Statement by Luigi Di Maio, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Italy Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
Strasbourg, 10.12.2021 – Luigi Di Maio, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Italy and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, made the following statement on the occasion of Human Rights Day:
“Today we celebrate International Human Rights Day. Respect for human rights has grown considerably since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights have played a decisive role in protecting the human rights of individuals and ensuring that everyone can live their life. in dignity.
The Italian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers considers that the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms is at the very root of common European values. It is crucial that the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights are executed, thus ensuring the efficiency of the supervisory system, which is one of the unique characteristics of the Council of Europe.
Social rights are also a key element of European construction and of the founding principles of Europe. We intend to contribute to the common efforts underway to strengthen the system of the European Social Charter by simplifying its monitoring procedures and promoting a more regular dialogue with governments. Italy hopes to achieve tangible results in this regard during its Presidency.
Our Presidency has made the protection and promotion of the fundamental rights of women and the rights of the child a priority, these groups having been particularly affected by the coronavirus crisis. We will focus on preventing violence against women and domestic violence. The Istanbul Convention is at the heart of this work and we will continue to promote its ratification by all member states.
The Council of Europe and its member states must also work together to tackle new emerging human rights challenges, such as artificial intelligence, for the benefit of European citizens, including its future generations. .