Tackling Human Rights Abuses Must Start At Home says Euro-MP

3.58.47pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 10th Dec 2004

On International Human Rights Day a Liberal Democrat Euro-MP Liz Lynne says that it is regrettable that we are having to focus on abuses in the EU.

The West Midlands Euro-MP who sits on the Parliament's Human Rights committee says that if Britain were applying for membership of the EU today their treatment of prisoners at Belmarsh Prison could be enough for their application to be rejected.

She said:

"It used to be when talking about Human Rights abuses we would be focussing on Africa and the Middle East. Now we are talking about the UK, USA, Czech Republic and Romania amongst others.

"In the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, people with mental illnesses are kept in beds which are fitted with a metal-barred construction above the mattress known as cage beds. All of these countries became members of the EU in May.

"Amnesty International has called for an urgent reform of psychiatric hospitals in Romania. The group says the placement and treatment of many psychiatric patients violate international human rights and best professional practice with many Romanians given psychiatric treatment against their will or placed in hospitals on non-medical grounds.

"Yet the Commission yesterday effectively gave a green light to Romania becoming a member of the EU. In closing negotiations, the Commission has lifted much of the pressure that is needed to deliver change in Romania. Once inside the club, other members will be tempted to turn a blind eye.

"The UK government continues to try and justify their war on Iraq by saying they are bringing freedom countries, while at the same time taking away the freedoms of their own citizens. At Belmarsh Prison of the 11 people still detained there, 8 have been held without trial since December

2001.

"Before the EU starts preaching to other continents and countries about human rights it must first get its own house in order."