TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly
Synopsis No 2000/056
6 April 2000
The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, meeting in Strasbourg on 3 April 2000 with Mr Frunda, 2nd Vice-Chairperson in the Chair, as regards:
- Reform of the institutions in Ukraine (Rapporteur for opinion: Mr Eörsi, Hungary, LDR): considered and adopted a draft opinion and two amendments;
- Campaign against the enlistment of child soldiers and their participation in armed conflicts (Rapporteur for opinion: Mr Tabajdi, Hungary, SOC): adopted a draft opinion and six amendments;
- Human Rights (Chairperson of the Sub-Committee: Mr Jaskiernia, Poland, SOC): heard a statement by the Chairperson on the meeting of the Sub-Committee held in Paris on 7 March 2000;
- European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (Representative of the Committee: Mr McNamara, United Kingdom, SOC): heard a statement by the representative of the Committee on the meeting of ECRI held in Strasbourg on 14-15 March 2000;
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The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, meeting in Strasbourg on 4 April 2000 with Mr Jansson in the Chair, as regards:
- Transfer of sentenced persons: heard a statement by Mr Enright (Ireland, EPP/CD), and invited him to table a motion for a recommendation or a resolution;
- Election of Judges of the European Court of Human Rights (Rapporteur: Lord Kirkhill, United Kingdom, SOC): heard a statement by the Rapporteur on his meeting with the President of the European Court of Human Rights, together with Mrs Wohlwend (Liechtenstein, EPP/CD), during the Assembly's January part-session;
- Execution of decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (Rapporteur: Mr Jurgens, Netherlands, SOC): heard a statement by the Rapporteur, and instructed him to present a draft report at a forthcoming meeting with a view to a debate by the Assembly at the September part-session;
- Relations between the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights and the European Commission for Democracy through Law ("Venice Commission") (Representative of the Committee: Mr Jurgens, Netherlands, SOC): heard a statement by the representative of the Committee on the meeting of the Venice Commission which took place on 31 March and 1 April 2000; appointed Mr Jurgens (Netherlands, SOC) as its representative at the meeting of the Venice Commission to take place on 16-17 June 2000 in Venice; considered a working document presented by Mr Jurgens; considered a proposal by the Sub-Committee on Human Rights to hold a joint meeting, and decide to invite the Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons of the Venice Commission to a forthcoming meeting;
- Council of Europe Human Rights Prize (Rapporteur: Mr Jaskiernia, Poland, SOC): considered, amended and adopted a draft recommendation by the Rapporteur to be presented to the Standing Committee in Dublin;
- 50 th Anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights: was informed of a proposal to hold a meeting of the Committee or of the Sub-Committee on Human Rights in Rome to enable its members to take part in the Ministerial Conference on 3-4 November 2000; decided to ask the Conference of Presidents of Parliaments of Europe to make reference to the 50th Anniversary on 5-6 May 2000 and to ask the President of the Assembly to make a solemn declaration at the beginning of the debate on the report by Mr Jurgens at the September 2000 part-session;
- Freedom of movement for the residents of Latvia and Estonia: appointed Mr Solonari (Moldova, SOC) as its Rapporteur;
- Conflict in Chechnya (Rapporteur for opinion: Mr Bindig, Germany, SOC): took note of a report presented by the Political Affairs Committee, and considered, amended and adopted an opinion presented by the Rapporteur, as well as nineteen amendments;
- Credentials of the Delegation of the Russian Federation (Rapporteur for opinion: Mr Frunda, Romania, SOC): considered and adopted an opinion presented by the Rapporteur, as well as an amendment;
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The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, meeting in Strasbourg on 6 April 2000 with Mr Jansson in the Chair, as regards:
- Rights of minorities (Rapporteur : Mr Bindig, Germany, SOC): held an exchange of views with Professor Rainer Hofmann, Chairperson of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities; and asked the Rapporteur to submit a memorandum or draft report at a forthcoming meeting;
- Situation of lesbians and gays in Council of Europe member States (Rapporteur: Mrs Calleja, Spain, SOC): appointed Mr Tabajdi (Hungary, SOC) as its new Rapporteur to replace Mrs Calleja who was leaving the Assembly;
- Appointment of representatives to conferences and seminars:
i. 23rd Conference of European Ministers of Justice (London, 8-9 June 2000) : Lord Kirkhill (United Kingdom, SOC)
ii. 6th European Ministerial Conference on Mass Media Policy (Krakow, Poland, 15-16 June 2000) : Mr Jaskiernia (Poland, SOC)
iii. Seminar on the state of the death penalty in international law, organised by the American Bar Association (London, 18 July 2000): Mrs Wohlwend (Liechtenstein, EPP/CD)
iv. International practical and scientific Conference: «Russia and community law» (Moscow, 11-12 May 2000): Mrs Nabholz-Haidegger (Switzerland, LDR)
- Execution of decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (Rapporteur : Mr Jurgens, Netherlands, SOC): heard a statement by the Rapporteur on the latest developments in the case of Hakkar v France;
- Meeting in Cyprus (22-23 May 2000): considered a preliminary draft programme;
- Request by the Principality of Monaco for membership of the Council of Europe (Rapporteur for opinion: Lord Kirkhill, United Kingdom, SOC): authorised the Rapporteur to meet, together with the Rapporteur of the Political Affairs Committee, the Minister of State of the Principality of Monaco, in Paris on 4 May 2000 ;
- Euro-forum on Human Genetics: appointed Mr McNamara (United Kingdom, SOC) as it representative;
- Request by Bosnia and Herzegovina for membership of the Council of Europe (Rapporteur for opinion: Mrs Jäätteenmäki, Finland, LDR): authorised the Rapporteur to go to the country at the end of April 2000 and to return there if necessary before the June part-session (subject to the agreement of the Bureau of the Assembly);
- Next meetings:
. Limassol (Cyprus), 22-23 May 2000
. Paris, Tuesday 13 June 2000 at 9 h 30 (Council of Europe Office)
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The Sub-Committee on Human Rights (of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights), meeting in Strasbourg on 6 April 2000 with Mr Jaskiernia in the Chair, as regards:
- Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights: took note of the reply of the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers to Mr Jaskiernia's written question;
- Execution of decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (Rapporteur: Mr Jurgens, Netherlands, SOC): heard a statement by Mr Jurgens on the latest developments in the case of Hakkar v. France; and instructed Mr Jurgens to put forward proposals on the role of the Sub-Committee in following up the judgments of the Court;
- Next meeting: left it to its Chairperson to fix the time, date and place.
Allard A. Plate, Danielle Coin, Tanja Kleinsorge, David Cupina