a beautiful mountain town that I visited at the foot of the Himalayas. It is full of Buddhist monasteries and temples and museums on Tibetan history. There is an art institute where wood, textiles and metals are worked by hand, and a large school village where teachers draw Tibetan letters on slate. What is heard in Dharamsala is the sound of the Buddhist chimes, the rolling of the prayer mills and the children greeting you (‘’). Dharamsala shines from Tibetan culture. But Dharamsala is in India, where the Tibetan government-in-exile has settled, because in Tibet, annexed by China, children can no longer speak Tibetan. They are de facto abducted from their families and forced to forget their culture in favour of the Han culture, which is dominant in China. It is indeed an example of forced assimilation and erasure of the identity of an entire people. Uighurs, Tibetans... no one is immune to the sinicisation policies of Xi Jinping’s party. Culture is the essence of a people. The conviction must be firm, as must the answers. The United States has acted with visa restrictions. When will the European Union take action?

Mr President, first of all, I would like to address all my thoughts to the memory of Dominique Bernard, his relatives and all the students and staff of the Gambetta-Carnot high school in Arras, but also to all the teachers, all the members of the educational staff, the two victims of the Brussels attack, their relatives, and the people of Belgium and Sweden – not to mention Samuel Paty. As a political, humanist and democratic leader, I condemn the terrorist attack on 13 October in Arras. As a teacher by profession, I am particularly affected by the barbarism of Islamist terrorism, which affects colleagues, by wanting to undermine our values and ideals. After the condemnation, we need to think about the future, the fight against fundamentalism and the prevention of this obscurantism. School must be at the heart of this response. We – the educational community, teachers, parents, pupils, associations, elected officials, public officials, businesses – must come together around a common and shared responsibility, so that the school can once again become the foundation that enables us, together, to become a society. A true sanctuary for the transmission of knowledge and the building of an active and peaceful citizenship for every child in the Republic, our school was a victim yesterday, but it will be the solution tomorrow. It is a duty for all of us. Let us not yield to terror and pursue our ideal of fraternity: unity in the face of division, peace in the face of hatred, universalism as the only compass. For, no offense to some – this hateful far right, blowing on the embers – we will not defeat terrorism either by hatred or by division.

Mr President, last June we were already here to show the results of our PEGA inquiry and urgently call for reforms to better control spyware. Why this emergency? Well, after Pegasus, we have Predator, which at least has the merit of being much clearer in its name. There are still far too many loopholes, and the cyber-surveillance industry knows how to exploit them by circumventing existing regulations; it will always find customers among countries for which human rights are clearly not the priority. From Pegasus to Predator, MEPs – including my colleague Pierre Karleskind – political opponents, journalists and NGOs continue to be targeted. Our fundamental rights are violated and we remain passive, therefore powerless. Lacking the responsiveness and efficiency to build a strong legislative and regulatory framework, we presented our inefficiency to the world. This should serve as a lesson for us. It is time to act; it is our duty and it is our competence. I hope that I will not have to repeat the same thing again in four months, because, I must admit, I really hate throwing salt into the sea.

Madam President, it is, first of all, with great emotion that I would like to convey all our thoughts to Dominique Bernard, to his relatives and to all the students and staff of the Lycée Gambetta d’Arras, but also of all the schools. The teacher I have been and the Member I am condemn this Islamist terrorist act with all possible force. It is necessary to call – I agree – evil by name, also in the title of this resolution. But because we are all politicians – and I believe so – we must also think about the future and prevent such acts, fighting fundamentalism and educating our young people about tolerance. Our ultimate goal must be social cohesion. This is why Renew proposes the following title: "Declaration by the Council and the Commission on Islamist terrorist attacks in French schools and the need to protect teachers, pupils and school staff, to educate against fundamentalism and to promote social cohesion and tolerance". For the far right – which, unsurprisingly, blows on the embers – we will not defeat terrorism either by hatred or by division.

Madam President, ‘se acabó’ is over. It is time to end impunity. It still took Luis Rubiales three weeks to agree to resign. Three weeks of mobilisation of the Spanish women’s football team and convictions from all sides. But three weeks were not enough to make him admit that his action was unacceptable and that it constituted sexual assault. And that is the problem: that some, too many, have not yet understood what we are talking about. But we talk about aggression, we talk about violence. Yes, even for a stolen kiss. No humor, power or emotion can justify advances and non-consensual acts. I therefore call on all governments. It is no longer necessary to wait for the perpetrators of aggression, discrimination or violence to decide to resign. It is up to you to take the decision to sanction them. Don’t look away, be brave and take the necessary decisions to finally protect women’s freedom and rights. Shame must change sides.

Mr President, there is one key message I want to convey today: security, yes, but not at any cost. Spying software is necessary, particularly in the fight against terrorism and serious crime, but it must also be combated by certain states, which hide behind the excuse of national security to unlawfully spy on political opponents, journalists and human rights activists. This inquiry in the PEGA Committee showed us that we need two things: on the one hand, better knowledge and development of these technologies at European level, in order to be able to master them and better protect our citizens, in particular in the context of a serious deterioration of the rule of law in the world and external threats; on the other hand, a strong legal framework and judicial systems, to keep respect for fundamental rights at the heart of security, not in opposition to it. These recommendations should not be the end of a special committee work, but the beginning of a work to achieve this dual objective, in the interest of our European project.

Mr President, the great Fayrouz sang: ‘Zaalouni shou sayer bi balad il Eid’ – ‘They asked me what is happening in the holiday country’. I went there, Fayrouz, a month ago, with colleagues from my group, Renew, and this is what happens: a country without a president or parliamentary or political activity for eight months, a country where the political elite has devoted more effort to dismissing Judge Bitar than to doing justice to the victims of the Beirut port explosion and their families, a country where people no longer have access to basic goods – food, water, electricity, healthcare, education: nothing – a country where the word ‘justice’ no longer means anything. Two years after our resolution, the same debate, the same situation and the same responsibility of a political class that today hides behind migrants and refugees to continue in its corruption, its disinterest of the Lebanese and its shameful administration, now beset by the crisis that the World Bank calls a ‘deliberate depression’. Let us implement the system of targeted sanctions. Let us denounce – surname, first name – these corrupt politicians, businessmen and bankers responsible for this state.

Mr President, finally we have this debate in our Chamber. I can only rejoice – I think it can be seen – at the fact that, since the beginning of my mandate, I have been constantly fighting against trafficking in cultural goods and looted goods. Thank you for your presence, Commissioner, but with all due respect I would have liked to see also Mr Schinas, Ms Johansson and Ms Gabriel. Trafficking in cultural goods is not a new phenomenon, and we have largely underestimated it, for far too long. Often because it is mistakenly thought to be a crime without a victim, without bloodshed, without smoking weapons – ‘finally, no urgency ...’ And yet, look for example at how the Islamic State has institutionalised this trafficking, how this terrorist organisation has made it a real financial resource. At a time when wars and tensions are multiplying around the world, too moderate sanctions and the vulnerability of sites in conflict zones are all weaknesses, conducive to the explosion of this illegal traffic. When we talk about this traffic, we are also talking about the immeasurable loss of cultural heritage, lost, disappeared, if not destroyed. This cultural heritage underpins the identity of peoples. Depriving people of their identity, in whole or in part, is a tragedy for several generations. That is why I welcome this new action plan, which strengthens our capacity to prevent, detect and prosecute these crimes, and also focuses on international cooperation. We need to work closely with public authorities and relevant stakeholders to preserve the cultural goods of all countries. Finally, let us not forget to return the looted cultural property to help heal past wounds and allow each people to tell their stories.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, twenty-four days. Twenty-four days after Matiullah Wesa was arbitrarily arrested by the Taliban. What heinous crime could he have committed? He crossed rural Afghanistan with a megaphone on his mobile library, advocating for the right to education of Afghan women and girls. Afghanistan is the only country in the world that prohibits girls and women from going to school beyond primary school, making them invisible in public space. Matiullah Wesa brought them school, knowledge, openness to the world and critical thinking. We know the methods of the Taliban. By putting Matiullah Wesa, human rights defenders and journalists in prison, the future of all Afghan girls and boys is forgotten, with dissonant voices. It is our duty to ensure the release of Afghan girls and women and in so doing deliver their inalienable right to education and freedom. Echoing their Iranian sisters, Afghan women also chant "Woman! Life! Freedom!" in dari: ‘Zan! Zendegi! Azadi!". . .

Mr President, the authoritarian drift in Tunisia has taken a new turn in recent weeks. President Kaïs Saïed continues to destroy democracy and the fundamental rights of the Tunisian people. Journalists, judges, lawyers, trade unions, human rights defenders or political opponents, soon NGOs, all face violent repression. Noureddine Boutar, Chaïma Issa, Issam Chebbi or Ghazi Chaouchi and so many others are victims of this serious repression for having exercised their right to freedom of expression. What about President Kaïs Saïed's racist remarks about sub-Saharan migrants? They are extremely serious for me, their only goal being to disempower themselves by designating a scapegoat for the serious economic and political crises suffered by Tunisians. What sadness, what a waste for Tunisia, the cradle of the Arab Spring, too long at the mercy of a regime that is taking hostage the historic democratic transition launched by its people in 2011. The EU must be much firmer in the face of these authoritarian excesses, by ceasing to finance this regime. Let's not be complicit. The promise of 2011 must be kept. Constitution, freedom, democracy.

Madam President, thank you, human rights defenders who work all over the world to defend the fundamental rights of all and who are absolutely indispensable for the common future. On the front line, you human rights defenders face repression, assault and intimidation, harassment, blackmail and digital surveillance. The international context of recent months testifies to the increasingly violent repression. The EU has been active in consolidating cooperation and providing stronger support and protection to human rights defenders. But the observation is as follows: our engagement can and must be further strengthened at all levels, both at European and Member State level, including by continuing financial assistance and defending the credibility of NGOs and human rights defenders in the face of all those trying to destabilise them. It is therefore imperative that we truly put human rights at the heart of our relations with third countries, once and for all, through association, trade or cooperation agreements. The values that the EU defends and protects, not political interests, must be the true guiding principles of our international relations.

Madam President, Omar Radi, Hajar and Soulaimane Raissouni, Taoufik Bouachrine, these are some of the names of those whose rights to fair justice are violated in Morocco for their work as journalists. Allegations of espionage, money laundering, rape or adultery for women only: Human Rights Watch has shown that it is a veritable arsenal of repressive techniques that is systematically used by the Moroccan authorities to silence any dissonant voice. The Moroccan State has tried to refute the arguments of our resolution. So what? Should we believe them and throw away the 150-page Human Rights Watch report, the reports of Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Moroccan Human Rights Association, the Moroccan Khmissa Feminist Association and Amnesty International? I repeat, guaranteeing the freedom and plurality of the press is vital to our democracy. Moroccan people, journalists, human rights defenders, I stand by your side in this fight for freedom and, as Soolking sings: Freedom doesn't scare us.

Madam President, thank you, dear Isabelle, for this annual report, which confirms the trend we are seeing: the state of democracy and human rights is deteriorating a little more every day in the world. Declared democratic states are transforming into authoritarian regimes, making the rule of law an optional element. We need to put human rights at the heart of our relations with third countries, but by treating our partners equally. I am thinking in particular of our relationship with the African continent, where China is currently pursuing policies based on the asymmetric exploitation of peoples and resources. We need to work together as equal partners for a fairer, more equitable world that respects people, cultures and human rights. Let us create this partnership by building with civil societies, supporting human rights activists, encouraging the skills and dynamism of young people who are just asking to express themselves, to work, to develop projects within their country. Let’s be an example that inspires and truly engages us in relationships based on human rights and people’s equality.

Madam President, this year the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National, Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary. This is an opportunity to recall the commitment that has always been mine: to make the voice of all minorities heard, in order to protect and strengthen their most fundamental rights. Let's not veil our face: There's still a long way to go. Too many minorities still face discrimination, exclusion, violence and deprivation of rights. I have always strived to be the voice of the "voiceless" and minorities around the world (Uighurs, Tibetans, Roma, and any other ethnic minority), and I will always continue to protect and defend diversity. Let us work to put an end to violations of the rights of all minorities. To this end, I am a strong advocate for the systematic integration of minorities, involving representatives in every dialogue and decision-making, at all levels. The full integration of minorities into our societies is the only way to ensure democratic and societal progress. Let’s work together to make this declaration our reality, because, no matter how displeased some people are, we are all equal in rights.