A3-0044/94

Resolution on respect for human rights and the economic exploitation of prisoners and children worldwide

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mr Coates on forced labour (B3-0434/93),

-having regard to the resolution adopted on 28 November 1991 by the Council and the Member States meeting within the Council on human rights, democracy and development,

-having regard to Articles 130u of the EC Treaty and J and J.1 of the Treaty on European Union,

-having regard to the preamble to the Single European Act,

-having regard to Articles 30, 36 and 234 of the EC Treaty,

-having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international covenants relating thereto,

-having regard to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,

-having regard to the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, drawn up by the Council of Europe,

-having regard to the European Social Charter,

-having regard to the ILO Conventions on forced labour (No. 29, 1930) and the abolition of forced labour (No. 105, 1957) and the report of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations,

-having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure,

-having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Security (A3-0044/94),

A.whereas respect for human rights is the key element in all the Union's relations of whatever kind with third countries,

B.convinced that combating the economic and social exploitation of prisoners, children and the most disadvantaged members of society is therefore an integral part of the basic principles governing the establishment of a common foreign and security policy,

C.whereas practice in certain countries could be described as forced labour, peonage and even slavery,

D.recognizing that the forced labour in Chinese prisons is the result of official policy, whereas the exploitation of children and others in Brazil and India, Nepal and Pakistan is not;

E.recognizing that in India efforts, both official and voluntary, are being made to combat the exploitation of child labour;

F.whereas it is essential, in addition to restating fundamental principles, to set up control and supervisory mechanisms,

1.Condemns all practices leading to the exploitation of prisoners' and children's capacity to work and, more generally, all forms of modern slavery;

2.Calls on the Council and the Commission to set up systems to monitor and control these practices in the Union's relations with third countries;

3.Considers that the Council should systematically include in negotiating briefs to the Commission clauses providing for independent and mutual inspections to be carried out on a regular basis in prisons, factories and all other potential production sites in countries in respect of which reliable and corroborated reports have been received of violations of social and economic rights;

4.Encourages the drawing up of agreements between industrial undertakings established in third countries and European importing companies, aimed at guaranteeing or indicating the origin of the products in question;

5.Expresses the wish that the Community will accede to international agreements aimed at combating slavery and abolishing forced labour;

6.Affirms that it is not opposed to prison labour as such, considering it to be a possible means of social reintegration, provided that it is properly supervised and regulated;

7.Believes that economic and social development aid should be used to combat particularly harmful forms of social dumping, which consist in the exploitation of the work capacity of individuals to the detriment of their most basic rights, resulting in unfair competition;

8.Calls on the Commission to consider and, if appropriate, propose adjusting trade legislation at Community level, possibly on the basis of laws currently in force in certain Member States;

9.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States and of the states negotiating their accession to the Union, and the governments of Brazil, China, India, Nepal and Pakistan.