Deprived of plenary sessions by the health crisis since last spring, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has continued its activities in committees and prepared reports which it debates in the Standing Committee, which has been enlarged to include all its members by videoconference. It was in this context that the first part of the autumn session was held on 12 and 13 October. With a common thread: the impact of the pandemic on democracy, the Rule of law and human rights. Several reports with resolutions were adopted this week, which are taking on added significance with the resurgence of the pandemic.
While supporting the choices made to give priority to safeguarding the population, PACE warned in a first Resolution that “democracy, human rights and the Rule of law cannot be allowed to become collateral damage of the pandemic”. Emergency measures may not “exceed the duration of the situation that justifies them”, Parliaments must continue to exercise their statutory functions without interruption, and any postponement of elections must be provided for by law and must be necessary, proportionate, limited in time and accompanied by a genuine campaign with public debate. An appeal has also been made to Council of Europe member and observer states to ensure that diagnostic tools, treatments and vaccines are accessible to all, starting with the most vulnerable.
Another text warns of the risks that the health emergency poses to freedom of expression and media freedom, data protection, the functioning of judicial systems, and prison conditions. Perils to which must be added corruption related to the purchase of medical products and economic stimulus measures. The adopted resolution calls for a thorough and independent review of all measures taken so far to identify shortcomings both in terms of compliance with COE standards and their effectiveness.
A third resolution urges governments to avoid “one-size-fits-all” responses to pandemics and similar crises, ensuring that the diversity of society is taken into account in future emergency measures. Certain restrictions have amplified discrimination based on sex, national or ethnic origin, disability, age or sexual orientation. PACE calls for a “differentiated approach” with additional financial support for these vulnerable groups. Governments must consider a number of questions, says PACE. What evidence did they have when they took the emergency measures? Who was present to discuss these decisions? What data were they missing? And above all: how can we be better informed in the future?
The humanitarian consequences of the pandemic for migrants and refugees were the subject of the fourth Resolution adopted this week. These vulnerable groups have been “doubly affected”, says PACE, which calls on Member States to keep their borders open, lift unnecessary travel restrictions, ensure access to the territory while safeguarding public health through screening, testing and quarantine, avoid detentions and maintain registration systems and asylum procedures. PACE concludes by calling on states not to use migrants as “political pawns”, and to develop greater inter-state solidarity. “We must stop turning back migrants and ensure that boat people are promptly disembarked at ports without international haggling or negotiations”. (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)