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Journalists matter: PACE calls for immediate release of Ukrainian journalists held by Russia

PACE rapporteur joins calls for Venice Biennale not to allow Russian participation

16/03/2026 | Culture, Science, Education and Media

Yevheniia Kravchuk (Ukraine, ALDE), PACE Rapporteur on “Countering the erasure of cultural identity in times of war and peace”, made the following statement today: “I am deeply concerned by the possibility of Russia reopening its pavilion at the Venice Biennale while its war of aggression against...
Sixth PACE Human Rights in Motion Award goes to 'Birds of War' by Janay Boulos and Abd Alkader Habak

Sixth PACE Human Rights in Motion Award goes to 'Birds of War' by Janay Boulos and Abd Alkader Habak

16/03/2026 | Prizes

The former President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Theodoros Rousopoulos, presented the sixth ‘Human Rights in Motion’ Award at the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival. The international jury selected Birds of War, a documentary by the Lebanese journalist...

Standing against exclusion: promoting respect and inclusion for Muslims in our societies

13/03/2026 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

Ahead of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia (15 March), Francesco Verducci (Italy, SOC), PACE General Rapporteur for combating racism and intolerance, made the following statement: “Prejudice against Muslim people remains a persistent challenge in our societies. Islamophobia often...
PACE President Petra Bayr at the UN in New York: ‘The backlash against women's rights is real, but it is not inevitable’

PACE President Petra Bayr at the UN in New York: ‘The backlash against women's rights is real, but it is...

13/03/2026 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

"The backlash against women's rights is real, but it is not inevitable. It can be resisted, and it can be reversed, if we act together," said PACE President Petra Bayr at the opening of a side-event on the margins of the 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York...
PACE committee supports content creators against AI companies
©Campaign: Make It Fair - Don't let AI steal our music

PACE committee supports content creators against AI companies

13/03/2026 | Culture, Science, Education and Media

A PACE committee is calling for a balanced regulation of artificial intelligence that empowers the creative sector and protects citizens and democracy at large. Approving a draft resolution based on a report by Mogens Jensen (Denmark, SOC), PACE’s Culture Committee said that current copyright...
PACE President meets the UN Secretary General in New York

PACE President ends New York visit with an appeal for the election of a woman to the UN’s top job

13/03/2026 | President

PACE President Petra Bayr has concluded a visit to the UN in New York by expressing strong support for the election of a woman as the next Secretary General of the UN. The President was participating in the 70th session of the Commission for the Status of Women (CSW70), dedicated this year to the...
Violence against politicians: PACE committee calls for urgent action to defend democracy

Violence against politicians: PACE committee calls for urgent action to defend democracy

10/03/2026 | Political Affairs and Democracy

PACE’s Political Affairs Committee is warning that violence and hate speech against politicians are a growing threat to democracy, urging greater protection for “those who decide to dedicate their time and efforts to public life”. In a draft resolution prepared by Elisabetta Gardini (Italy, ECPA...
PACE President meets the UN Secretary General in New York

PACE President meets the UN Secretary General in New York

10/03/2026 | President

PACE President Petra Bayr, in New York to attend the UN Commission on the Status of Women, met UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres yesterday for an exchange with him on key issues facing both organisations. “The UN and PACE share the same objectives and concerns: consolidating the rules-based...
On Women's Day, PACE Secretary General recognises the role of young people as a driving force for equality

On Women's Day, PACE Secretary General recognises the role of young people as a driving force for equality

08/03/2026 | Secretary General of the Assembly

Opening a public speaking competition for young people hosted by the National Council of Monaco to mark International Women’s Day, Despina Chatzivassiliou, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly, recognised the important role played by young people in promoting equality, and emphasised...
International Women's day, March 8

The Assembly remains fully committed to achieving gender equality in Europe and beyond, against growing...

06/03/2026 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

PACE President Petra Bayr and the Chairperson of the PACE Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo (Monaco, ALDE), made the following joint statement on the eve of International Women’s Day 2026:“On the occasion of International Women’s Day, we join the United Nations...
Following Taliban legal changes, PACE rapporteur calls for the protection of the rights of Afghan women

Following Taliban legal changes, PACE rapporteur calls for the protection of the rights of Afghan women

03/03/2026 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

Maria Syrengela (Greece, EPP/CD), PACE’s rapporteur on “The deterioration of women’s rights in Afghanistan: the need for a global response”, made the following statement today: “A new criminal procedure code adopted by the Taliban, recently put into effect in Afghanistan, legalises violence by...
PACE rapporteur urges Israel to lift the ban on NGO access to the Palestinian territories

PACE rapporteur urges Israel to lift the ban on NGO access to the Palestinian territories

02/03/2026 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

Joseph O’Reilly (Ireland, EPP/CD), PACE General Rapporteur on the situation of women and children in the Palestinian territories, made the following statement today: “The decision by the Israeli government to ban 37 reliable international NGOs – including Oxfam, the Norwegian Refugee Council...