Human rights and protection of vulnerable groups to be discussed at the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Published:
On 30 September–4 October, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, PACE, will be holding its autumn session in Strasbourg. The Riksdag delegation, consisting of 12 members, will participate in the session in which important issues concerning human rights and freedom of expression are to be discussed.
During the autumn session, the PACE prize for the promotion of human rights, the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, will be awarded. Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was awarded the prize in 2022 and was recently released from prison in Russia, will hold a speech during the ceremony.
Debates on human rights and freedom of expression
Items on the agenda include a discussion on human rights based on the detention of Julian Assange, who will also be attending the session in person. Other debates include propaganda and freedom of information in Europe as well as a discussion on the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor famine in Ukraine in 1932–33, as well as the threats Ukraine faces today.
Other subjects to be debated include a European strategy for combating smuggling of migrants, access to food as a fundamental human right, and risks and opportunities connected to the virtual world. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s fulfilment of its obligations and commitments as a member of the Council of Europe will also be discussed.
Discussions on the protection of human rights defenders and vulnerable groups
Among other subjects for discussion are a report on Iranian human rights defenders in the Council of Europe's member countries and a report on initiatives to combat lesbian, bisexual and queer women in Europe. Questions on the rights of sex workers and protection against sexual exploitation will also be discussed.
A discussion of the work of the Council of Europe Development Bank is also on the agenda, in which the Governor of the bank Carlo Monticelli will be participating. Other guest speakers include the Minister for Foreign Affairs from North Macedonia Timčo Mucunski, and the Lithuanian Minister for Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis who will participate in his capacity as current Chair of the Council of Europe.
Furthermore, there are also proposals to debate the deteriorating situation for human rights and the rule of law in Azerbaijani, disappeared people and prisoners of war in Ukraine, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza focusing on women’s and children’s health.
The Assembly will adopt its final agenda during the first day of the session.
Members
The Swedish delegation participating in the autumn session:
- Markus Wiechel (Sweden Democrats), Chair
- Mattias Jonsson (Social Democratic Party), Deputy Chair
- Boriana Åberg (Moderate Party)
- Azadeh Rojhan (Social Democratic Party)
- Jessica Stegrud (Sweden Democrats)
- Annika Strandhäll (Social Democratic Party)
- Victoria Tiblom (Sweden Democrats)
- Denis Begic (Social Democratic Party)
- Gustaf Göthberg (Moderate Party)
- Sofia Amloh (Social Democratic Party)
- Michael Rubbestad (Sweden Democrats)
- Kristoffer Lindberg (Social Democratic Party)
Further information
The Council of Europe works to create common European values based on human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Sweden was one of the founding members of the Council of Europe and its Parliamentary Assembly in 1949. The Council of Europe currently has 46 member states.
Contact person for the media
Eva Östlund, Senior International Adviser, International Department of the Riksdag, telephone: +46 70 609 67 39, email: eva.ostlund@riksdagen.se