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European Committee of Social Rights: the right to protection of health in times of pandemic
In a statement of interpretation on the right to protection of health (Article 11 of the European Social Charter) in times of pandemic, the European Committee of Social Rights endorses many measures adopted by states in response to COVID-19: “testing and tracing, physical distancing and...
Challenges to human rights in Europe intensified in 2019
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, has published her annual activity report covering 2019. The report provides an overall picture of the main problems, challenges and opportunities that European countries are facing in the field of human rights. “The image I get...
Council of Europe Bank approves € 300 million loan to Czech Republic to combat the COVID-19 pandemic
The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has approved a € 300 million loan to the Czech Republic to finance health expenditure to combat the spread and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Czech Republic was quick to undertake COVID-19 protective measures in January before any confirmed cases...
COVID-19 pandemic: GRECO warns of corruption risks
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has published guidelines addressed to its 50 member states aimed at preventing corruption in the context of the health emergency caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The guidelines, issued by GRECO’s president, Marin Mrčela, underline...
COVID-19 pandemic: tackling the dramatic increase in cases of violence against women
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, a dramatic increase has been reported in recorded cases of violence against women and domestic violence, both worldwide and in Council of Europe member states. The Committee of the Parties to the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence...
Council of Europe Bank approves € 300 million COVID-19 healthcare loan to Italy
The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has approved a € 300 million loan to Italy to finance health expenditure associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. In a decree issued on 23 March 2020, Italy defined a set of extraordinary immediate term measures aimed at managing the COVID-19 pandemic,...
During virus crisis states should ensure rescue at sea and allow safe disembarkation
Statement by Commissioner for Human Rights “Despite the unprecedented challenges European countries face due to COVID-19, saving lives at sea and disembarking survivors in a safe port must continue”, stated today Dunja Mijatović, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. The...
COVID-19: Human rights principles must guide health decisions
A statement published by the Council of Europe's Committee on Bioethics recalls the fundamental principles, based on the respect for human dignity and human rights, which must guide medical decisions and practices in the context of the current crisis. Health care systems are under extreme...
Council of Europe and UNHCR support member states in bringing refugee health workers into the fight against COVID-19
As many European countries continue to struggle with the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis, the Council of Europe and UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, are encouraging states to benefit from the support that refugee health professionals can provide to national health systems at this critical...
Greece: Reforming prison system and ending police ill-treatment are urgent priorities, says CPT
After a visit to prisons in Greece last year, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) recommends that the Greek authorities remedy structural problems that have led to enduring ill-treatment of detainees, prison...
