1. In reply to this
question, the Committee of Ministers considers it appropriate to
recall its reply to Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1979 (2011)
on “Prenatal sex selection”, where it considered, inter alia, that prenatal sex selection
undermines the fundamental values, principles and rights promoted
by the Council of Europe and enshrined in the European Convention
on Human Rights and the relevant protocols to it and that it is
a practice which is also at variance with the general principles
of gender equality. It is important to note that this is without
prejudice to prenatal gender selection where serious hereditary
sex-related disease is to be avoided, and also without prejudice
to the way abortion is regulated in various European States. As was
decided by the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Vo
v. France, the issue of when the right to life begins comes within
the margin of appreciation that States should enjoy in this sphere.Note
2. The Committee of Ministers would inform the Honourable Parliamentarian
that, further to the aforementioned reply, it has instructed its
Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH), with the support of the
Committee on Bioethics (DH-BIO), and in co-operation with the Gender
Equality Commission (GEC), to consider and make proposals for action
to be taken by the Council of Europe in this field. The Parliamentary Assembly
will be informed in due course of the conclusions emerging therefrom.
