16/03/2009 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
“Following my visit to South Ossetia, I am greatly concerned by the humanitarian consequences of the war between Georgia and Russia, and the humanitarian scars left by the conflict,” said Corien Jonker, Chair of the PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population, at the end of her two-day visit to the region on 13 and 14 March 2009. “These scars run deep and are visible on the population remaining in South Ossetia, on those who sought refuge in North Ossetia, and on ethnic Georgians who have been expelled and whose properties have been razed to the ground.”
16/03/2009 | News
John D. Priestman, who served as the fifth – and one of the most long-serving – Secretaries General (Clerks) of the Parliamentary Assembly, has died in Strasbourg just short of his 83rd birthday. Bringing a wealth of diplomatic experience from the British Foreign Office, his nearly fifteen years at the head of the Assembly’s secretariat (1972-86) covered many key moments in the life of the Council of Europe. Paying tribute to him, current Secretary General Mateo Sorinas said: “John was a highly-respected Clerk who in many ways defined the role. He was a great defender of the Assembly and its independence, and led an effective team which served the people of Europe well at a time of change.”
13/03/2009 | Prizes
British Irish Rights Watch has been selected as the winner of the first ever PACE Human Rights Prize, which honours “outstanding civil society action in the defence of human rights in Europe”. The independent non-governmental organisation – which has been monitoring the human rights dimension of the conflict in Northern Ireland, and latterly the peace process, since 1990 – was unanimously selected from among fourteen individuals and NGOs nominated for the prize by a distinguished panel including leading figures from the world of human rights.
13/03/2009 | Standing Committee
“An increasing number of scientific studies are showing the links that exist between certain pollutants and given types of illnesses, such as allergies, respiratory disorders, reproductive problems or diseases of the central nervous system,” today said Jean Huss (Luxembourg, SOC), rapporteur of PACE Environment Committee. “Pollution inside homes and buildings is just as harmful to health as outdoor pollution. Environmental diseases should not be marginalised within health care systems and environmental medicine should be recognised as a full-blown medical discipline”, Mr Huss added.
13/03/2009 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
Alan Meale (United Kingdom, SOC), Chair of PACE Environment Committee, and Bernard Marquet (Monaco, ALDE) will attend the 5th World Water Forum to be held by the World Water Council and the Turkish authorities in Istanbul from 16 to 22 March 2009. As part of the parliamentary contribution to the forum political process, Mr Meale will chair a Session on global change and risk management, on behalf of parliamentarians from the European region on 18 March. Mr Meale and Mr Marquet will also take part on 17 March in a round table on water mediators.
12/03/2009 | News
József Berényi (Slovakia, EPP/CD), Chair of PACE Sub-Committee on Rights of Minorities, will make a fact-finding visit to the Czech Republic on 17 and 18 March 2009 in connection with the preparation of his report on the situation of Roma in Europe. In Prague, he is due to meet the Minister for Human Rights and National Minorities, Michael Kocáb, the Deputy Minister for Education, Youth and Sport, Klára Laurencíková, and representatives of the Ministries of the Interior, Health and Labour and Social Affairs.
11/03/2009 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
According to a report of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Committee on Social Affairs discussed in Paris today, an ever-increasing number of imprisoned women do not need to be in prison at all. Most are charged with minor and non-violent offences, many are imprisoned due to their inability to pay fines, a large proportion is in need of treatment for mental disabilities or substance addiction rather than isolation from society, the report explains.
11/03/2009 | Standing Committee
In a report on riots in European cities, adopted today in Paris, by the Standing Committee, PACE recommends co-ordination of actions, to prevent riots, through the creation of a European Resource Centre for Urban Security. PACE insists on the three factors which are at the origin of urban riots: poverty, ethnic and social segregation, and mutual resentment between minorities and the police.
11/03/2009 | President
“I am deeply shocked by the cruel murder spree that has taken place today at the 'Albertville' School in Winnenden (Germany), which will devastate the families concerned,” said PACE President, Lluís Maria de Puig. “A few moments of random violence will cause years of pain. It is too early to draw wider lessons from this, but I know that there will be much soul-searching to come. For now, my thoughts and deep sympathy are with those facing the loss of those dearest to them.”
11/03/2009 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
As part of the follow-up to Resolution 1648 (2009) on the humanitarian consequences of the war between Georgia and Russia, Corien Jonker (Netherlands, EPP/CD), Chair of PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population, will travel to Tskhinvali on 13-14 March and meet the de facto authorities of South Ossetia, together with the de facto Ombudsman David Sanakoev. She will extend her visit to the Tskhinvali region and she also plans to visit Akhalgori. Talks are scheduled with representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Ms Jonker will also hold meetings with NGOs in Moscow, Vladikavkaz and Tskhinvali.
10/03/2009 | Standing Committee
Better prevention of environment-related health hazards and riots in European cities are among the issues to be debated at a meeting of PACE Standing Committee, taking place in Paris on Friday 13 March 2009. The meeting will be opened by PACE President Lluís Maria de Puig, followed by an exchange of views among the parliamentarians on the Assembly’s co-operation with its institutional partners in election observation.
06/03/2009 | Election observation
A pre-electoral delegation from PACE, visiting Chisinau on the eve of Moldova's parliamentary elections of 5 April 2009, has noted considerable pluralism in the political landscape of the country. However, the delegation stresses that, despite the repeated recommendations of the Assembly and other bodies of the Council of Europe, a number of concerns continue to subsist during this electoral campaign.