13/09/2023 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Ahead of the International Day of Democracy (15 September), PACE Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy adopted the following statement: “Democracy is a universal value, the cornerstone of free and prosperous societies and a precondition for peace. The Russian Federation’s war of aggression...
13/09/2023 | Monitoring
The Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) today took stock of the honouring of membership obligations to the Council of Europe by France. Recalling France’s longstanding democratic tradition and its commitment to respect for human rights, the committee...
12/09/2023 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights
The PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights raised concerns over the legitimacy and legality of amendments to the Russian Constitution made in July 2020. These amendments, including removing presidential term limits, have allowed President Vladimir Putin to remain in office until 2036...
11/09/2023 | President
In an address at the Council of Europe Ministers of Justice informal conference ‘On the Path to Justice for Ukraine’ in Riga, Latvia, today, PACE President Tiny Kox emphasised the urgent need for justice and accountability in Ukraine. “It is our obligation to restore the territorial integrity and...
11/09/2023 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Far-right violence, driven by xenophobia, racism, and other forms of intolerance, has increased sharply in recent years and a number of Council of Europe member States consider forms of far-right terrorism “the fastest growing or most prominent domestic security threat they face”, PACE's...
11/09/2023 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Taking on board the views, expectations and concerns of young people "is an essential pre-condition to ensure the good functioning of democracy”, PACE Political Affairs stressed today - but regrettably, they said, “young people are under-represented in parliaments and do not engage sufficiently...
08/09/2023 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights
Citing “mounting evidence” that spyware has been used for illegitimate purposes by several Council of Europe member states, a committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has urged five governments to provide information on their use of such spyware within three months...
05/09/2023 | Prizes
The selection panel of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, which rewards outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights in Europe and beyond, has today announced the shortlist for the 2023 Award. Meeting in Prague, the panel – made up of independent figures from the world of human...
04/09/2023 | Equality and Non-Discrimination
“On the occasion of Belgrade Pride week, 4-9 September 2023, and of the anniversary of Belgrade EuroPride 2022, I take this opportunity to remind the Serbian authorities that as a State party to the European Convention on Human Rights, Serbia has committed itself to protecting individual rights...
04/09/2023 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights
The General Rapporteurs on Human Rights Defenders and Whistleblowers, and on Political Prisoners, of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Emanuelis Zingeris (Lithuania, EPP/CD) and Sunna Ævarsdóttir (Iceland, SOC), have raised concerns about the health of journalist Amet...
01/09/2023 | Monitoring
The PACE co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Poland’s membership obligations to the Council of Europe, Azadeh Rojhan (Sweden, SOC) and Pieter Omtzigt (Netherlands, EPP/CD), have deeply regretted the decision by the Polish Sejm to appoint the members of the controversial State Commission to...
31/08/2023 | Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
PACE rapporteur Pierre-Alain Fridez (Switzerland, SOC) will carry out a fact-finding visit to Bucharest from 4-5 September 2023, in the context of the preparation of his report entitled “Child abuse in Europe: addressing it, compensation and prevention”. The aim of the visit is to promote Swiss...