Spain: Irene Khan sets Zapatero’s human rights agenda

An opportunity to show leadership in delivering results on human rights. This is how Amnesty International’s secretary general, Irene Khan, described the human rights agenda that Amnesty International presented Spanish president Josè Luis Zapatero with for his government’s second term in a meeting on June 20. The agenda, Spain – a Stronger commitment, more effective action:  A Human Rights Agenda for 2008 – 2012, was presented in person to the president by Irene Khan and reviews progress made over the government’s previous term, defines the key human rights challenges facing Spain, and sets out a roadmap for change which includes a list of 17 indicators to test the government’s performance against its promises.

“We welcome the commitment President Zapatero gave us to adopt a national Human Rights Plan by the end of 2008,” said the secretary general, who from June 14 to 2 led an international delegation of human rights activists across Spain, meeting with representatives of civil society, parliamentarians and members of the government. “But this plan must not be just a paper promise – it must be a plan for delivery of results,” declared Khan, who was quick to point out that while Spain has done much for human rights nationally and internationally, it must still work to strengthen protection for those most vulnerable in society, especially women, children, migrants and the detained.

One of the many challenges to be faced over the course of the next four years, according to AI, is that of the continuing abuses by Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA). The human rights organisation believes that the government must protect people from terrorist attacks but it must do so within the framework of human rights and the rule of international law.  “Terrorism cannot be overcome by undermining human rights – that is Amnesty International’s message in the fight against terrorism worldwide and it is our message in Spain,” explained Ms Khan.

Another of the complex challenges highlighted in AI’s report is that of migration: the NGO again recognizes that states have the right to control their borders but only if this does not undermine the human rights of migrants. “Having no documents does not mean you have no rights” said  the secretary general, who added that she was disappointed by the adoption on 18 June of the EU directive allowing member states to detain people, including minors, regardless of their committing a crime, for up to 18 months.

Amnesty International has now challenged the Spanish government, in developing its National Human Rights Plan, to take the lead in Europe to build a migration policy of best practice based on human rights.

In the International context, the Spanish government’s commitment to “multilateralism and the positive support given over the course of the past years to human rights within the United Nations” was noted. However the human rights watchdog highlights that Spain must offer similar support of human rights in its bilateral dealings with governments such as China, Colombia, the United States, Morocco and Russia.

“Subordinating human rights to short-term economic, strategic and political interests in bilateral relations is not only short-sighted, it contradicts and undermines the Spanish government’s overall foreign policy goals of promoting human rights multilaterally” concludes Irene Khan.

“President Zapatero has launched a bold initiative for a global moratorium on the death penalty, which we support,” concluded AI’s secretary general: “We  now challenge him to be equally bold in leading on other pressing human rights challenges at home, in Europe and abroad.  In its second term the Zapatero government has got a unique opportunity to deliver on human rights.”

To find out more
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