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Clearing territories of landmines and unexploded ordnance and ensuring a safe return of displaced populations

27/06/2024 | Session

PACE today expressed its concern about the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, especially landmines and cluster munitions. It underlined that such weapons often resulted in the forcible displacement of people within and across borders, and later impedes their voluntary, safe, dignified...

Current affairs debate on the Council of Europe's ability to counter threats to freedom of expression

27/06/2024 | Session

“We have the feeling that ordinary people are currently unable or afraid to express their views freely,” said Andrej Hunko (Germany, UEL), addressing the Assembly today at the opening of a current affairs debate on Can the Council of Europe step up its efforts to counter threats to the freedom of...

The European Court of Human Rights
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PACE elects András Jakab judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Austria

26/06/2024 | Session

The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) today elected András Jakab as judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Austria. Mr Jakab, having obtained an absolute majority of votes cast, is elected judge of the European Court of Human Rights for a term of office of nine...

The European Court of Human Rights Building
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PACE elects Juha Lavapuro judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Finland

26/06/2024 | Session

The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) today elected Juha Lavapuro as judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Finland. Mr Lavapuro, having obtained an absolute majority of votes cast, is elected judge of the European Court of Human Rights for a term of office of...

The European Court of Human Rights
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PACE elects Mateja Durović judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Serbia

26/06/2024 | Session

The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) today elected Mateja Durović as judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Serbia. Mr Durović, having obtained an absolute majority of votes cast, is elected judge of the European Court of Human Rights for a term of office of nine...

The Olympic Torch is welcomed at the Council of Europe on its way to Paris

26/06/2024 | Session

The Olympic Torch was greeted today by leading officials, parliamentarians and staff of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg during an unprecedented stop on its journey to the host city of Paris ahead of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. A torch-bearer passed through crowds of well-wishers in...

PACE sets out plans to try Russian leaders, strengthen sanctions and stop the ‘erasure’ of Ukrainian identity

26/06/2024 | Session

In a trio of resolutions, adopted today after a joint debate in Strasbourg, PACE has set out plans to try Vladimir Putin and his generals for aggression against Ukraine, strengthen sanctions against Russia and counter its attempts to “erase” Ukrainian cultural identity. Approving a resolution and...

Boriana Aberg

Armenia: while welcoming electoral reforms, PACE regrets the excessive polarisation of the political climate

26/06/2024 | Session

PACE today welcomed the electoral reforms implemented by Armenia in accordance with the recommendations of the Venice Commission, considering that the objective of holding genuinely democratic elections had to a large extent been achieved. Unanimously adopting a resolution based on a report by...

Strengthening participatory and deliberative processes to revitalise democracy

25/06/2024 | Session

Faced with democratic backsliding in Europe, marked by the weakening of the separation and balance of powers and the restriction of freedoms, PACE today called on member States to “adopt participatory and deliberative democracy processes at national, regional and local level”, by providing in...

Strengthening a youth perspective in the work of the Parliamentary Assembly

25/06/2024 | Session

Taking on board the views, expectations and concerns of young people “is an essential pre-condition to ensure the good functioning of democracy”, PACE stressed today – but regrettably, it added, “young people are under-represented in parliaments and do not engage sufficiently with traditional...

Hemicycle, Session
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Election of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe: result of the first round of voting

25/06/2024 | Session

PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos has announced the result of the first round of the election for the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. The results are as follows: Total number of members voting: 241Number of blank or invalid ballots: 1Number of valid votes cast: 240Absolute majority...

Julian Assange
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PACE rapporteur welcomes the release of Julian Assange from a high-security prison in the United Kingdom

25/06/2024 | Session

The rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on The detention of Julian Assange and its chilling effects on human rights, Sunna Ævarsdóttir (Iceland, SOC), has welcomed the news of the release of Julian Assange from prison. “I am relieved to be finally able to say...