The European Parliament passed three resolutions on Thursday addressing human rights situations across Haiti, China, and Venezuela. The votes reflected broad parliamentary concern over trafficking, political repression, and the treatment of marginalized populations in each country.
On Haiti, MEPs expressed alarm at the sharp increase in child trafficking and gang recruitment, noting that children comprise up to half of all gang members. The resolution demands that Haitian authorities treat trafficked children as victims rather than criminals and implement comprehensive disarmament and gang dismantlement programs tailored to minors. Parliament highlighted systematic sexual violence by gangs against women and girls, calling for urgent medical care, legal protection, and psychosocial support for survivors alongside strengthened investigations into alleged extrajudicial killings.
The resolution urges Haiti to strengthen social protection systems, ensure safe education access, and prioritize justice and accountability. It emphasizes the need for full implementation of the UN arms embargo and calls on the EU to curb illicit financial and arms flows through enhanced judicial cooperation and border monitoring. MEPs noted that the UN-mandated Gang Suppression Force remains under-resourced due to declining global funding from sources including USAID and the UN. Parliament appealed for increased humanitarian assistance and requested that host countries halt deportations to Haiti. The resolution passed with 511 votes in favor, 21 against, and 42 abstentions.
Regarding China, Parliament called for immediate repeal of a new law on "ethnic unity and progress," arguing it encourages assimilation policies and restricts cultural, religious, and linguistic freedoms for populations from Tibet, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia. MEPs demanded the release of political prisoners, including Ilham Tohti, the 2019 Sakharov Prize recipient. Parliament stressed that the succession of the Dalai Lama constitutes a religious matter to be determined by Tibetan Buddhist traditions alone. MEPs warned that the law's introduction will damage EU-China relations and called on member states to suspend extradition treaties with China. Parliament urged the Council to implement the EU Global Sanctions Regime against those responsible for the law. This resolution passed with 439 votes for, 52 against, and 71 abstentions.
In Venezuela, MEPs regretted the interim president's announcement ending the Amnesty Law on April 23, characterizing it as premature with limited scope and lacking independent monitoring. Parliament expressed grave concern that at least 470 political prisoners remain detained under inhuman conditions despite the law's existence. MEPs insisted the Amnesty Law must not shield those responsible for human rights violations from accountability and urged the regime to end repression and reform judicial, law enforcement, and electoral institutions. Parliament called on the EU to maintain sanctions against individuals responsible for human rights violations until Venezuela demonstrates meaningful progress toward democratic transition. The resolution passed with 507 votes in favor, 31 against, and 35 abstentions.
