Sky, the
Council of Europe spans more or less from Vancouver to Vladivostok, so Russia is getting it's legal ass given to it all the time. Would you mind giving me the third "EU" institution you speak of. The three major ones that I know of are the EU, the Council of Europe, created well before the EU and in my humble opinion the real peace maker in Europe with this mission:
Article 1
- The aim of the Council of Europe is to achieve a greater unity between its members for the purpose of safeguarding and realising the ideals and principles which are their common heritage and facilitating their economic and social progress.
- This aim shall be pursued through the organs of the Council by discussion of questions of common concern and by agreements and common action in economic, social, cultural, scientific, legal and administrative matters and in the maintenance and further realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
- Participation in the Council of Europe shall not affect the collaboration of its members in the work of the United Nations and of other international organisations or unions to which they are parties.
- Matters relating to national defence do not fall within the scope of the Council of Europe.
The EU is meant to join the CoE, as inscribed in the Treaty (Dictate
) of Lisbon, something which has some EU leaders worried about possible human rights abuse in the EU. I can almost taste the irony.
What is the third one? I can think of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, but that one is well separated with a completely different mission and with just the bare minimum of legal basis in order to be called an Organisation (used to be Conference), so there are also no to extremely limited legal obligations that member states would have to comply to.
So, yes, the first two are connected and maybe have a slightly similar agenda, but I still wouldn't go as far as throwing them in the same drawer. Similar ideas, far from same mission, considering the dispersed and diverse membership. The think about cultural relativism still stand though.
And Tribesman, no, Skybird isn't talking bull****. We have had similar "problems" with local courts in Slovenia. Our Roma community is more or less integrated, but there are still problems, coming from both sides. But there was one case, concerning a forced marriage and abuse, completely contrary to our or international law, but the man was let go on the argument of "it's their culture". You know something is wrong when the most human rights liberal professor of law tells you that this is outmost and complete bull.