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Montenegro: progress countering violence against women, but urgent action needed to protect victims, fight gender stereotypes, improve investigations and prosecutions
A new report by the Council of Europe’s independent expert group responsible for monitoring implementation of the Istanbul Convention, GREVIO, recognises progress made since October 2018 but identifies areas which require urgent action from the Montenegrin authorities to bring support, protection...
Congress and OSCE work together for greater transparency of election management bodies
Voters’ trust in the integrity of electoral processes is crucial for their democratic participation, commitment to democracy and for preventing democratic backsliding. This analysis formed the core of a speech by Stewart Dickson (United Kingdom, ILDG), the Congress Spokesperson for local and...
Istanbul Convention: experts praise Spain’s commitment to combatting violence against women, call for improving the training of professionals
In a new report the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) welcomes the Spanish authorities’ steady commitment and the progress achieved in measures to prevent and combat violence against women. GREVIO also identifies areas which...
Informal exchange of views between member states and civil society representatives
At an informal meeting on 20 November 2024, delegations from the Council of Europe’s 46 member states held an exchange of views with representatives of civil society on “Promoting ratification and implementation of the Istanbul Convention”. The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and...
Access to education for children from Ukraine in Europe: time to move from emergency response to long-term solutions, says Council of Europe study
On World Children’s Day, the Council of Europe warns that language barriers, limited school capacity, and difficult tracking of out-of-school children are among the key challenges faced by millions of children from Ukraine seeking refuge and access to education in Europe - as well as by their...
Council of Europe adopts new Action Plan for Republic of Moldova
The Committee of Ministers, representing the 46 Council of Europe member states, has adopted the Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2025-2028, drawn-up with the country’s national authorities and civil society organisations. The Council of Europe will continue to support the Republic of...
World cities ready to deliver the G20 agenda
Mayors from across the globe convened a meeting of Urban 20 on the margins of the G20 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 14-17 November 2024. President Lula da Silva of Brazil, chair of the G20, declared at the Urban 20 meeting: “Following the pledges by national governments, cities will deliver.”...
Enhancing local leadership to reinforce democracy in Cyprus
Developing the capacities of local leaders to strengthen democracy is key to ensuring the local government reform in Cyprus meets the needs of citizens. This was the objective of a two-day workshop for sixty local leaders from municipalities and communities across Cyprus, organised in Limassol on...
1,000th day of Russian war of aggression against Ukraine: video statement by Parliamentary Assembly President
In a video statement to mark the 1,000th day of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Theodoros Rousopoulos, recalls the nightmares experienced by Ukrainian citizens who see foreign troops occupying their...
1,000th day of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine: Committee of Ministers declaration
To mark the 1,000th day of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has adopted the following declaration: “For 1,000 days, Russia has been pursuing a war of aggression against Ukraine in flagrant violation of international law, including the...
European Union delegation visits the European Court of Human Rights
On 18 November 2024 a delegation from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), headed by its President, Koen Lenaerts, paid a visit to the European Court of Human Rights, to attend the two Courts’ annual meeting. The delegation was received by the President of the European Court of...
Warsaw conference explores impact of new technologies on democracy and human rights
The 2024 edition of the Warsaw Dialogue for Democracy will discuss some of the most pressing issues facing democracies today with a focus on the impact of new technologies on democracy and human rights. This year´s event is also celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe, with the...
What is Europe doing to protect children and young people from harmful online content?
The European Audiovisual Observatory publishes a new free report on the provisions in European media law aimed at protecting minors from harmful content online. This new report entitled “AVMSDigest - Safe screens: protecting minors online” unpacks the Audiovisual Media Services Directive...
Azerbaijan is multi-ethnic but possibilities to enjoy national minority rights must be improved, say Council of Europe experts
Azerbaijan as a multi-ethnic country strives to promote ethnic cultural, linguistic and religious tolerance and respect. Most national minority cultures are celebrated, and religious tolerance and interreligious dialogue are high on the government’s agenda. The rights of persons belonging to...
Secretary General: new technologies must stop child sex abuse, not facilitate it
This year’s Day for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse is an opportunity for governments and international organisations to commit to using new technologies to stop these crimes. Emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and extended...
25th Anniversary of the Commissioner for Human Rights: high-level event in Strasbourg
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, will mark the 25th anniversary of the institution with a high-level event on 21 November in Strasbourg. This event is part of the Presidency of Luxembourg of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and will be...
Secretary General at COP29 in Baku
Council of Europe Secretary General, Alain Berset, participated in the World Leaders Climate Action Summit in the context of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change (COP29) which took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 12-13 November 2024. In...
Forum in Luxembourg supports new projects and partnerships with Ukrainian municipalities
On 13 November 2024, a Congress delegation led by President Marc Cools took part in an international forum entitled “Bridges of Solidarity: Humanitarian and Social Initiatives from Cities to Cities” in Strassen, Luxembourg. Organised in the framework of the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of...
Countering abusive lawsuits aimed at stifling free expression: European Anti-SLAPP conference in Strasbourg
The second European Anti-SLAPP Conference, held in Strasbourg on 14 November, is addressing ways of effectively implementing the legislative and policy frameworks recently adopted in Europe to counter strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), including the Council of Europe’s...
Implementing ECHR judgments: new factsheet on the misuse of state power
The Council of Europe has published a new factsheet on changes that member states have introduced after the European Court of Human Rights found violations of Article 18 of the human rights convention. Article 18 of the European Convention on Human Rights reads as follows: The restrictions...
