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Parliamentary Assembly welcomes reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but highlights ‘insufficient progress’ in areas crucial for the functioning of democratic institutions
Parliamentary Assembly congratulated the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the pace of reforms since 2022, which has allowed the opening of the accession negotiations with the EU in March 2024. However, it remains concerned about “the lack of progress in some areas crucial for the...
Parliamentary Assembly denounces the human rights situation in Iran and calls for strengthening the protection of Iranians in Europe
The Parliamentary Assembly expressed its concern about the persecution of human rights defenders in Iran and abroad, in particular in the Council of Europe member States, by the Iranian regime. The resolution, unanimously adopted by PACE on the basis of the report by Max Lucks (Germany, SOC...
Secretary General stresses the Council of Europe’s crucial role during the Assembly’s autumn plenary session
“The combined effects of these wars, together with climate change and the erosion of democracy, constitute an unprecedented challenge for our societies, a challenge I think we could call the perfect storm. In the face of that challenge, the Council of Europe has already shown its solidity, its...
Neutralising harmful propaganda while preserving the right to freedom of expression
Propaganda can be used to manipulate public opinion and threaten our common values and human dignity, as well as the proper functioning of our democratic systems, impairing the development of free opinions and informed citizen participation in public debate and decision making, the Assembly said...
Parliamentary Assembly elects Anna Adamska-Gallant judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Poland
The Parliamentary Assembly elected Anna Adamska-Gallant as judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Poland. Ms Adamska-Gallant, having obtained an absolute majority of votes cast, is elected judge of the European Court of Human Rights for a term of...
Parliamentary Assembly recommends a set of measures to clarify the fate of missing migrants
Parliamentary Assembly expressed its concern about the phenomenon of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers going missing, “a tragedy largely underestimated as a human rights issue,” believing that policy responses are needed across Europe and the world. It marked its solidarity with the families...
Deteriorating situation of human rights, rule of law and democracy in Azerbaijan
"On 24 January, our Assembly resolved not to ratify the credentials of the Azerbaijani delegation. The Assembly was among other things worried about the lack of cooperation in monitoring procedure and lack of invitation to observe the early presidential election of 7 February. It also cited the...
International Day of Non-Violence: Violence against grassroots politicians has a chilling effect on local democracy
On the occasion of International Day of Non-Violence (2 October), Bernd Vöhringer, Congress Rapporteur on combating violence against local and regional elected representatives, has made the following statement: “Over the last ten years, we have witnessed an alarming rise in violent attacks...
Congress observes local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina
A 20-member delegation from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities will carry out an election observation mission from 3 to 7 October to observe the local elections throughout the country. Prior to the election day, the delegation, led by Carla Dejonghe, Belgium (R, ILDG), is expected to...
Julian Assange at Parliamentary Assembly hearing, ahead of a plenary debate on his case: 'I pleaded guilty to journalism'
Julian Assange, accompanied by his wife Stella, took part in a parliamentary hearing on his detention and conviction - and their chilling effect on human rights - ahead of a full plenary debate on this topic by the Parliamentary Assembly due on 2 October. The hearing was organised by the...
Application of artificial intelligence in healthcare
The impact of AI on the ′patient-doctor′ relationship is the focus of a new report by the Council of Europe’s Steering Committee for Human Rights in the fields of Biomedicine and Health...
Vladimir Kara-Murza: ‘The best promise of long-term security and stability on our continent lies with a democratic Russia’
In his statement before the award ceremony for the 2024 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, Vladimir Kara-Murza – the prize winner in 2022 – conveyed his deep respect to this year’s finalists and paid tribute to the past recipients who were still held in captivity “for the only ‘crime’ of expressing...
Congress supports including local and regional governments in the UN work
Speaking at the UN 4th Forum of Mayors, in Geneva on 30 September 2024, Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori welcomed the adoption by the UN General Assembly of the Pact for the Future and...
Parliamentary Assembly called on the CEB to enhance support for reconstruction in Ukraine and focus on social dimensions of climate change
Parliamentary Assembly, meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg, congratulated the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) for “its flexible and tailored support to its member states” in the context of the pandemic and natural disasters, and for the rapid assistance to Ukrainian refugees. The...
Parliamentary Assembly elects two new Vice-Presidents
Parliamentary Assembly elected, at the opening of its Autumn 2023 Session, two news Vice-Presidents: Gerardo Giovagnoli (Saint-Marin,SOC) and Andries Gryffroy (Belgique, NI). Nineteen Vice-Presidents are elected annually at the beginning of an ordinary session and remain in office until the...
Theodoros Rousopoulos: 'We must not rest until all political prisoners in Russia and Belarus are freed'
“Dear Vladimir, let me once again express my utmost relief to see you free, and all the more determined to continue with your fight for the free and democratic Russia which we all long for, and which poses no threat to its neighbours nor to its own citizens”, PACE President said today at the...
2024 Václav Havel Prize awarded to Venezuelan political figure and rights defender María Corina Machado
The twelfth Václav Havel Human Rights Prize – which honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights – has been awarded to leading Venezuelan political figure and rights defender María Corina Machado. The 60,000-euro prize was presented at a special ceremony on the opening day...
“Youth, Ukraine, Europe: coming of age during war”
How can European youth policy adapt to the war in Ukraine, and how can we support the well-being of young people coming of age in war conditions, displaced within their own country or to other European states? This is the key question of a five-day seminar in Strasbourg starting on Monday 30...
Georgia: Parliamentary Assembly monitors and observer mission head express deep concern as Transparency International Georgia is forced to end its election operation
“We are deeply concerned by the fact that Transparency International Georgia has been forced to close its election observation operations because of the deplorable decision by the Anti-Corruption Bureau to declare this civil society organisation and its Director as ‘subjects with a declared...
Podgorica early local elections orderly but improvements desired
A five-member Congress Election Observation Mission completed its mission to monitor the early municipal elections in Podgorica, which took place on Sunday 29 September in 212 polling stations. On election day, four Congress teams led by Randi Mondorf (Denmark, R, ILDG) visited 55 randomly...
