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PACE General Rapporteur expresses deep concern over pre-trial detention of Ali Karimli in Azerbaijan
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PACE General Rapporteur expresses deep concern over pre-trial detention of Ali Karimli in Azerbaijan

04/12/2025 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

The General Rapporteur for political prisoners of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Azadeh Rojhan (Sweden, SOC), made the following statement regarding the arrest of Ali Karimli, the Chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, on charges of actions aimed at seizing...

David Lammy MP addresses PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights
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UK Deputy Prime Minister discusses the European Convention on Human Rights with PACE committee in London

04/12/2025 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

The Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary of the United Kingdom David Lammy has underscored the British Government’s commitment to the European Convention on Human Rights during an exchange of views on 1 December with the Legal Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council...

International Day of Persons with Disabilities: ‘Making inclusive societies a political priority’
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International Day of Persons with Disabilities: ‘Making inclusive societies a political priority’

03/12/2025 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

“Throughout Europe, persons with disabilities continue to face persistent barriers and higher risks of poverty. They encounter discrimination and limitations to their participation in all areas of life. The inclusion of persons with disabilities is both a condition for social progress and a human...

PACE committee calls for young people to be equal partners in European democracy

Committee calls for young people to be equal partners in European democracy

03/12/2025 | Culture, Science, Education and Media

The Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media has reaffirmed that the effective participation of young people is “vital for the renewal, resilience and legitimacy of democratic institutions” and stressed that Europe’s future depends on societies “in which young...

Committee calls for ban on conversion practices

Committee calls for ban on conversion practices

03/12/2025 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

The Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, meeting today in Paris, expressed concern that conversion practices persist across Council of Europe member states, often covertly.The report by Kate Osborne (United Kingdom, SOC), adopted unanimously by the committee, emphasises that these...

The Young V&A Museum, United Kingdom, wins the 2026 Council of Europe Museum Prize
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The Young V&A, United Kingdom, wins the 2026 Council of Europe Museum Prize

02/12/2025 | Prizes

The 2026 Council of Europe Museum Prize has been awarded to the Young V&A in the United Kingdom. The museum was selected by the Culture Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting today in Paris. The Young V&A is a branch of the Victoria and Albert Museum, the...

Kyrgyzstan’s parliamentary elections efficiently run but a restrictive campaign environment stifled public engagement, international observers say

Kyrgyzstan’s parliamentary elections efficiently run but a restrictive campaign environment stifled public...

01/12/2025 | Elections

Kyrgyzstan’s early parliamentary elections were efficiently run but the restrictive campaign environment stifled candidate and voter engagement, and while the fundamental freedoms are protected by the constitution, they are increasingly limited in practice and recent changes to the legal...

PACE President presents the fourth 2025 ‘Human Rights in Motion’ Award to Danae Elon’s Rule of Stone (A Lei da Pedra)

PACE President presents the fourth 2025 Human Rights in Motion Award to Danae Elon’s 'Rule of Stone'

01/12/2025 | Prizes

The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Theodoros Rousopoulos, presented the fourth 2025 ‘Human Rights in Motion’ Award at the Porto/Post/Doc Film and Media Festival in Portugal on Sunday 30 November. The international jury selected Rule of Stone (A Lei da Pedra), a...

 PACE rapporteur raises concerns over proposed changes to whistle-blower protections in the Slovak Republic

PACE rapporteur raises concerns over proposed changes to whistle-blower protections in the Slovak Republic

01/12/2025 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

“I am concerned by the legislative proposals that are currently being considered under an expedited procedure in the Slovak parliament, which would affect the protection of whistle-blowers,” said Anna-Kristiina Mikkonen (Finland, SOC), rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of...

Sport in Europe must remain ethical, safe, inclusive, and grounded in human-rights principles, says...

01/12/2025 | Culture, Science, Education and Media

The Parliamentary Alliance for Good Governance and Integrity in Sport of the PACE, chaired by Kim Valentin (Denmark, ALDE), held a hearing on 1 December in Paris, addressing urgent challenges at the intersection of sport, public health, integrity, and human rights. The first session, dedicated to...

PACE launches new toolkit for parliamentary action on missing migrants at Grand National Assembly of Türkiye

PACE launches new toolkit for parliamentary action on missing migrants at Grand National Assembly of Türkiye

28/11/2025 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation

PACE and the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye co-organised a parliamentary roundtable on “The role of public policy to prevent and address disappearances of migrants”. The event, bringing together more than 80 participants, launched the recently published toolkit for parliamentarians on this...

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‘Political polarisation should not stand in the way of respect for the rule of law’ say PACE monitors...

28/11/2025 | Monitoring

“The respect of judicial decisions is a key principle in any democracy. Political polarisation should not stand in the way of respect for the rule of law, the separation of powers and a culture of constructive institutional dialogue,” said Elvira Kovács (Serbia, EPP/CD) and Valentina Grippo...