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.
18/02/2011 | Culture, Science, Education and Media
“Cultural and religious diversity has become a source of anxiety, fear and tension in Europe, and even more outside the continent. Divisions have sprung up, which seem to have been exacerbated, amongst other things, by the different visions of society offered by each religion.
17/02/2011 | Equality and Non-Discrimination
The ongoing democratisation process in Egypt and Tunisia is a precious opportunity to strengthen gender equality and enhance the status of women, PACE’s Committee on Equal Opportunities has said. “Without equality between women and men, and their balanced participation in all aspects of life, including politics, it is not possible to establish sound foundations for a democracy,” the committee said in a statement adopted today during a meeting in Paris.
17/02/2011 | Equality and Non-Discrimination
At its meeting of 17 February 2011 the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men unanimously adopted an opinion on the draft Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
17/02/2011 | Equality and Non-Discrimination
At its meeting of 17 February 2011 the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men unanimously adopted an opinion on the draft Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
16/02/2011 | Equality and Non-Discrimination
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany has made a voluntary contribution of close to 100 000 Euros to the Parliamentary Assembly to be devoted to the parliamentary dimension of the Council of Europe “One in Five” campaign to stop sexual violence against children. The main objectives of this year’s parliamentary campaign activities are to raise awareness of the issues surrounding sexual abuse and exploitation of children in Council of Europe member states and to promote relevant legislative and political action to combat these crimes and help the victims.
16/02/2011 | Culture, Science, Education and Media
PACE Committee on Culture, Science and Education is to hold a hearing in Paris on 18 February on the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue, in the context of preparation of a report on this subject by Anne Brasseur (Luxembourg, ALDE). This hearing is being held to consider in greater detail monotheist religions' contribution to the promotion and protection of the Council of Europe's fundamental values and to the development of a society which is both cohesive and plural.
14/02/2011 | President
The Republic of Tatarstan (Russian Federation) can serve as an example of tolerance and peaceful and prosperous coexistence of cultures and religions for the whole region, said PACE President Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, speaking at the end of a two-day visit to the Republic’s capital Kazan (11-12 February 2011). He expressed his appreciation to the President of the Republic and its leadership for their efforts to develop and preserve the cultures and traditions of about 115 nationalities and ethnic groups.
14/02/2011 | President
PACE President Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has expressed concern at the arrival by sea of thousands of Tunisians on the island of Lampedusa in Italy. “History has a tendency to repeat itself on Lampedusa. The authorities must handle these arrivals with the necessary care, as those in need of protection must receive it. Notwithstanding the need for action, there must be no mass expulsion,” he said.
11/02/2011 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights
Following yesterday’s vote in the House of Commons on prisoners’ voting rights, Christos Pourgourides (Cyprus, EPP/CD), Chair of the PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, made the following statement: “I am deeply disappointed by last night’s vote, in defiance of the ruling by the European Court of Human Rights on prisoner voting."
11/02/2011 | President
The role of NG0s is indispensable in promoting intercultural and inter-religious dialogue, declared PACE President Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, speaking during a meeting with the “Dialogue Eurasia Platform” held today in Moscow. He expressed appreciation and support for the activities of this major non-governmental organisation, which promotes tolerance and peaceful co-operation among nations and different ethnic groups in the Euro-Asian space.