11/03/2016 Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
A report on “human rights and ethical issues related to surrogacy” is due to be discussed – and possibly adopted – by the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) at a meeting in Paris on Tuesday 15 March.
If adopted, the report by Petra de Sutter (Belgium, SOC) becomes public, and goes forward for debate by the 324-member plenary Assembly, which brings together parliamentarians from all 47 member States of the Council of Europe.
The committee held a hearing with experts in the field of surrogacy in September 2015 and the rapporteur made fact-finding visits to the United Kingdom in October 2015 and Ukraine in November 2015 as part of the preparation for her report.
Other subjects to be discussed at the meeting include preventing the radicalisation of children, the case against a Council of Europe legal instrument on involuntary measures in psychiatry, and the handling of international public health emergencies.
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Practical information
The discussion on surrogacy will be held strictly in camera. However, any media wishing to interview members of the committee after the discussion may have access to the Council of Europe office (55 Avenue Kléber, Paris 16ème, metro Boissière) from around 11am, subject to accreditation.
Requests for accreditation should be sent to [email protected] by 10am on Monday 14 March at the very latest. Accredited media will be asked to present press cards and photo identification.
Information concerning the decisions of the committee – including the text of any report adopted – will be posted as soon as possible after the meeting on the website of the Assembly.
For further information, interview requests or copies of any report adopted, contact Angus Macdonald, PACE Communication Division, [email protected], mobile +33 (0)6 30 49 68 20.