TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly
Synopsis No 2001/136
30 November 2001
The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, meeting in Paris on 26 November 2001 with Mr Jansson, then Mr Magnusson, in the Chair, as regards:
- Implementation of decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (Rapporteur: Mr Jurgens, Netherlands, SOC): considered, amended and adopted a draft resolution and a draft recommendation submitted by the Rapporteur and instructed him to present them at the Assembly's January 2002 part-session;
- Draft Protocol No 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights concerning the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances: appointed Mrs Wohlwend (Liechtenstein, EPP/CD) as Rapporteur, then, subject to formal reference by the Bureau, considered, amended and adopted a draft opinion submitted by the Rapporteur and instructed her to present it at the Assembly's January 2002 part-session;
- Accession of the European Union to the European Convention on Human Rights (Rapporteur: Mr Magnusson, Sweden, SOC): asked its Chairperson to write to the Assembly's 15 national delegations members of the European Union asking them to promote in their country the accession of the European Union to the European Convention on Human Rights;
- Appointment of rapporteurs:
i. Monaco's request for membership of the Council of Europe: Mr Manzella (Italy, SOC)
ii. Fight terrorism: Mr Hunault (France, EDG)
iii. Freedom of movement in member states of the Council of Europe for holders of temporary residence permits in a member State (for opinion): Mr Pollozhani («the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia», EDG)
iv. Role of the public prosecutor’s office in a democratic society governed by the rule of law: Mr Arabadjiev (Bulgaria, SOC)
- Events on the occasion of the G8 Summit in Genoa: after discussion, decided to ask the Bureau to consider the reference of this item as having lapsed, in accordance with 24 § 3 of the Rules of the Assembly;
- Repayment of the deposits of foreign exchange made in the offices of the Ljubljanska Banka not on the territory of Slovenia, 1977-1991 (Rapporteur: Mr Jurgens, Netherlands, SOC): heard a statement by the Rapporteur on the procedure he intends to follow;
- Situation of the political prisoners in Azerbaijan (Rapporteur: Mr Clerfayt, Belgium, LDR): heard a statement by the Rapporteur, and asked its Chairperson to write to the President of the Assembly requesting that he submit to the Bureau the proposal to organise a meeting between the Assembly Rapporteurs concerned and three members of the Azerbaijan parliamentary delegation on 17 and 18 December 2001 in Paris, in order to start a political dialogue on the means of obtaining the liberation of the political prisoners in Azerbaijan or the assurance that they will be retried, it being clear that the conclusions of the experts appointed by the Secretary General could not be put into question;
- Psychiatry and human rights (Rapporteur: Mrs Mikaelsson, Sweden, UEL): held an exchange of views with Mr David Kingdon, Chairperson of the intergovernmental Working Party on Psychiatry and Human Rights (CDBI-PH), and appointed Mr Dees (Netherlands, LDR) Rapporteur, to replace Mrs Mikaelsson who had resigned;
- New Russian law on religion (Rapporteur: Mr McNamara, United Kingdom, SOC): heard a statement by the Rapporteur on his visit to Moscow from 16 to 18 October 2001;
- Conditions of detention in Council of Europe member States (Rapporteur: Mrs Wohlwend, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD): heard a statement by the Rapporteur on the preparation of the hearing to be held on 19 March 2002 in Paris;
- Protection of minorities in Belgium (Rapporteur: Mrs Nabholz-Haidegger, Switzerland, LDR): heard a statement by the Rapporteur on the preparation of an exchange of views between the Rapporteurs of the Venice Commission and Belgian representatives, to be held in Brussels on 19 January 2002;
- Protection of sign language in member States (Rapporteur: Mr Bruce, United Kingdom, LDR): considered an introductory memorandum on Council of Europe activities in this field, and instructed its Rapporteur to prepare a draft report;
- Work programme of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights: considered a list of reference to the Committee which will lapse on 31 December 2001 and instructed its Chairperson to write to the President of the Assembly to obtain an extension of the time-limit for the presentation of certain reports;
- Participation of members in conferences, meetings, seminars, etc: appointed the following representatives:
i. European Committee on Legal Cooperation (CDCJ) (Strasbourg, 3-7 December 2001): Mr Akçali (Turkey, EDG)
ii. EUD Sign Languages Day – "Visible Signs of Europe: Sign Languages in a Multilingual European Union" (Brussels, 6 December 2001): Mr Bruce (United Kingdom, LDR)
iii. Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) (Strasbourg, 17-21 December 2001): left it to the Chairperson to appoint a representative
iv. International Conference «Russia without the death penalty» (Moscow, 10-11 December 2001): Mr A. Huseynov (Azerbaijan, EPP/CD)
- Next meetings:
. Paris, Monday 7 January 2002 at 9 h 30 (Council of Europe office)
. Strasbourg, during the Assembly's January 2002 part-session
. Paris, 18 March 2002 at 9 h 30 (Council of Europe Office)
. Paris, 19 March 2002, 9 h 30 – 13 h (Hearing on conditions of detention in Council of Europe member States) (Council of Europe Office)
. Saratov (Russian Federation), 2002 (date to be fixed) (subject to the authorisation of the Bureau)
The Sub-Committee on Human Rights (of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights), meeting in Paris on 26 November 2001 with Mrs Wohlwend in the Chair, as regards:
- European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT): after having considered the candidatures to the CPT submitted by Estonia and Turkey, transmitted the list of candidates on behalf of Estonia to the Assembly's Bureau, and decided to recommend to the Bureau that the list of candidates on behalf of Turkey be sent back;
- Next meeting:
. Strasbourg, during the Assembly's January 2002 part-session.
The Sub-Committee on the election of judges to the European Court of Human Rights (of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights) meeting in Paris on 26 November 2001 with Mr McNamara (United Kingdom, SOC) in the Chair:
- held interviews with candidates to the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of Georgia;
- adopted its recommendation concerning the candidates.
Danielle Coin, Tanja Kleinsorge, David Cupina