PACE Session Will Discuss the Consequences of the War in Ukraine

22-04-2022

Manon Picard

International Justice and Human Rights Researcher, 

Global Human Rights Defence.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will be meeting for their spring session in a hybrid format from the 25th of April to the 28th of April 2022 and will discuss, as its primary topic, the consequences of the Russian Federation’s aggression on Ukraine. In relation to this topic, PACE will also debate on “ensuring accountability for serious violations of international humanitarian law”. The President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, will also give a speech to the parliamentary assembly and answer questions from parliamentarians from other Member States. 

As this is the PACE’s spring session, other topics and reports will be discussed during the four -day meeting. Firstly, there will be a focus on Europe and how the Council of Europe can strengthen its relationship with the institution as well as preserving democracy in Europe. Additionally, the agenda also includes a variety of reports that will be discussed throughout the session such as: 

“combating children’s exposure to pornographic content, on the deinstitutionalisation of persons with disabilities, on preventing excessive and unjustified use of force by law enforcement officers, on tackling discrimination based on social origin, and on the honouring of obligations and commitments by Georgia”. 

The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, will present the annual activity report of 2021 and the Council of Europe’s Secretary General, Marija Pejčinović Burić, will hold a question time with other PACE members. As the Council of Europe is currently under Italian Presidency, Benedetto Della Vedova will also present the Communication from the Committee of Ministers within this framework. 

PACE’s spring session is therefore expected to address and debate on topical issues throughout the four-days. Since the session is taking place in a hybrid format, it can be followed live on PACE’s website if you click on this link. 

Sources and further reading:

Council of Europe. (2022, April 22). PACE Spring Session: the Consequences of Russia’s Aggression Against Ukraine. Newsroom – Council of Europe. Retrieved on April 22, 2022, from https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/pace-spring-session-the-consequences-of-russia-s-aggression-against-ukraine

Parliamentary Assembly. (2022, April 22). Spring Session 2022. https://pace.coe.int/en/pages/session-202204