25/01/2012 | Session
In a statement adopted today at its meeting in Strasbourg, PACE's Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy called on the Iraqi authorities to prevent turning Camp Liberty into a prison and calls on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to start its work in Ashraf and end the delay in affirming the refugee status of the residents.
25/01/2012 | Session
British Prime Minister David Cameron told the Assembly today that the 47 countries of the Council of Europe had a "once in a generation" chance to improve the cause of human rights, freedom and dignity. "For the sake of the 800 million people the Court serves, we need to reform it so that it is true to its original purpose," Mr Cameron told the Assembly.
25/01/2012 | Session
Speaking to British Prime Minister David Cameron, who delivered a speech today to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), its President Jean-Claude Mignon stressed that considering the challenges Europe is facing "it is essential to remain united and committed".
25/01/2012 | Session
In her final address as Finnish President to the Parliamentary Assembly, Tarja Halonen announced a meeting next month (9-10 February) in Helsinki of European Presidents – the so-called Arraiolos Group – to combat discrimination. She invited Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland to take part in the meeting.
25/01/2012 | Session
Serbia has made “significant progress” on honouring its obligations and commitments since the Assembly’s last resolution in 2009, according to PACE – but there are four areas where it could do more before the Assembly’s monitoring procedure can be finally closed. Approving a report by Davit Harutyunyan (Armenia, EDG) and Indrek Saar (Estonia, SOC), the parliamentarians congratulated the Serbian authorities on a series of “impressive reforms”.
25/01/2012 | Session
In order to encourage member states to take greater account of patients’ previously expressed wishes, PACE called on them today to sign, ratify and fully implement the Oviedo Convention*, if they have not yet done so, and to apply the recent Committee of Ministers recommendation on principles concerning continuing powers of attorney and advance directives for incapacity.
24/01/2012 | Session
"The Assembly is vital to the functioning of the Council of Europe and to bringing the voices of the 800 million citizens whom we represent to the organisation", UK Minister for Europe David Lidington today said adressing PACE. Reform of the European Court of Human Rights is one of the overarching themes around which the promotion and protection of human rights is built, and a priority for the UK chairmanship of the Council of Europe, he added.
24/01/2012 | Session
On the eve of the 10th anniversary of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession to the Council of Europe, which will be celebrated in April 2012, PACE, meeting in plenary in Strasbourg, has once again called on the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the key political stakeholders to “stop obstructionism and work constructively at the level of state institutions”. “It is time to move from ethnocracy to democracy,” said Karin Woldseth (Norway, EDG) – one of the co-rapporteurs on the subject, with Jean-Claude Mignon (France, EPP/CD) – at the opening of the debate.
24/01/2012 | Session
The Assembly today pointed out that the right of everyone to take part in cultural life presupposes equal and free access for all to a variety of cultural resources. Adopting a text based on the report by Muriel Marland-Militello (France, EPP/CD), the Assembly said that states not only had a responsibility to ensure a wide supply of cultural services but should also act as “an initiator, promoter and regulator of interaction”.
24/01/2012 | Session
"Culture is a compass through which human beings interpret the elements of their life", mentioned Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, while addressing PACE on Tuesday. Former Bulgarian Ambassador to France highlighted the relevance of culture as one of the fundamental human rights, stressing the importance of the co-operation with the Council of Europe.
24/01/2012 | Session
Nils Muižnieks (Latvia) was today elected third Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights by the Organisation’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) at its plenary session in Strasbourg. Mr Muižnieks was elected for a non-renewable term of six years starting on 1 April 2012. Mr Muižnieks obtained 120 of the votes cast in the first round, an absolute majority. Frans Timmermans (Netherlands) obtained 92 votes and Pierre-Yves Monette (Belgium) 27.
24/01/2012 | Session
The European Court of Human Rights should be “subsidiary” to national authorities – governments, courts and parliaments – who must play the fundamental role in guaranteeing and protecting human rights across Europe, according to PACE. In a resolution unanimously adopted on the eve of a major address to the Assembly by British Prime Minister David Cameron on reform of the Court, the Assembly said priority should be given to difficulties encountered in states which do not appropriately implement Convention standards.