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Preventing addiction to prescription medicines: more work needed on finding the right balance

03/12/2021 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

A PACE committee is calling for “a careful balance” to be struck between ensuring patients have access to the prescription medicines they need and preventing addiction to them. The Assembly’s Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development, approving a draft resolution and...

Children’s views should be heard whenever decisions affecting their lives are made

03/12/2021 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

It is time for governments and parliaments to ensure that children’s views are taken into account “whenever decisions affecting their lives are made”, a PACE committee has declared. The Assembly’s Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development, approving a draft resolution and...

Inaction on climate change: a violation of children's rights

03/12/2021 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

The lack of action to tackle climate change is a violation of children's rights, according to the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development, in particular with regard to “the right to life, development, health and medical care, education, a good standard of living, and...

Vaccine / COVID

The Covid-19 situation: 'No-one is safe until everyone is safe'

01/12/2021 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

The Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development expressed its concern about the rapidly evolving Covid-19 pandemic. Adopting a statement today unanimously, it recommended “global equitable distribution of vaccines”, which is vital to protect public health. “No-one is safe...

"The Lake" - short film encouraging children to speak out about sexual abuse within the circle of trust

New Council of Europe film revisits the choice made by a young girl facing sexual abuse within her circle...

18/11/2021 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

To mark End Child Sex Abuse Day (18 November 2021), the Council of Europe is launching a new short film which encourages children and young people to “break the silence” over sexual abuse within their circle of trust. Around a Lake, created by acclaimed French filmmaker Roland Edzard, is a follow...

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...