The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) convenes in Strasbourg from January 27 to 31, aiming to address critical issues including the humanitarian crisis in Gaza impacting women, children, and hostages. This winter session features prominent figures like Luc Frieden, Prime Minister of Luxembourg, and Xavier Bettel, Minister for Foreign Affairs, who will engage with parliamentarians amidst Luxembourg’s presidency. His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, along with Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, will also share their insights during this significant gathering.
A notable agenda point includes a report on multi-perspectivity in education about remembrance and history, coinciding with ceremonies to mark the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz-Birkenau’s liberation. Additionally, the session will cover key topics such as the observation of parliamentary elections in Georgia and the growing concern over immigration and its role in countering Europe’s demographic challenges.
Discussions will extend to the threats posed by mercenaries to human rights and the imperative of regulating social media content to uphold freedom of expression. Furthermore, the Assembly will review age-based discrimination against older persons and deliberate on a proposed convention to protect the legal profession, featuring insights from the Rt Hon Lord Hermer KC, Attorney General for England and Wales. Reports addressing women in the economy, long Covid, and the ongoing monitoring procedures of the Assembly’s initiatives will also be showcased.
The PACE winter session from January 27-31 will address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, featuring discussions on human rights, multi-perspectivity in education, and the impact of immigration. Prominent leaders will share insight, and a ceremony will commemorate Auschwitz-Birkenau’s liberation. Topics such as mercenaries, social media regulations, discrimination against older persons, and women’s economic empowerment will also be debated.
In essence, the PACE winter session serves as a vital platform for addressing pressing humanitarian issues and exploring legislative responses to multifaceted challenges in Europe. With significant speeches and reports set against a backdrop of memorial ceremonies, this assembly underscores the Council of Europe’s commitment to human rights and legal protections, especially for vulnerable populations amidst ongoing crises.
Original Source: www.coe.int
