The Current Affairs Committee of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe met on 28 June 2019 in Stuttgart, Germany. The meeting was opened by Gabriele NEFF (Germany, ILDG), Chair of the Committee, and a welcome speech was given by Josef FREY (Germany, SOC), Member of the Regional Parliament of Baden-Württemberg and Member of the Committee.

The Committee examined, for approval, a report drafted by co-rapporteurs Oleksandr SIENKEVYCH (Ukraine, ILDG) and Marianne HOLLINGER (Switzerland, ILDG), on “The role of local and regional governments in protecting internally displaced persons (IDPs)”.

In addition, the Committee examined a resolution concerning the Revised “Code of good practice for civil participation in the decision-making process”, prepared by a joint working group of the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe and the Congress. The revised Code, which aims at strengthening the citizens’ democratic participation, was jointly presented by Thomas ANDERSSON (Sweden, ILDG), Congress Rapporteur, and Gerhard ERMISCHER, Vice-Chair of the Democracy Committee of the Conference of INGOs. The resolution will be submitted for approval during the 37th Congress Session (29-31 October 2019), in parallel with the Conference of INGOs which will adopt the Code during its session in October 2019.

Moreover, the Commission examined the terms of reference for the draft report on “Fighting sexism against women in politics at the local and regional level”. Although more and more women are present in politics, sexism still represents an obstacle for them, both during elections and during terms of office. The presentation of the terms of reference by Jelena DRENJANIN (Sweden, EPP/CCE) was followed by some interventions by Thorhildur Sunna ÆVARSDÓTTIR, Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe’s report on “Promoting parliaments free of sexism and sexual harassment”, Anja REINALTER, member of the County Council of Laupheim in Baden-Württemberg, and Ljiljana LONCAR, member of the Gender Equality Commission of the Council of Europe.

Finally, a ceremony for the signature of the Congress Pact of towns and regions to stop sexual violence against children by the County Association of Baden-Württemberg was organised during the meeting. The Association was represented by its Executive Director Dr. Alexis v. Komorowski.

The Committee members were received by Andrea KLETT-EININGER, City Director of Stuttgart on the eve of the Committee meeting.

See also: Web page of the Current Affairs Committee meeting

Venue: Parliament of the State of Baden-Württemberg

Interpretation: English, French, German, Italian and Russian provided by the host organisers.

Contact:
Sedef Cankoçak
Secretary of the Current Affairs Committee