Newsroom
Meeting of Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland with the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland and President Emmanuel Macron met today at the Elysée Palace to discuss current developments in Europe and issues of common interest. The President and the Secretary General underline the excellent cooperation between the host nation France and the...
The long march against homophobia and transphobia
“Summer is the time of Pride marches. The numerous marches in Europe are a testament to the ground-breaking progress toward acceptance of the equal rights of lesbians, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons”, says Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights,...
Secretary General Jagland meets President Macron at the Elysée on 31 August
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, will meet the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Thursday. Topics of discussion include: The important role of France as host nation of the Council of Europe and European Court of Human Rights; European...
Statement on the arrest of Mehman Aliyev in Azerbaijan
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, has today made the following statement in response to the arrest of journalist Mehman Aliyev: “I have been informed that Mehman Aliyev, a prominent journalist and editor-in-chief of the renowned news agency Turan, was detained...
Terrorist attacks in Spain
Statement by Lubomír Zaorálek, Chair of the Committee of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
Violence in Barcelona is an attack on Europe’s freedom and democracy
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland today issued the following statement, “Innocent people – children, adults, residents and visitors to one of Europe’s most attractive touristic cities have been hit by cowardly acts of violence. I strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attacks in Barcelona. The...
Hungarian higher education law: requirements for already operating universities “highly problematic” say Venice Commission experts
In a preliminary opinion issued today, the Council of Europe’s legal experts of the Venice Commission note that in general the regulations of Hungary’s higher education law are in line with usual European practice but criticise that many requirements of the law are overly stringent or even...
Ukraine has made promising reforms to fight corruption, but now it must deliver
A new report published today by the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) encourages Ukrainian authorities to pursue anti-corruption reform efforts it had launched following the Revolution of Dignity and calls for effective results to be delivered in practice. GRECO warns...
Slovenia: more money-laundering investigations needed to tackle serious crimes
The number of money-laundering investigations has risen in Slovenia since the last evaluation in 2010, but it is still not commensurate with the number of investigations and convictions for proceeds-generating crimes, such as tax evasion, fraud and other economic crimes, as well as drug...
Council of Europe honours victims of Roma Holocaust
Today in Strasbourg, the Council of Europe held a commemorative wreath-laying ceremony in memory of Roma victims of the Holocaust. This year marks the 73rd anniversary of 2 August, 1944, when some 3,000 Roma were exterminated in the gas chambers of the so-called “Zigeunerlager” (Gypsy camp) at...
European countries must acknowledge the Roma genocide
Statement by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks
Violence against women: Council of Europe ready to assist Tunisia on new law
Since the Tunisian parliament passed a new law last week to stop violence against women, the Council of Europe stands ready to assist in its implementation. “We welcome this law as a substantial step forward in Tunisia and for the entire region to end violence against women” said William...
States must act urgently to protect refugee children from trafficking
Statement by GRETA on the occasion of the 4th World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Venezuelan President's bid for new constitution lacks "credibility": Venice Commission
Venice Commission constitutional experts today have determined that attempts by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to prepare a new constitution have many shortcomings that “undermine democratic credibility.” The Council of Europe’s experts replied to a request last month for an opinion from the...
Belarus death sentences: Secretary General reiterates disappointment
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland reacts to two death penalty sentences pronounced today in Belarus “I am deeply concerned by the decision of the Mogilev regional court in Belarus to pronounce two death penalty sentences today,” said the Secretary General. “I reiterate our disappointment and...
Secretary General expresses concerns over situation in Turkey in call to Prime Minister
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland has released the following statement: "Yesterday evening, I had a phone conversation with Mr Binali Yıldırım, Prime Minister of Turkey, to discuss the latest developments in the country. One year after the attempted coup, I told him that this event should be...
Human trafficking: new reports published on Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France and Norway
The Council of Europe’s expert group against human trafficking (GRETA) has recently published its new monitoring reports on Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France and Norway, outlining progress and outstanding issues, and providing recommendations to the countries’ authorities. The report on...
Secretary General raises concerns over Polish draft law on Supreme Court
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland has sent a letter to the Speaker of the Sejm, Mr Marek Kuchciński, concerning the new parliamentary draft law on the Polish Supreme Court. Highlighting the crucial role played by Supreme Courts in democracies, he wrote that he was particularly concerned by the...
Migrants can contribute to preventing, preparing for and responding to disasters in Europe, says new EUR-OPA/IOM study
The Council of Europe’s EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement and the UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM) are to publish a joint study on the benefits of involving migrants in disaster risk reduction initiatives. The study, entitled Migrants in Disaster Risk Reduction: Practices for...
Council of Europe calls on Bosnia and Herzegovina to improve protection of child victims of trafficking
In a report published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) welcomes the legislative changes that have been made since the publication of its first report on Bosnia and Herzegovina in May 2013. The introduction of the criminal...
Anti-torture Committee issues public statement on Belgium
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has issued a Public Statement on Belgium today. This Statement, which is made in application of Article 10 (2) of the ECPT*, addresses the ongoing failure of the Belgian authorities to put in place a minimum level of service to guarantee...
GRECO calls on Monaco to strengthen anti-corruption measures in parliament and the judiciary
In its report on Monaco published today, the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body (GRECO) concludes that although the management of anti-corruption policies has continued to evolve in the right direction in recent years and anti-corruption mechanisms have gradually been strengthened, progress...
The Russian Federation’s Law on Foreign Agents contravenes human rights
“The Russian Federation’s legislative framework on non-commercial organisations is incompatible with international and European human rights standards”, writes the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, in his observations submitted to the European Court of Human Rights...
Slovenia should pursue its efforts to protect vulnerable people
“Slovenia has undertaken a number of initiatives in recent years to address major human rights issues concerning migrants, Roma, the “erased” and people living in poverty. It is crucial to reinforce these efforts to ensure that no one is left behind and the human rights of all are upheld”, said...
G20 Hamburg summit demonstrations
"I am saddened by the images of the demonstrations in Hamburg. Freedom of assembly is one of the core rights enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights," said the Secretary General. It is accepted by all 47 member states of the Council of Europe and must be protected by the authorities....
Hungary: Visit to transit zones to evaluate sexual abuse risks faced by migrant children
Council of Europe children’s rights experts concluded today a three-day visit to Hungary to evaluate risks of sexual abuse and exploitation faced by migrant children placed in transit zones. Their report is expected in October. Hungarian authorities invited Lanzarote Committee Chair Claude...
Human Rights and Biomedicine: new HELP course 2018
Legal professionals (judges, lawyers and prosecutors) and health professionals will be trained in the main principles of protection of human rights in the field of biomedicine from 2018, as part of a course developed and implemented by Bioethics Unit and European program of Human Rights Education...
“Turin Process”: film on the European Social Charter
The Council of Europe has produced this film with the aim of promoting the European Social Charter. This is a new way of communicating about human rights. The film implies that the implementation of the Charter contributes to the quality of people’s everyday life. It shows this through images of...
Secretary General welcomes Norway’s ratification of the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence
“It’s good news that Norway has now ratified the Istanbul Convention of the Council of Europe. More and more countries realise the need for legally binding standards to help states put an end to the scourge of violence against women, and to commit themselves to co-operating with our monitoring...
Children’s rights and biomedicine
The Council of Europe’s Committee on Bioethics has published a new study on children’s rights challenges in biomedicine.
EU High Representative Mogherini in exchange of views with Committee of Ministers, Secretary General Jagland
Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission today attended the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe for an exchange of views on relations between the two organisations. Prior to the exchange...
Council of Europe Raoul Wallenberg Prize 2018
Since 2014, the Council of Europe Raoul Wallenberg Prize is awarded every two years in order to reward extraordinary humanitarian achievements by a single individual, a group of individuals or an organisation. The prize consisting of 10 000 € will be awarded at a ceremony to be held at the...
The Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice of Morocco met the Deputy Secretary General
On the occasion of the plenary meeting of the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ), the Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice of Morocco, Mr Abdelilah Lahkim Bennani, met with Ms Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, in the...
Le Secrétaire Général, Thorbjørn Jagland, a salué « l’exceptionnel parcours de vie de Simone Veil »
« Avec elle disparaît l’une des figures les plus emblématiques d’Europe. Incarnant pour les Français la mémoire de la Shoah, fervente militante des droits des femmes, Simone Veil était une Européenne convaincue qui fut la première présidente du Parlement européen. Elle aura marqué d’une empreinte...
European Broadcasting Union joins Council of Europe platform to protect journalists
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) today became a partner to a Council of Europe platform designed to track alleged violations of media freedom in member states. The platform was set up by the Council of Europe to promote the protection of journalism and the safety of journalists. Council of...
Secretary General on official visit to Ireland, speech to the European Broadcasting Union
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, is making an official visit to Ireland on 29-30 June where he met the Minister for Justice, Charles Flanagan, Minister of State for European Affairs Helen McEntee and parliament speaker Seán Ó Fearghaíl. He aslo had a meeting with...
PACE denounces ‘psychological’ methods used to exert political influence over the media
PACE has denounced a series of methods used to exert political influence over journalists – ranging from physical threats and detention through to intimidation and harassment of editors and journalists, more “insidious” psychological pressure aimed at inducing self-censorship, or putting critical...
Sexual violence in public space: stop trivialisation and impunity
The Assembly expressed today its concern with the magnitude of the phenomenon of sexual violence and harassment of women in public space. “Although this violence takes place in public, sometimes in front of dozens of people, women often find themselves facing their attackers alone because...
Immigration is both instrumental for modernisation of societies and for Europe’s survival
European states should acknowledge that immigration into Europe is both instrumental for “renewed dynamic and modernisation of societies” and for Europe’s survival of the ‘demographic winter’ which the continent is entering, PACE declared today. According to the parliamentarians, no comprehensive...
Morgan Johansson: “Migration will be a top global challenge for decades to come”
“Migration will be a top global challenge for decades to come. We must face it with more solidarity, more co-operation and more commitment than we have had before,” today said Morgan Johansson, Minister for Justice and Migration of Sweden, addressing the Assembly in the context of a joint debate...
European cities can play a central role in implementing integration policies
Statement by the Mayor of Athens Georgios Kaminis, addressing the Assembly at the opening of a joint debate on migration
Promoting integrity in governance to tackle political corruption
Stepping up the fight against corruption and restoring trust in the efficiency and effectiveness of democratic institutions “must be a priority” for many European democracies, including European institutions, the Assembly said today at the end of a debate on promoting integrity in governance to...
Lubomír Zaorálek: Czech chairmanship to focus on the protection of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups
“Our priority line of action, in the framework of our chairmanship, will focus on the protection of rights of persons belonging to vulnerable or disadvantaged groups”, said Lubomír Zaorálek, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and Chair of the Committee of Ministers, addressing the...
Duško Marković: Montenegro will be a ‘constructive partner’ for the Council of Europe
Montenegro’s Prime Minister Duško Markovic has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to implementing Council of Europe standards and recommendations – and outlined work carried out so far on combating corruption, ensuring media freedom and strengthening equality, among other areas. Addressing...
The Parliamentary Assembly adopts a procedure allowing for the dismissal of its members holding high elective office
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg, has decided to amend its Rules of Procedure and to institute a procedure to bring into play the institutional accountability of holders of elective offices within the Assembly and “to dismiss...
Secretary General Jagland says justice must start to work in Turkey now
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, in reply to questions, has told PACE members that he is concerned by the current situation regarding fundamental rights in Turkey. Following the decision to charge Taner Kiliç, Chair of Amnesty International Turkey, with “membership of a...
Pavel Filip hails his country’s ‘shared history’ with the Council of Europe
Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip has hailed the transformations his country is undergoing on the path of European integration, with the help of the Council of Europe – and urged Europe to stay true to its values. “The Republic of Moldova and the Council of Europe are connected by a shared...
Secretary General Jagland calls for release of Turkish hunger strikers
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland has called for the release of Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça. Nuriye Gülmen, a professor, and Semih Özakça, a teacher, have been on hunger strike since March to protest against their dismissal on the basis of state of emergency decree-laws. Since then, they...
Women and the drug trade: users and victims
On the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the Council of Europe’s drug policy experts, The Pompidou Group, highlight the vulnerability and the role of women in the drug trade at a two-day seminar in Rome. Held in the National School of Administration in Rome from 26-27...
International conference on fighting the smuggling of migrants
The Council of Europe is organising an international conference in Strasbourg on 23 June to discuss ways to prevent and combat the smuggling of migrants. The prevention and suppression of smuggling of migrants in Europe and its severe implications for human rights pose complex legal challenges....
