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Deputy Secretary General opens European Conference on Democracy and Human Rights in Kristiansand
The 2nd European Conference on Democracy and Human Rights in Kristiansand has marked Europe Day 2021 in Norway, despite the ongoing Covid pandemic. The international event, with a focus on freedom of expression, was jointly organised by the Council of Europe, the University of Agder, Kilden...
10 years of the Istanbul Convention: Bringing hope, promoting respect and inspiring change to end violence against women
The Committee of the Parties of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention, have issued a declaration to mark 10 years since it was opened for signature on 11 May 2011, in Istanbul. The Committee...
Anti-torture committee warns against impact of austerity measures on prison conditions
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has issued a set of minimum requirements for conditions of detention in European prisons, concerned by the negative effects of pre-existing austerity measures in certain states, which could be exacerbated by possible deeper...
Protecting vulnerable groups in crisis situations: more effective structures and procedures needed
The Committee of Ministers has adopted Guidelines for the 47 member states to help them in upholding equality and protecting against discrimination and hate during the Covid-19 pandemic and similar crises in the future. The Committee stresses the importance of establishing effective structures...
Europe Day 5 May 2021: 72nd Anniversary of Council of Europe
Joint statement by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić and Committee of Ministers Chair Heiko Maas
Migration and asylum: Council of Europe to increase protection of vulnerable persons
The Committee of Ministers have adopted an Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons in the Context of Migration and Asylum in Europe (2021-2025). “Migrants and asylum seekers face particular challenges, in the Covid-19 pandemic, notably access to healthcare and vaccinations. We are increasing...
Council of Europe anti-torture committee publishes report on Finland
The Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment (CPT) has commended Finland of the tangible progress achieved in several areas, but regretted that a number of its long-standing recommendations remain unaddressed. In its report the CPT welcomed the...
Vaccine passes: protecting human rights and personal data
Statements by the Bioethics Committee and the Data Protection Convention Committee
Georgia: Venice Commission opinions on Election Code and election of Supreme Court judges
Proposed amendments to the Election Code of Georgia include some positive changes but raise some new concerns which add to long-standing fundamental issues that remain unaddressed, said the Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR in their joint urgent opinion on draft amendments to the Election Code...
Journalism and Covid-19: Press freedom is essential in times of crisis
Joint statement by Council of Europe Secretary General and German Federal Justice Minister
The Secretary General presents her vision for improving the implementation of social rights in Europe
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, made public today her proposals (SG/Inf(2021)13) for improving the implementation of social rights in Europe by reinforcing the European Social Charter system. Improving the implementation of social rights in Europe and...
Human rights and the environment: New online course for legal professionals
The Council of Europe’s HELP programme (Human rights Education for Legal Professionals) has launched a new online course on the environment and human rights. The six-hour course, which is available free of charge via the HELP online platform, has been developed by experts on the European...
Bulgaria should improve access to justice and compensation for victims of trafficking
In a new report on Bulgaria published today, the Council of Europe’s anti-trafficking group GRETA calls on the authorities to improve trafficking victims’ access to justice and compensation, and to ensure the sustainability of anti-trafficking measures through the allocation of appropriate...
Committee of Ministers: European states must step up efforts to protect children’s privacy in digital environment
In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, European states should enhance safeguarding measures in processing personal data of children, notably health-related data and data collected in education settings, to minimise potential adverse effects, including the public identification of a child as a...
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office visits Council of Europe
Ann Linde, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, visited the Council of Europe on 28 April 2021. She met with Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, to discuss co-operation between the two organisations. During the meeting, she deposited...
Secretary General: European governments should show stronger political will to protect press freedom
In a statement issued ahead of World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić urged European governments to show stronger political will to protect journalists and independent journalism in order to put a stop to the deterioration of media freedom in...
Covid-19: what measures to combat fake vaccines?
Amid the rise in counterfeiting and other illegal activities related to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Council of Europe is issuing new recommendations to governments based on its Convention on the counterfeiting of medical products and similar crimes involving threats to public health (MEDICRIME...
A 10th Academy Award for Eurimages!
During the 93rd Academy Awards Ceremony which took place last night, the Academy Award for International Feature Film went to ANOTHER ROUND by Thomas Vinterberg, a co-production between Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands supported by Eurimages, the Fund's 10th Academy Award in this category. Two...
La Secrétaire Générale rencontre Éric Dupond-Moretti, ministre français de la Justice
Le 23 avril, la Secrétaire Générale Marija Pejčinović Burić a rencontré Éric Dupond-Moretti, Garde des Sceaux, ministre de la Justice de la République Française, au siège du Conseil de l’Europe à Strasbourg. La Secrétaire Générale et le ministre ont eu un échange sur la coopération entre le...
High-level webinar: impact of Covid-19 policies on human rights in Europe
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has delivered a keynote speech on Covid-19 policies and their impact on human rights at a webinar organised on 27 April 2021 by the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS). Other speakers at the online event included: Salla...
PACE calls on Turkish authorities ‘to put an end to laws and practices that contravene democratic standards’
The Assembly today strongly reiterated its call on the Turkish authorities “to put an end to laws and practices that contravene democratic standards, to revise its legislation and constitutional framework in order to ensure the separation of powers, to restore freedom of speech and media freedom,...
PACE invites Committee of Ministers to use all tools at its disposal to free Alexei Navalny
PACE has invited the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers to “use all the tools at its disposal”, including under Article 46 of the European Convention on Human Rights, to ensure full and prompt execution of the Strasbourg Court’s ruling in the case of Navalnyye v. Russia, and in particular...
Armenia: electoral legislation amendments welcomed but further improvements needed
The Council of Europe’s body of constitutional legal experts, the Venice Commission, and the OSCE/ODIHR have published an urgent joint opinion on amendments to the Electoral Code and related legislation of Armenia. Having examined the conformity of the procedure of their development, as well as...
Secretary General reiterates deep regret over Navalny’s imprisonment
Letter to the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation
Covid-19 and social rights: statement by European Committee of Social Rights
The European Committee of Social Rights statement is aimed at highlighting those rights of the European Social Charter that are particularly affected by the Covid-19 crisis, such as employment and labour rights, the right to social security, social and medical assistance, the right to be...
Belarus is urged to carry out comprehensive reform of its electoral system
PACE has urged Belarus to comprehensively reform its electoral system to bring it into line with international standards for democratic elections. Approving a resolution and recommendation based on a report by Lord Blencathra (United Kingdom, EC), the Assembly said that the current failed...
Implementing ECHR judgments: New factsheet on freedom of expression cases
The Council of Europe’s Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has published a new thematic factsheet focusing on cases related to freedom of expression. The factsheet summarises measures reported by 27 member states to safeguard and protect free...
David Sassoli: 'The EU must be more efficient, more flexible, more resilient and more democratic'
"We need a more efficient, more flexible, more resilient and more democratic European Union," European Parliament President David Sassoli told PACE today. Referring to the global health crisis, Mr Sassoli stressed that the only way to overcome it was "through solidarity, within Europe and with...
Secretary General: "Council of Europe fully supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine"
Addressing parliamentarians at the Spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić was asked about the danger of imminent armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine, in the context of the build-up of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border. She...
‘A rules-based and reliable international order is the basis for peaceful relations between states’ says German Chancellor Angela Merkel
“Europe is the continent with the highest human rights standards. However, a look at Europe’s external borders and in the East of Europe shows us that, even today, peace and security, stability and welfare cannot be taken for granted,” said Angela Merkel, Federal Chancellor of Germany, in a...
Saudi women’s rights activist Loujain Alhathloul awarded 8th Václav Havel Human Rights Prize
The eighth Václav Havel Human Rights Prize – which honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights – has been awarded to Saudi women’s rights activist Loujain Alhathloul. The 60,000-euro prize was presented at a special ceremony on the opening day of the spring plenary session...
Maia Sandu: ‘Where there is political will, there is genuine reform’
“Where there is popular will, there is change. Where there is political will, there is genuine reform,” today said Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova, addressing the Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg. Referring to the recent Presidential election, she said that “people voted for...
New Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova launched in Strasbourg
The Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2021-2024 has been officially launched in Strasbourg in presence of Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova and Marija Pejčinović Burić, Council of Europe Secretary General. The Action Plan aims to improve national...
GRECO urges states to prevent corruption risks when tackling the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic impact
Governments should rigorously manage the corruption risks that have emerged due to the need to take extraordinary measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, including the infusion of large amounts of money into the economy to alleviate its economic and social impact, said the Council of Europe’s...
Informal exchange of views with representatives of civil society organisations on their role in electoral processes during the Covid 19 crisis
At an informal meeting on 13 April 2021, delegations from the Council of Europe’s 47 member States held an informal exchange of views with civil society representatives operating in the area of electoral assistance. The aim was to find out more about civil society’s work on the ground during the...
Vaccine passports: Council of Europe issues guidance to governments to safeguard human rights
In a document aimed at governments across Europe, Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić highlights the relevant human rights standards for addressing the issue of “vaccine passports”. The Information Document was sent to all 47 Council of Europe member on 31 March. The document underlines the...
Angela Merkel to address PACE spring session
On the occasion of the German Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Minister of State for Europe Michael Roth will participate in the spring session of PACE (19-22 April 2021) which will take place in a hybrid format. The President of the European...
GREVIO report reveals trends in stopping violence against women
Trends and best practices in efforts to stop violence against women are outlined in a new report based on 17 countries in Europe, covering its work from June 2019 to December 2020. It has been published by GREVIO, the Council of Europe’s independent expert group responsible for monitoring...
Combatting racism and hate speech at sports events
Sports events are too often marred by incidents of racism, homophobia, sexism and other manifestations of hate speech. On some occasions the incidents also degenerate into physical violence, involving many supporters and occasionally result in the interruption of the event. The risk of such...
Covid-19 is worsening human trafficking – states should take action, warn Council of Europe experts
The Covid-19 pandemic is having a worrying impact on human trafficking across Europe and states should do more to prevent it, according to the latest annual report from the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA). “The effects of the pandemic...
Europe’s imprisonment rate continues to fall: Council of Europe’s annual penal statistics
The overall European imprisonment rate - the number of persons in prison per 100,000 inhabitants - fell again slightly in 2020, consolidating a trend that started in 2013, according to the Council of Europe’s Annual Penal Statistics on Prison Populations for 2020 (see also the Key findings). On...
Reform of mental health services: an urgent need and a human rights imperative
“Already in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organisation (WHO) was warning that substantial investment in mental health services was necessary to avert a mental health crisis. The evidence for the devastating impact of the pandemic on mental health is now...
International Roma Day: Remembering history to ensure a brighter future
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General
Links between terrorism and transnational organised crime: Committee of Ministers adopts guidelines
The Committee of Ministers has adopted guidelines which provide member States with practical advice to help relevant national authorities to better prevent and fight terrorism, and to enhance their understanding of the links between organised crime groups and terrorist organisations who are...
Legal aid in civil and administrative law: new guidelines
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has adopted a set of guidelines for the 47 member States to help them improve the functioning of national systems of legal aid in the fields of civil and administrative law. The Committee of Ministers stresses the importance of establishing an...
Committee of Ministers adopts Recommendation to strengthen national human rights institutions
The Committee of Ministers has adopted a Recommendation to its member States on the development and strengthening of effective, pluralist and independent national human rights institutions (NHRIs). Such institutions are among the pillars of respect for human rights, the rule of law and democracy....
Implementing ECHR judgments: Progress in 2020 despite COVID, but further efforts needed
States across Europe are continuing to make progress on implementing judgments from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), despite the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the latest annual report from the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. However, further efforts are needed to tackle...
What measures should be taken against the trade in goods used for torture or execution?
The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers has adopted a Recommendation inviting member States to take measures against the trade in goods used for the death penalty, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The Committee is deeply concerned by the fact that...
Commissioner: High time for Hungary to restore journalistic and media freedoms
“The combined effects of a politically controlled media regulatory authority and distortionary state intervention in the media market have eroded media pluralism and freedom of expression in Hungary”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, in a new Memorandum....
Human Rights Commissioner: Portugal should act more resolutely to tackle racism
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, has called on the Portuguese authorities to address more resolutely the increasing level of racism in the country, as well as to take additional steps to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence. The...
European Committee of Social Rights: 2020 Conclusions on employment, training and equal opportunities
The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) has published its Conclusions 2020 on the provisions of the European Social Charter relating to employment, training and equal opportunities: the right to work (Article 1); the right to vocational guidance (Article 9); the right to vocational...
Venice Commission publishes opinions on 10 countries
The Council of Europe’s Venice Commission is publishing 13 opinions this week, which were adopted during its plenary session this past Friday and Saturday, on Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, Spain, Russia, Ukraine. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan were also on the agenda. Held...
Leendert Verbeek elected as the President of the Congress
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Council of Europe has elected, during its 40th Session, Leendert Verbeek (Netherlands, SOC/G/PD) as its new President, for a mandate of 2 years and a half. He is the King’s Commissioner for the Province of Flevoland and he was previously the Chair...
Spanish authorities should amend the Criminal Code to strengthen existing safeguards of the right to freedom of expression
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Justice of Spain, made public today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović invites the Spanish authorities to amend in a comprehensive manner the Criminal Code to strengthen existing safeguards of the right to freedom of...
Council of Europe leaders react to Turkey’s announced withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention
The German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas, Chair of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, and the President of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly, Rik Daems, joined their voices to the Secretary General of the 47-nation Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović...
Secretary General responds to Turkey‘s announced withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić
Secretary General tells PACE, “During Covid we have been present where people need us.”
Speaking to members of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić emphasised that since the start of the health crisis in Europe, the Council of Europe has not only advised but also provided material support to its member States. “We have...
GRECO urges Turkey to ensure full judicial independence, integrity standards for MPs and transparency of party funding
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has published two reports on Turkey’s implementation of its recommendations on preventing corruption in respect of MPs, judges and prosecutors (GRECO’s 4th Evaluation Round) and on incriminations and the transparency of party...
Cypriot authorities should investigate allegations of pushbacks and ill-treatment of migrants
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Interior of Cyprus the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović urges the Cypriot authorities to ensure that independent and effective investigations are carried out into allegations of pushbacks and of ill-treatment of arriving...
ECRI annual report: Covid-19 deepened inequalities, LGBTI backlash, growing religious intolerance and BLM
The Council of Europe’s anti-racism commission (ECRI) in its 2020 annual report published ahead of the International Day against Racial Discrimination on 21 March, identified four key challenges Europe was facing last year. These are: mitigating the disproportional impact of the Covid-19 pandemic...
Committee of Ministers: computer-assisted or AI-enabled social services decision making by public authorities must respect human rights
The importance of protecting human rights, including social rights, remains all the more relevant at present, when they are put at risk from the use of computer-assisted or Artificial Intelligence-enabled decision making by public authorities in the area of social services. In a declaration...
Committee of Ministers : declaration on equal pay and opportunities for women and men
Equality between women and men is among the fundamental human rights which all Council of Europe member States have undertaken to respect. It is inscribed into the most fundamental legal instruments adopted by the Organisation, including the European Social Charter. In a declaration, adopted on...
Human trafficking: despite progress, Denmark still fails to sufficiently protect victims
A new report from the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) urges Denmark to improve the identification and protection of victims of trafficking, and to ensure that human trafficking offences are investigated, prosecuted and lead to effective,...
Poland: draft media laws should respect European human rights standards
In a letter to the Prime Minister of Poland, made public today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović urges the government to ensure that two draft laws concerning an ‘advertising revenue tax on media outlets’ and ‘protection of freedom of speech of social media...
Georgia: progress in fighting human trafficking, but improvements required
In its third report on Georgia’s implementation of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, the Council of Europe’s anti-human trafficking monitoring body, GRETA, focuses on trafficking victims’ access to justice and effective remedies. The report acknowledges progress in...
40th Session of the Congress: first part-session
The Congress will hold the first part of its 40th Session, 23-24 March 2021. The session will be held remotely, given the current COVID-19 health crisis. The Congress will elect its President, and the Presidents and Vice-Presidents of its chambers of local and regional authorities. It will decide...
Azerbaijan: Committee of Ministers deplores absence of progress in execution of European Court’s judgments
The Committee of Ministers of the 47-nation Council of Europe exhorts the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately restore the rights of human rights activists and government critics, as required by the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the Mammadli group of cases against...
Poland must adopt clear and effective procedures for women to access lawful abortion
The Committee of Ministers of the 47-nation Council of Europe has adopted an Interim Resolution (*) calling on Poland to adopt clear and effective procedures on steps women need to take to access lawful abortion. These procedures should ensure that no unnecessary requirements are imposed on...
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 40 decisions concerning 21 member states during the meeting, including 2 Interim...
Special Representative on Migration and Refugees to visit Turkey
The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees (SRSG), Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek, will visit Turkey from 15 to 26 March 2021. He will assess the current situation and developments since the last visit carried out by the former SRSG in 2016 concerning respect for...
Torture prevention committee calls on Malta to improve treatment of detained migrants
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, known as CPT, has published today a report on a rapid reaction ad hoc visit carried out in Malta, focussing on immigration detention, and the response of the Maltese government. The Committee...
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 9 to 11 March. Information on the cases to be examined in detail this week is available here(*) Decisions...
European countries must urgently change migration policies which are endangering refugees and migrants crossing the Mediterranean
"European countries are failing to protect refugees and migrants trying to reach Europe via the Mediterranean. Backsliding in the protection of the lives and rights of refugees and migrants is worsening and causing thousands of avoidable deaths each year”, says Dunja Mijatović, the Council of...
Toolkit to combat violence against women in Tunisia
Practical toolkit to combat all forms of violence against women in Tunisia was developed by Tunisian Ministry of Women, Family, Children and Seniors with the support of the Council of Europe. This toolkit aims to ensure access of women to the rights guaranteed to them by Organic Law No. 2017-58...
Istanbul Convention at 10 years: leading the way to a life free from violence
In a joint statement to mark UN International Women’s Day, German Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth Franziska Giffey and Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić highlight the 10th anniversary of the Council of Europe’s Convention on...
New Deputy Secretary General: Bjørn Berge takes office
Bjørn Berge (Norway) has taken up the office of Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe. He was elected on January 26 by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) by 185 votes to 112 (the other candidate was Leyla Kayacik (Turkey). His period of office is five years...
Human Rights and Climate Change: What Role for the European Convention on Human Rights?
Judge Tim Eicke, judge in respect of the United Kingdom at the European Court of Human Rights, has delivered the Goldsmiths Law inaugural annual human rights lecture, entitled “Human Rights and Climate Change: What Role for the European Convention on Human Rights?”, at an online event on Tuesday...
Addressing intolerance and discrimination against LGBTI people: new publication by ECRI
Key recommendations of the Council of Europe’s anti-racism commission (ECRI) to the Organisation’s member states on how to end policies and practices that may lead to intolerance and discrimination against LGBTI people, are the basis of a new publication (factsheet) that was launched today, on...
New publication from Pompidou Group: ‘Covid-19 and people who use drugs’
A new publication from the Pompidou Group presents experiences and responses to the Covid-19 pandemic by frontline workers on the one hand, and people who use drugs on the other. It builds on practice examples from 21 countries submitted on the Pompidou Group’s Save Lives - Protect People...
Austria: Compliance with anti-corruption recommendations for MPs, judges and prosecutors is “globally unsatisfactory”
In an interim compliance report on Austria, with respect to corruption prevention for members of parliament, judges and prosecutors, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) concludes that Austria has implemented satisfactorily or dealt with in a satisfactory manner only...
Secretary General on events in Yerevan: “All political disagreements should be resolved in a peaceful manner”
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić
Seventh anniversary of the annexation of Crimea by Russia
Statement by Heiko Maas, President of the Committee of Ministers
Secretary General addresses United Nations Human Rights Council
On 23 February Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić addressed the 46th session of the Human Rights Council by video link. Dear friends, When I addressed your 43rd Session, almost exactly one year ago, the world was very different. Since then, COVID-19 has changed how we live and work....
Anti-racism commission publishes new report on Norway, conclusions on Spain and San Marino
In its new report on Norway published today together with the government’s comments, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) calls on Norwegian child welfare services to further strengthen their assistance to struggling families with a migration or minority background in...
Hate speech - Everyone loses!
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić explains how the Council of Europe is fighting hate speech
European Court of Human Rights asks Russia to release Aleksey Navalnyy
Mr Navalnyy’s current application before the Court was lodged on 20 January 2021 under Article 34 of the European Convention on Human Rights. On the same date the applicant made a request to the Court under Rule 39 of the Rules of Court related to his detention, asking for his release. On 21...
New Congress report: Time to reverse “clear trend towards recentralisation” in Hungary
In a new report approved today by the Statutory Forum of the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, two rapporteurs express concern about a clear trend towards recentralisation in the country, a lack of effective consultation and significant interference by the central...
European Sports Charter and Human Rights in Sport: resolutions adopted at Conference of Ministers
The 16th Conference of Ministers responsible for Sport of the Council of Europe, organised in line with the activities of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS), has adopted two resolutions : 1) A European approach to sport policies: the revision of the European Sports Charter The...
Human Rights Commissioner urges Russian authorities to halt the practice of arresting peaceful demonstrators
Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic has published a letter addressed to the Minister of Interior of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Kolokoltsev, in which she highlights a number of human rights concerns related to the policing of demonstrations that have taken place in many Russian...
New reports show increasing discrimination and attacks on LGBTI people in Poland and Europe as a whole
A report on a fact-finding mission to Poland in November last year draws attention to increasing attacks and discrimination against LGBTI people in the country, focusing on cities, provinces and regions that are adopting family charters and resolutions against so-called "LGBT ideology". Another,...
Implementing ECHR judgments: New thematic factsheet on children’s rights
The Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has published a new factsheet focusing on cases related to children. The factsheet summarises measures reported by 29 member states to safeguard and protect children’s rights in response to 62 different...
Congress: 6th Statutory Forum to meet remotely
The 6th Statutory Forum of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will hold a remote meeting on 12 February (9.30 – 12.00). Members of the Statutory Forum will examine the “Revision of the Congress Rules and Procedures: provisions relating to ethics” presented for...
Slovakia: GRECO regrets slow progress in preventing corruption of parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has expressed disappointment at the slow progress of the Slovak Republic in implementing measures to prevent corruption of parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors. In a new compliance report assessing the progress of the country...
Didier Reynders: ‘Respect for the rule of law cannot be taken for granted, even within the EU’
“The rule of law is of fundamental importance, as it guarantees the protection of all other values, including democracy and respect for fundamental rights. Unfortunately, respect for the rule of law cannot be taken for granted, even within the Union,” declared the European Commissioner for...
ECHR President: Polarisation and COVID-19 threaten difficult times ahead
Increased polarisation and challenges to Europe’s fundamental principles, together with the global COVID-19 pandemic, are likely to create the most difficult period we have seen in many years, according to the President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Speaking at the court’s annual...
Facial recognition: strict regulation is needed to prevent human rights violations
The Council of Europe has called for strict rules to avoid the significant risks to privacy and data protection posed by the increasing use of facial recognition technologies. Furthermore, certain applications of facial recognition should be banned altogether to avoid discrimination. In a new set...
Data Protection Day: 40 years of Convention 108
Forty years ago tomorrow, on 28 January 1981, the first ever binding international treaty addressing the need to protect personal data was opened for signature in Strasbourg: the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data,...
Cards to explain rights to victims of human trafficking in Tunisia
To mark the celebration of the National Day for the Abolition of Slavery which took place on January 23, the “Instance nationale de lutte contre la traite des personnes” (INLTP) – national anti-trafficking body, has launched "The Cards of Rights of Victims of Trafficking in Persons". Developed in...
Heiko Maas urges PACE not to burn bridges
In a speech to the Assembly today, the Chair of the Committee of Ministers, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, paid tribute to the Council of Europe, referring to it as an “institutional pillar of our united continent” setting “human rights protection standards worldwide with the European...
Council of Europe leaders and victims’ representatives mark Holocaust Remembrance Day
To mark Holocaust Remembrance Day on 27 January, Council of Europe leaders and representatives of victims have been paying tribute to the millions of people who perished, many of them in camps like Auschwitz-Birkenau, which was liberated on 27 January 1945. Secretary General Marija Pejčinović...
Despina Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis elected as first woman Secretary General of PACE
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has elected Despina Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis (Greece) to the post of Secretary General of the Assembly. She becomes the first woman to hold the post in the Assembly’s 72-year history. She will serve for a five-year term starting on 1...
Human rights conventions are the ‘soul’ of modern Europe : Secretary General tells PACE
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has underlined the importance of the Organisation’s two key conventions: the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the European Social Charter. Addressing a hybrid session of the Parliamentary Assembly, she described them as comprising the “soul...
Convention on Data Protection turns 40: Committee of Ministers’ declaration
The Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data (“Convention 108”), which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, can become the international standard of reference on privacy and data protection in the digital age, declared the Committee...
COVID-19 and vaccines: Equitable access to vaccination must be ensured
How to ensure equitable access to vaccination during the current and future pandemics? The Council of Europe Committee on Bioethics has made a number of recommendations, drawing particular attention to persons in vulnerable situations having difficulties in accessing health services. First,...
CEB launches 2021 Social Cohesion Award to recognise outstanding social action in Europe
The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has announced the launch of the 2021 edition of the CEB Award for Social Cohesion, the annual competition to acknowledge outstanding contributions to social cohesion across Europe. With the Covid-19 pandemic disproportionately impacting the most...
Aleksey Navalny: Council of Europe leaders urge Russia to respect its human rights obligations
The German Federal Government’s Special Representative for the Presidency of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, State Minister Michael Roth, the President of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly, Rik Daems, and the Secretary General of the 47-nation Council of Europe,...
Secretary General’s Special Representative to visit refugee and migrant camps in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees, Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek will be in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 24-30 January 2021, to visit the reception facilities of Miral, Sedra, Borici, the Emergency Tent Camp Lipa in Una-Sana Canton, as well as the Ušivak...
Hybrid winter plenary session 2021
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will hold its 2021 winter plenary session from January 25 to 28 in a hybrid manner, allowing members to participate remotely or attend in person in Strasbourg. The Assembly will debate the ethical, legal and practical considerations of...
Human Rights in the Era of AI: Europe as international Standard Setter for Artificial Intelligence
The Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection of Germany, in cooperation with the Council of Europe, are organising a conference entitled “Human Rights in the Era of AI - Europe as international Standard Setter for Artificial Intelligence”. Taking place on...
United Kingdom, Germany extend protection of minority languages
The United Kingdom and Germany have extended the protection they accord to minority languages under the Council of Europe’s Language Charter (ECRML). This is the first time since 2008 that State Parties have accepted additional undertakings under this treaty. On 23 December 2020, the United...
Key indicators to combat human trafficking for labour exploitation
GRETA issues new guidance to member States
PACE President reacts to ‘assault on democracy’ at US Capitol: 'who does not speak up, consents'
PACE President Rik Daems, reacting to events at the US Capitol in Washington DC, has condemned what he described as “an assault on democracy by an extremist mob, incited by false claims and irresponsible statements at the highest political level”. “This is not America!” the President said,...
Focus on womens’ rights as three candidates shortlisted for the 2020 Václav Havel Prize
The selection panel of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, which rewards outstanding civil society action in the defence of human rights in Europe and beyond, has today announced the shortlist for the 2020 Prize, with all three nominees involved in promoting women’s rights or gender equality....
Human rights at the heart of drug policies : the Pompidou Group's 50th Anniversary
This year we will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Pompidou Group. Created in August 1971 - on the initiative of the then French President - as a European cooperation framework to fight against drug abuse and drug traficking, it has developed over the years into an international group which...
Cyberattack on the website of the European Court of Human Rights
Following the delivery of the Selahattin Demirtas v. Turkey (No. 2) judgment on December 22, the website of the European Court of Human Rights was the subject of a large-scale cyberattack which has made it temporarily inaccessible. The Court strongly deplores this serious incident. The competent...
Ireland ratifies Convention on protection of children against sexual exploitation and abuse
Ireland has become the 48th country to ratify a landmark Council of Europe convention that requires criminalisation of sexual offences against children. Irish Ambassador Breifne O'Reilly transmitted to Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić the instrument of ratification of...
Mostar: Congress concludes remote observation procedure in advance of local elections
Welcoming the fact that, for the first time in over a decade, citizens of the city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) will be able to vote at the local level on 20 December 2020, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe conducted a remote observation...
French Senate should amend General Security Bill to make it compatible with human rights
In a letter to the Chair and members of the Law Committee of the French Senate, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, urges the senators to make substantial amendments to the General Security Bill to make it more human rights-compliant. The Commissioner invites the...
Reggio Emilia and Novellara (Italy) release handbook on interreligious dialogue actions
The handbook “Valuing religious communities as key actors of social cohesion”, edited by Fondazione Mondinsieme in collaboration with the Municipalities of Reggio Emilia and Novellara, thanks to an inter-city ICC grant, is already available in English, French, Italian and Arabic. It intends to...
2020 North-South prize focuses on right to life and climate change
The 2020 North-South Prize of the Council of Europe has been awarded to the International Commission against the Death Penalty (ICDP) and to the Mediterranean Experts on Climate and Environmental Change (MedECC) network of the Union for the Mediterranean. The jury acknowledged the unique...
Managing Covid-19 - what role does democratic governance play?
Measures taken by Council of Europe member States in response to the situation in the Spring and Summer of 2020 are the subject of a special report of the European Committee on Democracy and Governance. Democratic governance is the participation in decision-making of those who are affected by a...
Liechtenstein: publication of two reports on the fight against corruption
The Council of Europe anti-corruption body (GRECO) has published two reports on Liechtenstein: a report on incriminations and transparency of party funding and a report on the prevention of corruption in respect of members of parliaments, judges and prosecutors. In its evaluation report on the...
Money laundering and financing of terrorism: Warsaw Convention report assesses the monitoring of banking operations
The Conference of the Parties of the Warsaw Convention, responsible for monitoring the implementation of the treaty, has published a report assessing the way its states parties monitor banking operations to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The report concludes that the...
Germany: GRECO calls for more government transparency, lobbying rules and improved conflict of interest regulations
Germany should set up stricter rules to better prevent conflicts of interest and improve government transparency, says the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) in its Fifth Evaluation Round report on Germany. Germany is a founding member of GRECO, since its establishment...
New cooperation agreement between Council of Europe and OECD
The Secretaries General of the 47-nation Council of Europe and the 37-member Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have signed an updated cooperation agreement on the OECD’s 60th anniversary. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aims to give new impetus to the...
Intimidation, ill-treatment allegations, fear of reprisals in Ukrainian penal colonies: new report by CPT
The Council of Europe anti-torture Committee (CPT) has published a new report following its ad hoc visit to Ukraine in August 2020 to review the treatment of persons held in penitentiary institutions, including those sentenced to life imprisonment and to examine the action taken by the...
GRETA: Albania makes progress in tackling human trafficking, but should do more
In its third report on Albania’s implementation of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (CETS No.197), the Council of Europe’s group of experts (GRETA) finds that some progress has been made, but cautions that more needs to be done to deal with this type of crime. GRETA...
Albania: Venice Commission and ODIHR regret hasty adoption of amendments to constitution and electoral code
In a joint opinion, adopted after an exchange of views with Albanian President Ilir Meta and with MP Klotilda Bushka, the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) and the OSCE Office for Democratic institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), regret the extremely hasty adoption...
CEPEJ: Artificial intelligence and cyberjustice at the heart of discussions
The European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) has adopted a feasibility study on the possible establishment of a certification mechanism for artificial intelligence tools and services. The study is based on the CEPEJ Charter on the use of artificial intelligence in judicial...
Constitutional Court of Ukraine needs reform, says Venice Commission
The Council of Europe’s body of constitutional experts, the Venice Commission, published on 10 December its second urgent opinion on the constitutional situation in the country created after the Constitutional Court’s Decision of 27 November 2020. It says the Decision is an indication that a...
Working together for human rights – at all times and in all places
On this Human Rights Day, we are commemorating the promulgation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 72 years ago. On 10 December 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted a catalogue of fundamental rights which apply equally to all individuals – regardless of their skin colour, gender,...
Fight against corruption in Ukraine: Venice Commission says Constitutional Court Decision “regrettable”
The Council of Europe’s constitutional expert body, the Venice Commission, has published on 9 December an urgent opinion about the effects of the recent Decision by the Ukrainian Constitutional Court on the anti-corruption legislation. The Venice Commission proposes solutions to the Verkhovna...
European flag marks 65th anniversary
Adopted by the Council of Europe 65 years ago, the flag with 12 yellow stars on a blue background also became the European Union’s emblem in 1985 and it is now one of the most recognisable symbols in Europe. It is synonymous with a shared political project which unites all Europeans, transcending...
Anti-Corruption Day: “No quarter to corruption in healthcare, governments must lead by example”
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, today made the following statement: “As promising news about vaccines to prevent COVID-19 reach us, I call...
Armenia, Croatia, Montenegro and Sweden: Committee of Ministers recommends protecting and promoting minority languages
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has published sets of recommendations on the protection and promotion of minority languages in Armenia, Croatia, Montenegro and Sweden. The recommendations are based on the respective country evaluation reports by the Committee of Experts under the...
Implementing ECHR judgments: New thematic factsheet on judicial independence
The Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has published a new factsheet focusing on cases related to the independence and impartiality of the judicial system. The factsheet summarises measures reported by 21 member states to safeguard and reinforce...
Secretary General in Berlin for conference to mark the 70th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights and bilateral meetings
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić will deliver a keynote speech in Berlin on 9 December at a conference entitled "70 Years of the European Convention on Human Rights - Safeguarding Human Rights in Germany and Europe" organised as part of Germany’s Presidency of the...
Anti-racism commission: new reports on Czech Republic and Slovakia
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) of the Council of Europe has published evaluation reports on the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, as well an assessment of the implementation of two priority recommendations by Sweden. In its report on the Czech Republic, ECRI...
Secretary General: “Local authorities on the front line" in response to Covid-19 challenges
“All levels of government needed to respond to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 crisis and local authorities were and remain on the front line. There will be lessons to learn about the division of competences and the need for coordination between layers of government in crises such as this,”...
Latvia: "A missed opportunity to adopt a territorial reform in line with the European Charter of Local Self-Government"
In a Recommendation adopted on 7 December 2020, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe expressed its concern about the deterioration of local democracy in Latvia since its last report in 2018, in particular the lack of consultation in the framework of the...
Implementing ECHR judgments: Latest decisions from 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 28 decisions concerning 17 member states during the meeting, including 4 Interim...
Moldova should improve access to justice for victims of human trafficking
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has urged the Republic of Moldova to guarantee access to justice for victims of trafficking in human beings by ensuring that they receive specialised assistance and free legal aid at an early stage,...
Croatia should strengthen human trafficking investigations and sanctions and access to compensation for victims
A new report on Croatia from the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) focuses on victim access to justice and effective remedies. GRETA acknowledges steps taken, since its previous report on Croatia was published in 2016, to develop the...
Albania must implement legal framework to prevent corruption of ministers, their advisers and the police
In a new report the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) finds that in Albania, the legal framework for preventing corruption of members of the Council of Ministers and their political advisers, and of the police, is comprehensive, but still overly complex. It calls on...
Poland should stop the stigmatisation of LGBTI people
“Public officials and opinion makers should stop promoting an atmosphere of hate and intolerance vis-à-vis LGBTI people and instead, improve respect for their human rights. Stigmatisation and hate speech carry a real risk of legitimising violence. LGBTI are people, not an ideology”, said the...
States should deliver on their commitments to persons with disabilities
This year, we mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at a time when the COVID19 pandemic is still raging in Europe. The pandemic has disproportionately affected persons with disabilities and exposed all the pre-existing failings in Council of Europe member states. Among many...
“Covid-19: Local and regional authorities on the frontline”
Local and regional authorities are on the front line in containing the spread of Covid-19 and mitigating the impact of the epidemic. In order to hear the stories of those who have been organising, coordinating and delivering responses to the crisis in towns and cities, provinces and Départements,...
Nabila Hamza and Leoluca Orlando awarded North-South Prize
Portuguese Parliament President Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues today awarded the Council of Europe’s North-South Prize to Nabila Hamza (Tunisia) and Leoluca Orlando (Italy). The 2019 prize – given in the Senate room of the Portuguese Parliament – annually distinguishes two people for their exceptional...
Bulgarian psychiatric and social care institutions: ill-treatment, acute understaffing, mechanical restraint misuse
In a new report the Council of Europe’s anti-torture Committee (CPT) has expressed grave concern that many of its long-standing recommendations concerning the treatment, conditions and legal safeguards offered to psychiatric patients and residents of social care institutions remain unimplemented....
Convention on access to official documents enters into force
The Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents, the first binding international legal instrument to recognise a general right of access to official documents held by public authorities, entered into force today. The treaty, also known as the Tromsø Convention, after the city in...
Access to official documents is crucial – let’s make it a reality
People have the right to know what those in power are doing. This was the basis on which the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents was adopted more than ten years ago in Tromsø, Norway. This Convention is the first binding international legal instrument to recognise a...
Implementing European Court of Human Rights judgments
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers will carry out its latest quarterly meeting to oversee the execution of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from 1 to 3 December. Information on the cases to be examined in detail this week is available here....
Protecting human rights in pandemics and other emergencies: challenges faced by prosecutors
In a new Opinion, the Council of Europe’s Consultative Council of European Prosecutors addresses the implementation of the usual functions of prosecution services in emergency situations, their new or extended functions in response to such situations, how to overcome the challenges faced by...
Andorra: action needed in measuring violence against women and supporting rape victims
In its first report evaluating the implementation by Andorra of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, known as the “Istanbul Convention”, the Group of Experts (GREVIO) acknowledges significant progress in the legislative sphere...
Congress Bureau greenlights report on remote election observation procedure concerning Ukraine
The Bureau of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe adopted, on 26 November, an information report on the remote observation procedure regarding the local elections held in Ukraine on 25 October 2020. "This report acknowledges the extraordinary circumstances in...
Council of Europe adopts new Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova
The Committee of Ministers, representing the 47 Council of Europe member states, has adopted the Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova for the years 2021-2024, which aims to bring the country’s legislation, institutions and practice further in line with European standards in the areas of human...
Backsliding on minority rights weakens democracy
“Where divisions are constructed between different ethnic, cultural, linguistic or religious groups, democracy is weakened. The backsliding on minority rights is a cause for real concern as it may threaten the inclusive nature of European societies,” says the Advisory Committee on the Framework...
Polish Supreme Court delegation holds online discussion with Council of Europe
On 24 November 2020 a delegation of the Supreme Court of Poland, upon its initiative, held a virtual exchange of views with a delegation of the Council of Europe. The meeting took place against the background of previous findings by the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, Group of States...
Spain - Action against violence against women and domestic violence
In its first report evaluating the implementation by Spain of the Council of Europe’s “Istanbul Convention”, the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) acknowledges the commitment of the Spanish authorities to combat violence against women and the...
“We cannot allow the home to become a place of fear, again”
Statement by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Venice Commission on the draft new Constitution of Bulgaria: welcome amendments introduced, but further changes and clarifications needed
The Council of Europe’s body of constitutional legal experts, the Venice Commission, has adopted on Friday its urgent interim opinion on the draft new Constitution of Bulgaria prepared upon the request of the President of the National Assembly of Bulgaria. The opinion focuses on the reform of the...
Violence against women and domestic violence in Malta: GREVIO calls for a stronger gender perspective
In its first baseline evaluation report published today on implementation by Malta of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, known as the “Istanbul Convention”, the Group of Experts (GREVIO) emphasises a number of positive legal...
New video for migrant children explaining their rights in age assessment procedures
On World’s Children’s Day the Council of Europe and the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) have launched an animated video on age assessment of migrant children and adolescents. Age assessment is a process carried out by authorities to estimate a person’s age and determine whether he/she is an...
LGBTI policies in Europe: progress achieved, but more needs to be done
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić today highlighted substantial progress in the legal and social recognition of LGBTI people: more countries are offering civil unions and equal marriage, there are positive developments in ensuring freedom of assembly and association, in tackling bullying,...
Anti-torture Committee calls on Greece to reform its immigration detention system and stop pushbacks
In a report on a rapid reaction ad hoc visit to Greece in March 2020, the Council of Europe's anti-torture committee (CPT) once again urges the Greek authorities to change their approach towards immigration detention and to ensure that migrants deprived of their liberty are treated both with...
Germany takes over the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers
Germany has taken over the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe from Greece during a video-conference meeting with representatives of the Organisation’s 47 member States. Greece’s Alternate Minister for Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis gave an overview of his...
Secretary General warns about the risks associated with sexual images and videos self-generated by children
Report from HINA (Croatian News Agency) published on European Day on Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse The Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, on Wednesday warned about the risks associated with sexual images and videos self-generated by...
6th European Day on Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse
On the occasion of the 6th European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (18 November 2020), the following joint statement was made by: The Greek Alternate Minister for Foreign Affairs, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, outgoing Chair of the Council of Europe’s...
Cyprus: Judicial Code of Ethics praiseworthy, but Parliament needs Code of Conduct to better fight corruption
A new report on Cyprus by the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) stresses the need for a Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament to be adopted to prevent various forms of corruption, and to address issues such as conflicts of interest and lobbying. MPs’ asset...
Managing elections, including during pandemics: Venice Commission draws conclusions
The Council of Europe’s Venice Commission has published conclusions to an online international conference it held last week on electoral management, addressing electoral law and electoral administration in Europe. Conference participants focused on two main issues: Holding elections during...
How associations of judges support judicial independence: new Opinion
In a new Opinion on “The role of associations of judges in supporting judicial independence”, the Council of Europe’s Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE) calls upon member States to provide a framework within which the right of judges to associate can be effectively exercised, and to...
World Forum for Democracy 2020/2021 – “Can Democracy Save the Environment?”
Officially launching on 18 November, the next World Forum for Democracy will bring together intellectuals, politicians, activists, experts and young people from around the world to discuss responses to the environmental crisis over a whole year leading up to the live Forum event to be held in...
Manifesto on Freedom of Expression of Arts and Culture in Digital Era
The Council of Europe has launched a Manifesto on the Freedom of Expression of Arts and Culture in the Digital Era as well as the concept for a digital @exhibition « Free to Create, Create to be Free”. The Manifesto sums up the importance of artistic creation and cultural industry for our...
Anti-torture committee urges Portugal to tackle police ill-treatment and police impunity
In a new report on Portugal the Council of Europe’s anti-torture committee (CPT) once again urges the Portuguese authorities to take determined action to prevent police ill-treatment and ensure that cases of alleged ill-treatment are investigated effectively. It also proposes a series of measures...
Child self-generated sexual images/videos: education vital to prevent risks
Ahead of the European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse marked on 18 November, the Council of Europe has held a webinar on how risks associated with sexual images and videos self-generated by children can be prevented and mitigated through...
Council of Europe launches Observatory on History Teaching in Europe
Seventeen Member States (*) of the Council of Europe have decided to establish the Observatory on History Teaching in Europe as an Enlarged Partial Agreement. The Observatory’s main purpose will be to collect and make available, through a series of regular and thematic reports, factual...
Paris Peace Forum: Council of Europe presents MEDICRIME Convention
The Council of Europe MEDICRIME Convention will be presented at the Paris Peace Forum which takes place online from 11 to 13 November. The main message to the Forum is that countries worldwide should take action using the only binding international instrument in this field to combat the...
Mid-term impact of Covid-19 on European prison populations: new study
Following the overall decrease of European prisons populations during the period of the lockdowns in spring, during the summer the incarceration rate remained stable in most European countries but started to grow in several prison administrations, according to a new study by the University of...
Ministers of justice confirm their commitment to Independence of justice and the rule of law
As the Council of Europe celebrates the 70th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights, the Ministers of Justice of the 47 member States of the Organisation, meeting by videoconference under the Greek Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, reaffirmed their commitment to...
Facing COVID-19 in prisons and probation
Directors of prison and probation services from the 47 Council of Europe member states as well as renowned experts and researchers in this field are meeting online on 9 and 10 November. They will discuss measures taken to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic in prisons and services in charge of...
Slovenia: draft law on Barnahus will better protect children from sexual abuse
The results and key recommendations of the public consultation process of the draft law on Barnahus in Slovenia are being discussed today at an online event. Barnahus (“Children’s House”) is a leading European model for a child-friendly multidisciplinary and interagency response to child sexual...
Role of European Youth Card in promoting young people’s rights post-COVID
A webinar “New challenges and opportunities for innovative youth services. The role of the European Youth Card in promoting the rights of young people in post COVID era” is being held under the Greek Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers on 5-6 November 2020. The Greek Chairmanship has...
Foreign Affairs Ministers call for unity and more solidarity between nations
As the Council of Europe celebrates the 70th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights in the unprecedented context of the current health crisis, the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Organisation’s 47 member States have reiterated their commitment to unity in Europe and stronger...
Sports Ministers discuss revision of European Sports Charter and Human Rights in Sport
Sport is an important facet of modern life. Sports’ governance is facing many challenges in a world that is rapidly changing and it can also, if unchecked, lead to human rights issues. Practicing sport is a human right and a goal shared by all governments. The 16th Conference of Council of Europe...
Congress delegation concerned for increasing polarisation of Polish society and situation of LGBTI people
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe has completed a two-day fact-finding mission regarding the situation of LGBTI people in Poland. "Sexual orientation has become a polarising issue in Polish society; this is also increasingly reflected in local and regional...
Foreign Ministers discuss Council of Europe's role in the context of COVID-19 pandemic
Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Council of Europe’s 47 member States will hold an online ministerial session on 4 November. During their annual meeting, the Ministers will be invited to take position on the response to the health crisis in full respect for democracy, rule of law and human...
Secretary General condemns Vienna terrorist attack
Statement by Marija Pejčinović Burić
Internet Governance Forum 2020
The Council of Europe is taking part in the 15th UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF), being held online from 2 to 17 November under the theme “Internet for human resilience and solidarity”. Council of Europe representatives and experts are contributing to debates on the challenges to freedom of...
Anti-money laundering: Georgia should increase the use of financial intelligence
The Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering body MONEYVAL has urged the Georgian authorities to strengthen the practical application of their measures to combat money laundering and financing of terrorism. In a new report it calls for making more efforts to use financial intelligence to detect...
November 2: International Day to end Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
Based on information collected by the Council of Europe Platform for the protection of journalism and safety of journalists, perpetrators of at least 22 murders of journalists in Europe are being shielded from justice. This is another confirmation that the International Day to End Impunity for...
Council of Europe leaders condemn terrorist attack in Nice
We are deeply shocked and saddened by the barbaric and cowardly terrorist act in Nice on Thursday. We condemn in the most vigorous way this heinous attack and we express our deepest condolences and our sympathy to the families of the victims. We also express our full and unconditional support and...
Conference of Ministers of Education: response to pandemic crisis
The Conference of Ministers of Education of the Council of Europe, organised in the framework of the Greek Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, has endorsed a Political Declaration on the education response to COVID-19. The Declaration is accompanied by a Roadmap for Action on the Council...
Slovakia should prosecute money laundering with more determination
A new report by the Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering body MONEYVAL urges the authorities of the Slovak Republic to systematically pursue illicit funds generated by crimes, through effective seizure and confiscation, and to systemically tackle money laundering and terrorist financing...
Ukraine: Congress concludes remote observation procedure regarding local elections
Welcoming the fact that, for the first time, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were allowed to vote in local elections in Ukraine, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe concluded its remote election observation procedure which was introduced as a temporary and...
Poland: Poor legal and medical access for people in police custody among concerns raised in Anti-Torture Committee report
In its latest report on police detention facilities, the Council of Europe’s European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) stresses that Poland has failed to implement previous recommendations for proper legal and medical access, and that...
Poland: Congress conducts remote fact-finding mission on situation of LGBTI+
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will conduct a remote fact-finding mission on 2 and 3 November 2020 on the situation of LGBTI+ people in Poland. This mission follows a request from members of the Polish parliament regarding the increasing attacks and...
Responding to COVID-19 crisis: Ministers of Education conference
The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging our education systems and institutions, which need to innovate the ways in which we learn, teach and assess qualifications. The risk of increased exclusion and inequality in access to education is another effect of the sanitary crisis. In order to respond to...
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Congress conducts remote observation procedure for local elections on 15 November
In response to an invitation from the authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities will carry out a remote observation procedure on 29 and 30 October, for local elections set for 15 November. This new remote format has been introduced as a temporary procedure...
Efficiency and quality of justice in Europe: 2020 report
A new report has identified a number of broad trends across judicial systems in 45 European countries. Among the findings of the eighth evaluation report drawn up by the Council of Europe’s European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ): European states spend an average of €72 per...
Polish authorities should ensure continuity, independence and effectiveness of Ombudsman institution
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, made public today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović raises her concerns about risks to the continuity and the effective functioning of the Polish Ombudsman institution. A constitutional...
