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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...
Minority Languages promotion in Switzerland backed by expert report
French and German should be given more support in Swiss cantons where they are non-official languages, whilst Italian and Romansh need more promotion in economic and social life, the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML) recommends in its latest...
Ireland must step up its fight against human trafficking
The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has urged authorities in Ireland to take further action against human trafficking, notably by improving prosecution of human traffickers and providing specialised shelters and compensation for victims. GRETA’s latest...
Migration and Refugees : Poland fact-finding mission
Following her recent visit to Poland, the primary destination for millions of people fleeing Ukraine since the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees, Leyla Kayacik presented her report to the Committee...
Migration and Refugees : Republic of Moldova fact-finding mission
In the face of an unprecedented influx of refugees, the Moldovan authorities managed to mobilise resources and join efforts in an outstanding response to provide immediate assistance to those fleeing Ukraine. In her recent report, the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration...
Putting children at the centre – Council of Europe and EU synergies in protecting children’s rights
The Council of Europe’s Strategy for the Rights of the Child 2022-2027 (the Rome Strategy) and the EU Strategy for the Rights of the Child share a common vision and objectives, focusing on the participation of children, integrated systems for child protection and child-friendly justice, said the...
War in Ukraine, Covid-19 and climate change key challenges for national minorities
National minorities in Europe faced multiple threats during the past two years, says a new report from the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine caused a humanitarian catastrophe, including for national...
Committee of Ministers calls on member states to recognise the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a human right
In a Recommendation on human rights and the protection of the environment adopted today, the Council of Europe calls on its 46 member states to actively consider recognising, at national level, the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, as a human right. Considering that measures...
Committee of Ministers calls on member states to better address human trafficking for labour exploitation
As trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation has been on the rise across Europe, affecting an increasing number of women, men and children, the Committee of Ministers calls on its 46 member states to adopt national laws, policies and strategies to address the problem and...
Committee of Ministers adopts guidelines on preventing and remedying violations of the European Convention on Human Rights
The Committee of Ministers today adopted a set of guidelines aimed at assisting the 46 Council of Europe member states in their efforts to comply with their obligations to secure to everyone, within their jurisdiction, the rights and freedoms defined in the European Convention on Human Rights....
Licenciement abusif : la France viole la Charte sociale européenne
Dans une décision rendue publique aujourd’hui, le Comité européen des droits sociaux du Conseil de l’Europe (CEDS) considère que le plafonnement des indemnités prud’homales en cas de licenciement injustifié constitue une « violation » de la Charte sociale européenne (article 24b). Dans leurs...
Implementing ECHR judgments: Latest decisions from the Committee of Ministers
The Committee of Ministers has published the case-by-case decisions taken during the Committee’s meeting from 20 to 22 September to supervise the implementation of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights. The Committee of Ministers adopted 31 decisions concerning 19 member...
National minorities: new opinions on North Macedonia and Slovenia published
The Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) published new opinions on North Macedonia (see summary in Macedonian) and Slovenia (see summary in Slovenian). North Macedonia has made significant progress in the legal protection of national...
Greece: Anti-racism commission praises Greece’s national action plans, but concerns remain
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has welcomed Greece’s anti-racism action plan, developments in LGBTI equality, changes to the migration code to help third party nationals and moves by national broadcasters to stop hate speech. But concerns remain, say ECRI in their...
Anti Racism Commission calls for French progress on police identity controls and minority rights
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has called for France to improve the recording of police identity controls and to recognise Travellers’ caravans as a type of housing. Its latest report also recommends human rights training for people working in schools; measures to...
Council of Europe Secretary General rejects so-called ‘referenda’ in occupied Ukrainian territories
The Secretary General of the 46-nation Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, has today made the following statement: “The announced so-called ‘referenda’ in Ukrainian territories that are occupied by Russian forces is a further escalation of the conflict and the ongoing violation of...
Implementing European Court of Human Rights judgments
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers is holding its quarterly meeting to oversee the execution of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from 20 to 22 September. Cases proposed for detailed examination concern Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium,...
Anti racism commission releases new conclusions on Albania, Austria, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) today published conclusions on how Albania, Austria, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland implemented priority recommendations addressed to them in 2020. These covered the situation of Roma, social rights of vulnerable groups, support to...
