31/01/2025 | Session
Debates on the humanitarian crisis concerning women, children and the hostages in Gaza; and on the need for a renewed rules-based international order - with a statement by Marko Bošnjak, President of the European Court of Human Rights - were among the highlights of the winter plenary session of...
31/01/2025 | Session
PACE has urged member States to take concrete measures to combat age-based discrimination against older persons, emphasising that human rights should not diminish with age. Recognising that ageism is deeply rooted in society and affects all aspects of life—including access to healthcare...
31/01/2025 | Session
The Parliamentary Assembly deplores that the millions of patients with “long Covid” – a chronic disease that can be massively disabling – 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 identified to...
31/01/2025 | Session
PACE this afternoon held a “free debate” on current issues not included in the session agenda. Members can speak on any issue which falls within the Assembly’s mandate. Eleven parliamentarians took the floor.
30/01/2025 | Session
PACE has warmly welcomed the draft Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer, pointing out that lawyers play a key role in administering justice and ensuring public confidence in the law. Approving an opinion based on a report by Vladimir Vardanyan (Armenia, EPP...
30/01/2025 | Session
“The so-called elections organised in Belarus on 26 January 2025 do not meet the minimum international standards for democratic elections and lack any democratic credibility, and there are no grounds for recognising the legitimacy of Aliaksandr Lukashenka as president,” the PACE said today at the...
30/01/2025 | Session
Despite progress, women still face economic inequalities, which have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic consequences of conflicts. These global challenges have shown the fragility of progress towards gender equality and “how much remains to be done.” Adopting a resolution...
30/01/2025 | Session
At a critical juncture in a rapidly evolving geopolitical environment, Europe must show unwavering commitment and unity to support a “just and lasting” peace in Ukraine, PACE has said. Approving a resolution based on a report by Miapetra Kumpula-Natri (Finland, SOC), the Assembly said that any...
30/01/2025 | Session
PACE today called on member states to review their legislation to better safeguard the right to freedom of expression on social media. According to the resolution adopted, based on the report by Valentina Grippo (Italy, ALDE), states should in particular “require that social media uphold users...
29/01/2025 | Session
At a ceremony to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp, which took place in Strasbourg as part of the winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Chief Rabbi Israel Meir Lau – President of the Yad Vashem Memorial...
29/01/2025 | Session
“History education should be a key part of human rights education and a foundation for young people to develop democratic citizenship,” the Assembly said today. However, “delivering quality history education in schools can be very challenging due to overloaded curricula, traditional teaching...
29/01/2025 | Session
In his speech before the Parliamentary Assembly, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Luc Frieden, stressed the importance of an approach based on the rule of law and multilateral co-operation to promote peace, common development and respect for human rights. He also warned about the current threats...