Strasbourg, 23-27 January 2012
Speeches by British Prime Minister David Cameron and Finnish President Tarja Halonen will be among the highlights of the winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to be held in Strasbourg from 23 to 27 January 2012.
Statements will also be made during the session by British Minister for Europe David Lidington, representing the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers; Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze; United Nations Under-Secretary-General Michelle Bachelet; and UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova.
The Assembly will elect its next President at the opening of the session. The parliamentarians will also elect the new Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights.
Other highlights include debates on guaranteeing the authority and effectiveness of the European Convention on Human Rights, on protecting human rights and dignity by taking into account the previously expressed wishes of patients, and on advancing women's rights worldwide. There has also been a request for an urgent debate on "The Russian Federation between two elections" (the Assembly will decide at the opening of the session whether this is to be held).
The agenda will also include reports on the situation in Belarus, the functioning of democratic institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Ukraine, and honouring of commitments by Serbia.
Monday 21 January 2013
Doc. 13096 (Report on credentials) Examination of credentials of representatives and substitutes Doc. 13094 (Progress report) Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (5 October 2012-20 January 2013) Doc. 13095 (Communication) President’s activities between the fourth part of the Ordinary session of 2012 and the first part of the ordinary session of 2013 Doc. 13094 Add. (Progress report) Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (21 January 2013)
Tuesday 22 January 2013
Doc. 13088 (Report) The situation in Kosovo* and the role of the Council of Europe Doc. 13089 (Report) The activities of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in 2010-2012 Doc. 13087 (Report) Ensuring the viability of the Strasbourg Court: structural deficiencies in States Parties Doc. 13085 (Report) Post-monitoring dialogue with Bulgaria
Wednesday 23 January 2013
Doc. 13083 (Report) Georgia and Russia: the humanitarian situation in the conflict- and war-affected areas Doc. 13084 (Report) The honouring of obligations and commitments by Azerbaijan Doc. 13079 (Report) The follow-up to the issue of political prisoners in Azerbaijan Doc. 13079 Add. (Addendum to the report) The follow-up to the issue of political prisoners in Azerbaijan Doc. 13082 (Report) Towards a Council of Europe convention to combat trafficking in organs, tissues and cells of human origin Doc. 13082 Add. (Addendum to the report) Towards a Council of Europe convention to combat trafficking in organs, tissues and cells of human origin
Thursday 24 January 2013
Doc. 13106 (Report) Migration and asylum: mounting tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean Doc. 13107 (Report) Recent developments in Mali and Algeria and the threat to security and human rights in the Mediterranean region Doc. 13078 (Report) The state of media freedom in Europe
Friday 25 January 2013
Doc. 13080 (Report) Gender equality, reconciliation of personal and working life and shared responsibility Doc. 13086 (Report) Trafficking of migrant workers for forced labour Doc. 13108 (Committee Opinion) Trafficking of migrant workers for forced labour
