Last updated on Wednesday, September 08, 2010 | 17:30
Bureau
PACE President: 'Only if we focus on what unites us will we achieve the true goals of mankind'
[08/09/2010]"You, like us in the Assembly, believe in the value of the individual human being. I personally believe that all the great monoteistic religions – Christianity, the Moslem faith, Judaism – are based on this belief. We share much more than we tend to think we do. And only if we focus on what unites us, only then will we be able to achieve, together, the true goals of mankind", today said PACE President Mevlüt Çavusoglu during an audience with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, together with the members of PACE Bureau. The PACE President invited His Holiness to come to Strasbourg to address the Assembly.
“The mistreatment that Sakineh Ashtiani is suffering cast a tragic shadow on Iran”, says PACE President
[08/09/2010]Mevlüt Çavusoglu, PACE President, today addressed a letter to Ali Larijani, President of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran, calling on him to do his utmost for the death sentence against Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani to be repealed.
“Many voices have been raised in defence of the life and dignity of Sakineh Ashtiani...(more..)
PACE Bureau: ‘Europe must shoulder its humanitarian responsibilities towards Pakistan’
[08/09/2010]PACE Bureau today called on Council of Europe member states to shoulder their humanitarian responsibilities following the floods in Pakistan: “Over five years ago the Tsunami disaster struck Southeast Asia and the countries surrounding the Indian Ocean. Earlier this year, Haiti was devastated by an earthquake. Both times, the international community, deeply shocked, reacted generously...
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PACE hearing on access by women to decision-making bodies
[08/09/2010]Why are there so few women in economic and social decision-making bodies? This question will be the subject of a hearing held in Paris on Friday 10 September by the PACE Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men as part of the preparation of the report by Gisèle Gautier (France, EPP/CD) on this issue. (more..)
National security discourse and the Roma: proposal for an urgent debate at PACE autumn session
[07/09/2010]Concerned by recent developments in several Council of Europe member states, the Political Affairs Committee of the Council’s Parliamentary Assembly, meeting in Belgrade today, has proposed an urgent debate at the Assembly’s forthcoming autumn session (4-8 October 2010) on: “Recent rise of national security discourse in Europe: the case of the Roma”.
Political Affairs
‘Many advances’ in reconciliation in the Balkans, but some unresolved issues remain
[07/09/2010]There have been many advances in reconciliation between the countries of the former Yugoslavia over the past few years, but bilateral relations are still fragile, with unresolved issues including territorial disputes and strong nationalistic rhetoric, according to PACE rapporteur on the topic, Pietro Marcenaro (Italy, SOC). (more..)
PACE rapporteur on Belarus calls for investigation into death of Oleg Bebenin
[07/09/2010]Sinikka Hurskainen (Finland, SOC), rapporteur on Belarus for PACE, has expressed her concern at the death of Oleg Bebenin, a co-founder of the Charter 97 website in Belarus, on Friday. “Questions have been raised about the circumstances of his death, and I expect the authorities to conduct a full, transparent and exhaustive investigation into this tragic event,” said Mrs Hurskainen, who met opposition representatives in Minsk less than two weeks ago.(more..)
Social, Health and Family Affairs
Child abuse in institutions: more far-reaching measures to grant justice to victims
[06/09/2010]In adopting a report on child abuse in institutions, PACE's Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee today called for “more far-reaching measures in the future when it comes to according full justice to victims of past offences”. The Committee believes that “more committed action will be required” when it comes to reinforcing legislation on child abuse and applying it to various institutional contexts.(more..)
Low turnout of the Constitutional Referendum in Moldova
[06/09/2010]A PACE delegation has observed the constitutional referendum in Moldova on 5 September. It was the only European parliamentary organisation to observe this referendum. The delegation considered that the voting day was calm and orderly. The citizens who participated in the referendum could in general make their choice freely. However, this delegation regrets the low turnout. (more..)
