The report, submitted by the Rapporteur, Mr Boriss Cilevičs, was approved by a majority vote, following a heated debate and objections by some members. The report contains an analysis of the current implementation of the principles of equality and non-discrimination in the Member States of the Council of Europe, and discusses the central role of equality and non-discrimination in the protection of human rights as enshrined in international law. It also expresses concern at the low level of ratification of Protocol 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights, which extends the scope of the prohibition of discrimination to any right set forth by law.
The report presents the Declaration of Principles on Equality and recommends that the Principles be endorsed by the Committee of Ministers, as guidance for the development of new national equality legislation, as well as the implementation of existing equality provisions in Member States. The preparation of the report was based on a hearing held in Paris on 8 March 2011, at which The Equal Rights Trust provided testimony. The report will now progress to a plenary of the Parliamentary Assembly which may decide to consider further action as a follow-up to the report.
The Declaration of Principles on Equality was developed in 2008 by a group of international human rights and equality experts, under the auspices of The Equal Rights Trust. The Declaration – which consists of 27 principles – expresses the current moral and professional consensus among experts and advocates on the main elements of equality and non-discrimination law and appropriate legal standards.
The Council of Europe is an international organisation which works towards European integration with a focus on legal standards, human rights, democratic development and the rule of law. It was founded in 1949 and has 47 member states. The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights is a standing sub-committee of the Parliamentary Assembly, one of the Council of Europe’s central institutions which comprises national parliamentarians from each of the member states. A synopsis of the Committee’s decision will soon be published here. The text of the report “The Declaration of Principles on Equality and the Activities of the Council of Europe” will soon be published here and will also be available on the website of The Equal Rights Trust.
To see the Declaration of Principle on Equality, click here.
ERIO NEWSROOM 