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COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS |
Decisions |
CM/Del/Dec(2019)129/2a |
17 May 2019 |
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129th Session of the Committee of Ministers
2. A shared responsibility for democratic security in Europe a. Report by the Secretary General “Ready for future challenges – Reinforcing the Council of Europe”
Reference document |
Decisions
1. The Committee of Ministers recalled its engagement at its 128th Session held in Elsinore on 18 May 2018, to continue the reform of the Council of Europe, took into account the report of the Secretary General “Ready for future challenges – Reinforcing the Council of Europe”, as it appears in document SG(2019)1, and instructed the Ministers’ Deputies to give appropriate follow-up to the proposals contained therein.
a. Strengthening the Council of Europe’s acquis by addressing major challenges
2. The Committee of Ministers agreed to continue analysing the protection provided by existing European standards with a view to identifying gaps and developing sector specific recommendations, guidelines and codes of conduct, as well as, if required, other instruments, and instructed its Deputies:
- to examine the feasibility and potential elements on the basis of multi-stakeholder consultations, of a legal framework for the development, design and application of artificial intelligence, based on the Council of Europe’s standards on human rights, democracy and the rule of law;
- to examine ways of strengthening action against trafficking in human beings.
3. The Committee of Ministers:
- recalling the importance of freedom of expression, online and offline, as a cornerstone of a democratic and pluralistic society, agreed to reinforce the Organisation’s work in this field and to enhance its co-operation and dialogue with the relevant tools of the Council of Europe, including the Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists;
- underlined the need to address increasing inequality, racism, xenophobia, hate speech and discrimination on grounds of religion or belief or any other ground mentioned in the report of the Secretary General;
- recalled the need to continue addressing the challenges arising from global migration;
- reaffirmed the importance of social rights across the continent, and invited member States that have not yet done so to consider signing and/or ratifying the revised European Social Charter and its Additional Protocol providing for a system of collective complaints;
- reaffirming its commitment to equality between women and men, and to fight violence against women and domestic violence, stressed the importance in this regard of the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention).
b. Strategic objectives for addressing future challenges
4. The Committee of Ministers:
- taking into account the human rights issues at stake and the particular characteristics of each conflict, reiterated the fundamental role of the Commissioner for Human Rights, as laid out in Resolution Res(99)50, who shall have full and free access to all member States;
- referring to Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and underlining the essential role of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), also in emergency situations, recalled that it shall have unlimited access to places where persons are deprived of their liberty, including the right to move inside such places without restriction and the right to interview in private persons deprived of their liberty;
- recognising the important role of the Parliamentary Assembly, the European Court of Human Rights and Council of Europe monitoring bodies, expressed support for their activities to promote and strengthen human rights, the rule of law and democracy, and for the activities of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in enhancing resilient local and regional democracy.
c. Ensuring the sustainability of the Organisation
5. The Committee of Ministers invited their Deputies to examine the proposals made in the Secretary General’s report on ensuring the sustainability of the Organisation.
d. Continuing structural and administrative reforms
6. The Committee of Ministers:
- reaffirming the importance of intergovernmental co-operation, invited its Deputies to evaluate the possibility to reinforce the co-ordination and role of intergovernmental committees taking into account the proposals made in the Secretary General’s report and to provide them with the necessary flexibility to adapt to urgent needs;
- invited its Deputies to consider the functions and the election procedure of the Deputy Secretary General;
7. acknowledging the results of the reform process achieved to date, the Committee of Ministers invited the Secretary General and the incoming Secretary General to continue the structural and administrative reforms, including further strengthening the Organisation’s independent evaluation function, to ensure even greater efficiency, effectiveness, flexibility and value for money.