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Anne Brasseur expresses concern over move to amend the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic

25/06/2015 | President

Anne Brasseur expressed her concern over draft amendments to the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic, which would endanger key democratic principles as had been revealed by the Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR in their recent joint opinion.

PACE condemns ‘human rights crackdown’ in Azerbaijan, calls for end to repression of government critics

24/06/2015 | Session

PACE has condemned what it called “the crackdown on human rights in Azerbaijan” and called for an end to the “systemic repression” of human rights defenders, the media and those critical of the government.

Mladen Ivanic: joining the EU ‘is the only hope for Bosnia and Herzegovina’

24/06/2015 | Session

Joining the European Union “is the only hope for our country”, said Mladen Ivanic, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, speaking today in an address to the Parliamentary Assembly.

PACE maintains sanctions against Russian delegation, but leaves door open to dialogue

24/06/2015 | Session

PACE – while keeping in place all sanctions against the Russian delegation – has decided not to annul the delegation’s credentials at this time, “as a signal of its commitment to an open and constructive dialogue”.

Situation in Hungary: PACE sees outstanding issues to resolve but ends ‘special examination’

24/06/2015 | Session

Two years after it raised in a resolution concerns about recent laws in Hungary, the Assembly today resolved to end its “special examination” of the country while urging continued dialogue with the Council of Europe.

Increasing transparency of media ownership

24/06/2015 | Session

The Assembly has asked the member States to review their legislation to ensure transparency of media ownership, so that the public has access to information, notably about the ownership and management structures of media.

Call for media to sign up to codes of ethics

24/06/2015 | Session

In a rapidly changing media environment, the Assembly has urged the media to establish corporate codes of ethics and ombudspersons for complaints or other reactions by their readers and listeners regarding compliance with those codes.

Ban Ki-moon calls for mobilisation against violent extremism

23/06/2015 | Session

In his address to PACE, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon assured Europe of UN support in combating violent extremism and the rise of antisemitism, anti-muslim attacks and related forms of discrimination.

Let Snowden return to US and plead ‘public interest’, says PACE

23/06/2015 | Session

The United States should allow whistle-blower Edward Snowden to return home and defend his actions on the grounds of "public interest", according to PACE. The law he has been accused under does not permit this.

Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni re-elected Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe

23/06/2015 | Session

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe today re-elected Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni (Italy) as Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe. It is her second mandate in this post.

Committee advocates freedom of religion “without impediment and without discrimination”

23/06/2015 | Culture, Science, Education and Media

The committee expressed its concern over the tensions and xenophobic attitudes aroused in Europe by the development of many churches and religious organisations and by certain religious practices.

Preventing Islamophobia while combating radicalisation of young people

23/06/2015 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

There have been waves of young people from countries of Western Europe becoming fighters in various conflicts in the last decades, Professor Tahir Abbas of the Fatih University of Istanbul explained at a meeting.