Synopsis

Meeting held by videoconference on 2 February 2021

 

The Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, meeting by videoconference on 2 February 2021, from 10am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 4pm, with Ms Petra Bayr (Austria, SOC), Chairperson, in the Chair, as regards:

1. Combating Afrophobia in Europe (Rapporteur: Mr Momodou Malcolm Jallow, Sweden, UEL): heard a communication by the rapporteur following remote bilateral meetings held with representatives from Germany on 16 December 2020 and representatives from the United Kingdom on 20 January 2021; considered a preliminary draft report;

2. The fight for a level playing field - ending discrimination against women in the world of sport (Rapporteur: Mr Killion Munyama, Poland, EPP/CD): considered an information memorandum and authorised the rapporteur to carry-out a fact-finding visit to Switzerland (in person or virtually depending on the sanitary situation), subject to the availability of funds;

3. Combating rising hate against LGBTI people in Europe (Rapporteur: Mr Fourat Ben Chikha, Belgium, SOC): considered an introductory memorandum;

4. Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 65) (New York, United States, 15-26 March 2021): took note of the concept note of the event being organised by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Swiss Federal Office for Gender Equality on 15 March 2021, by videoconference; took note of the IPU side event to be held on 23 March 2021 in the same framework, dedicated to Covid-19, elections and representation of women;

5. Current activities of the Council of Europe to counter hate speech and intolerance: held, with Momodou Malcolm Jallow (Sweden, UEL) in the Chair, a joint hearing with the No Hate Parliamentary Alliance, with the participation of:

• Ms Somi Nikol, Deputy to the Permanent Representative of Germany to the Council of Europe;
• Mr Menno Ettema, No Hate Speech and Cooperation Unit, Directorate General of Democracy, Council of Europe;
• Mr Mats Lindberg, Secretariat of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), Council of Europe;

6. Enhancing participation of women from vulnerable groups in political and public decision-making (Rapporteur: Ms Eglantina Gjermeni, Albania, SOC):

- heard a communication by the rapporteur, considered a preliminary draft report and decided to change the title of the report to: Enhancing participation of women from under-represented groups in political and public decision-making;

- held a hearing with the participation of:

• Ms Zeina Hilal, Manager, Gender Partnership Programme and Youth Participation Programme, Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU);
• Ms Alia El-Yassir, Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, UN Women;
• Ms Marina Bublik, Head of the Association “Force”, advocacy solutions to Roma and discrimination issues, Ukraine;

7. Addressing inequalities in access to environmental rights (Rapporteur: Ms Edite Estrela, Portugal, SOC):

- considered a preliminary draft report and decided to change the title of the report to: Addressing inequalities in the right to a safe, healthy and clean environment;

- held a hearing with the participation of:

• Ms Jannie Staffansson, Sami reindeer herder and representative, Sweden;
• Ms Pegah Moulana, Chairperson of Programming Committee on Youth; British Youth Council representative to the Advisory Council on Youth, Youth Department of the Council of Europe;

8. Sub-Committee on Gender Equality: approved the following changes: Ms Zita Gurmai (Hungary, SOC) joins the Sub-Committee as a full member; Ms Anna Záborská (Slovak Republic, NR) joins the Sub-Committee as a full member; Ms Biljana Pantić Pilja (Serbia, EPP/CD) joins the Sub-Committee as an alternate member;

9. Reporting back: heard a report by Mr Fourat Ben Chikha (Belgium, SOC) on his participation in the 84th plenary meeting of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) on 1-4 December 2020;

10. Next meetings: confirmed its next meetings as follows:

Committee:

• Videoconference, 15 March 2021;
• Strasbourg, during the second part-session 2021 of the Assembly (19 to 23 April 2021);
• Paris, 18 May 2021 (Council of Europe Office) (place and format to be confirmed);
• Strasbourg, during the third part-session 2021 of the Assembly (21 to 25 June 2021);
• Paris, 17 September 2021 (Council of Europe Office) (place and format to be confirmed);
• Strasbourg, during the fourth part-session 2021 of the Assembly (27 September to 1 October 2021);
• Paris, 30 November 2021 (Council of Europe Office) (place and format to be confirmed).

Sub-Committee on Gender Equality:

• Committee on the Status of Women (CSW 65), United Nations, 15 March 2021, by videoconference.

No Hate Parliamentary Alliance:

• Stockholm, 5 May 2021 (to be confirmed).

 

Penelope Denu, Sarah Burton, Giorgio Loddo, Élodie Fischer