Logo Assembly Logo Hemicycle

News

PACE conference in Warsaw focuses on freedom of expression for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people

13/03/2013 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

Freedom of expression for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people – including their right to organise marches and rallies – will be the theme of a parliamentary conference in Warsaw on Tuesday 19 March 2013, organised by the PACE Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination in co-operation with the Sejm, the lower house of the Polish parliament.

LGBT people’s rights: PACE rapporteur discussed developments in Hungarian legislation

01/03/2013 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

Håkon Haugli (Norway, SOC), PACE rapporteur on "Tackling discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity", ended today a three-day fact-finding visit to Hungary, During his visit, discussions focused on the developments in Hungarian legislation and their possible impact on the situation of LGBT people, as well as on the implementation of the existing anti-discrimination regulations.

‘Tackling discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity’: PACE rapporteur goes to...

25/02/2013 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

Håkon Haugli (Norway, SOC) will make a fact-finding visit to Budapest from 27 February to 1 March in the framework of the preparation of his report on "Tackling discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity".

PACE general rapporteur calls on Romania to revise the law imposing mediation for all cases of violence...

11/02/2013 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

“I am deeply concerned by the entry into force of a law imposing mediation for all forms of violence against women in Romania,” declared José Mendes Bota (Portugal, EPP/CD), the PACE general rapporteur on violence against women..."

‘Two more ratifications raise hopes that the Istanbul Convention may enter into force in 2013’

05/02/2013 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

“I welcome the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence by Albania on 4 February and Portugal on 5 February 2013. I sincerely hope they will be followed by more states in the coming months,” declared José Mendes Bota (Portugal, EPP/CD), PACE general rapporteur on violence against women.

Parental leave as a way to foster gender equality: visit by PACE rapporteur to Sweden

28/01/2013 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

Andrea Rigoni (Italy, ALDE), PACE member of the Equality and Non-Discrimination Committee, will make a fact-finding visit to Sweden on 29-30 January as part of the preparation of his report on “Parental leave as a way to foster gender equality”.

PACE rapporteur on the rights of LGBT people: “The draft bill on ‘homosexual propaganda’ to be examined by...

24/01/2013 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

“I was outraged to learn that a peaceful, authorised demonstration in support of freedom of expression and against a bill to prohibit so-called ‘homosexual propaganda’ was violently disrupted in the city of Voronezh in southwest Russia”, today said Håkon Haugli, PACE General rapporteur on the rights of LGBT people.

Freedom of expression should not depend on sexual orientation, says PACE Rapporteur

17/12/2012 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

“The Russian Parliament should remove the consideration of a draft bill prohibiting the promotion of homosexuality among minors from its order of business,” said Håkon Haugli (Norway, SOC), PACE Rapporteur on Tackling discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Irish abortion law: change necessary to protect women’s rights and dignity

19/11/2012 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

Following the death in Ireland of Savita Halappanavar, who was denied a termination of pregnancy in spite of serious complications, Tina Acketoft (Sweden, ALDE), Chairperson of PACE Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, expressed her profound indignation.

Promoting the Council of Europe Convention to combat violence against women

18/10/2012 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

“We all act at our respective levels to combat violence against women and domestic violence. It can be by providing direct assistance and support to victims, running helplines, securing funding for assistance services, implementing action plans, drafting legislation… but more can be done,” said PACE General Rapporteur on violence against women José Mendes Bota (Portugal, EPP/CD)...

End sexual violence against girls, say PACE General Rapporteurs

11/10/2012 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

PACE General Rapporteur on Children, Marlene Rupprecht (Germany, SOC), and the PACE General Rapporteur on combating violence against women, José Mendes Bota (Portugal, EPP/CD), today welcomed, in a joint statement, the designation by the United Nations of the International Day of the Girl Child on 11 October of each year with effect from 2012.

Fighting against sexual violence: empowering children

03/10/2012 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

On the occasion of its 9th meeting, the Network of contact parliamentarians of the Council of Europe ONE in FIVE Campaign to stop sexual violence against children considered, with two experts, how to encourage children to protect themselves from sexual abuse. Ms Maury Pasquier, the Chairperson of the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development, stated that “this is a sensitive subject where a balance has to be found between giving children the tools to say “no” when faced with sexual violence, whilst taking care not to give them too much responsibility”.