Logo Assembly Logo Hemicycle

News

Clean and affordable energy 'crucial' for sustained prosperity and human rights, says PACE

PACE rapporteur concerned by US sanctions against UN rapporteur

11/07/2025 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

Saskia Kluit (Netherlands, SOC), rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on “The absolute and urgent need to end the humanitarian crisis for women, children and the hostages in Gaza", made the following statement today: “I am deeply concerned by the recent...

70 years of the Europe Prize, a testament to the power of local democracy

06/06/2025 | Prizes

Mayors from across Europe, leading officials from the Council of Europe and parliamentarians gathered in Donostia/San Sebastián in Spain today to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Europe Prize during a series of commemorative events. The Prize, created by the Parliamentary Assembly of the...

Gaza
©Shutterstock

‘Gaza: acts point in the direction of ethnic cleansing and genocide,’ PACE rapporteur says

23/05/2025 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

Saskia Kluit (Netherlands, SOC), rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on “The absolute and urgent need to end the humanitarian crisis for women, children and the hostages in Gaza" made the following statement today: “The massacre underway in Gaza is man-made...

PACE committee urges a sustainable and socially fair energy transition grounded in human rights
©Shutterstock

PACE committee urges a sustainable and socially fair energy transition grounded in human rights

21/05/2025 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

A PACE committee has called on member states to strengthen their national strategies for transitioning to clean, safe and affordable energy — a move seen as critical not only for environmental sustainability but also for social justice and human rights. The committee further underlined that...

Social mobilisation: committee proposed placing mediation at the heart of policing, calling for a renewed social contract
©Shutterstock

Social mobilisation: committee proposes placing mediation at the heart of policing, calling for a renewed...

21/05/2025 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

The Committee on Social Affairs, meeting on 16 May in Helsinki, emphasised the importance of rethinking policing strategies in the face of social mobilisation and rebuilding a lasting bond between institutions and citizens, including young people in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Analysing several...

Conference in Helsinki on ‘Deported Ukrainian children: European action’
©Parliament of Finland

'There can be no just and lasting peace without the return of deported Ukrainian children'

15/05/2025 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

"Ukrainian children are non-negotiable. There can be no just and lasting peace without the unconditional return of all deported and forcibly transferred Ukrainian children. The safe and immediate repatriation of these children must form an integral part of any future peace agreement", today said...

Combating child poverty and social exclusion by leveraging international standards

Combating child poverty and social exclusion by leveraging international standards

03/04/2025 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

Saskia Kluit (Netherlands, SOC), Chairperson of the PACE Committee on Social Affairs, today expressed concern at the increased risk of poverty, social exclusion and deteriorating living standards among children, pointing out that 19.9 million children currently live at risk of poverty in the EU...

©shutterstock

The rapporteur on the humanitarian situation in Gaza appalled by the resumption of bombardments on the...

19/03/2025 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

“I am deeply shocked by Israel's decision to resume bombardments and not to respect the ceasefire’, said Saskia Kluit (Netherlands, SOC), rapporteur on “The absolute and urgent need to end the humanitarian crisis for women, children and the hostages in Gaza". “The press reported yesterday that at...

Tweede Kamer (House of Represenatives), The Hague
©Shutterstock

Seminar on ‘The role of the Dutch parliament in protecting the right to a healthy environment’

04/03/2025 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

The PACE Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development, in co-operation with the Dutch delegation to PACE, will be holding a parliamentary seminar in The Hague on 5 March on “The role of the Dutch parliament in protecting the right to a healthy environment”. This seminar aims to...

Rapporteur urgently calls for safe and unhindered access to humanitarian aid in Gaza
©shutterstock

Rapporteur urgently calls for safe and unhindered access to humanitarian aid in Gaza

04/03/2025 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

Saskia Kluit (Netherlands, SOC), PACE rapporteur on “The absolute and urgent need to end the humanitarian crisis for women, children and the hostages in Gaza” today made the following statement: “I am deeply alarmed by Israel’s decision to halt humanitarian aid into the Gaza strip. The blocking...

PACE conference on ‘The role of national parliaments in protecting the right to a healthy environment’

PACE conference on ‘The role of national parliaments in protecting the right to a healthy environment’

11/02/2025 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the Chamber of Deputies of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg will be holding a parliamentary conference in Luxembourg on 14 February on “The role of national parliaments in protecting the right to a healthy environment”, as part of the...

Committee recommends a human rights-based approach in the fight against ‘long Covid’

10/12/2024 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

The Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development deplores the fact that the millions of patients suffering from “long Covid” have become “a huge blind spot”, as policymakers and the healthcare sector focus on other health issues. It regrets that no solution has yet been...