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PACE calls for a ‘right to food’ in national constitutions

03/10/2024 | Session

The Parliamentary Assembly today urged steps to ensure accessible, sustainable and adequate food for all – including enshrining a “right to food” in national constitutions and giving priority to a coherent legal framework to make food distribution, processing and marketing systems fairer and more...

Steps to prevent violence and discrimination against lesbian, bisexual and queer women

03/10/2024 | Session

PACE has called for a series of measures to combat violence and discrimination against lesbian, bisexual and queer (LBQ) women in Europe, pointing out that these women are now “especially targeted by anti-gender movements” which attempt to silence them or deny them their legitimate place in...

PACE recognises Julian Assange as a ‘political prisoner’ and warns against the chilling effect of his harsh...

02/10/2024 | Session

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has expressed deep concern at “the disproportionately harsh treatment” faced by Julian Assange and said this has had a “dangerous chilling effect” which undermines the protection of journalists and whistleblowers around the world...

PACE waives the immunity of Assembly member Marcin Romanowski

02/10/2024 | Session

Following a request addressed to the President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) by the Public Prosecutor General and Minister of Justice of the Republic of Poland, the Assembly today decided to waive the immunity of PACE member Marcin Romanowski (Poland, EC/DA) “to allow...

CM President Landsbergis: collective effort needed to ensure sustainable peace and respect for human rights

02/10/2024 | Session

“It is time to put even more pressure on Russia and ensure its full accountability for its crimes,” said Gabrielius Landsbergis, President of the Committee of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, when addressing the Parliamentary Assembly. “Only this way will we lay the path...

PACE welcomes reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but highlights ‘insufficient progress’ in areas crucial...

02/10/2024 | Session

PACE today congratulated the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the pace of reforms since 2022, which has allowed the opening of the accession negotiations with the EU in March 2024. However, it remains concerned about “the lack of progress in some areas crucial for the functioning of...

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PACE pledges full support to Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians ‘until the last captive is released’

02/10/2024 | Session

PACE has demanded that prisoners of war and civilians held in Russian captivity be treated in line with international humanitarian law and human rights standards, pledging to “remain involved until the last captive is released”. A total of 65 956 servicemen and civilians have been registered...

PACE recommends a set of measures to clarify the fate of missing migrants

01/10/2024 | Session

PACE expressed today its concern about the phenomenon of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers going missing, “a tragedy largely underestimated as a human rights issue,” believing that policy responses are needed across Europe and the world. It marked its solidarity with the families of the...

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Deteriorating situation of human rights, rule of law and democracy in Azerbaijan

01/10/2024 | Session

"On 24 January, our Assembly resolved not to ratify the credentials of the Azerbaijani delegation. The Assembly was among other things worried about the lack of cooperation in monitoring procedure and lack of invitation to observe the early presidential election of 7 February. It also cited the...

The Secretary General highlights the crucial role of the Council of Europe at the Assembly's autumn plenary...

01/10/2024 | Session

"The combined effects of these wars, along with climate change and the erosion of democracy, present an unprecedented challenge to our societies. A challenge I have tried to describe as the perfect storm. In the face of this challenge, the Council of Europe has already demonstrated its strength...

Current affairs debate on the situation in the Middle-East: escalation of violence and mounting...

01/10/2024 | Session

Opening a current affairs debate on the “Situation in the Middle-East: escalation of violence and mounting humanitarian crisis, particularly in Gaza”, Saskia Kluit (Netherlands, SOC) recalled that PACE has condemned the attacks of Hamas in the strongest words and said that PACE “must call for the...

PACE denounces the human rights situation in Iran and calls for strengthening the protection of Iranians in...

01/10/2024 | Session

The Parliamentary Assembly today expressed its concern about the persecution of human rights defenders in Iran and abroad, in particular in the Council of Europe member States, by the Iranian regime. The resolution, unanimously adopted by PACE on the basis of the report by Max Lucks (Germany, SOC...