Declaration on the rights and responsibilities of the citizen in a democratic society

Doc. 8023
13 February 1998

Declaration on the rights and responsibilities of the citizen in a democratic society

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Toshev and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

The Assembly,

1. Considering the eminent role assumed since almost half a century by the Council of Europe in order to guarantee democracy, respect of human rights and supremacy of law;

2. Convinced that the harmonious functioning of a democratic society requires not only the full respect of citizens' rights but also an awareness of their own responsibilities;

3. Noticing with deep concern the multiple indications that the awareness of these responsibilities seems too often weakened if not completely deficient;

4. Inspired by the Final Declaration and the Action Plan adopted by the Summit in Strasbourg (October 1997) and in particular by the decision of the Heads of State and Government to launch an initiative for education for democratic citizenship with a view to promoting citizens' awareness of their rights and responsibilities in a democratic society;

5. Taking note of the initiative of the Bulgarian Government within the Committee of Ministers,

6. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers do all that is necessary to ensure the adoption of such a declaration on the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the Council of Europe.

Signed : ¹

Toshev, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

Poptodorova, Bulgaria, SOC

Arnau, Spain, SOC

Atkinson, United Kingdom, EDG

de Puig, Spain, SOC

Gonzales Laxe, Spain, SOC

Ivanov, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

Lopez Henares, Spain, EPP/CD

Loutfi, Bulgaria, LDR

Martinez Casan, Spain, EPP/CD

Martinez, Spain, SOC

Muehlemann, Switzerland, LDR

Ojuland, Estonia, LDR

Pickles, United Kingdom, EDG

Poças Santos, Spain, EPP/CD

Ruffy, Switzerland, SOC

Schieder, Austria, SOC

Schwimmer, Austria, EPP/CD

Zingeris, Lithuania, EDG