29/01/2020 | 11:43:29 I wasn't aware that our colleague was missing from the room. Dear colleagues, I'm happy to move this amendment on behalf of my colleague. This simply aims to clarify that we do not wish to put a legal obligation on employees to give a conflict resolution measure on religious grounds only. That is to say whether or not not reasonable accommodation has been met on religious grounds or reasons. We don't think that this is an appropriate instruction coming from this Assembly and therefore we are... 29/01/2020 | 10:21:09 Thank you, Mr President. Dear colleagues, Freedom of religion or belief is an important right, enshrined in article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Socialists, Democrats and Greens Group deeply respects everyone's freedom to manifest their religion. Religious persons or believers have the right not to be discriminated against in equal measure to everyone else. Nevertheless, we fear that this report tries to justify that one's religion or belief can give you the right to... 28/01/2020 | 17:46:38 Thank you, Madame Chair, Let me begin by thanking the rapporteur for his excellent report. I believe it is a great contribution to the already vast work of this Assembly when it comes to the protection of freedom of expression. And to name just a few that have gone through my Committee during my previous chairmanship of the Legal Affairs Committee, I would of course mention the report on Daphne CARUANA GALIZIA's murder, but also our report on the protection of whistle-blowers all over Europe... 28/01/2020 | 10:47:23 Thank you, Mister President. Dear colleagues, This debate is about democracy and its absolute requirement of a balance of power. Why? Because the public's protection requires, and the public's protection from the misuse of power requires protection from the excessive accumulation of power within one group. And there's a great reason for this: with absolute power comes the danger of the destruction of democracy itself. We have many horrible historical examples of this. Examples we should all... 03/10/2019 | 18:10:37 Thank you Madam, dear colleagues. Let me first extend my deepest condolences to France for today's atrocities. Climate change requires politics that don't exist at the moment, and tackling climate change requires technology that doesn't exist appropriately today. These are words paraphrased from Greta Thunberg, as she spoke them in New York, where I was honoured to see her (give an) address a few days ago. We are confronted by a global problem that does not respect territorial sovereignty... 03/10/2019 | 10:07:52 Thank you Madam Chair. Thousands of people have died in the Mediterranean in the past years. These are numbers that seem incomprehensible if you think about it. Europe allows thousands to drown at its shores. It doesn't really take any kind of care whatsoever to rescue them. It even rejects boats, that have taken it upon themselves to bring people to safety, from entering their shores. Where is the humanity in that? I would ask. Have we such small little souls, that we cannot help those who... 02/10/2019 | 11:43:37 Thank you Mr President, dear colleagues. I fully support the report by Lord BALFE, and the idea of endorsing the Venice Principles. The Assembly has consistently promoted the creation of strengthening of Ombudsman institutions and has always stressed the need to ensure their independence. Now I have to say in my experience from my home country, Iceland, the Parliamentarian Ombudsman we have there is one of the strongest defenders of human rights that we have in that country. Most of the... 01/10/2019 | 11:41:57 Thank you, Madam President. Dear Colleagues, Whistle-blowers are among the bravest of us all. Speaking truth to power takes courage. But disclosing the ugly truth about power takes enormous bravery. Protecting them should be our utmost priority. It is therefore that I am very happy to support the excellent report of our rapporteur Mr Sylvain WASERMAN. I've enjoyed watching his work progress within the Committee. We have heard and we have seen talks with many experts and also talks with... 27/06/2019 | 17:56:09 Merci, Madame Le President, dear colleagues. On behalf of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, I should like to congratulate our rapporteur Mr Emanuelis ZINGERIS on his excellent report. This is now the second time this week that our Committee was obliged to present a report on the competent authorities' failure to investigate a high-profile murder case. Yesterday, a famous investigative journalist, Daphne CARUANA GALIZIA from Malta, who was assassinated by a car bomb and today... 26/06/2019 | 19:34:34 Thank you Madam President. Dear President, Dear Colleagues. This was not an easy report to prepare nor should it have been. Daphne Caruana Galizia, an investigative journalist, was blown up outside her family home by a bomb in her car. I hope you have not forgotten how shocking and tragic this is. On a sunny little Mediterranean island where people go on holiday, an investigative journalist was assassinated on her own doorstep. A terrible event like that requires a strong response from this...