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PACE President and Equality Committee Chair call for renewed efforts to counter growing attacks on the Istanbul Convention

PACE President and Equality Committee Chair call for renewed efforts to counter growing attacks on the...

24/11/2025 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

“Online violence against women and girls, facilitated by new technologies and the insufficient regulation of artificial intelligence and online platforms, is growing exponentially and is a serious threat to the human rights of women and girls,” declared PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos...

‘Questioning the presence of transgender persons in our societies is an attack on human rights’
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'Questioning the presence of transgender persons in our societies is an attack on human rights'

19/11/2025 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

"The stigmatisation of transgender persons in political discourse, holding them responsible for many ills, is not only discriminatory but also contributes to an increase in transphobia and transphobic violence around the world. Honouring the memory of transgender victims of transphobic crimes is...

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Promoting the Romani language - a vibrant piece of Europe’s mosaic of cultures

04/11/2025 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

On the eve of International Romani Language Day (5 November), Georgios Stamatis (Greece, EPP/CD), PACE General Rapporteur on Roma and Travellers, made the following statement: “On 5 November, we mark International Romani Language Day as an opportunity to honour the Romani language and culture, to...

Intersex awareness / Day

Intersex persons: end discrimination and serious violations of their physical integrity

24/10/2025 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

“Exclusion, multiple discrimination, stigmatisation and demands to conform to stereotypical gender norms from an early age are part of everyday life for many intersex persons. Their rights are still too often unheeded or overlooked and, as a result, poorly protected,” said Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo...

The Chair of the Equality Committee calls on Latvia’s MPs to support the Istanbul Convention

The Chair of the Equality Committee calls on Latvia’s MPs to support the Istanbul Convention

01/10/2025 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

“It is essential that women who are victims of violence in Latvia can benefit from the protection and support mechanisms of the Istanbul Convention,” said the Chairperson of PACE's Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, Catia Polidori (Italy, EPP/CD). “Members of Parliament sent a strong...

Parliamentary Conference on ensuring equality for rainbow families in Europe

Ensuring equality for rainbow families is a ‘cross-border imperative’

15/09/2025 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

Speakers at a parliamentary conference in Malta have urged changes in law and policy to ensure rainbow families enjoy equal rights across all 46 member states of the Council of Europe – and warned of the need to counter skepticism about their rights.Legal and NGO experts at the conference...

Malta to host conference on ensuring equality for rainbow families
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Malta to host conference on ensuring equality for rainbow families

12/09/2025 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

A parliamentary conference on ensuring equality for rainbow families in Europe is to take place in Malta on Friday 12 September 2025. The conference – held in the context of Malta Pride – aims to build momentum for changes in law and policy so that all families, regardless of their composition...

Preventing and combating gender discrimination in health
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Preventing and combating gender discrimination in health

12/09/2025 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

The Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, meeting in Malta, has proposed a set of measures to prevent and combat gender discrimination and gender-based violence in healthcare, medical research and clinical trials. The committee notes that access to healthcare remains unequal and that...

Sexual violance against men and boys
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PACE committee calls for action to make sexual violence against men and boys visible and to support victims

11/09/2025 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

“Sexual violence against men and boys is a hidden phenomenon which should be prevented and combated, giving priority to the needs of all victims/survivors,” said the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination. Adopting the draft resolution, based on the report by Edmunds Cepurītis (Latvia, SOC...

International Roma Holocaust Memorial Day

'We must be unwavering in condemning hate speech, discrimination and policies that threaten the safety and...

01/08/2025 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

Georgios Stamatis (Greece, EPP/CD), PACE General Rapporteur on Roma and Travellers, made the following statement on the eve of the European Holocaust Memorial Day for Roma and Sinti: “On 2 August we honour the memory of the 4300 Roma and Sinti men, women and children murdered in Auschwitz...

Combating hate speech to safeguard democratic principles
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Combating hate speech to safeguard democratic principles

17/06/2025 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

Statement by Francesco Verducci (Italy, SOC), PACE General Rapporteur on Combating Racism and Intolerance, on the eve of the International Day for Countering Hate Speech (18 June): “In a climate marked by geopolitical tension, conflict and rising polarisation within society, hate speech is...

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PACE General Rapporteur calls on Slovak Parliament to reject constitutional changes reducing LGBTI rights

13/06/2025 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

"In the coming days, the Slovak parliament will be called to vote on proposed constitutional amendments. I am deeply concerned about the content of some of these amendments with regard to the protection of the rights of LGBTI persons," said Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo (Monaco, ALDE), General Rapporteur...