Watchdog Urges European Parliament Candidates To Clarify Positions On Human Rights

A prominent human rights watchdog has called on the candidates for the European Parliament to clarify their positions on key human rights issues ahead of May's elections, sending out a survey to members of the EU legislature's six groups to gauge their views on such matters

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd April, 2019) A prominent human rights watchdog has called on the candidates for the European Parliament to clarify their positions on key human rights issues ahead of May's elections, sending out a survey to members of the EU legislature's six groups to gauge their views on such matters.

With support for populist anti-immigration movements on the rise in Europe, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said that candidates from these groups threaten Europe's rule of law and that voters should make informed decisions based on the questionnaire responses.

"The human rights stakes are high and European citizens should know how candidates view those issues ahead of the elections. We hope to see candidates commit to protect the rights and dignity of everybody living in the EU," Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at HRW, said, as quoted in the watchdog's statement.

According to HRW, Europe's democratic institutions, which the European Parliament is meant to uphold, have been attacked in recent years by a number of EU leaders whose policies strive to erode the European judicial systems, limit media diversity, and promote agendas that weaken protection for women's and minority rights.

The questionnaire was sent to lead candidates of six European parties: the Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists, Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Europe, European Green Party, European Left, European Peoples Party, and Party of European Socialists.

The questionnaire included 11 questions about tackling discrimination, promoting gender equality, respecting migrant and refugee rights, protecting media pluralism, promoting human rights in EU foreign policy and protecting people's privacy under counterterrorism legislation.

The candidates' responses will be released before the European parliamentary elections, which will take place from May 23-26.

"We hope responses from the candidates help European citizens make informed choices about what their vote will mean for human rights. We believe that given the challenges ahead for the new European Parliament, human rights are key to Europe's future," Williamson said.

According to data from the European Elections stats project released last week, far right parties are on track to hold a quarter of the European Parliament after this May's vote.