“Democracy cannot be really functioning or resilient if half of the citizens of a country are systematically under-represented, Participation of women in decision-making processes is a precondition for the viability of democracy,” Head of the Estonian Delegation Kadri Tali underlined.
On Monday, the Assembly focused on women’s rights in Europe. Kadri Tali spoke at the panel discussion dedicated to the experiences and challenges of women in leader roles.
Other debates on Monday dealt with the need to stop the war and halt the genocide in Gaza, as well as releasing of Georgian opposition leaders Zurab Japaridze and Nika Melia, who are facing politically motivated persecution in their homeland. The results of the elections observation mission in Albania were also introduced.
On Tuesday, Eerik-Niiles Kross delivered a report on legal and human rights aspects of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine.
In his speech, Eerik-Niiles Kross emphasised the importance of the survival of the Ukrainian nation and defending of Ukraine, and pointed out that Russia had deported thousands of Ukrainian children. He drew parallels with the history of Estonia and the experience of Estonian families, each of whom had their own painful memories and stories to tell. Kross underlined that the international community had to do everything possible to help these children return to their homes.
Other issues discussed were political negotiations to enforce exchange of prisoners of war, and solutions for inclusive participation in parliamentary life and ensuring gender equality and accessibility to influence political processes.
On Wednesday, there are debates on protecting human rights in and through sport, and on the Olympic movement and peacekeeping.
Other items on the agenda include saving the lives of migrants at sea and protecting their human rights, and the challenges and needs of public and private actors involved in migration management. Social mobilisation, social unrest and police reaction in Council of Europe member States will also be discussed. Prime Minister of Malta Robert Abela will address the Assembly.
PACE will give its opinion on a Draft Protocol amending the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism. Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia Gordan Grlić Radman also addresses the Assembly.
The Estonian delegation to the Summer Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) consists of Head of the Delegation Kadri Tali and members Eerik-Niiles Kross and Aleksei Jevgrafov.