Newsroom
Václav Havel Human Rights Prize 2017: call for nominations
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in partnership with the Vaclav Havel Library and the Charta 77 Foundation, has today issued a call for nominations for the 2017 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize. The Prize, created in 2013, aims to reward outstanding civil society action...
Russia: decriminalising domestic violence would be a clear sign of regression, says Secretary General Jagland
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland sent a letter today to the Chairpersons of the State Duma and the Federation Council of the Russian Federation expressing his deep concern at the legislation which, if adopted, would decriminalize domestic violence in Russia. “I call upon you...
The media and journalism in Europe, highlight of the Parliamentary Assembly winter part-session
Debates on attacks against journalists and media freedom in Europe, the challenges and accountability of online media and journalism, and the need to end cyberdiscrimination and online hate speech will be at the heart of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) winter plenary...
Study on the rights of children in biomedicine
The Committee on Bioethics (DH-BIO) has published a study prepared at its request by researchers from Uppsala University Department of Law (Sweden) on the challenges posed to the rights of the child by scientific and technological developments in biomedicine. The study will be used as the basis...
Terrorist attack in Jerusalem, Israel
Statement by Thorbjørn Jagland, Council of Europe Secretary General
New Year’s Eve terrorist attack in Istanbul
Statement by the Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Ioannis Kasoulides, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cyprus
Council of Europe colloquy on protecting cultural heritage from destruction and trafficking
High-level representatives from international organisations and national governments, as well as academic experts, are in Strasbourg today for a colloquy aimed at strengthening cooperation to protect cultural heritage from wanton destruction and preventing the illicit trafficking of cultural...
Secretary General Jagland condemns terrorist attack in Istanbul
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Jagland condemning the terrorist attack in Istanbul "In these first hours of 2017, my heartfelt thoughts are with all those affected by the bloody terrorist attack on innocent people in Istanbul who were celebrating the New Year. The Council of...
Congress rapporteurs complete fact-finding mission to Turkey
From 18 to 20 December 2016, the rapporteurs on Turkey of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe Anders KNAPE (Sweden, EPP/CCE) and Leen VERBEEK (Netherlands, SOC) carried out the second part of their fact-finding mission to Turkey, to investigate the recent...
Recent terrorist attacks in Europe
Statement by the Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Ioannis Kasoulides, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cyprus
Suspected terrorist attack in Berlin: Secretary General statement
'The Council of Europe mourns with Germany today for the victims of the suspected terror attack on a Christmas market in Berlin which killed and injured so many innocent people. The responsible way in which the German authorities are handling and communicating this crisis is exemplary. I express...
Statement by Secretary General Jagland on murder of Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov
"I am shocked and deeply saddened by the assassination of the Russian Federation's Ambassador to Turkey in Ankara today. I present my sincere condolences to the Russian authorities and to the family and colleagues of Ambassador Karlov. All of us at the Council of Europe express our solidarity...
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland condemns terrorist attack in Turkey
Statement on bomb attack in Turkish city of Kayseri
North-South Prize 2016 recognises efforts towards migrants, refugees and democracy
The North-South Center of the Council of Europe is pleased to announce that Ms Guisepina Nicolini, Mayor of the City of Lampedusa, and Ms Mbarka Brahmi, member of the Tunisian parliament have accepted the nomination of the jury of the North South Prize to be the recipients of the 2016 North South...
Anti-torture committee criticises inadequate safeguards for foreign nationals returned by air from Italy and Spain
In two reports published today on Italy and Spain, the Council of Europe’s anti-torture committee (CPT) criticises the lack of adequate safeguards for foreign national returned by air from these countries, in particular concerning the way the individuals concerned are informed of their imminent...
Cooperation with national human rights bodies to protect freedom of expression and journalists
The Council of Europe and the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) are jointly organising on 15 December in Strasbourg a high level seminar to discuss the potential for co-operation to promote and protect freedom of expression and the safety of journalists in member...
Key to Europe becoming a death penalty free area lies in Belarus, say participants at Minsk conference
A conference on the abolition of the death penalty and public opinion, organised by the Council of Europe in co-operation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus was held in Minsk today. Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus Yevgeny Shestakov and the UK Ambassador to Belarus Fionna Gibb...
Latvia urged to ensure gender equality and foster an inclusive society
Human Rights Commissioner Nils Muižnieks releases report on his visit to the country in September
GRECO report: Greece should step up its fight against corruption in politics
A new report by the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) on Greece finds that transparency in party financing and the incriminations of bribery and trading in influence have not improved further since it last issued a report in June 2015. Despite recommendations by GRECO...
Committee of Ministers reviews the implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights
On 7-9 December, representatives of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe held their fourth “Human Rights” meeting of 2016, during which they examined the implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in keeping with the supervisory role of the Committee of Ministers,...
