Hearings
A committee is permitted to organise a hearing with experts, where this is considered essential to its work on a particular subject. Hearings can also be held jointly by two or more committees. Most committees organise regular hearings, as they allow them to hear from experts and hold discussions on the key issues. On this page you will find all the available information relating to committee hearings, including programmes and contributions from speakers.
The Subcommittee on Human Rights will hold a hearing to assess the state of rights and freedoms in Cuba, including the effects of the embargo, on Tuesday, 23 May. The hearing will allow for an in-depth discussion on the recent human rights developments in Cuba. Furthermore, the Subcommittee will look into the effects of the embargo on the country. A large spectrum of speakers from different backgrounds will contribute to the debate.
On 21 March 2023, DROI will hold a public hearing on "The state of human rights in Algeria in the framework of the renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood" to discuss recent developments in the field of human rights and the rule of law in Algeria. The hearing will be held in association with the standing delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries (DMAG).
This public hearing on conscientious objection as a human right and in particular, Russian conscientious objectors aims to highlight how the human right to conscientious objection to military service must be enforced in all countries, including those at war, and how the EU could grant conscientious objectors further protection.
The Subcommittee on Human Rights, in association with the Committee on Development and the Delegation for relations with the Pan-African Parliament, will hold a public hearing on the African Union and its human rights and democracy mechanisms. This part (Part I) of the hearing will focus on the views of the civil society organisations.
On 26 October 2022 the Subcommittee on Human Rights will hold a hearing to assess the human rights situation in Sahel following the series of (attempted) coups d’état, with the participation of Emanuela Claudia Del Re, EU special representative for the Sahel, Alioune Tine, UN independent expert on the human rights situation in Mali, and Daouda Diallo, Member of the People’s Coalition for the Sahel.
On 26 October the Subcommittee on Human Rights will hold a hearing on the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
On 26 September the Subcommittee on Human Rights will hold a hearing on Protecting Indigenous Peoples' Rights in Brazil. The hearing will follow up Parliament's call for indigenous peoples' rights to be fully protected, including their land, territories and resources.
In association with the Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America On 5 September DROI Members will hold a hearing on human rights violations by mining companies in Guatemala, with guest speakers: Luis Solano, Economist and investigative journalist; Carlos Choc, Local journalist from the Fenix mine area; Marlies Stappers, Executive director Impunity watch and Miguel Angel Galvez, Judge.
The European Parliament and the Global Campus of Human Rights will organise the second Annual Conference on the Global State of Human Rights on 15-16 July 2022 in Venice, Italy. This unique event will include keynote speakers, pannelists and moderators from diverse backgrounds, including Members of the European Parliament, academics from the Global Campus network, high officials from EU and other international organisations, national human rights bodies, civil society, human rights defenders
The aim of the hearing is to engage in a debate with policy-makers and scholars on progress and challenges towards the universal abolition of the death penalty and to discuss how to strengthen strategies and international cooperation to this end. There is a clear overall trend on the declining use of the death penalty worldwide. However, large-scale executions and the resumptions of the application of the death penalty in certain countries are of great concern.
The increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) generates new challenges for human rights, with expressed concern about the unprecedented level of surveillance across the globe by state and private actors, which is incompatible with human rights. Human rights defenders and dissenters face particular risks that they will be targeted; on the other hand, AI can potentially offer at least some of them additional tools to defend human rights and democracy around the world.
Jointly with the Committee on International Trade, the Subcommittee on Human Rights will hold a public hearing on human rights and trade nexus in the context of non-self-governing and occupied territories, on Wednesday 16 March. The debate will assess the implementation of international human rights law in non-self-governing and occupied territories, including how trade policy can support the promotion of human rights considering the specific situation of these territories.