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Investing in leadership for persons with disabilities

02/12/2024 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

“Positions of leadership must be open and accessible to persons with disabilities at political, economic and societal level. This is essential to securing sustainable change,” said Mariia Mezentseva-Fedorenko, Chairperson of the PACE Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, in a statement on...

Conference on violence and discrimination against LBQ women in Europe, and action to protect their rights

28/11/2024 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

A conference organised by the Parliamentary Platform for the rights of LGBTI people of the Parliamentary Assembly, in collaboration with the SOGIESC Unit of the Council of Europe, will examine the violence and discrimination suffered by LBQ women in Europe, due to factors such as racial or ethnic...

PACE President and General Rapporteur on Violence against Women: more needs to be done to prevent this...

25/11/2024 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

“Violence against women and girls continues to rise, online and offline. One of the most prevalent and serious human rights violations across Europe and beyond, it is deeply rooted in gender stereotypes and patriarchal beliefs. Women’s human rights are under attack in many places and are always...

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‘Transgender persons must have the legal protection and support they need to live free from fear and violence’

20/11/2024 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

“Across the world, transgender persons face violence, discrimination, stigma and marginalisation. Today we honour the memory and lives of transgender persons who are victims of transphobic crimes,” said Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo (Monaco, ALDE), General Rapporteur on the rights of LGBTI people, on the...

Intersex awareness / Day

Protecting the rights of intersex persons: consent and bodily autonomy must guide all decisions

25/10/2024 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

On the eve of the Intersex awareness day (26 October), PACE General Rapporteur on the rights of LGBTI people Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo (Monaco, ALDE) made the following statement: “The rights of intersex persons are not yet fully protected in Europe. They are frequently left out from policy-making...

ageism
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Combatting ageism: human rights should not be denied or limited with age

01/10/2024 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

“Human rights should not be denied or limited with age”, said Andrea Eder-Gitschthaler, (Austria, EPP/CD) on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons (1 October). Ms Eder-Gitschthaler, rapporteur on “Overcoming age-based discrimination against older persons”, underlines that access...

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Protecting the rights of sex workers and improving their life conditions

13/09/2024 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

The Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, meeting on 12 September in Paris, has expressed its concern that sex workers continue to face stigmatisation, are vulnerable to violence and abuse, and face discrimination in access to education, employment, health, housing, justice and protection...

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PACE committee urges steps to prevent violence and discrimination against lesbian, bisexual and queer women

13/09/2024 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

PACE’s Equality Committee 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...

‘It is the duty of European societies to prevent history from repeating itself, by countering anti-Gypsyism’

01/08/2024 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

Fourat Ben Chikha (Belgium, SOC), PACE General Rapporteur on combating racism and intolerance, made the following statement on the eve of the European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day: “This year’s commemoration of European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day marks the 80th anniversary of that tragic night of...

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‘We must all act together against hate speech’ says General Rapporteur

18/06/2024 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

“In July 2021 the UN General Assembly proclaimed 18 June as the International Day for Countering Hate Speech and called on all relevant actors to increase their efforts to oppose hate speech, in line with international human rights law and principles,” said Fourat Ben Chikha (Belgium, SOC), PACE...

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
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Make equal rights, freedom and justice for all a political priority

17/05/2024 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

“There is an urgent need to act to guarantee equal rights, freedom and justice for all,” stressed Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo (Monaco, ALDE), PACE General Rapporteur on the rights of LGBTI people, on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (17 May). “Despite significant...

Protection of women human rights defenders
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Committee calls for better protection of women human rights defenders

23/04/2024 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

In adopting the report by Petra Bayr (Austria, SOC) on 16 April, the Committee on Equality strongly condemned the frequent attacks perpetrated against women human rights defenders, and called for an end to impunity for perpetrators of violence. The report emphasises that women human rights...