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PACE approves Draft Protocol No. 15 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental...

26/04/2013 | Session

Strasbourg, 26.04.2013 – Draft Protocol No. 15 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms can be adopted by the Committee of Ministers and opened for signature and ratification as presently drafted, without amendment, according to the Parliamentary Assembly. The...

PACE calls for a permanent body for ethical reflection on scientific issues

26/04/2013 | Session

The increasing complexity of science and technology calls for the creation of a permanent global body for ethical reflection, the Assembly said today. Such structure would make it possible to address ethical issues as a “moving target”, rather than fixing an “ethical code”...

PACE seeks ways to balance the risks and benefits of nanotechnology

26/04/2013 | Session

Nanotechnology – the manipulation of matter on an atomic and molecular scale – and its myriad applications have the potential for enormous benefits, in particular in the field of “nanomedicine”, but can also do serious harm, PACE has pointed out.

The Assembly ratifies the credentials of Andriy Shevchenko

25/04/2013 | Session

The Assembly today decided to deprive Serhiy Vlasenko of his mandate and to ratify the credentials of Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine, EPP/CD). This decision follows the challenge to Mr Shevchenko’s still unratified credentials made last Monday by Pieter Omtzigt (Netherlands, EPP/CD), on procedural grounds...

Syrian refugees: the international community’s duty of solidarity

25/04/2013 | Session

“Fleeing the conflict in Syria, 1.3 million people have found refuge in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt. Given the enormous efforts of these countries to handle this situation, we must remind the international community of its duty of solidarity...", Pietro Marcenaro (Italy, SOC) said ...

Antoni Marti: Andorra's key challenge is to open its economy

25/04/2013 | Session

Antoni Martí, Head of Government of Andorra, today claimed that the most important challenge for his country today is moving towards a more open economy, based on cooperation, transparency and equality.

Coerced sterilisations and castrations: 'never again'

25/04/2013 | Session

“Never again”, Liliane Maury Pasquier (Switzerland, SOC) declared today when presenting her report on coerced sterilisations and castrations to the PACE Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development.

Human rights protection is under strain in Europe, says Commissioner Muižnieks

25/04/2013 | Session

“The picture of the human rights situation which I have observed during country visits, meetings with authorities and discussions with NGO representatives in 2012 is worrying” said today Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights...

The EU needs to assist the countries beyond its eastern borders more to deal with migratory pressures

25/04/2013 | Session

Much more needs to be done in the spirit of international co-operation and burden-sharing by the EU and its member States to assist the countries beyond their eastern borders to deal with migratory pressures, according to PACE.

Council of Europe parliamentarians still concerned about EU border agency’s respect for human rights

25/04/2013 | Session

Although the EU’s border agency FRONTEX has recently taken steps to deal more effectively with its human rights obligations, concerns remain that these may not be enough, the PACE has said in a resolution on the agency adopted today in Strasbourg.

Safeguarding human rights in relation to religion and belief, and protecting religious communities from...

24/04/2013 | Session

Concerned about increasing physical and psychological violence against religious communities throughout the world, the Assembly today called on member States to take account of the situation of these communities in their bilateral political dialogue and to promote in their foreign relations “a policy which takes into consideration the question of the full respect for the fundamental rights of religious minorities”.

PACE calls on national parliaments to deliver policies for culture based on Council of Europe values

24/04/2013 | Session

PACE called on national parliaments to deliver policies for culture “which effectively uphold our common core values” – human rights, democracy and the rule of law. These policies should also ensure adequate access to education and support participation in cultural life, creativity and innovation.