Newsroom
Un étudiant français remporte le Prix européen de l’éloquence
L’édition 2019 du Prix européen de l’éloquence, le concours annuel d’art oratoire en langue française, a été remportée par Simon Derieux-Billaud, un étudiant français, qui s’est exprimé sur le sujet « Pouvons-nous encore rêver d’Europe ? ». Le deuxième prix a été décerné à Alina Marchenko...
Ensuring the financial sustainability of quality journalism
The Council of Europe has called on its 47 member states to ensure the financial sustainability of quality journalism taking into account that it is a public good and plays an essential role for individuals to be able to form and express their opinions and make informed choices about government...
Algorithmic processes risk being used to manipulate social and political behaviours
The Council of Europe has called on its 47 member states to tackle the risk that individuals may not be able to form their opinions and take decisions independently of automated systems, and that they may even be subjected to manipulation due to the use of advanced digital technologies, in...
Safety of Journalists' Platform report: media freedom conditions worsen
The environment for media freedom has worsened significantly in the Council of Europe area, according to a report published today by the partner organisations to the Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists. The report “Democracy at Risk: threats and...
Hungary should address many interconnected human rights protection challenges
Challenges include civil society space, gender equality, refugee protection and independence of the judiciary
Déclaration du Secrétaire Général Thorbjørn Jagland sur Tomi Ungerer
Le Secrétaire Général du Conseil de l’Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, a exprimé aujourd’hui sa profonde tristesse à l’annonce du décès de l’illustrateur alsacien Tomi Ungerer. « Nous perdons aujourd’hui un grand artiste, très attaché à l’idée de l’Europe. Les valeurs de justice et d’humanisme qu’elle...
MONEYVAL publishes report on Czech Republic
Combatting money laundering in the Czech Republic: despite progress more investigations are needed, says Council of Europe report
MONEYVAL publishes report on Lithuania
Lithuania should step up its efforts to strengthen its understanding of money laundering and financing of terrorism risks, says Council of Europe report
Official visit of the Prime Minister of Spain
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez made today an official visit to the Council of Europe. Prime Minister Sánchez held meetings with Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, President of the Parliamentary Assembly Liliane Maury Pasquier, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities...
Anti-torture committee on Montenegro: Despite some progress, ill-treatment remains a problem and must be addressed
Despite some overall improvement in the treatment of persons detained by the police in Montenegro, ill-treatment still appears widely spread and must be tackled through stricter recruitment, better training and improved oversight. In prisons, too, allegations of ill-treatment persist; the...
National Minorities in Azerbaijan: new report published
Azerbaijani multiculturalism welcomes expressions of cultural identity, but increased restrictions on democracy, absence of legislation, inflammatory language prevent national minorities from fully exercising their rights Society in Azerbaijan is broadly characterised by a climate of...
Australia signs the Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions
In the framework of Sports Diplomacy 2030 high-level event, the Minister for Regional Services, Sport, Local Government and Decentralisation of Australia Bridget McKenzie signed in a ceremony (Spotless Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park) with Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni the...
Germany: Teaching and promotion of regional and minority languages needs to be improved says group of experts
In its sixth report on Germany, the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages praises steps taken to protect and promote regional or minority languages (Danish, Lower Sorbian, Upper Sorbian, North Frisian, Sater Frisian, Low German and Romani), including...
Council of Europe posters by Mr Z
Two posters by the French illustrator and graphic designer, Richard Zielenkiewicz, also known as Mr Z, are to mark the 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe and the 60th anniversary of the European Court of Human Rights. Mr Z, who is famed for his colourful, uncluttered illustrations inspired...
Committee of Ministers adopts guidelines on electronic evidence in civil and administrative proceedings
The Committee of Ministers has adopted guidelines to facilitate the use of electronic evidence in court proceedings. These guidelines are the first such international instrument. Their primary purpose is to help the 47 member states adapt the operation of their judicial and other...
Paris : la Commissaire Mijatović livre ses premières observations sur les questions de droits de l’homme liées au mouvement des "gilets jaunes"
« Le niveau élevé de tension qui prévaut actuellement en France suscite mon inquiétude et je considère qu’il est urgent d’apaiser la situation », a déclaré aujourd’hui la Commissaire aux droits de l'homme du Conseil de l'Europe, Dunja Mijatović, à l’issue d’un déplacement à Paris, le 28 janvier...
Corruption in Croatia: Code of conduct for MPs still lacking, but progress made to limit conflict of interest
Assessing measures taken by Croatia to implement recommendations that had been made in 2014, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) regrets that its recommendation to the Croatian Parliament to adopt a code of conduct for its members still has not been realized. The...
Armenia: the Commissioner for Human Rights publishes a new report
Report on Armenia recommends measures to improve women’s rights, protection of disadvantaged or vulnerable groups, and establishing accountability for past human rights violations Today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published the report of her visit to...
Poland: Anti-corruption group calls for more transparency and preventive measures to promote integrity in central government and in law enforcement agencies
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) says that it is a “top priority” for Poland to establish a system for appointment, promotion and dismissal of all senior managers in the Police and Border Guards, which would be based on objective, merit-based criteria and...
Data Protection Day
New guidelines on artificial intelligence
Greek parliament vote over "Republic of North Macedonia" welcomed by Secretary General
The Secretary General of the 47-nation Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, has welcomed the vote in the Greek parliament today that promises to bring an end to the 27-year dispute over its northern neighbour's name. “The vote in Greece to approve the name "Republic of North Macedonia" is both...
International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust
Statement by the Finnish Presidency of the Committee of Ministers
Italy urged to improve the protection of migrants and unaccompanied children against human trafficking and exploitation
Italy has taken additional measures to combat trafficking in human beings, according to a new report published today by the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), but a number of issues continue to give rise to concern. The report assesses...
The situation of opposition politicians in Turkey is worsening, says PACE
Following an urgent debate held in plenary session in Strasbourg, PACE noted “the worsening of the situation of opposition politicians in Turkey” and called on the Turkish authorities to respect fully their rights and freedoms of expression, association and assembly. Following the co-rapporteurs'...
PACE urges Russia to release Ukrainian servicemen, ensure free passage in the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait
The Parliamentary Assembly has urged Russia to immediately release Ukrainian servicemen, to ensure freedom of passage in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, and to refrain from violence in the area. Approving a resolution based on a report by Andreas Nick (Germany, EPP/CD) after an urgent...
ECSR publishes its findings 2018 on decisions in collective complaints procedures in 8 countries
The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) today published its findings 2018 on the follow-up given by 8 States (Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy and Portugal) to decisions in the collective complaints procedure. This procedure allows national and international trade...
"Peace is the most important contribution we can make to human rights", says Sauli Niinistö
“Human rights, democracy and the rule of law – the values the Council of Europe stands for – can only thrive in a state of peace. Maintaining the absence of war must be our highest priority. At the end of the day, peace is the most important contribution we can make to human rights. Everything...
Holocaust memorial ceremony
The President of Finland Sauli Niinistö has attended a ceremony in front of the Council of Europe’s headquarters in Strasbourg, to mark the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. In his address Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland underlined the importance of...
Secretary General to PACE: Russian people would suffer most if Russia leaves the Council of Europe
Addressing the Parliamentary Assembly for the last time during a January session, Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland expressed his satisfaction that the European Court of Human Rights was now on firmer ground than when he was elected in 2009. At that time, the credibility of the Convention...
Timo Soini: “a multilateral co-operation to prevent instability and conflict”
“We need effective rules-based multilateral co-operation to prevent instability and conflicts, and the Council of Europe is an important forum in this context,” said Timo Soini, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland and Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, addressing...
The state of human rights in Europe: forward and back?
All four Commissioners for Human Rights, Álvaro Gil-Robles, Thomas Hammarberg, Nils Muižnieks and the current Commissioner Dunja Mijatović will come together in Strasbourg on Tuesday 22 January to reflect on the evolution of human rights since the office was created, twenty years ago. They’ll...
Reelected, the President reiterates the statutory responsibility of all Council of Europe actors
For the President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), speaking 70 years after the Council of Europe was set up, promoting peace and reconciliation, which has been crucial to the success of “the largest pan-European organisation”, remains central to her mission. This is what...
Violence against women in Sweden: from legal and policy innovation to blind spots in protection and support for victims
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) published its first evaluation report on Sweden today. The report analyses the implementation of the provisions of the Istanbul Convention covering psychological violence, stalking,...
Portugal and violence against women: significant progress but under-reporting and low rate of convictions
In its first report on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (“Istanbul Convention”) by Portugal, the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) acknowledges the...
Seventy years of the Council of Europe – a website to explore our European story
Today the Council of Europe is launching its 70th anniversary website – a place to explore our history, understand our mission and learn how our work is as important now as it ever was. Initally in English, a French version will follow soon. Join us every month for a new video to see how the...
Norway should improve the situation for prisoners in solitary confinement
Today the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) published a report on a visit to Norway carried out in spring 2018. During its visit, the CPT examined the situation of persons deprived of their liberty in police...
Winter Session: Finnish President to address the Assembly
On the occasion of the Winter Session of the Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) in Strasbourg (21-25 January 2019), the President of Finland will deliver a speech. In addition, the Finnish Foreign Minister will present the Communication from the Committee of Ministers and the Organisation’s Secretary...
Concrete achievements in 2018 to ensure the protection of refugee and migrant children
The Special Representative is taking stock on concrete results achieved in 2018 in the implementation of the Council of Europe Action Plan on protecting migrant and refugee children in Europe (2017-2019). Today, he publishes a visual presentation of all actions achieved so far in protecting...
Secretary General visits Vatican for audience with Pope Francis
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland will be in Vatican City on Thursday on an official visit to the Holy See for an audience with Pope Francis. Meetings are scheduled with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and other members of the Curia. The...
Artificial intelligence in judicial systems
Brussels presentation of the first European guidelines
Russia boasts rich diversity of national minorities, but education policies, restrictive legislation undermine the exercise of their rights
Society in Russia is characterised by a climate of appreciation for ethnic diversity; the immense variety of ethnic groups, languages and religions is perceived as an asset; progress has been observed in residency registration and in the field of minority media. However, the official rhetoric...
Thorbjørn Jagland statement following the death of Paweł Adamowicz
The Secretary General of the 47-nation Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, has made the following statement in reaction to the death of Gdańsk Mayor Paweł Adamowicz: “I am deeply saddened to learn that the Mayor of Gdańsk, Paweł Adamowicz, has died following the horrendous knife attack at a...
Václav Havel Human Rights Prize 2019: 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 2019 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize. The Prize, created in 2013, aims to reward outstanding civil society action...
Statement by the President of the Congress: “All European Democrats are in mourning after the death of the Mayor of Gdańsk.”
"I have been shaken and deeply shocked by the assassination of Paweł Adamowicz, the mayor of the city of Gdańsk, who was stabbed on Sunday night in front of thousands at a charity concert and who has just succumbed to his injuries. On behalf of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and...
Demonstrations in France – Council of Europe condemns attacks on journalists
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, today condemned in the strongest possible terms the threats and attacks against journalists at recent demonstrations by the “yellow vest” protesters in France, noting that working conditions for the press have been steadily...
Election of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe: Candidatures received
At the expiry of the deadline for member States to propose candidates for the election of the next Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the following candidatures have been received by the Chair of the Committee of Ministers: Mr Didier REYNDERS, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign...
Tackling ill-treatment by police in Greece
The Council of Europe and the Greek authorities are organising a round table event on professional policing and how to prevent torture and other forms of ill-treatment in Athens on 10 and 11 January. The event, which is the first of its kind, aims to help bring Greek laws and practices into line...
Lithuania should improve legislation, prevent discrimination at school and promote the social inclusion of Roma
The Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities today urged the Lithuanian authorities to adopt a comprehensive legal framework, prevent discrimination against students from minority language schools and address negative stereotypes against Roma. In...
Winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly
At its winter session in Strasbourg (21-25 January 2019), PACE will hold a joint debate on public service media in the context of disinformation and propaganda and media freedom as a condition for democratic elections. It will also discuss Internet governance and human rights. On 22 January, the...
Council of Europe Bank loan to Nuremberg for education and refugee integration
The governor of the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) Dr Rolf Wenzel and the Special Representative of the Secretary General on migration and refugees, Ambassador Tomáš Boček, are taking part in a signing ceremony in Nuremberg today, between the CEB and the city of Nuremberg, of a...
Children in migration must be informed about their rights
Children in migration have the right to be informed about their rights. Such information is crucial for having their voice heard and enabling them to participate in procedures affecting them. These children, despite being one of the most vulnerable groups in Europe today, face barriers in access...
Paris Principles at 25: Strong National Human Rights Institutions Needed More Than Ever
“25 years after the international community first formally embraced the idea of creating national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights through the endorsement of the Paris Principles, it is obvious that independent and effective national human rights institutions are...
International Migrants Day
Mayors of intercultural cities programme join voices for inclusion and diversity
Albania should step up its efforts to combat money laundering
In a report published today, the Council of Europe anti money laundering body MONEYVAL calls on the Albanian authorities to step up their efforts in pursuing launderers and confiscating their assets connected to significant proceeds-generating offences, and in tackling terrorist financing related...
Albania, Hungary, Malta and Turkey among key opinions adopted by the Venice Commission
The final plenary session of the year for the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission included several high profile opinions, including for Albania, Hungary, Malta and Turkey. The Venice Commission legal experts find that the power of the prime minister in Malta widely overshadows that of other...
Turkish train crash: Council of Europe extends condolences and solidarity
The Council of Europe has expressed its sadness and solidarity with Turkey concerning those killed and injured in the train crash in Ankara. Secretary General Jagland has written a letter of condolence to President Erdogan. Letter to the President of the Turkish Republic, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
European states must respond to school violence based on sexual orientation - new CoE/UNESCO report
Violence at schools based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or sex characteristics occurs everywhere in Europe and is acutely underreported. The efforts of the European education authorities to address the problem must be stepped up in order to create safe environment for...
GRECO: Italy should speed up reforms to prevent corruption among MPs, judges and prosecutors
In a report publish today, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) concludes that Italy has made progress to prevent corruption in respect of the judiciary, but significantly more is still needed to comply with all its recommendations, in particular those concerning...
CPT calls on the Republic of Moldova to put an end to informal power structures among prisoners
The Republic of Moldova should take determined action to eradicate informal prisoner hierarchies in prisons, which expose inmates to intimidation and inter-prisoner violence, says the Council of Europe anti-torture committee (CPT) in a report published today. The CPT visited the country from 5 to...
Adoption of a new recommendation for better governance in sport
How to promote good governance in sport? In a Recommendation adopted today, the Committee of Ministers invites European governments to take measures, aimed in particular at better fighting corruption in sport. In order to foster a culture of good governance at all levels, the 47 member States of...
Terrorist attack in Strasbourg
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland
Shooting at the Strasbourg Christmas Market
Statement by Timo Soini, Chair of the Committee of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland
Special Representative on migration and refugees supports UN Global Compact at conference in Morocco
On 10-11 December 2018, in Marrakech, the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees (SRSG), Ambassador Tomáš Boček, is representing the Council of Europe at the Intergovernmental Conference to adopt the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. The...
Preview exhibition “Human rights – still some way to go”
Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and Cartooning for Peace present a preview of the exhibition “Human rights – still some way to go”
The Council of Europe calls on Switzerland to further strengthen the rights of national minorities and to combat hate speech
The Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities has called on the Swiss authorities to do more to protect the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, at a time when there is a growing intolerance, including in political discourse and on...
Human Rights Day 10 December 2018
Statement by Timo Soini, Chair of the Committee of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland
International Anti-Corruption Day
“We must never lower our guard in fighting corruption”, said Marin Mrčela, President of the Group of States against Corruption of the Council of Europe (GRECO), ahead of the International Anti-Corruption Day on 9 December. “Perception of low levels of corruption must not lead to complacency. No...
Secretary General backs UN migration pact
“The human rights of refugee and migrant children deserve special protection,” says Thorbjørn Jagland
Implementing ECHR judgments: Latest decisions from the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers
The latest case-by-case decisions on the implementation of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights have been published by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. The committee adopted 37 decisions concerning 20 member states at the end of its quarterly human rights...
North-South Prize 2018 honours fight to end female genital mutilation and to promote sustainable cities
Jaha Mapenzi Dukureh, founder and CEO of the Non-Governmental organisation “Safe Hands for Girls”, and Damien Carême, Mayor of Grande-Synthe, are the laureates of the North-South Prize of the Council of Europe 2018. Through “Safe Hands for Girls”, Jaha Dukureh provides support to African women...
States’ duty to protect human rights defenders
Ahead of Human Rights Day, Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, calls on member states to halt the attacks against human rights defenders and improve their safety and working environment. “In spite of an international declaration and clear standards protecting the...
Anti-torture committee welcomes improvements in Northern Ireland
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has welcomed recent improvements in various places of detention in Northern Ireland, whilst underlining that further progress is needed in certain areas. In a report published today, the committee highlighted the “enormous...
Governments and sports bodies to analyse corruption in sport
From fraud to bribery, from illegal betting to doping, from match-fixing to money laundering: Corruption in Sport is a global phenomenon threatening the integrity of the overall industry and posing a major challenge for today’s societies. The International Partnership Against Corruption in Sport...
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 4 to 6 December. Decisions taken by the committee will be published on the Council of Europe website as...
Misuse of anti-terror legislation threatens freedom of expression
“When terrorism spreads, states are often tempted to restrict fundamental freedoms for the sake of fighting it and preventing further attacks”, says Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, in her Human Rights Comment published today. “Terrorism constitutes a serious...
Ten-year trends in European prisons
New Council of Europe report
Adoption of the first European Ethical Charter on the use of artificial intelligence in judicial systems
The European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) of the Council of Europe has adopted the first European text setting out ethical principles relating to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in judicial systems. The Charter provides a framework of principles that can guide policy...
Council of Europe Development Bank provides financial assistance for refugee healthcare in Ceuta and Melilla
The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees (SRSG), Ambassador Tomáš Boček, attended the Council of Europe Development bank’s (CEB) signature ceremony of a grant agreement with Instituto Nacional de Gestión Sanitaria (INGESA), in Melilla today. The CEB is...
Statement by Timo Soini, Chair of the Committee of Ministers on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities
“The Council of Europe strives to protect and promote human rights of all, including people with disabilities of which there are an estimated 80 million in Europe,” Mr Timo Soini, Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland pointed out...
Council of Europe discussed European academic cooperation with Russian universities
The Council of Europe discussed yesterday and today in Moscow with leading Russian universities the prospects for enhanced academic cooperation on the Council of Europe's conventions. As a first step, a new training course on human rights and biomedicine (bioethics) was presented at the Faculty...
“Ethics and Human Rights must guide any use of genome editing technologies in human beings”
Statement by the Council of Europe Committee on Bioethics
Statement by Timo Soini, Chair of the Committee of Ministers, on death penalty in Belarus
“I deeply regret the reported executions of Mr Syamyon Berazhny and Mr Ihar Hershankow in Belarus, which were carried out despite the strong call made by the Committee of Ministers in October 2018 to the authorities of Belarus to establish a formal moratorium on executions as a first step towards...
Corruption among judges: the CCJE adopts an opinion
Corruption among judges is one of the main threats to society and the functioning of a democratic state. It undermines judicial integrity, which is fundamental to the rule of law and a fundamental value of the Council of Europe. Judicial integrity is the first prerequisite for the efficiency and...
Portugal assumes four-year presidency of the Pompidou Group
New programme includes focus on growing threat of online addiction
European Prevention prize: Winning projects from Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey
Three projects from Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey were awarded the Pompidou Group’s 2018 European Prevention Prize. Prize winners in 2018 – Civil Life Association in Turkey, Workshop of Life in Greece and Take Me in Your Village in Bulgaria – were selected out of 18 candidate projects. Special...
Statement by Timo Soini, Chair of the Committee of Ministers, on the situation in the Azov Sea and Kerch Strait
Mr Timo Soini, Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland, today made the following statement: “I am deeply concerned about the current situation in the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait following the grave incidents that took place yesterday....
Statement by the Secretary General on the situation around the Azov Sea and Kerch Strait
Free passage of the Kerch Strait is guaranteed by the Agreement between the Russian Federation and Ukraine about the cooperation on the usage of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait. It was signed in 2003 and came into force in 2004. According to this Agreement, the Azov Sea and Kerch Strait are...
30 new cases highlight the impact of the European Convention on Human Rights
Thirty new case studies have been added to the Council of Europe’s interactive website showing how the European Convention on Human Rights has changed people’s lives across the continent. The website now includes 131 examples of how judgments from the European Court of Human Rights, and their...
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
Declaration by the Finnish Presidency of the Committee of Ministers
Azerbaijan: How to prevent and detect trafficking for labour exploitation
Azerbaijan: progress made in countering human trafficking, but more must be done to prevent and detect trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation
Fulfil the promise of a comprehensive response to violence against women
“All women and girls have the right to live free from violence. Unfortunately, this is not the reality. One in three women has experienced physical or sexual violence – 22% at the hands of their partner. More than half of all women have been sexually harassed with 20% of young women reporting...
Upholding the child’s right to a family after parents’ separation
Shared parenting after separation/divorce, children’s rights and the role of the states in safeguarding best interests of the child is the key theme of the 4th International Conference for Shared Parenting held under the auspices of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on 22-23 November...
From meth addicted online gambling to AI cocaine simulation: Pompidou Group set to tackle new drug challenges
Participants at a ministerial conference of the Council of Europe’s drug policy platform the Pompidou Group are expected to express grave concerns over new types of drugs and worrying trends in drug abuse linked to online gambling. Open entirely to the press, the 17th Ministerial Conference of...
Ending misconceptions about the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence
Ending violence against women is not about ending traditions or ending sexual differences
Ukraine: the fight against human trafficking must go on
GRETA publishes second report on Ukraine
Democracy Innovation Award 2018: and the winner is...
Today, at the closing session of the World Forum for Democracy, the Council of Europe announced that the winner of its Democracy Innovation Award was the initiative Self-Representation of Women in Kenyan Courts. Three initiatives out of the 30 or so presented at the Forum were shortlisted for the...
Committee of Ministers: Croatia hands over presidency to Finland
The Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe today passed from Croatia to Finland, at a meeting at the Organisation’s Strasbourg headquarters, attended by representatives of its 47 member States. The outgoing Chair, Marija Pejčinović Burić, Deputy Prime Minister and...
Marlène Schiappa: gender equality, a priority for the French Chairmanship of the Council of Europe in 2019
The French Minister of State for gender equality has announced that practical measures will be taken during the French Chairmanship to promote the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (better known as the “Istanbul Convention”)....
Universal Children’s Day (20 November)
Statement by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe welcomes decision of German bishops’ conference to commemorate victims of sexual abuse on 18 November
The Council of Europe welcomes the decision of the German Catholic Bishops’ Conference (DBK) to introduce a commemoration day dedicated to the victims of sexual abuse. The Bishops’ Conference announced the annual commemoration should take place on or around the 18th November, which coincides with...
Romania should improve the protection of persons with disabilities, combat violence against women, safeguard press freedom and maintain the independence of the judiciary
“Romania needs to strengthen its institutional framework to better protect the rights of persons with disabilities, and should step up the efforts to combat violence against women,” said today Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, at the end of her five-day visit to...
Statement on the detention of prominent academics in Turkey including Hakan Altinay
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland said: "I am very concerned by the detention of a group of academics including Hakan Altinay and will raise this alarming development with the Turkish government as a matter of urgency."
Making sport safe for children: Stop Child Sexual Abuse Day
Governments and sports organisations must redouble their efforts to break the silence surrounding sexual abuse of children in sports, prevent it and fight impunity, stressed the Secretary General of the Council of Europe ahead of the European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual...
Execution of Mr Roberto Ramos Moreno (USA)
Statement by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
The Grand Chamber delivers judgment on Aleksey Navalnyy’s case: various violations found
Today, the Grand Chamber delivered a judgment on the case of Navalnyy v. Russia (application no. 29580/12 and four others) which concerned the applicant’s complaint that his arrest, detention and administrative conviction on seven occasions in 2012 and 2014 had breached his rights and had been...
Tolerant and inclusive societies in Western Balkans: conference in Montenegro
A Regional Conference taking place on 14 and 15 November in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, is discussing standard setting, monitoring and co-operation in anti-discrimination work, combating hate speech and protecting minority rights. The event, entitled “Tolerant and Inclusive Societies in...
International Day of Tolerance, 16 November
Statement by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
Launch of New Education Campaign in Oslo
A new Council of Europe education campaign is being launched this week (14-16 November) in Oslo, Norway. Free to Speak, Safe to Learn – Democratic Schools for All is aimed at creating ‘safe spaces’ in schools, where controversial subjects can be openly and safely debated, to prevent ideas that...
Secretary General participates in Paris Armistice centenary commemoration
At the invitation of France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Council of Europe Secretary General Jagland is taking part in the ceremonies to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War on 11 November in Paris. Together with other heads of state, government and international...
Pompidou Group workshops in Ukraine: Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine calls for health reforms in prisons
“This workshop is an opportunity for us to learn from international experiences and use these to improve our penitentiary system, leading to a more secure society”, said Denys Chernyshov, Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine, when addressing executives of the State Penitentiary Service of...
Secretary General Jagland meets Finnish Foreign Minister, President and Parliament speaker
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland is on an official visit to Helsinki, in preparation for Finland’s upcoming presidency of the Committee of Ministers, which will run from 21 November 2018 until 17 May 2019. He said ”Finland will take up the presidency of the Council of Europe Committee of...
Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers: “The European Charter of Local-Self-Government is a major achievement of the Council of Europe”
“These are, undoubtedly, difficult times. At the European level, at the national and local level and also at an institutional level. Pan-European challenges are more present than ever,” said Marija Pejčinović Burić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia,...
Council of Europe to take part in Internet Governance Forum in Paris
A Council of Europe delegation will take part in discussions to be held at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) at UNESCO headquarters in Paris from 12 to 14 November, under the heading of “Internet of Trust”. Throughout the Forum, which will bring together representatives of governments,...
Anders Knape elected new president of the Congress
Meeting at their 35th session in Strasbourg (France), Congress members have elected Anders Knape (Sweden, EPP/CCE) president of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities for a two-year term. “Our Congress is a political body tasked with protecting local democracy. We represent not...
Luxembourg must improve the identification of victims of trafficking in human beings
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has published today its second evaluation report on Luxembourg as regards the implementation of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. The report assesses developments since the...
HIV prevention and drug treatment in European prisons: training in Ukraine
The Council of Europe's Pompidou Group drug policy experts are holding a workshop and an executive training on drug treatment and HIV prevention in prisons in Kyiv Oblast from 5 to 9 November. Ukraine’s 40% increase in annual new HIV infections from 9,500 in 2010 to 15,680 in 2017 is especially...
Greece should safeguard social rights for all and improve the reception and integration of migrants
“Greece should take urgent steps and adopt long-term policies to improve the reception and integration of migrants and to reverse the adverse effects of austerity measures on access to health care and education”, says Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, publishing...
Secretary General Jagland meets German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland will meet German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Tuesday 6 November in Berlin. The meeting will focus on challenges to human rights in Europe and the current situation at the Council of Europe. A press briefing is scheduled at 11:45 in the...
Tackling hate speech in the media: Zagreb conference
The Council of Europe and the Croatian Agency for Electronic Media are organising a conference on 6 and 7 November in Zagreb (Croatia) to discuss the different ways European states have regulated hate speech, and specifically the measures to tackle it taken by national regulatory authorities, the...
Secretary General Jagland on official visit to Finland
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland is making an official visit to Finland on 8 November 2018. The Secretary General is going to hold meetings in Helsinki with President Sauli Niinistö, Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini and Speaker of the Parliament Paula Risikko. The...
World Forum for Democracy - “Gender Equality: Whose Battle?”
A year after the #MeToo movement first started, the World Forum for Democracy 2018, from 19 to 21 November, will focus on gender equality and women’s rights, in particular, women’s public, political and economic participation, and on combating violence against women. Dolores Delgado Garcia,...
World Day of Romani Language
Secretary General statement
Brain drain or brain gain? Seminar in Zagreb
A two-day seminar with this title is taking place in Zagreb, Croatia, to look at the phenomena of “brain drain” (the emigration of educated young people) and “brain gain” (the influx of qualified people who are either immigrating or returning home). It will also examine the possible role of the...
Secretary General Jagland on official visit to Liechtenstein
On official visit in Liechtenstein on 29 October, Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland held meetings with Prime Minister Adrian Hasler, Speaker of Parliament Albert Frick and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Justice and Culture Aurelia Frick, as well as with the delegation to the...
Tirana: international conference on transparency of beneficial ownership
The Council of Europe is organising an international conference under the theme “Transparency of beneficial ownership” on 30 and 31 October in Tirana, Albania, in the framework of its work to strengthen capacities in member states to fight money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The...
Secretary General Jagland on official visit to Liechtenstein
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland is making an official visit to Liechtenstein on 29 October. The Secretary General is holding meetings in Vaduz with Prime Minister Adrian Hasler, Speaker of Parliament Albert Frick and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Justice and Culture Aurelia...
Russia: Excessive fine for ‘New Times’ endangers media pluralism and press freedom
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland
Europe and North America Education 2030 consultation
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Romania criminal justice reform proposal weakens fight against corruption and serious crime
Venice Commission Opinion
Human trafficking in the Netherlands: Significant progress, but further action needed in several areas
The Council of Europe’s group of experts on human trafficking has welcomed the significant progress made by the Netherlands in recent years, whilst also calling on the authorities to take further action in a number of areas. In its second evaluation report on the Netherlands, published today, the...
Access to justice for women victims of violence in Eastern Partnership countries
Regional Conference of the PGG Project "Strengthening Access to Justice for Women Victims of Violence in the Six Eastern Partnership Countries"
#MeToo: alarming levels of sexual abuse and violence found in parliaments
A new study by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) shows that acts of sexism, abuse and violence against women are widespread in parliaments across Europe. The findings reveal that 85 per cent of women MPs have suffered from...
Secretary General Jagland on official visit to Slovakia
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland is making an official visit to the Slovak Republic on 16 and 17 October. The Secretary General is holding meetings in Bratislava with President Andrej Kiska, Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav...
Turkey and Montenegro: Council of Europe experts on ending violence against women publish monitoring reports
Reports that monitor the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) by Turkey and Montenegro have been published by the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic...
Latvia should step up efforts to integrate national minorities and combat Roma discrimination
The Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities today urged the Latvian authorities to promote integration and participation of national minorities in society and combat discrimination of the Roma. In a new Opinion assessing the progress made since...
Protecting Human Rights and Fighting Corruption in Sport
Which steps could be taken by public authorities to address human rights’ violations in the context of sport? How to support sport movement to protect and promote human rights? What are the obstacles to leading a more effective fight against corruption in the field of sport? Taking stock of...
Combating corruption –Šibenik international conference
The Croatian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) of the Council of Europe and the Ministry of Justice of Croatia are organising an international conference on 15 and 16 October in Šibenik (Croatia) to discuss ways to...
European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation 2018
“Be ready to save lives, become a superhero! Say yes to organ, tissue and cell donation!”
E-relevance of Culture in the Age of AI
Culture, Creativity and Artificial Intelligence will be discussed at an expert seminar in Rijeka, Croatia on 12-13 October 2018. The seminar “E-relevance of Culture in the Age of AI”, organised in the framework of the Croatian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe,...
Secretary General: Russia leaving the Council of Europe would be a “huge setback” for human rights
Answering a question from a PACE member relating to Russia’s continued non-payment of its budget contributions, Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland warned that if Russia were to leave the organisation, its citizens would no longer have access to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHtR). Mr...
Gudrun Mosler-Törnström: “It is through synergy that we will succeed to strengthen democracy”
“We, in the Congress, and our mayors and council members, need our MPs as much as you need local and regional elected representatives to carry out successful decentralisation policies that meet the needs of our citizens”, today said Gudrun Mosler-Törnström, President of the Congress of Local and...
Open minds are needed to improve the protection of LGBTI asylum seekers in Europe
“In many states around the world, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons face serious violations of their human rights on account of their sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics”, says Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights,...
‘Pursuing a constructive dialogue between the Committee of Ministers and the Assembly’
The Committee of Ministers is determined to pursue a constructive dialogue and close co-operation with the Assembly. It is by joining forces that we can meet current challenges and protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe,” said Marija Pejčinović Burić, Deputy Prime Minister...
Council of Europe treaty bolstering data protection opened for signature
Twenty-one states signed today a Council of Europe treaty aimed at strengthening the principles and rules for the protection of personal data at international level. The treaty, an Amending Protocol, updates the Council of Europe’s Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to...
Slovenia adopts a declaration on the creation of a Children’s House for child victims of sexual abuse
Representatives of Slovenian authorities have signed and adopted the Declaration on the creation of a Barnahus (Children’s House) for child victims of sexual abuse in Slovenia. The declaration was signed by the Slovenian Minister of Justice Andreja Katič; Minister of Family, Labour, Social...
Tunisian Foreign Minister thanks Council of Europe for its support
“May I pay tribute to the Council of Europe for the precious support it has given to Tunisia in this period of democratic transition, and for its commitment to accompanying us in implementing constitutional arrangements and the process of reforming Tunisia’s institutional and legal frameworks,”...
Jagland calls for immediate action in defence of journalists
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland made the following statement today: "Although the motives remain unclear, this week we have again witnessed a brutal murder of a journalist in a Council of Europe member State – the fourth in a year. We cannot remain passive following such an outburst of...
European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation (EODD) 2018
Statement by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Chair of the Committee of Ministers, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia
10 October: European Day against the Death Penalty
The 47-nation Council of Europe and the 28-member European Union have published a joint declaration to mark the European and World Day against the Death Penalty on 10 October. The declaration underlines the two organisations’ strong opposition to capital punishment in all circumstances. “The...
Václav Havel Human Rights Prize 2018 awarded to Oyub Titiev
The sixth Václav Havel Human Rights Prize – which honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights – has been awarded to the head of the Grozny office of the Memorial Human Rights Center in Chechyna, Oyub Titiev (Russian Federation). The prize was presented at a special...
Council of Europe and FIFA sign Memorandum of Understanding
Council of Europe Secretary General Thørbjorn Jagland and FIFA President Gianni Infantino have signed today at the Palais de l’Europe in Strasbourg a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the co-operation between the two institutions and further develop synergies and partnerships in areas of...
Efficiency and quality of justice: Council of Europe publishes its 2018 report
The European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) of the Council of Europe today sets out the main trends observed in this field in 45 European countries (*) in a report and a publicly accessible interactive database. The evaluation report - the 7th since the CEPEJ was set up in 2002...
Finland: Awareness of minority languages in education and media should be improved
While the Committee of Experts of The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, acknowledges the efforts undertaken by the authorities in protecting regional and minority languages spoken in Finland, it recommends that further measure are needed, according to a report published today....
Commissioner Mijatović intervenes before the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Emin Huseynov v. Azerbaijan
Today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published written observations submitted to the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Emin Huseynov against Azerbaijan, relating to the deprivation of nationality of the applicant, who subsequently became...
More must be done to help women and girl refugees and migrants
At a Council of Europe conference today in Athens to focus on challenges faced by women and girl refugees and migrants, Anna Zobnina, Strategy & Policy Coordinator for the European Network of Migrant Women stressed that not enough is being done to care for the specific needs of women and girl...
Bosnia and Herzegovina national minorities do not enjoy effective access to their rights
While acknowledging some progress on Roma issues and emerging potential for moving towards integrated schools, the Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities concludes in its new opinion that national minorities in Bosnia and...
Croatia: Anti-torture report on police, prisons and psychiatry yields mixed results
In a new report published today with the response of the Croatian authorities, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) finds that most people detained by the police had been treated correctly, but allegations of ill...
Anti-racism commission: new reports on Moldova and Portugal
The European Commission against Intolerance and Discrimination (ECRI) published today new reports on the Republic of Moldova and Portugal. In the Republic of Moldova, ECRI concludes that hate speech against Roma, LGBT and black communities in the public discourse is escalating whilst the...
Estonia should adopt more human rights oriented policies to improve the protection of women and the inclusion of older persons
“To build a more cohesive society, the Estonian authorities should strengthen the protection of women from violence, close the gender pay gap and uphold the rights of older people”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, while releasing today the report on her...
Council of Europe to continue building solutions for IDPs in Ukraine
The Council of Europe today announces a new three-year initiative to support internally displaced people (IDPs) in Ukraine entitled “Building Solutions”. Carried out as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine 2018-2021, “Building Solutions” should improve protection for internally...
Progress made in actions protecting refugee and migrant children in Europe
Council of Europe is presenting progress in actions taken to ensure the safety and the proper treatment of children entering Europe, according to the report “Refugee and migrant children in Europe” - Progress in implementation of the Action Plan (2017–2019), published today. “I am pleased that...
Why NGOs matter
One of the most important issues raised at the FRA forum this week in Vienna was the need for greater funding and support for non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Anna Rurka, President of the Council of Europe’s Platform of International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) told forum...
Görlitz, Germany, hosts Forum highlighting Council of Europe Cultural Routes
"Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe connecting cultural values, heritage sites and citizens: strategies and synergies in a global perspective" will be the theme of the Annual Advisory Forum 2018 organised from 26 to 28 September by the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the...
Council of Europe leads fight for fundamental rights and against the evil of corruption
As the Fundamental Rights Agency Forum in Vienna gets underway on 25 September, the Council of Europe is playing an integral part to uphold fundamental human rights and combat corruption in an increasingly challenging period for Europe. From fighting hate speech and discrimination to promoting...
Armenia’s new government should place human rights at the centre of its policies
“Armenia’s peaceful transfer of power in May 2018 has been truly remarkable. However, popular expectations are high that there will be tangible improvements to people’s lives, and the government should devote its attention to upholding the long-neglected rights of those who are most vulnerable”,...
Deputy Secretary General opens International Conference on the fight against the manipulation of sports competitions
“It is in everyone’s interests that the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions (known as “Macolin Convention”) comes into force as soon as possible. The moment is approaching: it is not a matter of if, but when”, highlighted Deputy Secretary General while opening...
Rules Committee proposes to strengthen PACE's decision-making process on credentials and voting
In order to "strengthen the coherence, legitimacy and effectiveness of its decision-making mechanisms", the Committee on Rules of Procedure today proposed to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to amend certain provisions of its Rules of Procedure concerning the credentials...
Implementing ECHR judgments: Latest decisions from the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers
The latest case-by-case decisions on the implementation of judgments from the European Court of Human Rights have been published by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. The committee adopted 26 decisions concerning 17 member states at the end of its quarterly human rights meeting in...
Mental health of children on the move
Mental health of children affected by migration, their well-being and their rights was the key subject of the address by Regina Jensdottir, the Head of the Children’s Rights Division and Programme Co-ordinator at the Council of Europe, to the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC)...
Democracy and the People
To mark the International Day of Democracy, the Directorate General of Democracy and the Conference of INGOs are organising a debate entitled: Democracy & “The People”, aiming at re-asserting the value of our democratic institutions based on individual human rights, civic participation in public...
Ending violence against women: a new focus for continued Southern Mediterranean co-operation
On 18 September 2018, the Council of Europe and European Union launched the “South Programme III: Ensuring sustainable democratic governance and human rights in the Southern Mediterranean” in Strasbourg. This programme will build on the results from the past two programmes, and will have a new...
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 from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from 18 to 20 September. Decisions taken by the committee will be published on the Council of Europe website as soon as...
Hungary: Anti-torture committee observed decent conditions in transit zones, but criticises treatment of irregular migrants when “pushed back” to Serbia
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published a report on its most recent visit to Hungary from 20 to 26 October 2017, together with the response of the Hungarian authorities (see also the main findings of the...
Combating corruption: France can do better
In a report published today on corruption prevention in respect of members of parliament, judges and prosecutors, GRECO, the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body, concludes that France has implemented only four of the eleven recommendations made since 2013. While a number of positive measures...
European Heritage Days
Statement by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Chair of the Committee of Ministers, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia
Albania should continue improving child protection and inclusion of persons with disabilities
“The protection of children and inclusion of persons with disabilities has improved in Albania, but the authorities still have to address remaining shortcomings”, said today Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, while releasing the report on her visit to the country...
GRECO places Denmark in its non-compliance procedure
Council of Europe anti-corruption experts (GRECO) have placed Denmark in its non-compliance procedure due to lack of sufficient measures taken to prevent corruption in respect of members of parliament and in the judiciary, according to a compliance report published today. GRECO concludes that...
Congress President meets Belarus President
The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Gudrun Mosler-Törnström, met with the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on 11 September 2018. They discussed the importance of local self-government in the governance of our societies. During this exchange,...
Parliamentary Assembly Autumn Session
Debate on decision-making process concerning credentials and voting
Despite challenges in managing mixed migration Spain should guarantee effective access to asylum also in Melilla and Ceuta
”Every person arriving in Spain, including those jumping the border fences in Melilla and Ceuta, should be protected against refoulement and collective expulsions with a real possibility to have access to an effective and fair asylum procedure”, says the Secretary General’s Special Representative...
Cyprus makes promising moves to fight corruption
Cyprus makes promising moves to fight corruption, but many results yet to materialise, says anti-corruption group
Anti-torture Committee on Ukraine: severity of police ill-treatment diminished, material conditions in prisons remain poor
The severity of ill-treatment by the law enforcement in Ukraine appears to have diminished, but allegations are still frequent. Poor material conditions, overcrowding and lack of out-of-cell activities remain major problems in prisons; and the system of guardianship in psychiatric and social care...
20th anniversary of Children’s Houses: Icelandic model to counter child sexual abuse continues inspiring change across Europe
The 20th anniversary of the Barnahus (Children’s House), a Council of Europe-promoted model to address child sexual abuse by coordinating parallel criminal and social welfare investigations in a child-friendly and safe environment , is marked today at an event in Reykjavík, Iceland. The first...
Global Education: Human Rights dimension
The North-South Centre of the Council of Europe launches new free online course on the Human Rights dimension of Global Education
Thirty years of the European Charter of Local Self-Government
"Thirty years after the entry into force of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, we must more than ever ensure respect for its principles", says Congress President
“A safety net for the people of Europe”: 65 years of the European Convention on Human Rights
The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, better known as the European Convention on Human Rights, entered into force on 3 September 1953. Ahead of the anniversary, Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland said: “The European Convention on Human...
European Heritage Days 2018: Celebrating the Art of Sharing
The European Heritage Days (EHDs), a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Commission, are the most widely celebrated participatory cultural events shared by the citizens of Europe. The pan-European nature of this project contributes to bringing citizens together and...
MONEYVAL calls for actions to combat money laundering and terrorist financing in line with Latvia’s risk profile
In a report published today on Latvia, MONEYVAL acknowledges that large financial flows passing through the country pose a significant money laundering threat. Latvia is a regional financial centre, with a majority of its commercial banks focusing on servicing foreign customers, mainly from the...
Latvia: new GRECO report on corruption prevention in central government and law enforcement bodies
Latvia to further boost the integrity, transparency and accountability of those exercising top executive functions in central government and of police and border guard staff
Release of Taner Kiliç, Amnesty International
Statement by Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland
Statement by Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland on the release of human rights defender Ilgar Mammadov in Azerbaijan
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland made the following statement today: “News that the Shaki Court of Appeal in Azerbaijan today ordered the release of prominent human rights defender Ilgar Mammadov after more than five years in prison is to be welcomed. We cannot accept political prisoners in...
Transparency of political funding in Switzerland
The Council of Europe’s anti-corruption group regrets the lack of progress
GRECO says “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” makes no substantial progress; urges more action to apply recommendations
In its second compliance report released today, GRECO (Group of States against Corruption) finds that “the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” made no substantial progress in implementing recommendations on preventing corruption among MPs, judges and prosecutors. Calling the country’s...
Searches and arrests in Belarusian media
Statement by the Spokesperson of the Secretary General
10th anniversary of the conflict in Georgia
Statement by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia
Council of Europe honours Roma victims of the Holocaust: “acknowledge the past and improve Roma rights today”
Today in Strasbourg, the Council of Europe held a commemorative wreath-laying ceremony in memory of Roma and Sinti victims of the Holocaust. This year marks the 74th anniversary of 2 August, 1944, when all remaining Roma of the so-called “Zigeunerlager” (Gypsy camp) – 2,897 men, women and...
Moldova: Council of Europe anti-money laundering committee concerned about misleading media reports
Media reports in Moldova seem to wrongly suggest that the Law on Voluntary Declaration and Fiscal Stimulation, which was passed by the Moldovan Parliament on 26 July 2018, had been analysed positively by an expert from the Council of Europe’s Committee on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering...
Poland: Persons taken into police custody still run “appreciable risk” of being ill-treated, says anti-torture committee
A report published today by the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) found that most people who were or recently had been in police custody reported correct treatment by the police. However, although the report includes...
Keeping the promise: ending poverty and inequality
“Poverty and inequality are closely interlinked”, says Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, in her Human Rights Comment published today. “People living in poverty are much more likely to be relegated to low-income work, poor housing, and inadequate health care, as...
Submit your examples of good practices on child-friendly procedures in the migration context
The Office of the Special Representative on migration and refugees is looking for examples of good or promising practices of migration-related procedures that are child-friendly. Selected examples will be published in a compilation of good practices being prepared under the Council of Europe...
