Speeches

Madam President, let me share with you the words of a Rohingya survivor: 'Every day, I remember my life is destroyed. We lost our home. My family members were killed and we had to leave our country. I was raped in my own land and I can't even live there.' The Rohingya have been enduring decades of marginalisation. They've been deprived of basic rights and freedoms, forcibly displaced, denied citizenship, made stateless, and subjected to killing, torture and rape. Today, more than 1 million Rohingya are refugees living in precarious conditions. The UN described them as the most persecuted minority in the world. But, sadly, they are not the only victims of the Myanmar regime. Since the military seized power, rights and freedoms across Myanmar have significantly deteriorated for everyone. Human rights defenders, civil society organisations and minorities are targeted. With the support of China and Russia, the military bombed civilians as a form of collective punishment. The junta, having banned dozens of political parties and holding 30 000 political prisoners, now seeks to fabricate legitimacy by holding elections next month. Our resolution is clear: these are legitimate elections with no conditions to be free, fair or inclusive. The EU and the international community must reject this sham, and we must also strengthen sanctions against the regime: close loopholes, expand humanitarian assistance, foster pro-democracy efforts, and support the critical work of the ICC, the ICJ and the UN. From this Parliament to the people of Myanmar, we say today: we see your extraordinary courage, we share your hope for a free and democratic Myanmar, and we stand with you.

Madam President, a peace plan that circumvents international law; a ceasefire that has already been violated, killing dozens; humanitarian aid turned on and off, using civilians as leverage; Palestinians having no say on who will lead Gaza in rebuilding what Israel has destroyed; impunity in the face of genocide – this is the reality in Gaza. And meanwhile, in the West Bank, the illegal occupation grows, subjecting millions of people to killing, torture and displacement. Yes, much has changed in the past few weeks: a ceasefire agreement, the return of the hostages, more humanitarian aid coming in. These are all crucial steps. But let us be clear: this is not peace and this is not justice. Colleagues, our credibility is on the line. What influence can we have with Russia, with any other state, if we don't stand by our values? We must uphold international law, and that means taking action: suspend the association agreement and all trade with illegal settlements, impose sanctions and stand firmly behind the ICC and the ICJ. This is the moment to secure a path – a just and a lasting path – that guarantees safety, freedom and self-determination to Israelis and Palestinians alike.

Madam President, colleagues, the suffering in Haiti does not make the news or our social media screens, but it should. Armed gangs, corruption and impunity have overtaken the country, driving fear and despair. More than 1 million people are internally displaced and over half the population faces food insecurity. Women and girls are particularly at risk and sexual violence is widespread. Yet, instead of solidarity, the people of Haiti face rejection. USAID funding cuts have disrupted health services, including HIV treatments, while massive forced repatriation from the US and the Dominican Republic risks worsening the already dire socio-economic conditions. We must send a clear message: these forced returns violate international human rights standards. To help Haiti move to a safer, more democratic future we must sanction those who are fuelling the violence, protect human rights defenders and support local civil society. It's time to work with Haiti on a strategy that combines humanitarian aid, development and inclusive political dialogue, recognising that military interventions alone have consistently failed. The people of Haiti deserve our empathy and our action – let us not hesitate to give them both now.

Mr President, dear colleagues, the arbitrary imprisonment of Abdoul Aziz Goma for over seven years in Togo is not just concerning, it's outrageous. His case exposes a system that punishes peaceful advocates with torture and sham trials. Aziz was arrested simply for helping protesters who were calling for democratic reforms. At the request of a friend he gave shelter to these protesters from rural areas at his home in Lomé. For this act of solidarity, he was accused of crimes against state security and thrown in prison. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has confirmed what is obvious –Aziz's detention violates international law. His basic rights to liberty, healthcare and a fair trial have all been denied. Recently, in desperation, he began a hunger strike to protest against his inhumane treatment. His doctor warns that, without urgent medical care and release, he may not survive. The EU must act with urgency, demand his immediate release, press the Togolese authorities to end sham trials and prolonged pre-trial detention, and urge the government to respect freedom of assembly and expression, and protect the civil space for civil society and human rights defenders. Our voice here in Europe must be a voice for Aziz's freedom and for all of those who dare to stand for democracy.

Mr President, dear Colleagues – and now, as well, dear children of Victoire – this Parliament calls today for the immediate and unconditional release of Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza and other opposition figures who are on trial for politically motivated grounds. She is a courageous opposition leader, jailed not for any crime but for daring to challenge the status quo and, sadly, her case is not unique. It is part of a broader pattern: in Rwanda, opposition voices, independent media and civil society are being silenced systematically, deliberately and with impunity. Those who speak out face intimidation, surveillance, detention or worse. The European Union cannot be a silent partner to repression. Our credibility depends on speaking up – not just when it's easy, but also when it's necessary. I call on the EU and the Member States to confront the Rwandan Government on its crackdown against political opposition and violation of human rights. Our cooperation with Rwanda must be consistent with the promotion of human rights and democracy, including fair trial standards. If we stay silent, we legitimise oppression. If we speak with courage, we give hope to those who risk everything for democracy. Let us please choose courage.

Mr President, dear Commissioner, you and our colleagues from the EPP called for political responsibility in supporting this deal. But I think it's very far-fetched to claim that it is responsible for us to spend USD 750 billion on natural gas, oil and nuclear energy from the US. If Russia has taught us something, it is that Europe must become independent in its energy production through a green transition by no longer depending on others – and especially not on unpredictable populists and dictators. But looking at this deal with the US, it seems perhaps we have not learned our lesson. Let's face it, Commissioner Šefčovič, these billions are needed here in Europe, to benefit European consumers and companies, not to fill the coffers of ExxonMobil and Chevron – the same corporations that have blocked ambitious climate action for decades. Instead of pouring money into fossil fuels, we must invest in renewable energy production, in batteries, in the circular economy. Our regulation, our climate goals, our values are not for sale. And we cannot – ever – trade them away.

Dear colleague, you say this is not humanity. You just called all Palestinians extremists: is it humanity to call the 55 000 or more children who have been killed or injured in this horrible genocide extremists? Where is your humanity? How dare you call an entire nation extremist?

Mr President, dear colleagues, the arbitrary and unjust imprisonment of Ryan Cornelius for 17 years in the United Arab Emirates is extremely concerning. He should be immediately and unconditionally released. But I must say he is not the only one. The Emirates have a concerning track record of arbitrary detention, unfair trials and allegations of torture. So why is it that the EU and this House too cannot name Ahmed Mansoor as well, and a long list of others who are arbitrarily detained, often in inhumane conditions? Is it perhaps related to our dependency in UAE oil, or perhaps related to the USE 67 billion in non‑oil trade between the EU and the UAE? Or perhaps the special partnership and trade agreement that is under negotiation? While it might seem economically convenient to stay silent about human rights abuses by our partners in the short term, rest assured that we are paying the price in the long term. Our global reputation as a promoter of human rights is deteriorating at a rapid pace. We should end the double standards. Free Ryan, yes. And free all the other prisoners.

Mr President, dear colleagues, the arbitrary and unjust imprisonment of Ryan Cornelius for 17 years in the United Arab Emirates is extremely concerning. He should be immediately and unconditionally released. But I must say he is not the only one. The Emirates have a concerning track record of arbitrary detention, unfair trials and allegations of torture. So why is it that the EU and this House too cannot name Ahmed Mansoor as well, and a long list of others who are arbitrarily detained, often in inhumane conditions? Is it perhaps related to our dependency in UAE oil, or perhaps related to the USE 67 billion in non‑oil trade between the EU and the UAE? Or perhaps the special partnership and trade agreement that is under negotiation? While it might seem economically convenient to stay silent about human rights abuses by our partners in the short term, rest assured that we are paying the price in the long term. Our global reputation as a promoter of human rights is deteriorating at a rapid pace. We should end the double standards. Free Ryan, yes. And free all the other prisoners.

Mr President, dear Commissioner, today the Commissioner came to us to say that the trade war seemed to be turning into some sort of trade truce, even though we don't know that much yet in detail about the content. In any case, I'm very happy to hear that, for you, our legislation remains a non-negotiable point. It can't have been easy to negotiate with the Trump administration. The amount of U-turns on deadlines and tariff rate is unprecedented. With that unstable background and knowing that nothing binds Trump to a final deal, we must always proceed with caution. While the EU might be able to strike a deal, this is unlikely to be the case for most of the world. For many, the absurdly high tariffs are still on the table, and this poses a huge challenge for developing nations. The compound impact of high tariffs and the cuts in development assistance risks all the progress that has been made on the poorest economies and, by consequence, on the Sustainable Development Goals. Our multilateral system is failing and those who are most vulnerable risk paying the highest price.

Mr President, dear Commissioner, today the Commissioner came to us to say that the trade war seemed to be turning into some sort of trade truce, even though we don't know that much yet in detail about the content. In any case, I'm very happy to hear that, for you, our legislation remains a non-negotiable point. It can't have been easy to negotiate with the Trump administration. The amount of U-turns on deadlines and tariff rate is unprecedented. With that unstable background and knowing that nothing binds Trump to a final deal, we must always proceed with caution. While the EU might be able to strike a deal, this is unlikely to be the case for most of the world. For many, the absurdly high tariffs are still on the table, and this poses a huge challenge for developing nations. The compound impact of high tariffs and the cuts in development assistance risks all the progress that has been made on the poorest economies and, by consequence, on the Sustainable Development Goals. Our multilateral system is failing and those who are most vulnerable risk paying the highest price.

Mr President, dear colleagues, the proposal to dissolve and ban political parties in Mali is concerning, to say the least. Anyone can see that such a ban is deeply undemocratic and a nail in the coffin of any self-respecting democracy. It is also at odds with the Constitution that was enacted in 2023. But this is not a standalone development; it is part of a wider crackdown on opposition, civil society, critics of the regime and many political opponents, who have been abducted or arrested. The autocratisation trend – not only in Mali, but in the entire region – is extremely worrying. So we stand here today, as Europeans, speaking about human rights and democracy in Africa; and as we do it, we cannot deny our colonial past. Neither can we deny our present, where so many of our relationships with countries that were formerly colonies continue to be deeply unequal. The EU must come to terms with our past and start treating African nations like equal partners, not only in words and in speeches, but also in actions, negotiations and trades.

Mr President, the EU-Israel Association Agreement requires respect for human rights from a government that targets aid workers, doctors and journalists; that is blocking humanitarian aid using famine as a weapon of war; that is committing apartheid in the West Bank; that is committing a genocide in Gaza. So, Commission, Council, colleagues in this House, my question to you is this: how long will you ignore them? The UN experts and special rapporteurs, the international courts, the human rights organisations, the students who are on hunger strike outside the doors of this Parliament, the volunteers that try to walk or sail to Gaza with aid, the tens of thousands of people marching in the streets of Europe. For how long will they be ignored? The suspension of this agreement is long overdue. It's a legal necessity. We are Israel's largest trading partner. We have leverage. We have a responsibility. If we mean 'never again', we must act today. Our complicity must end today.

Madam President, colleagues, Commissioner, Mr Lissu started his career as a lawyer working on land rights and on the impact of mining in protected areas. His political activity and his exposure of government corruption made him a target for an assassination attempt, followed by several years of exile in Belgium. He returned home to Tanzania, he became a leader of the opposition party, and just last month he was arrested, disqualified from participating in the upcoming election in October and charged with treason – a crime punishable with a death sentence. This is not a standalone case. It exemplifies the regime's treatment of political opposition, civil society organisations, journalists, indigenous peoples and human rights defenders. Anyone who poses a threat to the ruling elite is effectively silenced. The EU can – and should – do more. We should make any future EU investments in Tanzania conditional upon improvements in human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Embassies and the EU delegation must monitor the trials of those unlawfully detained, and we should increase the funds supporting civil society and indigenous communities. Today, this Parliament stands with Mr Lissu and with all those unjustly deprived of freedom in Tanzania. To them we say: you are not alone!

Mr President, dear colleagues, the European Day of the Righteous came about in 2012, intended as a way of commemoration, a way to honour the brave people who risked their lives to stand up for democracy and humanity in the dark times of totalitarianism that our continents experienced not too long ago. It is also a day to remind ourselves that we may never allow these tendencies to rise again. No one could have expected that, just ten years after the creation of this day, we would be confronted with war in our continent, with an authoritarian-leaning President in the White House, and with chilling amounts of anti-democratic forces deeply cemented in European governments and parliaments – in this House too. This combination is a toxic cocktail posing an existential threat to our democracies and our societies. Against this backdrop, the only way to truly honour the righteous is by echoing their voices today, to speak up, to denounce all forms of totalitarian regimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Do it now, as they did back then. Our democratic values fade when we silence the righteous, so we must speak up.

Mr President, dear colleagues, the media shapes our world view. Journalists who report with no fear or favour are able to foster transparency and to hold those in power accountable. Without them, we are the targets of misinformation and further polarisation, with immense risks for our societies and democracies. But the free press is under threat. We are witnessing alarming trends all around the world – from strategic litigation to arbitrary detention, use of violence and a tragic increase in journalist fatalities. So I am proud that today this Parliament is standing up for journalists in Cameroon. They are routinely censored, detained, attacked and imprisoned. Sometimes they're tried in military courts, which is against international law. I condemn these structural violations and call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those imprisoned in Cameroon. The UN member states must use all of their leverage to improve the human rights situation and issue humanitarian visas for journalists at risk. Let us stand in solidarity with the courageous journalists in Cameroon and elsewhere, who risked their lives to bring us the truth. Their fight for freedom of expression is a vital part of the global struggle for a more informed and just world.

Dear colleague, you and your colleagues have repeatedly used this debate on human rights to raise the issue of Marine Le Pen. My question to you is: yesterday, when our group proposed a debate on corruption, on this case, how did you vote? If you voted against, why are you instead using this platform to make the points that you could have voted on a debate to speak about?

Madam President, dear colleagues, dear Ms Kallas, we look back on a year marked by the disregard of international law, kerbs on freedom of expression, shrinking civic spaces and a setback for women's rights. Human rights defenders face growing threats while discrimination against LGBTQi+ people persists. Huge issues like forced labour, torture and the death penalty continue to go on. So, the question is: how is the world reacting? Well, from the White House we see a prime example of selfish foreign policy and transactionality. And here in the EU, some seem tempted to sing to the same tune, because, let's face it, our leaders are happy to turn a blind eye on human rights if our trade or migration interests are at stake, or if it means we get access to critical raw materials. International law violations are being met with deafening silence from the EU and from the international community if they are considered to be done by our partners, like Israel. We tolerate attacks on the ICC and ICJ from the other side of the Atlantic and do very little in their defence. We criticise the unjustifiable cuts to USAID, while some of our Member States, led by the far right, slash their own development corporation budgets, and we stand here and we regret the downwards trend and we call for a better future. If the EU starts to give up on human rights, how do we expect others to uphold them? Do we want to live in a world where international law is just a suggestion? If we don't want to be here next year talking again about the further deterioration of human rights in the world, the road is very clear: we must reject a transactional foreign policy approach and stop our double standards.

Mr President, dear colleagues, Azerbaijan is facing a deep human rights crisis. The government installed severe restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and association, and weaponised the legal system against critical voices. Armenian detainees are one of the groups most severely affected by the government's policies. Ill-treatment is widespread and fair trials have become an illusion. I am glad that this Parliament is consistently and strongly addressing the situation, but sadly we seem to be the only EU institution doing so. We cannot allow continuing business as usual with Azerbaijan, sacrificing our values because of economic and energy interests. This is not only hypocritical, but it generates dependencies, making us vulnerable for blackmail. Have we not learned any lesson from our dependencies with Russia in the past? It is time we prioritise human rights above cheap oil and gas.

Mr President, as the brutal war rages in Sudan, the population is confronted with an unprecedented humanitarian crisis: over 150 000 people have been killed, 13 million were forced to flee their homes and 30 million are dependent on humanitarian aid. Rape has become a method of warfare, leaving permanent scars and destroying lives. The sad conclusion is that the Western world is failing humanity in Sudan. USAID cuts deeply hit the most vulnerable people directly, putting their lives at risk. And while the EU is preoccupied with the latest nonsense coming from the White House, the United Arab Emirates delivers weapons to a party that is standing accused of genocide. The EU must take its responsibility: install the monitoring mission, support the work of the ICC and adopt sanctions against those responsible for the violations. If we believe that human rights are universal, we need to act now!

Madam President, dear Commissioner, we celebrated a ceasefire, but it was short‑lived. After a few weeks, Netanyahu unleashed full war on civilians once again. The cutting of aid and electricity in Gaza, as well as the intensified attacks on the West Bank, can be added to the ever‑expanding list of war crimes that he should be imprisoned for. Instead of supporting and upholding international justice, the EU continues business as usual with Israel. In the meantime, our credibility in the global south crumbles by the day with these double standards. As Israel's largest trading partner, we have a responsibility to force change and end the atrocities in Palestine – stop arms trade, cease this association agreement and impose sanctions. So tonight, here are my questions: when will we finally stop business as usual with the aggressor? When will we stop applying these double standards? And when will we start treating Palestinian lives as human lives?

Madam President, dear Commissioner, time flies when you're having fun and with Mercosur, we've been negotiating for 25 years. But here in the European Parliament we were a bit late to the party, as we only had access to the final text after a political deal was announced in December. This agreement raises a lot of questions. How exactly will we ensure that it will not drive deforestation in the Amazon, or that the rights of local and indigenous communities will be respected? Why do we have a deal on the table that increases imports of poultry and beef without presenting conditions on animal welfare? What about the rebalancing mechanism? Can it be used to challenge the European Deforestation Regulation? If so, what would that mean for future trade deals with other partners or future environmental rules that we want to set? Let me be clear: with Trump's trade policies, Europe needs to diversify its trade partners. But this cannot be done at any cost. We need a strategic agreement that works for both the planet and the people here and in Mercosur countries. The jury is very much still out on whether this deal can deliver that.

Mr President, dear colleagues, what were you doing when you were 27 years old? Maybe finishing a degree or starting a new job? Maybe you were getting married. Yahaya Sharif-Aminu is 27 years old and today he sits in a jail in Nigeria, sentenced to death by hanging. His crime? Writing a song and sharing it on WhatsApp. A Sharia court considered it to be blasphemy, tried him without legal representation and sentenced him to death. Capital punishment is a barbaric and inhumane practice. It violates the most fundamental human right: the right to life. It is an irreversible form of punishment. So today I call on the Nigerian authorities to release Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, as his trial shows concerning flaws. I call on the Nigerian Government to declare an immediate moratorium on all executions and to abolish the death penalty. And I call on the Commission and the Member States to join me in raising this request with Nigeria, because no one should die because of a song.

Madam President, colleagues, without universal enforcement, international law is just a huge pile of paper. Independent institutions such as the ICC and the ICJ are vital to uphold a system that we established to prevent war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. But then one day Donald Trump wakes up and decides he doesn't like the ICC targeting Netanyahu for what's happening in Gaza. And because of that, he is entitled to undermine the work of the ICC, to target not just a court and its staff, but also people and institutions that support it, and that it's OK to bring the work of international justice to a halt. Well tell that to those faced with sexual violence in Sudan. Tell that to the child soldiers recruited in the Central African Republic. Tell that to the victims of war crimes in Ukraine. These sanctions are nothing less than an open invitation to dictators, authoritarians and warlords around the world to conduct large‑scale human rights violations with impunity. All eyes are on the EU now. We must act immediately by activating the blocking statute to protect the ICC against these sanctions, and take responsibility as one of the few remaining guardians of international law.

Madam President, colleagues, I'm going to do something I don't usually do in this House and tell a bit of a generational story. I come from a family, on my mother's side, in which there were many whalers in the Azores Islands. My great‑grandfather, the brother of my grandfather, they were proud whalers. It was their livelihood, it was their tradition. And I'm very glad, I'm very proud that that tradition has stopped. Since 1984, in Portugal, this is no longer happening. Now, fast‑forward to the 1990s, my cousin was born on my father's side of the family. He has worked on sustainable whale watching tours that also give him a livelihood and help the protection of these incredible animals that are under threat. There is no excuse to anywhere around the world to continue this abuse of animal rights and this harm on our climate. So let's follow the examples that are there. Let's, for once and for all, stop whaling.