27/06/2008 | Session
The Assembly has invited Turkey to take a “positive attitude” to ethnic Greeks still living on the Aegean islands of Gökçeada (Imbros) and Bozcaada (Tenedos) in order to preserve their bicultural character – pointing out that this “could serve as a model for co-operation between Turkey and Greece”. The islands – inhabited mostly by ethnic Greeks since antiquity, according to rapporteur Andreas Gross (Switzerland, SOC) – have been governed by the Turkish Republic since 1922. In its resolution, PACE suggests ways of settling outstanding education, land and cultural heritage issues.
27/06/2008 | Session
The Assembly today invited member states to frame a proactive policy to prevent the abandonment of newborn babies, and recommends in particular ante-natal and post-natal medical and social support and appropriate financial assistance for pregnant women and for fathers, and accessible reception facilities. In an adopted resolution, PACE considers that respect for the rights of children to live with their families and find out about their origins is an inviolable principle that must be included in all family policies, and that member states should therefore urge mothers to give their identity, even if it is appropriate to introduce protected forms of childbirth offering some confidentiality for the mother.
27/06/2008 | Session
In his speech to the Assembly, Jakob Kellenberger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said fighting terrorism whilst respecting human dignity and rights ''is a long term investment in security.'' He also highlighted the role to be played by the Assembly in the fight against terrorism.
27/06/2008 | Session
In a resolution adopted today, PACE has invited member states to give active support to the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the field of international humanitarian law aimed at assisting states to accede to and implement humanitarian treaties. The Assembly also encourages member states to support the ICRC's future objectives with regard to protection activities, the prevention of enforced disappearances and assistance to civilian victims of landmines and cluster munitions.
26/06/2008 | Equality and Non-Discrimination
What can we do to promote women's cause within a political entity such as Europe, Gisèle Halimi asked her audience at the 4th meeting of women members of the Parliamentary Assembly. What she proposes is a novel approach based on the principle of solidarity, a so-called "most favoured European woman clause". This would enable European women to benefit from whatever was the most advantageous legislation currently in existence in Europe in such areas as the family, work, domestic violence, parity and the choice of whether to give birth. The law, she says, must always give an impetus to changing attitudes.
26/06/2008 | Session
Underlying the importance of “effective separation of powers”, PACE today called on Turkey’s institutions “to respect each other’s competences” and join efforts to pursue political reforms that will turn the country into a modern democracy. Following the proposals by the rapporteur, Luc Van den Brande (Belgium, EPP/CD), the parliamentarians said that, regardless of its outcome, the lawsuit against the ruling party, as well as the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic, “is seriously affecting political stability in the country” and the functioning of democratic institutions. The dissolution of political parties, they said, “should be regarded as an exceptional measure to be applied only in cases where the party concerned uses violence or threatens civil peace and the democratic constitutional order.”
26/06/2008 | Session
Despite the political will expressed by the Armenian authorities to meet the requirements outlined in Resolution 1609 (2008) on the functioning of democratic institutions in Armenia, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) takes the view, in a resolution adopted yesterday at the end of an urgent debate, that "progress is at present insufficient”. It regrets "the delay in implementing concrete measures" to overcome the political crisis that broke out after the presidential election on 19 February, while acknowledging that "the time given to the Armenian authorities was short".
26/06/2008 | Session
PACE has invited the Chinese authorities and parliament to engage in political dialogue to promote parliamentary democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights in the country – and held out the prospect of observer status if there is “appreciable progress” in these fields. But it also called on China, which borders the Council of Europe area, to make "far-reaching" reforms, allow freedom of expression and end the crackdown on human rights activists.
25/06/2008 | Session
A new book on International parliaments – analysing their growing global importance and providing a guide to around forty of them – was launched today on the fringes of the Summer Session 2008 of the Assembly. Written by PACE President Lluis Maria de Puig, who is a historian as well as parliamentarian, the 120-page book (published in French and English) is believed to be the first in this field. “Parliaments are increasingly going global, and I am interested in how this is happening and where it is going,” said the President.
25/06/2008 | Session
The Assembly today called on member states to encourage integration as a facilitator for democratic participation and to facilitate access to nationality, including dual nationality. During a special debate on the state of democracy in Europe, the Assembly discussed the specific challenges facing European democracies, on the basis of three rapports by Andreas Gross (Switzerland, SOC), John Greenway (United Kingdom, EDG) and Serhiy Holovaty (Ukraine, ALDE). According to reliable estimates, 8.8 per cent of Europe’s total population are migrants, and the figure is increasing, In this context, parliamentarians stressed the need to strike the right balance between respect for diversity and the need for integration for the proper functioning of democracy.
25/06/2008 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
Schoolchildren from Alsace had the opportunity to hold a dialogue with PACE parliamentarians this week as part of a series of events organised by UNHCR to mark World Refugee Day. Opening the event, as well as an exhibition of paintings by refugee children, the Chair of PACE’s Migration Committee Corien Jonker invited the children to imagine a week without a home. Of the paintings, she said: “Each has its own story to tell: a story of witnessed violence, forced departure and loss, but also of dreams and hope.”
25/06/2008 | Session
PACE is to prepare a report on the inhumane treatment of people and illicit trafficking in human organs in Kosovo. The Assembly’s Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights today appointed Dick Marty (Switzerland, ALDE) to prepare the report, who will visit the region to gather information before presenting his conclusions to the 318-member Assembly.