07/04/2020 | Political Affairs and Democracy
“Although Artificial Intelligence (AI) may prove a useful ally in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, we should not forget that its use may raise serious human rights concerns that can undermine the trust placed in governments,” said Deborah Bergamini.
07/04/2020 | Equality and Non-Discrimination
“It is essential that access to family planning is guaranteed even during the COVID-19 crisis, which is putting sexual and reproductive health and rights at risk,” said Petra Bayr, Chairperson of PACE’s Committee on Equality and Non-discrimination.
03/04/2020 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
Pierre-Alain Fridez has welcomed yesterday's ruling by the European Court of Justice that Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, by refusing to comply with the temporary mechanism for the relocation of applicants for international protection in 2015, “failed to fulfil their obligations under EU law”.
03/04/2020 | Parliamentary support
The head of PACE’s Sub-Committee on Diasporas has urged European governments to make it easier for diasporas to send money home to their countries of origin during the COVID-19 crisis. Killion Munyama (Poland, EPP/CD), who is also Co-ordinator of PACE’s Parliamentary Network on Diaspora Policies...
03/04/2020 | Monitoring
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and an expected sanitary crisis in Turkish detention centres, co-rapporteurs Thomas Hammarberg and John Howell have urged the Turkish authorities to ensure that any early or conditional release of prisoners is non-discriminatory and does not exclude prisoners detained on political grounds.
02/04/2020 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights
Boriss Cilevics, has called on Spain and Turkey to include imprisoned politicians in early releases prompted by the threat posed by the Coronavirus in overcrowded prisons.
02/04/2020 | Secretary General of the Assembly
PACE Secretary General Wojciech Sawicki held a video-conference call on 27 March with his counterparts from the OSCE-PA, Roberto Montella, and the NATO-PA, Ruxandra Popa, during which they discussed common challenges facing the three organisations as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
01/04/2020 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
“European citizens are on their balconies and at their windows every evening to pay tribute to health workers, but Europe should not be content with applause and thanks,” said Luís Leite Ramos, Chair of the Committee on Social Affairs.
31/03/2020 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights
Frank Schwabe, Rapporteur on 'the continuing need to restore human rights and the rule of law in the North Caucasus', has called on Ramzan Kadyrov to withdraw his call for anyone found breaking coronavirus quarantine to be killed.
30/03/2020 | Monitoring
The co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Georgia, Titus Corlatean and Claude Kern, have made the following statement regarding the so-called ‘repeat presidential elections’ in the Georgian region of Abkhazia:
27/03/2020 | Equality and Non-Discrimination
“Throughout Europe, there are Roma and Travellers living in desperately inadequate and often in a situation of severe overcrowding. Instead of seeking additional ways to protect them, some politicians have actively fuelled anti-Gypsyism,” said František Kopřiva.
27/03/2020 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
“Thousands of migrant children are kept behind bars all over the world, particularly in the context of administrative detention. During the global COVID-19 pandemic these children face worse threats to their health and safety,” said Rósa Björk Brynjólfsdóttir.