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Children and Covid-19
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Put an end to child labour

11/06/2021 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

“Child labour is not a thing of the past, but a reality for millions of children. Child labour harms children’s health, development, and education. It deprives children of their childhood and of equal opportunities in future life. On the eve of the World Day Against Child Labour (12 June) we call...

Addressing sexual violence against children
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Middle East crisis: ‘All children must be protected in accordance with international standards’, says...

20/05/2021 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

The Social Affairs Committee, meeting by videoconference, expressed deep shock at the loss of human life and disrespect for humanitarian law in the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, in particular with regard to children. “Children have fallen victim to killings, injuries, destruction...

Children masked during Covid-19
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Helping the children of ‘Generation Covid’ to overcome the devastating impact of the pandemic

20/05/2021 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

The impact of Covid-19 pandemic on children has been devastating, according to a PACE committee, and “Generation Covid” – as they are sometimes referred to – will face the consequences for many years to come, unless European governments take adequate measures. Unanimously approving a report today...

Covid-19 - Woman
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Measures to combat the socio-economic crisis sparked by the Covid-19 pandemic

20/05/2021 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

The Social Affairs Committee today expressed its deep concern about the situation of the vulnerable population that has been harshly affected by the socio-economic crisis sparked by the pandemic. “The recession caused by the Covid-19 has resulted in deep shortfalls in resources for enterprises...

Jennifer De Temmerman (France, ALDE)
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Rapporteur supports lifting Covid-19 vaccine patents

07/05/2021 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

On Thursday 6 May, the Biden Administration expressed its support for the lifting of patents protecting the production of Covid-19 vaccines. “This is an act of true leadership which at last meets the expectations of countries severely affected by the pandemic, humanity’s worst health crisis in a...

Khmelnytskyi (Ukraine)

2021 Europe Prize awarded to Khmelnytskyi (Ukraine)

15/04/2021 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

The 2021 Europe Prize – the highest level of the Prize which is awarded each year by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to the town most active in promoting the European ideal – has been awarded to Khmelnytskyi in Ukraine. Khmelnytskyi is a city of 290 000 inhabitants...

Children in Syria
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Committee calls for urgent repatriation of children from conflict zones

16/03/2021 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

More than a year after the adoption of Resolution 2321 (2020) and Recommendation 2169 (2020) on “International obligations concerning the repatriation of children from war and conflict zones”, the Social Affairs Committee is deeply concerned about the plight of children in Syria whose parents...

Climate change
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Developing ‘climate resilience’ in the face of global warming through the rule of law

16/03/2021 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

The Council of Europe must help develop “climate resilience” to deal with global warming by promoting the rule of law – meaning the supremacy of law, equality before the law, accountability to the law, separation of powers, participation in decision making, and transparency, according to the...

Deinstitutionalisation of people with disabilities

‘Would you call this home?’ – hearing on the deinstitutionalisation of people with disabilities

16/03/2021 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

High-level officials from the United Nations, European Union, World Health Organisation and Council of Europe came together for a parliamentary hearing on the deinstitutionalisation of people with disabilities, focusing also on the emerging consensus on how to end coercion in mental health, and...

Deinstitutionalisation of people with disabilities

Public hearing on the deinstitutionalisation of people with disabilities

15/03/2021 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

A PACE public hearing on the deinstitutionalisation of persons with disabilities is to be streamed live at 2 p.m. CET on Tuesday 16 March. Organised by the Assembly’s Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development, the hearing will bring together a series of high-level officials...

Vaccine / COVID

How to overcome vaccine hesitancy?

04/02/2021 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

The PACE Sub-Committee on Public Health and Sustainable Development held a public hearing on Tuesday 9 February by videoconference on “Overcoming vaccine hesitancy: strategies for parliaments and parliamentarians”, as part of a report being prepared by Vladimir Kruglyi (Russian Federation, NR...

Climate change
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Elected representatives have a key role to play in the fight against climate change

19/01/2021 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

“Elected officials are fully responsible for building climate resilience: we are in the same fight as young people. It is up to us to take the right decisions today,” said Jennifer De Temmerman (France, ALDE), at a round table on “Representative democracy against climate crisis”, organised by...