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PACE calls for new impetus in the EU enlargement process for the Western Balkans
The Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) has called on the European Union to give new impetus to the enlargement process to the Western Balkans. “It is imperative not to lose focus of the Western Balkans, even if the need to support the European aspirations of other countries, such...
Croatia: Improving data protection and efficiency in justice via digitalisation
A high-level conference in Zagreb, Croatia on the project “Digital by default – optimisation of efficiency and quality of judicial services and transparency of judicial decisions” – is addressing new AI and machine-learning technologies to make the justice system more efficient and to ensure...
Ireland’s President Higgins: We need a longer-term vision of the Council of Europe’s role in a post-conflict Europe
Ireland’s President Michael D. Higgins has called for a longer-term vision of the Council of Europe’s role in a post-conflict Europe, and how that might fit within the wider multilateral architecture, in order to effectively uphold human rights, the rule of law and democracy whilst ensuring there...
President of Swiss Confederation calls for new political momentum for the Council of Europe
“The crises we are going through today – foremost among them Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine - force us to question what we used to take for granted. They remind us of our duty to stand up for the values we hold dear, and that have been cherished by the Council of Europe since its...
2022 Václav Havel Prize awarded to imprisoned Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza
The tenth Václav Havel Human Rights Prize – which honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights – has been awarded to imprisoned Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza. The 60,000-euro prize was presented at a special ceremony on the opening day of the autumn plenary...
Council of Europe leaders condemn Russian air strikes against towns and cities in Ukraine
Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, Simon Coveney, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Tiny Kox, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, have made the following...
Türkiye: Draft criminal provision on “false or misleading information” interferes with freedom of expression says Venice Commission
Following an urgent request from the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the Venice Commission has published an urgent opinion on draft amendments to the Penal Code introducing a provision on “false and misleading information”. The provision...
European and World Day against the Death Penalty, 10 October
Joint statement by the High Representative, on behalf of the European Union, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Secretary General statement on awarding of Nobel Peace Prize to human rights activists in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine
"The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded this year to longstanding partners of the Council of Europe - Ales Bialiatski from Belarus, the Russian human rights organisation Memorial and the Ukrainian human rights organization the Center for Civil Liberties. We are delighted by the decision of the Nobel...
Germany: Council of Europe experts find serious gaps in protecting women and girls from gender-based violence
In its first baseline evaluation report on Germany, the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) welcomes criminal law measures taken before and after Germany’s ratification of the Istanbul Convention in 2018, but also points out...
“Addressing disinformation and propaganda with a human rights framework”: informal exchange of views with civil society representatives
At an informal meeting on 6 October delegations from the Council of Europe’s 46 member states held an exchange of views with representatives of international civil society organisations active in the media field. They discussed the challenges of disinformation and propaganda which undermine...
Irish Presidency welcomes publication of report on the future of the Council of Europe
Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, and Minister for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, have joined Council of Europe leaders today in welcoming the publication of a report on the future of the Council of Europe by a High-Level Reflection Group chaired by Ireland’s former...
Efficiency and quality of justice in Europe: Council of Europe publishes its 2022 report
The Council of Europe’s European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) has set out the main trends of the judicial systems of 44 European countries and 3 observer States (*) in a report, country profiles and an interactive database (all publicly available). This evaluation report, the...
Angela Merkel to receive UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award for protecting refugees at height of Syria crisis
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, announced today that Dr. Angela Merkel, the former Federal Chancellor of Germany, will receive the 2022 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award. Each year, the award – named after the Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat and humanitarian Fridtjof Nansen – is given to an...
Human trafficking: Council of Europe experts call on Luxembourg to step up efforts to identify and assist victims
The Council of Europe’s expert group on human trafficking (GRETA) has urged Luxembourg to make additional efforts to identify and assist victims of trafficking, and to ensure that human trafficking cases are investigated proactively and results in effective, proportionate, and dissuasive...
Bulgaria: progress on addressing inequalities, but more needed to protect LGBTI and Roma from discrimination and hate speech and help refugees
Bulgaria has achieved tangible progress since 2014 in fighting intolerance, introducing inclusive education, combating antisemitism, promoting integration of Roma and supporting refugees. However, hate and prejudice against LGBTI persons and Roma persist and should be addressed, and integration...
35 years of Cultural Routes: Safeguarding European Values, Heritage, and Dialogue
The Council of Europe Cultural Routes’ programme is celebrating its 35th anniversary at the 11th Advisory Forum which is taking place in Chania, Crete (Greece) from 5-7 October, including a special event to highlight the relevance of Cultural Routes for the promotion of cultural diversity,...
Dublin conference discusses rights and the best interests of the child in parental separation and care proceedings
Considering the voice of children and young people in determining their best interests in family courts during parental separation and care proceedings is the focus of an international conference taking place in Dublin on 3 October under the Irish Presidency of the Council of Europe. The Minister...
European ministers adopt “Dublin Declaration” on preventing violence through equality
Thirty-eight member states have backed a “Dublin Declaration” pledging a series of steps to promote gender equality in order to help prevent domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. The declaration is inspired by the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention on violence against women, and...
Council of Europe leaders condemn the illegal annexation of occupied territories of Ukraine
Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, Simon Coveney, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Tiny Kox, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, have made the following...
