08/03/2013 Standing Committee
Strasbourg, 08.03.2013 – PACE has called for more rigorous procedures – at both national and international level – for selecting experts who sit on the Council of Europe’s principal human rights monitoring mechanisms, such as its anti-torture and anti-racism bodies, or those dealing with social rights and national minorities.
Adopting a resolution in a report by Boriss Cilevics (Latvia, SOC) at its meeting today in Paris, PACE’s Standing Committee said transparent procedures were needed which used clear criteria to assess proposed experts’ proficiency, independence and integrity. Respect for gender balance on these bodies was also important, the parliamentarians pointed out, and arrangements should be made to ensure a transparent competition open to all.
The Assembly should have the possibility to reject lists of candidates not meeting the relevant criteria, the parliamentarians said, while the monitoring body itself should also be consulted, as appropriate.