Nickie Aiken, Member of Parliament for the Cities of London & Westminster, reflected on her first session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe following her appointment to the UK Delegation.
The Council of Europe is the European continent’s leading human rights organisation. Set up in 1949, it upholds human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe. It is so much wider than just the EU with 46 member countries including Ukraine, Georgia, and Turkey, to name but a few.
Throughout the week, Nickie had the honour of speaking to other Parliamentarians from across Europe, hearing their stories. She heard more from the Ukrainian Delegation about Putin’s war in Ukraine and the violence the citizens of Ukraine face from the Russians.
Nickie joined her colleagues at the European Court of Human Rights and met Tim Eicke, a British Judge, selected by the UK Government to sit on the Court. She commented it was an incredibly fascinating visit, highlighting how few UK cases taken to the Court are upheld.
Nickie led the Conservative Group in two debates, firstly on preventing sexual violence in conflict, and secondly on the Istanbul Convention to protect women and girls from violence and to uphold their rights as human rights.
The Council of Europe is a force for good and Nickie is looking forward to returning and continuing work to uphold the rule of law across our continent and defend our human rights. Together with Jo Gideon MP, Sally-Ann Hart MP and Jill Mortimer MP, they reflected on their first visit. Watch what they had to say in the video above.
