16/09/2012 | President
"We follow with great concern the violent protests that have flared up across the Middle East, triggered by the circulation of an Islamophobic film, and we wish to support and spread Pope Benedict XVI’s call for renewed Muslim-Christian co-operation in the Middle East; we underline that all religions can live together without hatred, respecting the beliefs of each, to build together a free and humane society," said Jean-Claude Mignon, PACE President, and his predecessor Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, former PACE President and member of the Turkish delegation to PACE.
14/09/2012 | Political Affairs and Democracy
“The perception of a decline in democratic values triggered by the economic and financial crisis is growing in Europe and beyond. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has for some time been sounding the alarm, pointing to the diminishing trust of citizens in democratic institutions and political leadership, low electoral turnouts and increasing popular support for, xenophobic and populist parties. With the gap between citizens and their democratic institutions widening, the Assembly hails this year’s Day of Democracy focus on dialogue and inclusiveness as central factors for democracy”.
14/09/2012 | Election observation
A seven-member PACE delegation, headed by Andreas Gross (Switzerland, SOC), will carry out a pre-electoral mission to Kyiv on 20 and 21 September 2012. The delegation aims to assess the electoral framework and campaign ahead of the parliamentary elections in Ukraine on 28 October 2012.
14/09/2012 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
Undocumented migrant children are, first and foremost, children, the PACE Migration Committee recalled at a hearing on the detention of unaccompanied and accompanied undocumented children organised in Paris on 14 September. It underlined that the best interests of the child must be a primary consideration in any action taken in relation to the child and the child’s family.
13/09/2012 | Political Affairs and Democracy
“A right balance has to be struck between national interests and respect for human rights in Council of Europe member States’ foreign policies”, PACE Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy said today during its meeting in Helsinki. When foreign policy “neglects human rights for too long” and focuses solely on strategic economic and geo-political interests – it added - “human rights crises may erupt and “humanitarian interventions” become urgent and moral necessities”.
12/09/2012 | Equality and Non-Discrimination
PACE Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination will meet in Tirana on 13-14 September 2012 with on its order of business – Thursday 13 – an exchange of views with the Albanian authorities focusing on anti-discrimination law and policy; gender equality; trafficking in human beings; the situation of Roma and national minorities; prenatal sex selection; discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.
12/09/2012 | President
“I am shocked and saddened to learn of the violent deaths of the US Ambassador in Libya and three of his colleagues,” said PACE President Jean-Claude Mignon. “Whatever the reasons, this is an unjustifiable attack on diplomats who were trying to help Libyans to build better lives. I would like to extend my wholehearted sympathies to the families of the victims, as well as the American authorities and people,” he said.
12/09/2012 | Election observation
The forthcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia, on 1 October 2012, are crucial for Georgia’s democratic development and will be a litmus test to confirm the country’s commitment to democratic values and principles, said PACE pre-electoral delegation that visited Tbilisi on 11 and 12 September 2012. It welcomed the competitive and pluralist election environment, which will give the voter a real choice between distinct alternatives on election day. However, the delegation expressed its serious concern about the increasing polarisation and antagonism in the pre-electoral environment, which is overshadowing the election campaign.
11/09/2012 | Political Affairs and Democracy
In a draft resolution “For more democratic elections” adopted today in Helsinki, PACE Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy observes that election-related violations persist in several member States – opacity of election campaign funding, misuse of administrative resources, pressure and intimidation brought to bear on candidates and voters, unequal access to the media, the electoral administration’s lack of independence, neutrality and impartiality, restrictions on the right to vote and to stand for election, vote buying, ballot box stuffing, and ineffective complaints procedures.
11/09/2012 | Political Affairs and Democracy
“The Council of Europe has contributed to the stability and security of our continent in a remarkable way notably through the prevention of conflicts and their aftercare. Today’s human rights violations are often the cause of tomorrow’s conflicts. Thus respect for human rights is a powerful instrument in conflict prevention”, Former President of Finland Tarja Halonen said today addressing in Helsinki PACE’s Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy.
11/09/2012 | Political Affairs and Democracy
“The right balance has to be struck between national interests and respect for human rights in Council of Europe member States’ foreign policies”, PACE Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy said today during its meeting in Helsinki. When foreign policy “neglects human rights for too long” and focuses solely on strategic economic and geo-political interests – it added - “human rights crises may erupt and “humanitarian interventions” become urgent and moral necessities”.
11/09/2012 | President
“I warmly welcome today’s European Parliament resolution on the illegal detention of prisoners in European countries by the CIA,” said Jean-Claude Mignon, PACE President. “It is now more than five years since Senator Dick Marty first presented to PACE credible evidence of secret CIA prisons in Poland and Romania, and the involvement of other European countries in illegal renditions...