25/06/2024 | 11:44:12 Thank you, Mister President. Democracy is based on a foundation of essential fundamental principles: free and competitive elections, the rule of law, impartial justice, separation of powers, freedom of expression, freedom of the press and much more. But then, each state organises the functioning of this democracy in its own way, and there are two extremes of democratic organisation: horizontality and verticality. I'll start with verticality, vertical power. The possibility of exercising one's... 19/04/2024 | 12:02:39 Thank you, Mister Chairman. Violence against children is a recurring problem in our societies, and there are three main reasons why this report is relevant. The first is the growing dangers posed by the Internet. Children are increasingly exposed to online violence, sometimes from an early age. Increased use of the internet and digital tools, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic and confinements, has resulted in children being overexposed to age-inappropriate content and behavior... 18/04/2024 | 12:22:53 Thank you. If no one objects, I consider these amendments definitively rejected. If there is an objection, we'll have to check that it has the required support of 10 people. Are there any objections? There are no objections. All amendments to the draft resolution are therefore rejected and will not be called. We will now proceed to vote on the draft resolution contained in Doc. 15955 [unamended] entitled "Realising the human right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment... 18/04/2024 | 12:21:50 Thank you, Mister Vice-Chairman. The general discussion is now closed. We now come to the examination of the first report entitled "Realising the human right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment through the Reykjavík process" (Doc. 15955). The Social, Health and Sustainable Development Committee has presented a draft resolution to which 9 amendments have been tabled, and a draft recommendation to which no amendments have been tabled (Doc. 15955). We shall now begin our... 17/04/2024 | 19:23:46 I ask you all to take your seats. Colleagues, please take your seats: we are about to start. The next item is the presentation and discussion of the report by Mr Ionuț-Marian STROE, on behalf of the Monitoring Committee, on "Honouring of obligations and commitments by Albania" (Doc. 15950). I would remind you that we should be finished with the examination of this text, including the vote, at around 8:30 pm. We shall therefore interrupt the list of speakers at around 8.20 p.m. to allow time... 16/04/2024 | 19:12:55 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ladies and gentlemen, I have here a map with which you are all familiar: it's a map of Europe, printed by the Council of Europe and showing all its member countries. There are three countries missing: Belarus and Russia – we know why – and there's a little speck in the middle of the Balkans: Kosovo. The people in this region do not enjoy the protection of the European Court of Human Rights, and this is something that needs to be corrected. It's true that there has... 16/04/2024 | 16:44:21 Thank you, Mr Chairman. Ladies and Gentlemen, For over two years now, we have been witnessing the devastating effects of this Russian aggression on a country that is counting its dead and, above all, the massive destruction in various towns. I still have images of Mariupol in my mind: they are quite dramatic. Rebuilding a country like this is an enormous challenge, and one that requires absolutely massive financial resources. We're talking about hundreds of billions of dollars. To find these... 26/01/2024 | 11:53:45 Thank you, Mister Chairman. I'd like to sincerely thank you for all your contributions, which show that you have understood, received and share the values of this report. A few brief comments. To Ms Aysu BANKOĞLU from Türkiye - I'd like to thank you for you contribution: yes, in my country, Switzerland, financial compensation has been an important element in reparation. But it's true, you're right, we can't repair everything, and the ideal is prevention. That's another very important point in... 26/01/2024 | 10:37:36 Thank you, Mister Chairman. Ladies and Gentlemen, In many European countries, cases of serious child abuse have occurred in the past in public and religious institutions, and for several decades now revelations have been coming to light all over Europe: physical violence, psychological violence, sexual abuse, deprivation of care, forced adoptions, forced sterilisations. The catalogue of abuses is endless. My work on this distressing subject began in October 2022 with a hearing in the Social... 25/01/2024 | 19:59:52 The committee is in favour. We will now vote on the amendment. The amendment is accepted by 36 votes to 8, with 3 abstentions. We now come to the draft resolution. A simple majority is required. This is Doc. 15891 as amended entitled "Guaranteeing media freedom and the safety of journalists: an obligation for member states". The draft resolution was accepted by 49 votes to 2, with 4 abstentions. We now come to the vote on the draft recommendation contained in Doc. 15891. I remind...