Reply to Recommendation 1260 (1995) on the International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, 5-13 September 1994): follow-up by the Council of Europe and its member states

18 May 1995

Doc. 7313

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS

Reply to Recommendation 1260 (1995)

on the International Conference on Population and Development

(Cairo, 5-13 September 1994):

follow-up by the Council of Europe and its member states

(adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 4 May 1995

at the 537th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies)

1. The Committee of Ministers refers to Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1260 (1995) on the International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, 5-13September 1994): follow-up by the Council of Europe and its member States and wishes to inform the Parliamentary Assembly that it has forwarded it to the Governments of member States. Furthermore, the Committee shares the Assembly's positive assessment of the overall results of the Cairo Conference which focused on some of the most crucial problems of our time and adopted an ambitious Programme of Action for the next 20 years. Implementation of this Programme is now the responsibility of both the individual States and the international community which should join and co-ordinate forces to that effect.

2. The Committee of Ministers agrees with the Assembly that the demographic situation prevailing in many European States, characterized by low fertility rates, progressive ageing of the population and changing family structures will have major consequences for society at large and in particular for the financing of the welfare system. Being aware of the need to constantly monitor developments in this area, the Committee of Ministers set up as early as 1973 a Committee of demographers (today's "European Population Committee"- CDPO), which publishes every year a comprehensive statistical report ("Recent demographic developments in Europe") and occasional reports on such topical issues as "Ageing and its consequences on the socio-medical system", "The socio-economic and demographic context of childbearing" or "Migration and development co-operation". These widely circulated reports contribute to raise awareness - including amongst the policy makers - of demographic challenges facing the countries of Europe.

3. As regards the Mediterranean Conference on Population, Migration and Development, the Committee of Ministers agreed in principle to its being organized in the framework of the Council of Europe's 1996 Intergovernmental programme of activities and subject to appropriate funds being available. It welcomes the Parliamentary Assembly's readiness to contribute to its preparation.

4. In respect of specific proposals contained in paragraph 10 of the Recommendation, the Committee of Ministers wishes to make the following comments:

ad i. - The Council of Europe's contribution to the preparatory process for the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 4-15 September 1995) took the form of a Conference entitled "Equality and Democracy: utopia or challenge?" held in Strasbourg from 9-11 February 1995 and in which representatives of the Assembly participated actively. The Conference's reports and conclusions - which largely reflect the preoccupations of the Assembly - were forwarded to the 39th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (New York, 15 March-4 April 1995) which had the task of preparing and finalising the draft Platform of Action which will be submitted to the World Conference on Women.

ad ii. - Following the completion of a reasoned proposal by the Steering committee on equality of women and men (CDEG) for an additional protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights embodying the fundamental right of women and men to equality, the Committee of Ministers has instructed the Steering committee for human rights (CDDH) to consider the necessity and feasibility of including this right in a draft protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights, taking into consideration the final report of the CDEG's group of specialists, the case-law of the Court of Human Rights, existing international texts and any other relevant contribution. The CDDH is expected to adopt its opinion for the Committee of Ministers before 30 June 1995.

ad iii. - The Committee of Ministers recalls its reply to Recommendation 1252 (1994) of the Parliamentary Assembly on the relations between the Council of Europe and the United Nations in which it indicated that it is exploring ways of making the best possible use of the observer status with the United Nations General Assembly granted by the latter's Resolution 44/6 of 17 October 1989.

ad iv. - The role of the North-South Centre in Lisbon has been constantly strengthened since it was established in 1989. The Committee wishes to refer the Assembly to its reply to Recommendation 1249 (1994) on co-operation in the Mediterranean basin in which it stated inter alia that "in its specific area of responsibility, the North South Centre has also been encouraged to play a full role in the region, and States which have not yet acceded to the Partial Agreement which governs it are urged to do so for the purpose of increasing the funds at its disposal". Moreover, the Centre is contributing to the preparation of the 1996 Mediterranean Conference on Population, Migration and Development, referred to above (see paragraph 3).

ad v. - The Committee recalls its final reply to Parliamentary Assembly's Recommendation 1243 (1994) on demographic change and sustainable development in which it paid tribute to the CDPO's pioneering role in raising awareness of demographic issues and providing policy makers with demographic analysis, data and reports. It stressed that the CDPO will continue to "contribute to the debate on these major issues, within the extent of its powers and according to the resources allocated to it in the Council of Europe's Intergovernmental programme of activities".

ad vi. - The Committee of Ministers will not fail to respond positively to the Parliamentary Assembly's plea insofar as any follow-up activity to the Cairo Conference required the statutory involvement of the Assembly. It recalls that regular contacts exist between the CDPO and the relevant committees of the Assembly and that the latter is closely involved in the preparation of the Mediterranean Conference referred to above (see paragraph 3).

ad vii. - Close co-operation between the Council of Europe and the European Union's PHARE programme (in addition to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the Geneva Conference on former Yugoslavia) made it possible to jointly finance the 1994 population census in "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" and its international observation mission whose political importance needs not to be emphasised. Similar projects could be repeated in the future, should the demand arise and subject to appropriate funds being available.

5. The Committee of Ministers also took note of the proposals contained in paragraph 11 of the Recommendation which are mostly for the members States to address but lend themselves to additional comments by the Committee of Ministers inasmuch as they concern areas where intergovernmental co-operation is being conducted.

6. Thus, in respect of sub paragraph 11 (iii), the Assembly would be satisfied to know that the CDPO has been closely monitoring recent trends in such demographic indicators as mortality rates, life expectancy, morbidity rates which have reached worrying levels in some Central and Eastern European States. The Council of Europe's support programmes come mainly under Vote IX of the Budget whose primary aim is to promote the protection of human rights and the establishment of the rule of law. Specific action is conducted in such areas as racial protection (social security), the improvement of health, the fight against drug addiction. This is part of a major effort being done at bilateral and multilateral levels, the purpose of which is to improve the overall social and economic situation of those countries which will inevitably have positive repercussions on the present demographic challenges.

7. As regards paragraph 11 (v), it corresponds closely to the approach to immigration policy which has been developed by the European Committee on Migration (CDMG) over the years. It is furthermore the intention of the CDMG and the Ad hoc committee on legal aspects of territorial asylum, refugees and stateless persons (CAHAR) to continue the dialogue between practically all European countries (as well as the United States, Canada and Australia) that used to take place in the Vienna Group of senior officials. Furthermore, it may be recalled that several of the economic and social rights mentioned in this and subsequent paragraphs (11 (vii), (ix), (xii) and (xiv)) of the Recommendation are already guaranteed by the European Social Charter and its Additional protocol and that the Committee of independent experts has interpreted the provisions of the Charter in the direction advocated by the Assembly. Finally, the Revised European social charter, which is currently pending before the Committee of Ministers and on which the Assembly already gave its opinion, contains at least three provisions that meet the Assembly's concerns, namely the protection of one-parent families, the right to dignity at work and the right of workers with family responsibilities to equal opportunities and treatment with a view to reconciling professional and family life.

8. In respect of the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women (paragraphs 11(vii) and (viii)) it may be added that the CDEG has the task to pursue and intensify the work of the Council of Europe with the aim of achieving de jure and de facto equality between women and men. A study on "parity democracy" was recently adopted. The CDEG is currently working on a Plan of action to combat violence against women, which should be ready in 1996, as well as on a Plan of action to combat forced prostitution and traffic in women.

9. Concerning family policies, the Committee recalls the four-year programme on "Specific social problems associated with recent changes in family structures" conducted by the Steering committee for social policy in 1988-91, following the XXth session of the Conference of European ministers responsible for family affairs, held in 1987 in Brussels. This project led to two Recommendations being adopted by the Committee of Ministers, namely Recommendation No. R (94) 14 on coherent and integrated family policies and Recommendation No. R (94) 9 concerning elderly people. As from 1996, the CDPS will start a research programme on "how to respect and guarantee the social rights of families and children, without increasing costs".

10. Concerning the social protection afforded to elderly people, Recommendation No. R (94) 9 contains a principle on "fighting against and preventing social exclusion" of this section of our societies. The Council of Europe's basic principles in this area are enshrined in the European Code of social security (and the revised Code) and in the European social charter. In addition, Recommendations No. R (86) 5 on generalisation of medical care, No. R (87) 5 on generalisation of old-age and invalidity benefit and No. R (92) 2 on generalisation of family benefit should be mentioned.

11. With regard to paragraphs 11(x) and (xi), the Committee wishes to underline the importance it attaches to the issue of reproduction and health. It is worth recalling in this respect that one of the areas of investigation for the Steering committee on equality of women and men is the freedom of choice in matters of reproduction and life-styles. A multidisciplinary Group of specialists has been established, under the authority of CDEG, to carry out a survey of the legal situation, psycho-social and medical facilities and sex education programmes in the member States. The group will be entrusted with proposing standards for the development of national legislation and programmes on matters relating to fertility, family planning and sex education.

12. Lastly, the concerns voiced in paragraph 11(xii) are echoed in the work of the Council of Europe on health issues, which is based on the right for all to equal access to health services. A study on the balance between equity and efficiency has been recently completed and a draft recommendation on the subject will be submitted to the Committee of Ministers later this year. Part of the activities in the field of health are devoted to the promotion of health and health prevention, as testified by the programme on the subject, jointly run by the Council of Europe and the European Commission. In addition, it could be mentioned that since 1983 the Council of Europe has been in the forefront of the fight against AIDS, proposing preventive action, education and respect for the ethical values involved.