Andorran Delegation Champions Human Rights and Religious Freedom at PACE Spring Session

The Andorran delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) spring session in Strasbourg, held from April 20 to 24, actively championed human rights, religious freedom, and protections against gender-based violence and hate speech.

Led by Berna Coma, with Meritxell Alcobé and Susanna Vela, the group took part in debates on religious discrimination and the Istanbul Convention's rollout to build a consent culture. Coma emphasised Andorra's constitutional safeguards for religious liberty, enabling coexistence among faiths within state neutrality. She pointed to recent laws bolstering victim support and stressed the urgency of public education to curb violence against women, while voicing support for rapporteur Zita Gurmai's reports.

Susanna Vela upheld freedom of belief, encompassing the right to hold no religion, and flagged surging religious intolerance across Europe. She pushed for enhanced schooling, interfaith exchanges, and stronger legal protections.

Meritxell Alcobé tackled escalating hate speech and political violence, advocating robust frameworks to secure democratic engagement, mutual respect, and institutional dialogue.

The assembly endorsed resolutions for universal death penalty abolition, measures against social dumping and labour exploitation, and safeguards for copyright amid artificial intelligence advances—all backed by the Andorran delegates. Beyond the plenary, they joined committees and working groups, affirming Andorra's stake in key European discussions.

The session ended with the 2026 Council of Europe Museum Prize going to London's Young V&A for prioritising children and youth in cultural initiatives to spark creativity and involvement.