Council of Europe: Congress of Local Authorities discussing war in Ukraine, children’s rights, antisemitism

The Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine, the role of the local and regional authorities in the protection of Ukrainian children’s rights, the rise in antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred in Europe, local responsibilities for environmental protection, are some of the items on the agenda of the session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (Strasbourg, 26-28 March). Speeches will be held by Daria Herasymchuk, Commissioner for Children’s Rights, and by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of the Belarusian democratic parties. The right to water, the problem of services leaving suburban and rural areas, the intercultural regions, and the plan to draw up a convention on Artificial Intelligence are other topics that will be discussed, along with a few monitoring reports on the enforcement of the European Charter of Local Self-Government. Resolutions and recommendations will be voted upon, regarding “local and regional authorities as players and guarantors of the rule of law”, “local and regional responses to natural disasters and climate risks”, “the Summit on the future of the United Nations”. At the end, the floor will be taken by Marija Pejčinović-Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and by Dunja Mijatović, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, both at the end of their terms. A ceremony will be held on Wednesday, 27th March, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Congress.
Valentina Bombelli