13/09/2024 | Equality and Non-Discrimination
The Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, meeting on 12 September in Paris, has expressed its concern that sex workers continue to face stigmatisation, are vulnerable to violence and abuse, and face discrimination in access to education, employment, health, housing, justice and protection...
13/09/2024 | Monitoring
In an information note declassified by the Monitoring Committee on 11 September, the co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of the Republic of Moldova, Pierre-Alain Fridez (Switzerland, SOC) and Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica (Latvia, EPP/CD), expressed their concern at “the exponential increase in attempts...
13/09/2024 | Monitoring
PACE’s Monitoring Committee has congratulated the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the pace of reforms since 2022 – but said it remains concerned about “the lack of, or insufficient, progress in some areas crucial for the functioning of democratic institutions”. Approving a draft...
13/09/2024 | Equality and Non-Discrimination
PACE’s Equality Committee has called for a series of measures to combat violence and discrimination against lesbian, bisexual and queer (LBQ) women in Europe, pointing out that these women are now “especially targeted by anti-gender movements” which attempt to silence them or deny them their...
12/09/2024 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights
PACE’s Legal Affairs Committee has warmly welcomed the release of Julian Assange but expressed deep concern at “the disproportionately harsh treatment” he faced, and called on the US to investigate the alleged war crimes and human rights violations disclosed by him and Wikileaks. Approving a...
10/09/2024 | Political Affairs and Democracy
The Political Affairs Committee, meeting on 9 September in Paris, expressed its concern about the persecution of human rights defenders in Iran and abroad by the Iranian regime. The report by Max Lucks (Germany, SOC), adopted by the committee, underlines that many Iranians in exile in Europe, and...
05/09/2024 | President
PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos has welcomed the opening for signature of the new Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, which he hailed as “a major step forward” and a springboard for ongoing discussion about the...
04/09/2024 | President
In a statement, PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos has reacted to recent missile strikes in Ukraine, and again urged the speedy creation of a special tribunal to try Russia’s political and military leadership for the crime of aggression. “In recent days and nights, indiscriminate Russian...
29/08/2024 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
On the eve of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances (30 August), Julian Pahlke (Germany, SOC), Rapporteur on “Missing migrants, refugees and asylum seekers: a call to clarify their fate”, called on governments and parliamentarians to legislate and reinforce co-operation...
27/08/2024 | Prizes
The selection panel of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, which rewards outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights in Europe and beyond, has today announced the shortlist for the 2024 Award. Meeting in Prague, the panel – made up of independent figures from the world of human...
26/08/2024 | Secretary General of the Assembly
PACE Secretary General Despina Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis has hailed the athletes who will “simply be wowing us” at the forthcoming Paralympic Games, helping to create societal change, during a ceremony to welcome the passage of the Paralympic Torch through the Council of Europe on its way to Paris...
26/08/2024 | President
PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos has reacted to the announcement by the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan that certain members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will be considered as personae non gratae in the country. “This is a more than regrettable signal which...