24/01/2022 | 17:11:41 Dear colleagues, I would first like to thank our rapporteurs Baroness Doreen E. MASSEY and Ms Jennifer DE TEMMERMAN for an excellent work and for raising such an important issue. The right to a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is a fundamental human right. However, 2.2 billion children worldwide are at risk. They are increasingly deprived of their right to healthcare, food, water, and quality education. During an international conference a few years ago I met a 16 year old... 30/09/2021 | 12:58:37 (Undelivered speech, Rules of Procedure Art. 31.2) Dear colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to the situation of LGBTI people in Afghanistan. Even before the Taliban took power, having same-sex relations was a criminal offence in Afghanistan, and it carried a sentence of two years in prison. Fear of imprisonment was already used as a means of extortion and abuse against LGBTI people in Afghanistan. In July, a Taliban judge, in a region already controlled by Taliban at the time, was... 29/09/2021 | 10:33:59 Thank you Mr Chair. Dear colleagues, First of all I want to congratulate all the rapporteurs, especially my dear colleague from Belgium, Mr Simon MOUTQUIN, for his excellent work. Colleagues, Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs but not every man's greed. Environmental protection is still inadequately guaranteed to this day. The right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment should be self-evident, but that is unfortunately not the case. Your environment should not... 28/09/2021 | 11:43:56 Dear colleagues, I would like, first, to thank the rapporteur for the excellent work on this report. The growing socio-economic inequalities in our society damage or economy and tear our society apart. They divide us citizens from one another. Inequality is a threat for democracy, and a threat that particularly hits vulnerable and marginalized groups the most. Along with all older persons, children, persons with disability, women, migrants, and refugees, LGBTI people are also... 24/06/2021 | 16:29:27 Dear colleagues, I would first like to thank the rapporteur Mr Momodou Malcolm JALLOW on his excellent work on this report. This is an historic moment and is the first time since the existence of this institution that a written resolution has been created which addresses black people and people of African descent. Now more than ever I hope everyone is tuning in and gives this report and debate the attention it deserves. Colonialism still plays a vital role today in perpetrating and enforcing... 22/06/2021 | 18:29:32 Thank you, Mister Chair, dear colleagues. Thank you Madam rapporteur for your excellent work. The impacts of the pandemic on children's rights has been immense. The measures taken to address Covid-19 might worsen inequalities and discrimination of LGBTI children and young people. Social isolation and lack of connection to supportive peers can lead to severe mental health issues. This is especially true for those whose families are not supportive of their sexual orientation, gender identity... 21/04/2021 | 11:36:57 Thank you, Mr Chair, Dear members of the Assembly, In Belarus protests broke out on 9 August following the national elections. The protests continued until the end of the year. LGBTI people and activists have participated and supported the protests from the beginning. Some brought rainbow flags to the protest to be visible and to make a statement about our existence and participation and steps towards democracy. I am gravely concerned by the increased support of mass detention, intimidation... 28/01/2021 | 11:43:46 Dear Mr Chair, Dear members of the Assembly, I would primarily like to thank the rapporteur for his excellent work on such an important matter. Ethnic profiling remains a persistent practice in Europe. On a daily basis individuals are the victims of targeted identity checks from law enforcement officers, on the grounds of race, colour, national or ethnic origin, or perceived religion. The impact of this practice is devastating, both on individuals and society as a whole. Ethnic profiling is a... 28/01/2020 | 11:21:19 Thank you, Madam Chair, Members of the Assembly, First of all, I wanted to thank the co-rapporteurs for the work they have been doing. As members of the Assembly, it's important that our governments defend democracy, the rule of law and human rights. And as the resolution already emphasises, we have seen an increase of intolerance and intolerant behaviour towards minorities. Especially towards members of the LGBT community. The intolerance has grown to such an extent that it has resulted... 03/10/2019 | 18:32:22 Dear Madam Chair, dear Madam Rapporteur. Thank you for your effort to research and write on such an important topic. I was happy to read your report and hope that it will start some very concrete steps and measurements. I would like to bring up point three of the draft resolution, which talks about a proactive approach by the Council of Europe to the protection of victims of natural and man-made disasters and to improve disaster preparedness mechanisms, both in Europe and in other regions. It...