As we continue recognizing the fundamental importance of Parliaments and Parliamentarians to healthy and vibrant democracies, we note with great concern that during the unprecedented times we live in, Members of Parliament are increasingly subjected to severe threats and attacks.
To commemorate the International Day of Parliamentarism, the European Parliament’s Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG) and the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) held a joint virtual event on 30 June 2021 to discuss the global state of the human rights of parliamentarians worldwide.
Prominent Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and Parliamentarians for Global Action were invited to take a stand against the deprivation of parliamentarians’ human rights and to defend democracy.
Watch: In defence of democracy: The global state of parliamentarians’ rights - Joint conference of the Democracy Support and Elections Coordination Group and the Subcommittee on Human Rights - International Day of Parliamentarianism, 30 June
During the event, our Parliamentary Rapid Response Team (PARRT) founding member, Dr. Hannah Neumann, officially launched the European Parliament’s “Solidarity with Parliamentarians” Program, an initiative that promotes twinning relationships between MEPs and those parliamentarians who are at risk or have been deprived of their political and fundamental rights.
Members of Parliament can also be human rights defenders and, as such, should be protected. All the more so that they are a bridge between the Executive and the populations they represent. As depositories of the will of the people, they are exposed and can become targets of the Executive branch. With the trends linked to democratic backsliding worldwide, women MPs are especially at risk.
As we continue recognizing the fundamental importance of Parliaments and Parliamentarians to healthy and vibrant democracies, we note with great concern that during the unprecedented times we live in, Members of Parliament are increasingly subjected to severe threats and attacks.
