1070bis meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies – Transfer of Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers

18 November 2009

Minister Samuel Žbogar presented the stocktaking of the Slovenian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers. The Deputies expressed their appreciation for the achievements and commitment of the Slovenian Chairmanship. They also took note of the report prepared by the Slovenian Chairmanship on the work of the Council of Europe since the 119th Session of the Committee of Ministers following the conflict in Georgia. They agreed that the Council of Europe should continue and, if possible, strengthen its activities to address the consequences of the conflict.

The Deputies adopted Recommendation CM/Rec(2009)10 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on integrated national strategies for the protection of children from violence. Minister Žbogar, in respect of the outgoing Chairmanship and Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey, in respect of the incoming Chairmanship, addressed a joint Declaration whereby they welcomed the adoption of these guidelines, which are the Council of Europe’s contribution to the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Deputies took note of a report of the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) on the follow-up given to the Committee of Ministers’ Declaration on Council of Europe action to improve the protection of human rights defenders and promote their activities. They reaffirmed their condemnation of all attacks on, and violations of the rights of, human rights defenders in Council of Europe member states or elsewhere, whether carried out by state agents or non-state actors.

After the handover of the Chairmanship, Minister Calmy-Rey presented the priorities of the Swiss Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers and held an exchange of views with the Ministers’ Deputies on this subject.