Debates on the humanitarian crisis concerning women, children and the hostages in Gaza; and on the need for a renewed rules-based international order are among the highlights of the winter plenary session of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), taking place from 27 to 31 January, in Strasbourg.

The Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Luc Frieden, will address the parliamentarians and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and Chair of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, Xavier Bettel, will present his communication to the Assembly and take questions from members in the framework of Luxembourg’s Presidency. His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will also address the Assembly, and Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, will present a communication to the parliamentarians.

The presentation of a report on multi-perspectivity in remembrance and history education will be followed by a ceremony to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in the Chamber.

Other highlights on the agenda include the observation of the parliamentary elections in Georgia; immigration as one of the answers to Europe’s demographic ageing; the risks to human rights and the rule of law posed by mercenaries and private military companies; regulating content moderation on social media to safeguard freedom of expression; and age-based discrimination against older persons.

The Georgian delegation, led by the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Tea Tsulukiani, is participating in the session. The delegation will hold meetings until January 29.