ELoGE ITALY 2022 – ITALIAN PRESIDENCY OF THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

More than 20 years later, on November 17, our country once again assumed the six-month rotating presidency of the Committee of Ministers (CoM), the decision-making body of the Council of Europe. On the Italian side, we intend to ensure an inclusive and participatory presidency, while at the same time committed to maintaining high standards and watching to ensure that the credibility and relevance of the Organisation is not diminished. Indeed, we believe that the Council of Europe represents an essential element of effective multilateralism and an indispensable reference in areas of its added value and recognised expertise. Women’s rights and the fight against violence against women, children’s rights and youth policies, the impact of Artificial Intelligence on human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and the protection of cultural heritage are the central themes of the Italian presidency, articulated in three priority areas, with a focus on linking principles, objectives, instruments and results:

• RENEWING ITS COMMITMENT TO SHARED PRINCIPLES AND VALUES Italy intends to continue to uphold the founding values and principles of the Council of Europe, which underlie the decision of the Member States to join the Organisation and which, moreover, have helped them cope with the effects of the pandemic with responses that respect human rights, the rule of law, and democracy. For this reason, initiatives that strengthen the Organisation’s dialogue, inclusiveness, and identity are promoted in areas such as the protection of cultural heritage, social rights, sports, and the right to health.
• STRENGTHENING WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT AND THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS BY PROMOTING YOUTH POLICIES The defense and promotion of women’s fundamental rights and the promotion of the Istanbul Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence are the focus of our Presidency’s efforts, in the belief that women’s empowerment is also linked to the reduction of violence against women. The Italian Presidency is also committed to raising the level of child protection in the pan-European and international arena, while also promoting initiatives aimed at young people and their education for the pursuit of peace and the protection of human rights and the rule of law.
• BUILDING A PEOPLE-FRIENDLY FUTURE Italy recognizes the Council of Europe’s frontline role in addressing the challenges posed to human rights by new technologies, as demonstrated by the success of the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, which will see the opening for the signing of its Second Protocol during our six-month term. In particular, the Chairmanship promotes the role of the Organization in shaping one of the most crucial issues in today’s society, namely the protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law against the risks posed by the development and application of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Building a human-scale future goes through the promotion of a citizen-friendly justice system. In this context, the Italian presidency promotes the themes of restorative justice and its role in European criminal jurisdiction, as well as on the independence of judges and the role of Attorneys General.