The Czech Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
19.05.2017 / 13:05 | Aktualizováno: 11.01.2022 / 12:14
For the second time in its history, the Czech Republic is assuming
the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe,
an international organisation established in 1949 to promote European values
and the principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law that form
the basis for today’s European cooperation. In the early nineties, prior
to the first Czech Chairmanship, many Czechs and other nations came to see
the Council of Europe as a symbol of the democratic Europe to which they were
returning. Ever since, we have felt that being part of the Council of Europe
means belonging to the family of European democracies and sharing the values
that lie at the heart of every free society.
Human rights are one of the priorities of the Czech Government and its foreign policy which is why we attach great importance to our Chairmanship and would welcome the support of your country in its performance.
The Czech Republic will assume the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in May 2017, for the second time in its history, 22 years after our first chairmanship and 24 years after joining the Organization.
The priorities of our chairmanship have been defined in response to challenges in all three areas of the Council of Europe’s core mission – human rights, democracy and the rule of law. We have worked intensely with other ministries over the last year and a half to identify the areas of common interest and to determine the priorities and events for our chairmanship, based on the ongoing program of activities of the Council of Europe.
As the presiding country we would like to focus on several priority areas: First, the human rights protection of persons belonging to vulnerable or disadvantaged groups and gender equality. Second, strengthening the rule of law. Third, promotion of human rights education. Fourth, supporting local and regional democracy and public administration reforms, and last, cooperation with other international organizations. These are all topics linked to the core mandate of the organization.
We plan to hold several conferences on the rights of persons belonging to vulnerable or disadvantaged groups. Within this priority I could perhaps highlight the important topic which is the protection of the rights of migrant children. A major international expert conference looking at the legal and practical aspects of detention of migrant children and its alternatives will be organized in Prague. Situation of Roma and gender equality issues will also be given a major focus within this chapter with workshops taking place in Prague.
Within the framework of strengthening the rule of law I would like to emphasize our commitment to implementing the decisions adopted so far to guarantee the smooth functioning in long term of the European Court of Human Rights. In this context I would particularly point out to a conference of Supreme Court Presidents on the binding force of the judicial decisions which will be organized in Brno.
We also attach a particular importance to cooperation and coordination with other international stakeholders. We plan joint projects with the Austrian Chairmanship of the OSCE.
Foto: (@MZV)