Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Latest news

09/10/2024 - Legal Affairs and Human Rights ‘The death penalty does not make society safer,’ says General Rapporteur
01/10/2024 - Legal Affairs and Human Rights Julian Assange at PACE hearing, ahead of a plenary debate on his case: 'I pleaded guilty to journalism'
12/09/2024 - Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee expresses deep concern at harsh treatment of Julian Assange, warns of its chilling effect for the press
19/07/2024 - Legal Affairs and Human Rights PACE rapporteur deplores the conviction of Evan Gershkovich after a sham trial
17/07/2024 - Legal Affairs and Human Rights PACE rapporteur commemorates the 10th anniversary of the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 by Russian-controlled separatists in Ukraine

ACTIVITIES

Presentation
A summary of the activities of the committee

Agenda
All items due for discussion and decision

Reports under preparation
List of reports under preparation in the committee

Documents and declarations
The committee's public documents and declarations

Decisions
Details of decisions taken by the committee at each meeting (synopses)

Election of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights by the Parliamentary Assembly 2024

Information note
Memorandum on the election procedure prepared by the Secretariat of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights

DID YOU KNOW?

The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Right promotes the rule of law and defends human rights. It is also responsible for a whole variety of activities that make it, de facto, the Assembly's legal adviser.

In January 2024, Lord Richard Keen (United Kingdom, EC/DA) was elected as Chairperson of the Committee.

Handbook on "National parliaments as guarantors of human rights in Europe"

A handbook for parliamentarians from all over Europe published in October 2018 by the Assembly sets out ways and means to protect and implement human rights, within a democracy underpinned by the rule of law.

This handbook is intended to equip parliamentarians to fulfil their responsibilities by reviewing institutional structures, working methods and examples of best practices drawn from a number of parliaments in Europe, which enable them to verify most effectively the compatibility of national legislation and practices with European human rights standards.

Handbook available in several languages.