Logo Assembly Logo Hemicycle

PACE President calls for 'extended protection of human rights' in the member states

18/05/2009 President

Beyond the creation of a common democratic and legal area, one of the Council of Europe’s major achievements, “we should think about new ways that will enable the Organisation to assert itself more in the member countries and on the international scene," said PACE President Lluís Maria de Puig in Helsinki at the ceremony commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Council of Europe and the 20th anniversary of Finland’s accession to the Organisation.

“I therefore welcome the reflection launched in our Assembly concerning a need for a broader interpretation of human rights. In addition to fundamental civil and political rights, these also comprise economic, social, environmental and cultural rights that are essential to human development and meaningful life in dignity”.
 
Mr de Puig also commended Finland’s contribution to the multilateral efforts that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall. He pointed out that Finland had adopted several Council of Europe conventions even before its accession in 1989 and that Finnish parliamentarians have regularly attended Assembly debates since 1977.

Links

Speech by PACE President Lluís Maria de Puig Speech by President of Finland Tarja Halonen Speech by EU Commissioner Olli Rehn