Gathered in Brussels for the plenary session on 25 February, MEPs outlined their priorities for the forthcoming UN Human Rights Council session (Geneva, 1-26 March).
Among the key issues to be tackled, MEPs highlighted: addressing human rights violations; clarifying counter-terrorism detention rules; resolving the conflict in Gaza and southern Israel; and opposing Iran's UN Human Rights Council (UN HRC) candidacy.
MEPs welcomed the fact that the impact of the global financial crisis on human rights situation worldwide is high on the UN HRC agenda, as effective enjoyment of human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights are being challenged due to the crisis.
Addressing serious human rights situations
MEPs urged Member States to condemn human rights violations and to help the UNHRCl to develop an effective response mechanism to breaches of human rights. The Parliament underlined that the UNHRC should have addressed more promptly serious human rights situations like those in Afghanistan, Guinea-Conakry, Iran, Yemen and Iraq.
Iran's UN Human Rights Council candidacy
MEPs expressed their concerns on Iran's candidacy for the UNHRC and urged the EU to do its best to prevent the election to the UN Human Rights Council of countries with the most problematic human rights records. The Parliament also stressed that the EU and its Member States should continue to press for the establishment of membership criteria for election to the UN HRC.
Report on secret counter-terrorism detentions
MEPs welcomed the fact that the UNHRC agenda includes a joint study on global practices in relation to secret detention in the context of countering terrorism (study available for download here 
764 KB). The Parliament asked EU Member States to support and act upon this study, in line with the previous European Parliament statements on the alleged use of European countries by the CIA for the transportation and illegal detention of prisoners.
Follow-up to the Goldstone report
MEPs reiterated their desire for a strong EU common position on the follow-up to the UN fact-finding mission report (available for download here 6.49 MB) on the conflict in Gaza and southern Israel, demanding the implementation of its recommendations and accountability for all violations of international law including alleged war crimes and urging both sides to conduct investigations that meet international standards of independence.
Respect for international human rights law and international humanitarian law by all parties and under any circumstances is an essential precondition for achieving a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, stressed MEPs.
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