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Right to a healthy environment
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Committee proposes draft of a new protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights on the right to a...

09/09/2021 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

PACE’s Social Affairs Committee is urging an ambitious new legal framework, both at national and European level, to “anchor the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment” – and has presented a draft of an additional protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights which would...

Socio-economic inequalities in Europe and social rights
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Socio-economic inequalities in Europe: restoring social trust by strengthening social rights

09/09/2021 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

Europe’s prosperity has been seemingly growing for decades but disparities have kept widening between and within countries. These inequalities not only negatively affect individuals and communities, but “also restrain overall economic development, undermine social justice, and hurt the...

Children meeting

Young people speak out on what they expect from policy makers in terms of concrete action on the climate...

25/06/2021 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

“The climate emergency has awakened consciences across the world, thanks to the perseverance of scientists and their words, but also and above all thanks to the action of young people,” said Jennifer De Temmerman (France, ALDE), at the opening of a parliamentary hearing on “Inaction on climate...

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...