[Documents/Docheader.htm]The Holy See and respect for Human Rights
Doc. 10193 revised (English only)
11 June 2004 (Originally tabled 3 June 2004)
Motion for a recommendation
presented by Mrs H�gg and others
This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it
1. The Holy See has observer status within the Council of Europe. According to the Council of Europe rules, it is not possible to monitor whether or to what extent the observer countries are complying with the Council’s norms and values concerning human rights and democracy. The leadership of the Holy See is both political and religious. The way that both religious and political power is exercised has a great influence upon the living of both men and women in numerous countries. However, all opinions and views are still formulated and expressed exclusively by men. Women’s rights are human rights and human rights require democracy. However, in a democracy the opinions of all people, of both men and women, should be heard.
2. The Holy See was granted observer status with the Council of Europe on 7 March 1970. In a resolution that was passed on 14 May 1993, the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers decided that observer status could be granted, following consultation of the Parliamentary Assembly, for every state that wishes to co-operate with the Organisation and is willing to accept the principles of democracy, rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all people within its jurisdiction. These states may nominate a permanent observer to the Council of Europe and send observers to the expert committees that are available for member states and to conferences for ministers from specific ministries when invited by the host country concerned. Observer status does not allow participation in the Committee of Ministers or in the Parliamentary Assembly unless one of these bodies has made a special decision to admit observers.
3. The Holy See has the following agreement within the Council of Europe: It enjoys observer status in the European Commission for Democracy through Law, also known as the Venice Commission, and is also a member of the Council of Europe Development Bank, CEB, and a member of the European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity. These are all bodies responsible for questions such as constitutional support to various countries, living conditions in less privileged regions and education and training in issues essential to developmental questions such as human rights.
4. The Holy See has signed several conventions and agreements. Only some conventions and agreements may be signed by non-member states. But in addition to those that the Holy See has signed, there are a further 18 Council of Europe conventions and agreements that the Holy See has the right to sign. The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms is open only to the Council’s member states, but observers are expected to share the values of the Convention. It is important to emphasise that the Convention has the role of setting standards.
5. When Pope John Paul II conducted an official visit to the Council of Europe, he spoke before the Parliamentary Assembly and the European Court. He also made a statement in connection with the fiftieth anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights on 3 November 2000. The commitment the Holy See and the Pope have for human rights and fundamental freedoms was clearly expressed on these occasions, as it is expressed in their daily work. Basically, the Holy See has a clearly expressed positive outlook towards the Council of Europe and its values. Though the way it exercises religious and political power, thus influencing the living conditions of men and women in numerous countries, is not compatible with this basic outlook. The Parliamentary Assembly’s view is that the observer states should also comply with the norms and values of the Council of Europe.
Signed [1]:
H�gg, Sweden, SOC
Aguiar, Portugal, EPP/CD
Baburin, Ukraine, UEL
Bauer, Slovakia, EPP/CD
Bousakla, Belgium, SOC
Curdov�, Czech Republic, SOC
Err, Luxembourg, SOC
Foulkes, United Kingdom, SOC
Platvoet, Netherlands, UEL
Ringstad, Norway, LDR
Rudkovsky, Ukraine, SOC
Rupprecht, Germany, SOC
Vermot-Mangold, Switzerland, SOC
Zapfl-Helbling, Switzerland, EPP/CD
SOC
EPP
EDG
LDR
UEL
NRSocialist Group
Group of the European People’s Party
European Democratic Group
Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group
Group of the Unified European Left
Not registered in a group