What Catarina spoke about.

Mr President, dear Commissioner, international law emerged as a safeguard against the horrors that humanity should never repeat. But that safeguard is under immense pressure today. In Gaza, we see unthinkable destruction, mass displacement, civilians that are deliberately targeted and starvation being used as a method of warfare. So, naturally, internationally recognised judicial bodies are ringing all the alarm bells about Israeli war crimes. The ICJ concluded that there is a risk of genocide. The ICC issued an arrest warrant against Prime Minister Netanyahu. But what does this change? Israel is still a major Western partner. Our weapons are still being exported there, our agreements are still not being questioned. Some Member States are even outright dismissing the ICC decision. If we apply double standards for Israel, why would anyone adhere to the rules? International law only works if it's strongly enforced, regardless of the perpetrator, and that is what the European Union must do.

Mr President, dear Commissioner, Famil Khalilov, Anar Mamadli, Bahruz Samadov, Iqbal Abilov. These are among the ever-growing list of political prisoners in Azerbaijan – a list that also includes Gubad Ibadoghlu, shortlisted for this year's Sakharov Prize. Jailed under dubious charges and currently under house arrest, he is being detained and denied the urgent medical care that he requires. Yet, Commission President von der Leyen refers to Azerbaijan as a reliable partner, signaling perhaps that protecting oil and gas imports matters more than upholding our values. We must use the approaching COP29 in Baku to shine a spotlight on Azerbaijan's human rights situation and prevent the regime from misusing the events to whitewash its reputation. Let us, in words and in action, reaffirm that a reliable partnership is one built not just on economic interests, but also on shared values.

Madam President, Commissioner, while the whole world is holding its breath about the horrible developments in Ukraine, Gaza and Lebanon, we cannot forget about the ever-continuing genocide of the Uyghurs. Hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs face systematic surveillance, persecution, mass imprisonment, torture and forced sterilisation. Brave activists like Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas are being harassed, detained and silenced. The list of detained activists is getting longer by the day. Yet, exports from Xinjiang into the EU have risen by 140 % this year. From the cotton in our clothes to the electronic components in our gadgets, we are sponsoring the continuation of state-imposed forced labour. This is simply unacceptable. We must strictly enforce the forced labour ban. We must hold the Chinese regime accountable. We must prevent our complicity to this genocide.