News

COVID-19: ‘We are not forced to choose between health and privacy, we can have both’ says PACE rapporteur

18/05/2020 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

With COVID-19 raising fears of increased surveillance, PACE’s rapporteur on Artificial Intelligence in healthcare, Selin Sayek Böke (Turkey, SOC), has issued a strong call for a new framework to regulate AI in this area, urging “a new era of citizen empowerment” for health data which will protect...

COVID-19 / Responses to the pandemic: committee to assess lessons for the future at hearing

15/05/2020 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

In the context of the COVID-19 epidemic which has spread to all continents –resulting in more than 4 million cases of infection and 280,000 deaths worldwide to date – what conclusive lessons can be drawn and used in the event of future health crises, while giving priority to human rights? The...

COVID-19: PACE rapporteurs spell out road-map for economic recovery, post-virus

07/05/2020 | Political Affairs and Democracy

Two PACE rapporteurs have called on national policy-makers and international institutions to “act in a concerted manner now in order to beat both the virus and the crisis”, urging a strong political response which stabilises economies while protecting the vulnerable. In a joint statement...

COVID-19: ‘Let’s help the WHO help all of us’

20/04/2020 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

“I call on all member States of the Council of Europe and all relevant partners to step up and support the World Health Organization, both morally and financially, in a spirit of global solidarity,” declared Luís Leite Ramos.

COVID-19: We must face the pandemic while respecting economic and social rights, says committee Chair

01/04/2020 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

“European citizens are on their balconies and at their windows every evening to pay tribute to health workers, but Europe should not be content with applause and thanks,” said Luís Leite Ramos, Chair of the Committee on Social Affairs.

Repatriating children from conflict zones is a human rights obligation

28/01/2020 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

The Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development expressed its concern about the situation of the children in Syria and Iraq whose parents are believed to be affiliated to ISIS/Daesh.

For a legally binding Council of Europe instrument against trafficking in human tissues and cells

03/12/2019 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

The use of human cells and tissues for transplantation and research, while saving lives and restoring essential physical functions, raises many ethical and legal questions, according to the Social Affairs Committee.

PACE committee lists steps needed to combat ‘organ transplant tourism’

03/12/2019 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

A PACE committee has set out a series of steps to combat organ transplant tourism – including better traceability for donors and recipients, enforcing international referral systems and more work to tackle trafficking in general.

Launch of a handbook for parliamentarians on the Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs

03/10/2019 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

Liliane Maury Pasquier today underlined the essential role of parliamentarians in promoting the Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs, which entered into force in March 2018.

Award Ceremony of the Europe Prize in Donostia / San Sebastián

17/09/2019 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

Kęstutis Masiulis, Vice-Chairperson of the Sub-Committee on the Europe Prize, will present the Prize 2019 to Eneko Goia, Mayor of Donostia / San Sebastián (Spain), on Thursday 19 September.

Member States should review their regulatory frameworks for digital platforms, committee says

13/09/2019 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

The committee expressed its concern at the digital platforms phenomenon which has grown on the margins of the mainstream economy, and whose actors are accused of infringing workers' social rights and taxation.

‘We need to talk’ – UN side-event hears moving testimony from Olympic gymnast

16/07/2019 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

A high-level panel organised by the Social Affairs Committee at the UN in New York, has highlighted the urgent need to protect children who face sexual abuse from those in their “circle of trust”.