The European Parliament (EP) has rejected an attempt to include a reference on Kashmir in its latest global annual report on human rights. An attempt by British EP member of Pakistani origin, Sajjad Karim, to include a reference on Kashmir in the report was rejected. The EP report noted the worsening human rights situation in Pakistan throughout 2007, including in particular the threats to the independence of the judiciary and the freedom of the media.

The report hopes that those responsible for the assassination of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto are identified and held responsible as soon as possible.

The EP report also criticised the human rights situation in China, Iran, and Russia.

It expressed "its disquiet at the serious human rights violations" in China and stressed that, despite promises made by Beijing with a view to the forthcoming Olympic Games, the situation on the ground regarding human rights "has not improved".

The report deplored the "ongoing violations of human rights and democracy" by the military junta in Myanmar and supported the European Union's commitment to attaining its stated objectives, namely the establishment of a legitimate, democratic civilian government which respects the human rights of its people and restores normal relations with the international community.

The EP report, however, condemned the fact that the European Union is still far from conducting a "coherent and hard-hitting policy" to uphold and promote human rights around the world.

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