Newsroom
Domestic violence: Countries should improve child custody safety and victim protection
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) finds that many countries lack enough protection for children and domestic violence victims. GREVIO, which monitors implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and...
Brigitte Macron, invitée de marque du premier forum des collégiens
Quatre cents jeunes ont pu longuement échanger aujourd’hui avec Brigitte Macron à l’occasion du premier forum des collégiens consacré au vivre ensemble. Le harcèlement scolaire et le cyberharcèlement ont été au centre de cet échange, au cours duquel Mme Macron a notamment rappelé l’existence du...
Portugal urged to enable trafficking victims to access legal aid and compensation, better identify victims among asylum seekers
The Council of Europe’s expert group on human trafficking, GRETA, has urged the Portuguese authorities to improve trafficking victims’ access to legal aid and to guarantee their effective access to compensation. These are among the main proposals for action included in the latest evaluation...
Implementing ECHR judgments: Latest decisions from Committee of Ministers
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has published the case-by-case decisions taken during the Committee’s meeting from 8 to 10 June to supervise the implementation of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights. The Committee adopted 35 decisions concerning 17...
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić
“I firmly condemn the death penalty sentences issued today in the occupied Ukrainian city of Donetsk. Death penalty is incompatible with human dignity and constitutes inhuman and degrading treatment. It has no place on the European continent. On behalf of the Council of Europe, I call for...
Estonia should intensify efforts to integrate national minorities
In its latest Opinion on Estonia the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) makes a series of recommendations aimed at improving the integration of society as a whole, and ensuring that persons belonging to national minorities can...
Anti-racism commission publishes reports on Denmark, Monaco and Estonia
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has published new monitoring reports on Denmark, Monaco and Estonia. In its report on Denmark, ECRI calls on the Danish authorities, as a matter of priority, to introduce a national action plan against racism, with a particular...
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 8 to 10 June. Cases proposed for detailed examination concern Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina,...
Prison overcrowding remains a problem in prisons in French-speaking Switzerland: Anti-torture committee report
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published a report on the periodic visit to Switzerland carried out from 22 March to 1 April 2021. The visit focused on the situation of persons deprived of their liberty in...
Hungary: improvements in fighting money laundering and terrorist financing have led to upgraded ratings
Hungary has improved measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, demonstrating good progress in the level of compliance with the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) standards, according to a new follow-up report by the Council of Europe anti-money laundering body MONEYVAL. The...
Human trafficking in Norway: progress on legislative reforms, but should avoid rapid deportations of foreigners without screening them
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has published its third evaluation report on Norway focusing on human trafficking victims’ access to justice and effective remedies. The report also assesses developments since the publication of...
New report on the impact of artificial intelligence on the doctor-patient relationship
The Council of Europe’s Steering Committee for Human Rights in the fields of Biomedicine and Health (CDBIO) has issued a new report on the impact of artificial intelligence on the doctor-patient relationship. The report examines AI systems regarding the doctor-patient relationship in relation to...
Informal exchange of views between Committee of Ministers and civil society representatives on participatory democracy
At an informal meeting on 3 June, delegations from the 46 Council of Europe member states held an exchange of views with representatives of civil society, other international organisations and experts on participatory democracy in Europe. The aim was to exchange views on how best to strengthen...
Council of Europe Congress President in Ukraine
At the invitation of the Association of Ukrainian Municipalities (AUC), the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Leendert Verbeek, is visiting Ukraine from 1 to 4 June, accompanied by the Congress Secretary General Andreas Kiefer. This visit follows the adoption of a...
PACE President's statement on 100th day of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine
In a statement on the 100th day of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, PACE President Tiny Kox has again called on the Russian authorities to immediately bring the war to an end, and issued a strong appeal for the restoration of peace with justice. “By this blatant violation of...
GRECO urges European governments to increase transparency and accountability of lobbying
European governments should increase transparency and accountability around lobbying to ensure that members of the public know which actors are seeking to influence political decisions so that the risk of corrupt practices can be reduced, says the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body GRECO in...
Adverse impact of Covid-19 on vulnerable groups, racism in policing, intimidation of LGBTI people: main trends in ECRI's annual report
The continuing Covid-19 pandemic that has further marginalised vulnerable groups, the ongoing problem of racism in police forces and the rise of anti-LGBTI public discourse were the main trends in 2021, said the Council of Europe’s Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) in its annual...
Congress President calls on member States to ratify the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government to strengthen citizen participation at local level
President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Leendert Verbeek has marked the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority by urging States that...
Early intervention on intersex children and children’s rights
A seminar aimed at safeguarding the human rights of intersex children has taken place in Strasbourg. Medical practices applied to intersex children may have future long-term implications for them, and it is vital to safeguard children’s right throughout the process. Early intervention on intersex...
Armenia: despite legislative reforms, survivors of human trafficking face uphill struggle to access justice
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) have published a new report on Armenia focusing on human trafficking victims’ access to justice and effective remedies. GRETA acknowledges improvements in the legislative and policy framework but asks...
Seminar on drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA): a challenge to gender-based violence
The phenomenon of Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA) is closely linked to the issue of protecting and promoting women's fundamental rights and preventing gender-based violence, one of the priorities identified by the Italian Presidency at the Council of Europe (November 2021 - May 2022). A...
“Child and youth participation for Europe”- Cork conference looks at progress so far and challenges ahead
A conference focusing on the right of children to be heard and have their opinions taken seriously has opened in Cork, Ireland. “Child and youth participation for Europe” is the first event to be held under the Irish Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe which started...
Council of Europe committee deplores Russia’s usage of minority rights as a pretext for invading Ukraine
The Advisory Committee on the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) has condemned in the strongest possible terms the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine and “deplores that the Russian authorities used issues of minority rights as a...
Solution to Kavala case lies in the hands of Turkey's judges, say PACE monitors
The co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Turkey by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe have appealed to Turkey’s authorities to find a solution to the Kavala case which is in line with an earlier ruling of the European Court of Human Rights. Ending a three-day visit to Istanbul...
Condemnation of Russia, Council of Europe’s priorities, assistance for Ukraine - Foreign Affairs Ministers’ meeting concludes in Turin
At the end of a meeting where the consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine figured high on the agenda, the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Council of Europe’s 46 member States decided today that the organisation should not emerge weakened from the crisis but, on the contrary,...
Ireland takes over the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers
Ireland has taken over the rotating Chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers from Italy at the annual meeting of foreign ministers from the organisation’s 46 member states. At the handover, the outgoing Chair of the Committee of Ministers – Italy’s Minister for Foreign...
PACE President calls for a summit to renew, improve and reinforce the Council of Europe
In his speech at today’s Committee of Ministers session in Turin, PACE President Tiny Kox called for a Summit of Heads of State and Government to renew, improve and reinforce the Council of Europe. "This summit should lead to a Council of Europe with new competencies and better equipped to...
Protecting rights of migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls: Council of Europe recommendation adopted
The Committee of Ministers, meeting in Turin, has adopted a new recommendation to protect the rights of migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls providing measures to better respond to needs and challenges that they face. Drawing on Council of Europe treaties including the Istanbul...
Council of Europe proposes a comprehensive legal and policy framework to combat hate speech
The Council of Europe has issued a set of guidelines to its 46 member states aimed at preventing and combating hate speech, both online and offline. In a Recommendation adopted during its annual session held in Turin, the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers calls on governments to develop...
Foreign ministers meet in Turin to discuss their response to Russian Federation aggression against Ukraine
Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Council of Europe’s 46 member states are holding their annual session today, Friday 20 May 2022 in Turin (Italy). The meeting takes place against the background of the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, which resulted in the exclusion of the...
Commissioner calls on UK government not to extradite Julian Assange
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović has called on UK Home Secretary Priti Patel not to extradite Julian Assange. Writing in view of the impending decision on Mr Assange’s extradition, the Commissioner noted that the wider human rights implications of doing so had...
Financial support for national minorities in Norway ensured, but need to address rising intolerance
In its latest Opinion on Norway, the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM), whilst acknowledging the positive legislative developments and the increasing financial support for the protection of its minority groups, calls on the authorities...
Finland makes €2 million voluntary contribution to support Ukraine
The Government of Finland has made a new voluntary contribution of €2 000 000 to support the implementation of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine 2018-2022 and its successor Action Plan, bringing their total support to the Action Plan to €3.57 million. Finland has also contributed €750...
Helga Pedersen Human Rights Moot Court Competition – 10th anniversary
Students from the University of Oxford (United Kingdom) were declared the winners of the tenth edition of the Helga Pedersen Moot Court Competition after beating a team from the University of Passau (Germany) in the final round. The prize for Best Orator of the Finals was awarded to Lorenz von...
IDAHOT: LGBTI persons fleeing war face specific risks and need protection
European states should pay attention to the specific challenges faced by LGBTI asylum seekers fleeing war, declared Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, the current President of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and...
LGBTI rights in Ukraine conflict in focus at Cyprus conference
The IDAHOT + Forum 2022 is taking place in Limassol, Cyprus, on 12-13 May, ahead of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on Tuesday 17 May. Speaking during the discussion War in Ukraine: Challenges to our Common European Values Through the Experiences of LGBTI+...
Advancing gender equality and fighting stereotypes
A meeting of the Council of Europe’s main body for supporting gender equality has examined a wide range of issues affecting women. The plenary meeting of the Gender Equality Commission, held from 11-13 May in Strasbourg, discussed progress in advancing gender equality in Europe. The participants...
Enhanced co-operation and disclosure of electronic evidence: 22 countries sign new Protocol to Cybercrime Convention
The Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention), aimed at enhancing co-operation and disclosure of electronic evidence has been opened for signature at a conference organised under the Italian Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. The...
First Barnahus for child victims of sexual abuse launched in Slovenia
The first Barnahus (Children’s House) of Slovenia for child victims of sexual abuse has been launched in Ljubljana with the active support of the EU Reform – Council of Europe joint project “Support the implementation of Barnahus in Slovenia - phase II and the Norway Grants”. Barnahus is a...
Secretary General in Ukraine
Statement by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić on her visit to Ukraine
Visit to Ukraine: Commissioner Mijatović calls for continuous support and justice for victims of the war
“The extent and gravity of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law that have taken place as a result of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine are staggering. Providing redress and support for victims and their families and delivering justice will be an...
Reassembling the building blocks of democracy to respond to violent nationalism
European Conference on Democracy and Human Rights
Reassembling the Building Blocks of Democracy
Europe should respond to violent nationalism by “reassembling the core building blocks of democracy” to “construct something that is stronger and more resilient than ever before” Deputy Secretary General Bjorn Berge told delegates at the third annual European Conference on Democracy and Human...
Launch of website in Spanish
Today, coinciding with Europe Day of the Council of Europe, the Council of Europe has launched a Spanish-language website. The website will make available relevant content on the Council of Europe´s work to promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law among Spanish speaking audiences. It...
Secretary General - Europe must remain resilient in the face of aggression and war
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has marked Europe Day 2022 by calling on European states to renew their investment in human rights, democracy and the rule of law in the face of “terrible violence and seismic change.” Launching her annual report, Moving Forward 2022, the Secretary...
Council of Europe experts release guidance to protect Ukrainian refugees from traffickers
New guidance from the Council of Europe’s anti-trafficking body GRETA will give European countries the advice they need to protect Ukrainians refugees from traffickers and to detect potential victims. The move comes following reports of suspected trafficking cases as the war causes an...
Anti-money laundering experts MONEYVAL publish 2021 report
Governments need to step up their efforts and coordination to combat money laundering and terrorist financing by adopting stricter regulation and supervision of the virtual assets sector and the specialised “gatekeeper” professions, such as lawyers, accountants and other services providers who...
European Conference of Prosecutors in Palermo
In the framework of the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, the European Conference of Prosecutors (5-6 May) is taking place at the Palazzo dei Normanni, the Sicilian Regional Assembly’s headquarters. The conference is promoted by the Prosecutor-General’s Office of the Court of...
Support for “Strasbourg Principles” in inter-religious dialogue on religion and peace, religion and human rights
An international conference took place today within the framework of the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers on the subject of “Inter-religious dialogue on religion and peace, religion and human rights”. The aim of the event was to relaunch within the Council of Europe a dialogue...
Press Freedom Day: Media and journalists need better protection
Statement by the Secretary General
Congress President meets representatives of Kyiv City Council in show of support for Ukraine
The President and Secretary General of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe have met with a delegation of representatives from Kyiv City Council. During the meeting, held on 28 April, President Leendert Verbeek and Secretary General Andreas Kiefer held an...
PACE calls for an ad hoc international criminal tribunal to hold to account perpetrators of the crime of aggression against Ukraine
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has called on all the organisation’s member and observer states to urgently set up an ad hoc international criminal tribunal, with a mandate to "investigate and prosecute the crime of aggression allegedly committed by the political and...
The expulsion of Russia from the Council of Europe was inevitable, Di Maio tells PACE
“The expulsion of the Russian Federation from the Council of Europe was made inevitable by the atrocity of the crimes committed in Ukraine. Not only has Russia illegally and unjustifiably invaded another Member State, but it has continued its aggression in open violation of human rights and the...
Confiscated homes of Russian citizens should house refugees, Assembly says
Council of Europe member states should “identify and freeze” the homes of Russian citizens and state enterprises that have been targeted as part of sanctions in the war against Ukraine and transform them to receive Ukrainian refugees, the Parliamentary Assembly said in a resolution based on a...
Russian aggression must stop, Assembly urges
Russia must immediately and unconditionally cease aggression against Ukraine, and the international community must unite to defend the democratic world order, PACE has urged. Voting on a report by Frank Schwabe (Germany, SOC), the Assembly warned that a new dividing line was back on the map of...
“Guaranteeing security and peace is a responsibility of the entire international community” says President of Italian Republic Mattarella at PACE
“Guaranteeing security and peace is a responsibility of the entire international community and cannot be left to bilateral relations”, observed President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella while addressing the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The Italian President...
Secretary General: Media should be able to report free from attacks and intimidation, including in times of war
A new report issued by 15 media freedom organisations partners to the Council of Europe’s Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists shows that the number of alerts reported on the platform concerning serious threats to media freedom in Council of Europe member states in...
PACE President expresses shock at Kavala sentence and calls for his immediate release
Reacting to the conviction of Osman Kavala to an aggravated life sentence, Tiny Kox, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), made the following statement: “I am deeply disappointed by the life sentence handed to Osman Kavala yesterday by an Istanbul Court. The...
“We must do everything we can to support Ukraine” Secretary General tells PACE
Responding to questions from members of the Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić confirmed that the organisation had proposed adjustments to the Ukraine Action Plan to address the immediate consequences of the Russian aggression. “We must do...
More action needed by Lithuania to curb high-level corruption in politics and law enforcement
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has called for further measures to prevent corruption in Lithuania in respect of persons entrusted with top executive functions, including the President of the Republic, ministers, chancellors and political advisers, as well as...
Digital devices should have built-in adult content blockers to protect children
All digital devices should have easy-to-use parental controls and tools for filtering and blocking pornographic material built into them by default in order to combat children's exposure to adult content, advocates the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE). These control tools should...
PACE President urges members to help restore peace in Ukraine
At the opening of the PACE spring session in Strasbourg, President Tiny Kox urged members to help restore peace in Ukraine and the entire continent, and to assist Council of Europe member State Ukraine “to regain its national sovereignty and territorial integrity and rebuild its society, which is...
Anti-doping: Committee of Ministers adopts recommendation on fair proceedings in sport
The fight against doping in sport requires fair proceedings while respecting the need to protect an athlete’s private life including reputation and health-related information. The Committee of Ministers has adopted a Recommendation to Member States aimed at reinforcing the human rights principles...
PACE Spring Session: the consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine
A general policy debate on the consequences of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine will be at the centre of the spring plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), to be held in hybrid format from 25 to 28 April 2022. In the context of this...
Prison overcrowding: Anti-torture committee calls for setting a limit to the number of inmates in every prison and promoting non-custodial measures
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) is calling on European states with persistent prison overcrowding to address this problem with determination by setting a maximum threshold to the number of prisoners in every penal institution - to be strictly respected - and...
Council of Europe expert advisory group starts its work supporting Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Office
The Council of Europe’s Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law has set up an expert advisory group to support the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine. This initiative is part of its immediate assistance to Ukraine following Russia’s aggression, and follows initial consultations...
Cartoon mouse explains Council of Europe and six-month Italian Presidency of Committee of Ministers to children
The famous cartoon mouse Geronimo Stilton, created by Elisabetta Dami and loved by children all over the world, is the star of a new book to mark the six-month Italian Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. Welcome to the Council of Europe aims to allow children to discover...
Romanian prisons continue to face extensive challenges
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has called on the Romanian authorities to vigorously pursue the reform of the prison system to address some serious and persistent shortcomings. In its report on the ad hoc visit to Romania carried out from 10 to 21 May 2021,...
Work-life balance crucial for gender equality and empowering women
Gender and labour ministers from all regions of Europe took part at a high-level conference in Rome on 12 April to explore how to face the challenge of creating a better work-life balance for women, ensure that family responsibilities can be better shared, improve gender equality and prevent...
How well are states protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse during the refugee crisis?
With Europe facing the second major refugee crisis in less than a decade, the Council of Europe’s Lanzarote Committee has published ten compliance reports evaluating legislation, services and other measures in place for the protection of children affected by the refugee crisis from sexual...
Education in time of crisis
As a result of the Russian Federation’s armed attack on Ukraine, millions of people are fleeing Ukraine. In anticipation of the immediate and short-term impact of such an inflow of refugees and, in particular, young adults and children, the Council of Europe’s Education Department, in close...
European Label of Governance Excellence launched in Venice
A launch conference for the European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE) was held under the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Venice on 11 April. Good Democratic Governance is encapsulated in the 12 Principles which can be measured by applying the...
Learning Equality, Dignity, Democracy: forum on citizenship and human rights education in Europe
A Forum on the present and future of citizenship and human rights education in Europe has opened in Turin, Italy. It aims to strengthen the quality, recognition and outreach of young people’s education in the fields of democratic citizenship and human rights. The event, from 11 to 13 April has...
Ministers to share workplace equality proposals
Gender and labour ministers from all regions of Europe are to meet in Rome to share how countries are facing the challenge of creating a better work-life balance for women. The conference, to be held in Rome on April 12, will look at ways that family responsibilities can be better shared and...
Child self-generated sexual images and videos: new report provides guidance to governments
Addressing challenges raised by the significant increase and exploitation of child self-generated sexual images and videos is the focus of the new monitoring report presented by the Council of Europe’s Lanzarote Committee in Rome. The report covers 43 European states Parties (*) to the Lanzarote...
“Local governments unite for welfare and peace”: online marathon exchanges between Ukrainian local leaders and international counterparts
Through its Centre of Expertise for Good Governance the Council of Europe has held a series of online conferences “Local governments unite for welfare and peace” from 18 March to 7 April 2022. Amid the ongoing aggression from the Russian Federation, local authorities in Ukraine continue to...
Roma in Ukraine and throughout Europe in 2022
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić on International Roma Day
Council of Europe bank issues a new social inclusion bond to bolster its response to Ukraine refugee crisis
The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) issued a new € 1 billion seven-year Social Inclusion Bond (SIB) to bolster its response to the social crisis unfolding due to the war in Ukraine and help its member states assist millions of refugees seeking safety. The proceeds of the new bond could...
Children’s rights in crisis and emergency situations: a new Council of Europe priority for 2022-2027
With climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, securing and protecting children’s rights in crisis and emergency situations has been designated a new priority in the Council of Europe’s Strategy for the Rights of the Child for 2022-2027...
Justice needed for residents of Bucha and all other victims of the war in Ukraine
Statement by Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović
Congress President condemns the crimes against Ukrainian citizens and elected local leaders
On the occasion of his exchange of views with the Deputies in the Committee of Ministers on 6 April, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Leendert Verbeek made the following statement: “The war in Ukraine has entered a new phase of atrocities....
Assembly delegation condemns atrocities and pledges help after first Ukraine visit
Parliamentary Assembly President Tiny Kox has condemned atrocities by the Russian army and promised all possible assistance in investigating war crimes following the first official visit to Ukraine since hostilities began. “I strongly condemn the atrocities against innocent civilians, including...
Tackling the risks for democracy of digital political campaigning: Council of Europe issues guidelines
The Council of Europe has issued a set of guidelines to its 46 member states to address the challenges to the fairness and legitimacy of electoral processes created by new digital political communication techniques. These challenges include the possible abusive use of microtargeting, personal...
Children’s rights : a new strategy to be launched in Rome
The new Strategy to guide the 46 member States of the Council of Europe in protecting and promoting the rights of the child in 2022-2027 will be officially launched on 7-8 April at a high-level conference in Rome. Benedetto Della Vedova, Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and...
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić on the atrocities in Bucha
"I am appalled at the horrific images of atrocities emerging from the Ukrainian town of Bucha and other towns near Kyiv following the withdrawal of Russian forces. “I call for an urgent, full and independent investigation into these horrendous crimes. The perpetrators must be brought to justice....
Council of Europe’s annual penal statistics: Covid-19 pandemic helped reduce Europe’s prison population
The Covid-19 pandemic contributed to reducing the prison population in Europe between January 2020 and January 2021, consolidating a ten-year-long trend in most European states, according to the Council of Europe’s Annual Penal Statistics on Prison Populations for 2021, (see also Key findings)....
Council of Europe bodies observe national and local elections in Serbia
On 3 April 2022, presidential and early parliamentary elections were held in Serbia, observed by international observers, among them the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. On the same day, local elections in Belgrade and 12 other municipalities were held; they were observed by the...
PACE President reacts to reports of civilian killings by Russian forces around Kyiv
PACE President Tiny Kox has expressed shock and horror at reports of civilian killings by Russian forces withdrawing from Bucha and other towns around Kyiv. “These horrible crimes need to be thoroughly investigated, and the perpetrators of any war crimes in this terrible war brought to justice,”...
Links between Artificial Intelligence and human rights at the heart of high-level event in Rome
The impact of Artificial Intelligence on human rights, democracy and the Rule of Law in building a person-friendly future is the theme of a high-level event at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Rome. Co-organised by the Italian Presidency of the Committee of...
Ministers of Culture conference: “Creating our future: creativity and cultural heritage as strategic resources for a diverse and democratic Europe”
In the framework of the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, the Council of Europe and the Italian Ministry of Culture has organised a Conference of Ministers of Culture in a hybrid format (in Strasbourg and online), on April 1st. The Italian Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini...
Protecting witnesses and collaborators of justice: Committee of Ministers recommendation
The Council of Europe´s Committee of Ministers has adopted a Recommendation providing guidance to its 46 member states on the protection of witnesses and collaborators of justice and aiming to strengthen international cooperation in this field. The text, which updates a recommendation on the same...
Progress and challenges seen in implementing human rights judgments, says annual report
Human rights have improved in a number of countries thanks to moves by governments to implement judgments from the European Court of Human Rights, but serious challenges remain, according to the latest annual report from the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers. The report underlines...
Foreign terrorist fighters: new recommendation on the use of information collected in conflict zones as evidence in criminal proceedings
The Committee of Ministers has adopted a Recommendation on the use of information collected in conflict zones as evidence in criminal proceedings related to terrorist offences. Prepared by the Committee on Counter-Terrorism (CDCT), the Recommendation provides guidance to member States on the...
Congress President strongly condemns abductions of Ukrainian mayors and elected representatives
Following up on his statement of 15 March 2022 concerning the abduction of mayors from the Melitopol and Dniprorudne, Zaporizhya oblast, and the Congress Declaration adopted on 24 March 2022, the Congress President Leendert Verbeek has made the following statement regarding the war in Ukraine: “I...
New online platform matches cities in Ukraine with European cities that can provide help
A new online platform, Cities4Cities, has been developed to help Ukrainian cities. Launched at the initiative of Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE), President of the Chamber of Local Authorities of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and Mayor of the city of Sindelfingen, with the...
United Kingdom local authorities limited by over-regulation and funding issues, says Council of Europe Congress
Local authorities in the UK are hampered from effective action by government over-regulation and lack of freedom to raise and spend money, a key report from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities has concluded. Monitoring how the UK respects the European Charter of Local Self Government,...
Implementing ECHR judgments: New factsheet on domestic violence cases
The Council of Europe’s Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights has published a new thematic factsheet on cases related to domestic violence. The factsheet summarises measures reported by 12 member states to help prevent domestic violence, protect victims...
Urgent need to protect Ukrainian children in migration from sexual abuse
Children in vulnerable situations, such as unaccompanied children and missing children, are at a higher risk of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, noted the Council of Europe’s Lanzarote Committee in its Statement on protecting children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse resulting from...
Commissioner urges protection of humanitarian needs and human rights of people fleeing war in Ukraine
“All member states should strengthen their efforts to coordinate – both at domestic and European levels – and scale up support for the response to the humanitarian and human rights needs of people fleeing the war in Ukraine. Medium and long-term planning is urgently needed to ensure...
Human Rights Commissioner advocates support to Russian civil society
The Human Rights Commissioner has expressed appreciation for the courageous work of civil society actors. Dunja Mijatović stressed that support to human rights defenders and journalists, including those from the Russian Federation and Belarus, will remain one of the priorities for her future...
Congress highlights “generally degrading situation” of local democracy in Turkey
The 46-nation Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities has reported a “generally degrading situation” with regard to local democracy in Turkey. In its latest report on Turkey’s application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, the Congress welcomes the impressive...
Russia ceases to be a Party to the European Convention on Human Rights on 16 September 2022
Following its expulsion from the Council of Europe on 16 March 2022, the Russian Federation will cease to be a High Contracting Party to the European Convention on Human Rights on 16 September 2022. This was confirmed today in a Resolution by the Committee of Ministers. In line with the...
European Committee of Social Rights’ Conclusions on Health, Social Security and Social Protection
The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) today published its Conclusions 2021 in respect of 33 States* on the articles of the Social Charter relating to Health, Social Security and Social Protection. In the framework of the reporting procedure, the Committee adopted 401 conclusions: 165...
Congress holds debates on the war in Ukraine, local democracy in Germany and involving children in sustainable development
“We are meeting at a time when a Council of Europe member state, Ukraine, is the victim of an act of war committed by a former member state, the Russian Federation, said Congress President Leedert Verbeek at the opening of the 42nd session. “This new reality has produced the opposite effect from...
Democracy Here | Democracy Now - reaching out to young people, including in times of crisis
A campaign to revitalise democracy through youth participation Democracy Here | Democracy Now has been launched today at an event organised by the Council of Europe’s Youth Sector, with the support of the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers. Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General...
As Venice Commission adopts opinions on key constitutional issues, it voices “firm condemnation” against Russian aggression
During its first plenary session of the year, held on 18 and 19 March, the Council of Europe's Venice Commission announced “firm condemnation” against Russian aggression and deplored “the loss of lives and the destruction in Ukraine”. The constitutional experts furthermore fully supported the...
Venice Commission plenary session underway
The first plenary session of the year for the Venice Commission is underway. Expected to be adopted, among other texts, are opinions on Armenian draft laws concerning amendments to the Judicial Code and the Law on the Constitutional Court; the drafting of a new Constitution in Chile; a draft law...
Committee of Ministers suspends relations with the Belarusian authorities
The Committee of Ministers has decided to suspend all relations with Belarus as a result of the country's active participation in the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. In its decision, the Committee of Ministers suspends the rights of Belarus to participate in all meetings and...
European governments must ensure Holocaust Remembrance and education to combat anti-semitism
Council of Europe Recommendation aims to prevent future crimes against humanity
Council of Europe calls on states to support quality journalism: new guidelines
The Council of Europe has adopted a Recommendation calling on its 46 member States to create a favourable environment for quality journalism to thrive and to play its essential role in democracy. The recommendation contains a set of legal, administrative and practical guidelines aimed at ensuring...
Human trafficking experts: States must urgently protect refugees fleeing Ukraine
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has warned of the dangers of people fleeing the armed conflict in Ukraine falling victim to human trafficking and exploitation, amid the fastest-growing refugee flow in Europe since World War Two....
Congress 42nd Session: situation in Ukraine; local democracy in Germany, Luxembourg, Turkey and the UK; fake news, threats and violence against mayors in the current crises in Europe
The 42nd Session of the Congress will take place from 22-24 March. A debate on the situation in Ukraine will take place on Tuesday afternoon, March 22nd. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been invited to address the Congress by video conference and the Congress will adopt an...
The Russian Federation is excluded from the Council of Europe
In an extraordinary meeting this morning, the Committee of Ministers decided, in the context of the procedure launched under Article 8 of the Statute of the Council of Europe, that the Russian Federation ceases to be a member of the Council of Europe as from today, after 26 years of membership....
The Russian Federation can no longer be a member State of the Council of Europe, PACE says
The Russian Federation “committed grave violations of the Council of Europe Statute incompatible with the status of a member State, does not bear its undertakings before the Council of Europe and does not comply with the commitments before it”. Therefore, the Council of Europe Parliamentary...
Council of Europe leaders make joint statement on the exclusion of the Russian Federation from the Council of Europe
The Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chair of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, Luigi Di Maio, the President of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly, Tiny Kox, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović...
Congress President strongly condemns abduction of Mayors and pressure on local and regional authorities in Ukraine
The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Leendert Verbeek, made the following statement regarding the war in Ukraine: “I strongly condemn the abduction of the mayors of Melitopol and Dniprorudne, Zaporizhya oblast and the pressure on local elected...
“Council of Europe has been at the forefront to ensure a prompt, cohesive and strong reaction”, says Della Vedova at PACE
“The Council of Europe, the depositary and guardian of the fundamental principles of coexistence, respect for human rights, the promotion of democracy and the rule of law, has been at the forefront to ensure a prompt, cohesive and strong reaction”, highlighted Italian Under-Secretary of Foreign...
Secretary General condemns the Russian Federation’s aggression, calls for solidarity with Ukraine
Addressing the extraordinary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić spoke about the organisation’s response to the ongoingRussian aggression in Ukraine. “Since the decision to suspend Russia’s representation was taken on 25...
Ukrainian Prime Minister demands that Russia be immediately ousted from the Council of Europe
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, addressing an extraordinary session of PACE by video-link, has demanded that the Russian Federation be immediately ousted from the Council of Europe. “The right to life is one of the key fundamental rights – and today, at the centre of Europe, this right is...
Psychological first aid for Ukrainian people
The Pompidou Group, together with leading European psycho-trauma experts, has developed recommendations on how people can better interact and communicate with persons who have experienced a crisis or difficult life event. The recommendations were developed at the request of the Ukrainian Ministry...
Italian Presidency: high-level event in Rome to promote equality and combat discrimination
The promotion of equality, the fight against discrimination and the protection of vulnerable groups are the focus of a high-level event of the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers (Rome, March 17th European Parliament Liaison Office & online), in the framework of the 5th meeting of...
Council of Europe to discuss potential further measures against Russia
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers today decided to consult the Parliamentary Assembly on potential further use of Article 8 of the Organisation’s Statute (*) in response to the serious violations by the Russian Federation of its statutory obligations as a member State. The Committee...
Implementing ECHR judgments: latest decisions from the Committee of Ministers
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has published the case-by-case decisions taken by the Committee during its meeting from 8 to 9 March to supervise the implementation of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights. The Committee adopted 37 decisions concerning 19...
Anti-torture committee: police ill-treatment in Serbia remains a serious problem, but some progress observed in prisons
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published a report (see also in Serbian) on its periodic visit to Serbia from 9 to 19 March 2021 together with the response from the authorities (see also in Serbian). While...
PACE to debate the consequences of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine at a two-day extraordinary session
The consequences of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine will be the focus of an extraordinary plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), to be held in hybrid mode on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 March 2022. The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr...
More support urgently needed to assist people fleeing the war in Ukraine and countries of arrival, in particular the Republic of Moldova
“Beyond the prompt humanitarian response already provided by European states to people fleeing the war in Ukraine, more support is urgently needed to protect their human rights and to support countries of arrival, in particular the Republic of Moldova”, said today the Council of Europe...
Council of Europe leaders make joint statement on the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine
The Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chair of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, Luigi Di Maio, the President of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly, Tiny Kox, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović...
8 March: International Women’s Day
Statement by Chair of Committee of Ministers, Luigi Di Maio, Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
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 8 to 10 March. Cases proposed for detailed examination concern Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and...
War in Ukraine: protecting women and girls
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić ahead of International Women’s Day 8 March
Authorities should stop the unprecedented crackdown on freedoms of expression, assembly and association in Russia
“Russia's military attack against Ukraine has lasted for almost 12 days now, causing death and destruction. It is also leading to a large-scale repression of freedoms in the Russian Federation”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović. "Since the war began, more...
International Women’s Day : #BreakTheBias starts with men
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić underlines that to achieve gender equality, men should make more effort to promote equal pay for equal work
Council of Europe and European Commission organise regional cyber training for East and South-East European countries
At a time when strengthening capacities on cybercrime and cybersecurity is more important than ever, the Council of Europe Cybercrime Programme Office (C-PROC) and the European Commission will organise, from 7 to 11 March in Athens (Greece), a regional cyber exercise involving co-operation...
Anti-racism commission publishes conclusions on Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Romania and Slovenia
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published today its conclusions on the implementation of its priority recommendations addressed to Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Romania and Slovenia in 2019. As regards Finland, ECRI concluded that the authorities had not...
Council of Europe suspends Russia’s rights of representation
In line with the Statute of the Council of Europe, the Committee of Ministers has today decided to suspend the Russian Federation from its rights of representation in the Committee of Ministers and in the Parliamentary Assembly with immediate effect as a result of the Russian Federation’s armed...
Situation in Ukraine: Decisions by Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers
In a decision adopted today, at the end of an extraordinary meeting which brought together the representatives of the 47 Council of Europe member states, the Committee of Ministers: condemned in the strongest terms the armed attack on Ukraine by the Russian Federation in violation of...
Situation in Ukraine
The Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chair of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, Luigi Di Maio, has made the following statement: “The Russian military operation is a very serious, unjustified and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine, which...
The new Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2022-2027) adopted by the Committee of Ministers
On 23 February 2022, the Committee of Ministers adopted the new Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2022-2027) “Children’s Rights in Action: from continuous implementation to joint innovation” which will guide the work of the Council of Europe over the next six years. The new Strategy is the...
Statement from Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić on the military attack by the Russian Federation on Ukraine
“I strongly condemn the Russian military attack against Ukraine in flagrant violation of the Statute of Council of Europe and the European Convention on Human Rights. This is a dark hour for Europe and everything it stands for. I call upon the authorities of Russia to immediately and...
European Court of Human Rights : updated “country profiles” now online
The European Court of Human Rights has published an updated set of “country profiles” containing facts, figures and summaries of key cases for all 47 Council of Europe member states. The factsheets have been revised to take into account the Court’s annual statistics for 2021, which were published...
Situation in Ukraine
The Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chair of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, Luigi Di Maio, has made the following statement: “As Chair of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, I support the statement of the Secretary General of the...
Belarus: constitutional amendments put to referendum fail to correct existing strong imbalance of powers, says Venice Commission
The Venice Commission in its urgent interim opinion on the constitutional reform in Belarus said that the draft amendments which will be submitted to referendum of 27 February 2022 “fail to correct the strong imbalance of powers which already exists under the current Constitution and indeed may...
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić on the recognition of the so-called “people’s republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk by the Russian Federation
“The recognition of the so-called ‘people’s republics’ of Donetsk and Luhansk by the Russian Federation is in violation of international law and represents a unilateral breach of the Minsk agreements - which remain the only basis for a settlement of the conflict in Donbas. The Council of Europe...
Human trafficking: Latvia urged to better protect and compensate victims, convict traffickers
The Council of Europe’s expert group on human trafficking has urged Latvia to take further steps to identify, protect and compensate victims of trafficking, and to ensure that traffickers are convicted. These are among the main proposals for action included in the third evaluation of Latvia’s...
Conference on Social Resilience and Health Equity: A human right prospective for better resilience and preparedness
In the framework of the Italian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, the Council of Europe is organising an event on Social Resilience and Health Equity. In the current international context, member States are urged to further engage in dialogue and co-operation, and to rediscover the very...
France should improve the identification, protection and compensation of victims of trafficking in human beings
In a new report the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) calls on the French authorities to take additional steps to facilitate and guarantee access to justice for all trafficking victims and set up a national victim identification and referral mechanism....
Criminal conviction of independent journalist Vladislav Yesipenko further undermines media freedom in Crimea
Statement by Dunja Mijatović, Commissioner for Human Rights
Belgium found to have breached the European Social Charter over “bogus internships”
The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) has concluded that Belgium has breached the European Social Charter with regard to “bogus internships”. The ECSR considered that a traineeship must be understood as a limited period of work practice, either paid or unpaid, that includes a learning...
Council of Europe leaders make joint statement on Ukraine
The Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chair of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, Luigi Di Maio, the President of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly, Tiny Kox, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović...
Commissioner’s report on Malta: high time for reforms to safeguard media freedom and better protect the rights of refugees and women
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović has published her report on her visit to Malta in October 2021. It contains recommendations for safeguarding media freedom and ensuring the safety of journalists, protecting the lives and dignity of refugees, asylum seekers and...
Norway: further improvement needed to revitalise and develop the most endangered minority languages
In a new evaluation report, the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, recommends as a matter of priority that the Norwegian authorities improve the means for revitalisation and development of the country’s most endangered minority languages: Kven, Lule...
Deputy Secretary General at Global Conference for Media Freedom: “Even during crises, human rights apply and must be respected”
“Even during crises, human rights – fundamental rights – do apply and must be respected”, highlighted Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge while addressing the Global Conference for Media Freedom held in Tallinn (Estonia). The Deputy Secretary General underlined how extraordinary circumstances...
New Recommendation on democratic accountability of elected officials and elected bodies at local and regional level
The Committee of Ministers has adopted a Recommendation on democratic accountability of elected representatives and elected bodies at local and regional level. Prepared by the European Committee on Democratic Governance (CDDG), the Recommendation aims at creating the conditions and culture for an...
Information and communication technologies in elections: Council of Europe adopts new guidelines
The Committee of Ministers has adopted a set of guidelines on the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the electoral process which aim at ensuring the integrity of the electoral process and therefore enhancing citizens’ trust in democracy. Prepared by the European Committee...
Poland: Committee of Experts concerned about decisions affecting German language in education
The Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages has taken note with concern of the recent reduction of the subsidy for regional or minority language education in Poland and the subsequent decrease of the number of hours for minority language teaching targeting...
Council of Europe celebrates Safer Internet Day 2022
For the 7th consecutive year, the Council of Europe is supporting the Safer Internet Day Campaign and and is joining forces with numerous stakeholders to work together for a better and safer internet for all, and especially for children and young adults. Safeguarding and promoting the rights of...
Implementing ECHR judgments: New factsheet on Roma and Travellers
The Council of Europe’s Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights has published a new thematic factsheet on cases related to Roma and Travellers. The factsheet summarises measures reported by nine member states to protect and further strengthen the rights of...
Digital Partnership: Council of Europe discusses cooperation with IT and internet companies and business associations
On 3 and 4 February, the Council of Europe organised an exchange of views with the 26 members of the Digital Partnership, an initiative aimed at fostering cooperation with internet and IT companies, and their business associations, to promote respect for human rights. The event – held in workshop...
Committee of Ministers refers Kavala v. Turkey case to the European Court of Human Rights
The Committee of Ministers of the 47-nation Council of Europe has referred the Kavala v. Turkey case to the European Court of Human Rights to determine whether Turkey has failed to fulfil its obligation to implement the Court’s judgment in this case, in line with proceedings provided for under...
For law enforcement professionals: new Council of Europe online course to stop violence against women
To improve law enforcement responses in cases of violence against women and domestic violence, law enforcement professionals now can learn more about the human rights dimension in countering such violence with new Council of Europe training for more effective victim-centred police response. The...
GREVIO takes over the leadership of EDVAW Platform
Ms Iris Luarasi, President of the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO), is taking over the Presidency of the Platform of Independent Expert Mechanisms on the Elimination of Discrimination and Violence against Women (EDVAW...
Time limit for ECHR applications reduced to four months
From 1 February 2022, the time limit for lodging a complaint at the European Court of Human Rights is being cut from six months to four months after a final ruling at national level. This follows the entry into force of Protocol No. 15 to the European Convention on Human Rights on 1 August 2021...
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe concluded on Friday: From the speech of Undersecretary Della Vedova to the commemoration of the Shoah victims, here are some of the events involving our Country’s representatives
There have been five days of discussion, dialogue and reflection around themes of global significance, from the safeguarding of human rights to climate change. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which started on Monday 24th and concluded on Friday 28th January, saw the...
Justice for Journalists Foundation joins Safety of journalists´ Platform
Justice for Journalists Foundation (JFJ) today became partner to the Council of Europe’s Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists. The Director of JFJ, Maria Ordzhonikidze, signed the agreement to join the Platform with the Council of Europe Secretary General,...
Council of Europe marks the International Day of Commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust
On the 77th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, the Council of Europe is marking the International Day of Commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust. Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić paid tribute to those who lost their lives. “Today, we remember the...
Data Protection Day
To mark Data Protection Day, which commemorates the opening for signature of the Council of Europe data protection convention on 28 January 1981, the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe today hosted a conference to discuss the potential as a global privacy...
PACE sets out wide-ranging recommendations for putting human rights at the heart of football
Football’s main stakeholders must put human rights values at the heart of the sport, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) said in a wide-ranging resolution on football governance. The adopted text, based on the report prepared by Lord George Foulkes (United Kingdom, SOC),...
Italian Undersecretary of State Della Vedova: “The Council of Europe is a fundamental part of the collective effort to face global challenges”
“The Council of Europe is a fundamental part of the collective effort to face global challenges. It represents the continental emblem of the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms and the expression of a multilateral vocation in which Italy fully recognises itself. Indeed it is an...
Secretary General tells PACE : “Our shared values far outweigh the single issues that divide us”
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has told members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) that the relative peace of recent decades has been underpinned by the organisation’s commitment to human rights, democracy and the rule of law. She emphasised that even as the...
Tiny Kox elected as PACE President
Tiny Kox (Netherlands, UEL) has been elected President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Taking over from Rik Daems (Belgium, ALDE), he is PACE’s 34th President since 1949 and the third Dutch national to hold this office. He obtained an absolute majority in the first...
PACE Winter Session: hatred against LGBTI people, football governance, Alexei Navalny poisoning
Debates on combating rising hate against LGBTI people in Europe and on alleged violations of their rights in the Southern Caucasus, on business and values in football governance – with an intervention by FIFA President Giovanni Infantino – on the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, and on the role of...
Council of Europe and EU launch joint project to support family courts in Turkey
The Council of Europe and the European Union have launched the joint programme on “Improving the effectiveness of Family Courts: Better Protection of the Rights of Family Members”, aimed at supporting the functioning of family courts in Turkey. “This project is specifically designed to improve...
Secretary General and CEB Governor reaffirm strategic partnership to promote social inclusion in Europe
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović-Burić met Carlo Monticelli on his first official visit as Governor of the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) to discuss the strategic partnership to promote social inclusion in Europe. The CEB was established in 1956 by eight member states of the Council...
States should effectively apply corporate liability to money laundering offences: Warsaw Convention report
The Conference of the Parties of the Council of Europe’s Warsaw Convention has called on its states parties to apply corporate liability to money laundering offences effectively. In a report released today, the Conference of the Parties of Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and...
Defender of disadvantaged population of “untouchables” in India receives Raoul Wallenberg Prize
Vincent Raj Arokiasamy, founder of the organisation “Evidence” in India, has been awarded the Council of Europe’s Raoul Wallenberg Prize for his outstanding determination and persistence in bringing meaningful change to the lives of the Dalits, historically known as “untouchables”. “Vincent Raj...
Secretary General: liquidation of International Memorial marks a dark day for civil society in the Russian Federation
The liquidation of International Memorial is devastating news for civil society in the Russian Federation. The existence and development of civil society organisations is an essential pillar of any European democracy. However, the Russian Federation appears to be moving further away from our...
Croatia: More needed to prevent corruption and promote integrity in government and police, say anti-corruption experts
In a new compliance report the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) assesses measures taken by the Croatian authorities to implement recommendations issued in the Fifth Round Evaluation Report on Croatia, which was adopted in early December 2019 and made public in March...
Poland: Further measures needed to implement the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
Since having entered into force in Poland in 2009, the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages applies to the following languages: Armenian, Belarusian, Czech, German, Karaim, Kashub, Lemko, Lithuanian, Romani, Russian, Slovak, Tatar, Ukrainian and Yiddish. In a new report the...
New Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees
On the occasion of International Migrants Day (18 December), the Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has announced the appointment of Leyla Kayacik as her new Special Representative on migration and refugees. The announcement comes at a time when migration-related challenges are prominent...
Cyprus: Progress on Armenian and Cypriot Maronite Arabic languages, but room for improvement, say minority languages experts
State authorities in Cyprus continue to support minority language speakers by funding existing cultural institutions and establishing new sports facilities where their languages can be used, according to a new report by the Committee of Experts for the European Charter for Regional or Minority...
2021 North-South Prize awarded to the COVAX Mechanism and Zarifa Ghafari
On its meeting on 19 November, the Executive Committee of the North-South Centre endorsed the decision of the North-South Prize Jury to award the 2021 North-South Prize of the Council of Europe to The COVAX Mechanism and Ms. Zarifa Gafhari. The Covax Mechanism is selected in recognition to the...
Tunisia launches new initiative to better detect and help victims of human trafficking
The “National Referral Mechanism” (NRM), the first framework of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for identifying and referring potential victims of human trafficking, has been launched with the support of the European Union and the Council of Europe. Based on a human rights...
Venice Commission publishes opinions in fourth and final plenary session of 2021
In their final plenary session of the year, again held in a hybrid format because of Covid, the constitutional experts of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission have adopted, among other texts, opinions on Albania, Cyprus, Hungary, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. The as-adopted opinions...
Hungary: LGBTQI amendments incompatible with international human rights standards says Venice Commission
The constitutional law experts of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission have published an Opinion on the compatibility with international human rights standards of Act LXXIX, as enacted by the Hungarian Parliament in June 2021. The Opinion focuses on amendments to Hungarian legislation...
AI in judicial systems: new action plan on digitalisation for a better justice
The Council of Europe’s European Commission for the efficiency of justice (CEPEJ) has adopted an action plan on digitalisation for a better justice for 2022-2025, aiming at reconciling the efficiency of new technologies and the respect of fundamental rights. This action plan sets the major...
“Crime and Criminal Justice -The Role of Restorative Justice in Europe”: Justice Ministers’ conference in Venice
“Crime and Criminal Justice -The Role of Restorative Justice in Europe” is the theme of the Conference of the Ministers of Justice organised by the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers in Venice on 13-14 December at the Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista. Restorative Justice...
Claire Bazy Malaurie elected as new Venice Commission President
Claire Bazy Malaurie, member of the Constitutional Council of France since 2010, has been elected President of the Venice Commission, succeeding Gianni Buquicchio, who has been President since 2009. Her two-year term begins today, 10 December, and she will be eligible for re-election in 2023. She...
Human Rights Day 2021: Now more than ever, we must stand up for human rights
The Secretary General of the 47-nation Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, has made the following statement ahead of Human Rights Day on 10 December: “When faced with difficult challenges, it can be tempting for states to consider relaxing human rights protections. In fact, the opposite...
GRECO President: “Covid-19 related corruption risks remain high; governments should respond quickly but lawfully to the pandemic”
To mark the International Anti-Corruption Day, commemorated every year on 9 December, the President of the Group of States against Corruption of the Council of Europe (GRECO), Marin Mrčela, issued the following statement: “As governments face successive waves of the Covid-19 pandemic and still...
“Free to Create, Create to be Free” – digital exhibition on artistic freedom
In today’s world, freedom of expression is facing growing pressure – and so is the freedom of artistic expression. The COVID-19 crisis has severely affected artists and the cultural and creative sector, having rendered, at the same time, ever more visible the importance of arts and culture that...
Secretary General asks Poland how it intends to ensure effective implementation of ECHR
In a letter to the Polish Foreign Minister, Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has today taken a step of formally asking Poland to explain how, in the context of the recent judgment from the country’s Constitutional Court, it ensures the effective implementation of its...
How two key Council of Europe conventions can tackle online violence against women
As digital technologies have a reproducing and amplifying effect on existing gender inequalities, recent Covid-related restrictions and lockdowns have seen an increase in cybercriminal activities, as people stay online longer. As a result, women and girls are facing multiple risks of online and...
Committee of Ministers: Informal exchange of views with representatives of civil society on “Addressing hate crime within a human rights framework”
At an informal meeting on 6 December 2021, delegations from the Council of Europe’s 47 member States held an exchange of views with representatives of international civil society organisations active in the area of combatting hate crime. They discussed the challenges of data gathering, reporting,...
2020 North-South Prize Award Ceremony: focus on right to life and climate change
The 2020 North-South Prize of the Council of Europe (Assembly of the Portuguese Republic, Lisbon, 9 December, 12 pm) will be awarded to the International Commission against the Death Penalty (ICDP), represented by its President, Judge Navanethem Pillay, in recognition of its contribution to the...
Athens Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence and Rule of Law
The Council of Europe is taking part in the third edition (online) of the “Athens Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence and the Rule of Law” on 6 and 7 December. Organised by the Future Society and ELONTech under the Patronage of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou,...
Implementing ECHR judgments: latest Committee of Ministers decisions
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 44 decisions concerning 19 member states during the meeting, including five...
Council of Europe at Internet Governance Forum 2021
The Council of Europe will participate in the debates of the 16th UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) to be hosted by the government of Poland in a hybrid format in Katowice from 6 to 10 December, focusing its contribution in particular on the new challenges to the protection of human rights...
Croatia: anti-torture Committee publishes report on 2020 ad hoc visit
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published a report on its ad hoc visit to Croatia from 10-14 August 2020. The report is made public pursuant to Rule 39§3 (*) of the Rules of Procedure of the CPT, following written...
Conference on Integrity in Sport in Rome
Integrity is intrinsically related to the question of ethics in sport. The Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) and the Italian Department for Sport, within the framework of the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, are co-hosting a Conference on...
Increased trafficking in counterfeit medicines : countries urged to ratify MEDICRIME Convention
The Council of Europe Convention on the counterfeiting of medical products and similar crimes involving threats to public health (MEDICRIME Convention) will mark its 10th anniversary on 2 December, with an online event taking a look at its background, added value, success stories and the...
