'Local and regional authorities are a very important part of the Council of Europe's work to enhance human rights, rule of law and democracy across the continent' stated Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, addressing the 32nd Session of the Congress on 28 March 2017 in Strasbourg (France). 'The Congress has adopted a Human Rights Action Plan in order to pay attention to what authorities can do at the local level. I'm very glad you have put in place this action plan, because then we now mobilise forces to support the European Convention of Human Rights at local and regional level,' he added. 'The only way of strengthening the Convention is to share the responsibility for it with the domestic level.' he underlined. The Secretary General stressed out the key role of the Congress in providing concrete responses to issues facing Europe, in particular in addressing intercultural issues and promoting the integration of migrants. He emphasised the need to ensure voting rights for displaced persons and drew attention to the situation of unaccompanied refugee minors 'who have more than anybody else the right to protection and education.' 

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File: 32nd Session of the Congress