On 28 January, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) issued a negative opinion on the “Draft Additional Protocol to the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine” (also known as the Oviedo Convention). The opinion recommends a stronger focus on mechanisms that promote autonomy, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). However, the opinion is non-binding and the final decision on the future of the protocol remains with the Committee of Ministers.
On 10 February, the European Disability Forum (EDF) and other civil society organisations reiterated their long-standing opposition to the Additional Protocol through a joint statement, calling on the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers to withdraw the draft additional protocol.
More information on the PACE decision is available at: https://pace.coe.int/en/news/10181
More information on the campaign by EDF and other civil society organisations is available at: https://www.edf-feph.org/publications/council-of-europes-parliamentary-assembly-opposes-harmful-protocol-on-coercion-in-mental-healthcare/
