28/02/2011 | Equality and Non-Discrimination
“As parliamentarians, we are more than motivated to fight the atrocious phenomenon of sexual child abuse. In the framework of the Council of Europe campaign, we will co-operate with our national governments, with NGOs and with any other partner who needs our support,” Maria Stavrositu (Romania, EPP/CD) today said in New York, speaking at a side-event on the Council of Europe campaign to stop sexual violence against children, organised on the occasion of the meeting of the UN Committee on the Status of Women.
25/02/2011 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
The PACE Environment Committee warned this morning that the risks linked to GMOs in the farming and food sector are numerous and serious and called for the technology to be used responsibly. The draft resolution adopted on the basis of proposals by the rapporteur, Jean-François Le Grand (France, EPP/CD), underlines that many uncertainties remain as to the consequences of the horizontal transfer, by viruses, of genetic materials from GM crops.
25/02/2011 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
While underlining that climate change compounds the problem of malnutrition in the world’s most arid regions, the Environment Committee drew attention to the fact that water shortages also led to acts of violence and conflicts “which may threaten a state’s political and social stability”.
25/02/2011 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
Even if exposure to electromagnetic fields should not be harmful, vigilance must be maintained and scientific research on the subject must continue. In short, there is an essential need to respect the precautionary principle, to reinforce prevention measures, to hold a debate involving all those concerned and to provide serious information. This was the starting point proposed by Jean Huss (Luxembourg, SOC) at the opening of a hearing held this morning in Paris,with a view to preparing a report on the question.
25/02/2011 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Luca Volontè (Italy, EPP/CD), rapporteur on the request from the Parliament of Morocco for partner for democracy status with PACE, will make a fact-finding visit to Rabat from 1 to 3 March. Talks are scheduled with the Speaker of the House of Councillors, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the chairmen of political groups, as well as with parliamentarians in charge of relations with the Council of Europe.
25/02/2011 | President
Some teachers are reinforcing gender stereotypes in their pupils by failing to give boys and girls access to the full range of learning experiences they are entitled to, PACE President Mevlut Cavusoglu told a seminar in New York today. Giving the keynote speech at a conference being held by the Council of Europe and Turkey’s Permanent Representation to the UN on the theme Combating Gender Stereotypes in Education, the President said: “Boys and girls are different. But this does not mean that they should not have the same opportunities to develop their full potential.”
25/02/2011 | President
PACE President Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has strongly condemned the indiscriminate and excessive use of force by the authorities in Libya, and demanded that the human rights of everyone in the country be fully respected. Following meetings in New York with the UN Representatives of several Council of Europe member and observer states, the President said the current situation in the country was deeply disturbing.
23/02/2011 | Monitoring
“In spite of some progress, reforms in many areas are still outstanding,” said Anne Brasseur (Luxembourg, ALDE) following her post-monitoring visit to the Principality of Monaco on 21 and 22 February 2011. “I was pleased to note the major progress made in the areas of justice and of combating money-laundering. However, the reform of the judiciary and the revision of the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure still have to follow," she said.
23/02/2011 | President
Non-sexist teaching, gender balance among teachers and state funding of schools, are among concrete measures needed to promote better education and training for girls, according to PACE President Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.
18/02/2011 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
PACE Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs will hold hearings on the dangers of electromagnetic fields as well as on the need for independent and credible assessments, on 25 February in Paris. These hearings will be held as part of the preparations for reports on these two subjects by Jean Huss (Luxembourg, SOC) and Cezar Florin Preda (Romania, EPP/CD).
18/02/2011 | Monitoring
Anne Brasseur (Luxembourg, ALDE), PACE Rapporteur for post-monitoring dialogue with Monaco, will be visiting the Principality on 21 and 22 February on a fact-finding mission. Meetings are scheduled with the Head of State HSH Prince Albert II, the President of the National Council Jean-François Robillon, the Minister of State and head of government H.E. Michel Roger, the Government Minister for External Relations José Badia, the Government Minister for the Interior Paul Masseron, and the Government Minister for Health and Social Affairs Stéphane Valeri.
18/02/2011 | President
PACE stands ready to support democratic transformation in Tunisia, PACE President Mevlüt Cavuşoğlu has told a group of students in London. Addressing students from the London School of Economics, the President recalled the Assembly’s offer of “Partnership for democracy” status for Tunisia’s parliament, which would allow a delegation of its members to take part in Assembly debates, provided the conditions were met.