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Death penalty in the USA
Declaration adopted by the Committee of Ministers
GRECO publishes a report on Portugal
Portugal should strengthen corruption prevention in respect of parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors, says Council of Europe report
Zero tolerance for female genital mutilation (FGM)
“Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a vile crime and a gross violation of the human rights of women and girls,” said Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland just ahead of the UN International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (6 February). “According to new figures...
Travellers - Time to counter deep-rooted hostility
In October 2015, 10 persons died in a fire which broke in a Travellers’ site near Dublin. Following this tragic event, neighbours prevented the authorities from providing alternative accommodation to the surviving members of the group on a nearby site by blocking roads leading to the new site....
Identifying human trafficking victims including missing children among challenges for Croatia
In a new report, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) commends the Croatian authorities for continuing to develop their legal framework for combating human trafficking and protecting victims. The GRETA report – part of the second round of...
Gender Equality Strategy
Despite progress, stronger commitment needed to achieve gender equality in all member States
Secretary General responds to reports that French police have cleared hundreds of Roma in Paris
"It is crucial that the French authorities provide all those who have been forced to leave the ‘Petite ceinture’ camp – including children and elderly people – with adequate, alternative accommodation, particularly as they have decided to take this action during winter", said Council of Europe...
Council of Europe human rights mission returns from Crimea
The Council of Europe’s human rights mission to Crimea, led by Swiss diplomat Ambassador Gérard Stoudmann, has returned to Strasbourg after a 7-day visit to the peninsula. Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland today informed the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers that the delegation met...
Council of Europe and German OSCE Chairmanship in close cooperation for European security
Special Representative for the German Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Gernot Erler, visited the Council of Europe in Strasbourg today to present the OCSE Chairmanship’s programme for 2016. Mr. Erler was welcomed by the Secretary General of the...
Immigration: 'kneejerk' responses risk departure from European values
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland has delivered a keynote speech on the risk of 'kneejerk' responses to immigration at a high-level seminar organised by the Dutch EU chairmanship: “EU fundamental values, immigration and integration: a shared responsibility” in Strasbourg today. "We should be...
Combating hate speech online: Council of Europe and Germany to co-operate
The German Federal Minister for Justice and Consumer Protection, Heiko Maas, today paid an official visit to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg and held talks with its Secretary General, Thorbjørn Jagland. The items discussed included combating online hate speech and incitement to hatred, and...
Belgium should speed up the social inclusion of persons with disabilities
“Belgium is failing to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities to live independently and be included in the community. Planned measures to improve the situation should be implemented as a matter of priority” said today Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, while...
Data Protection Day
The Council of Europe is organising a workshop on 28 January in Brussels at the 9th Edition of the “Computers, Privacy and Data Protection international conference” (CPDP) to take stock of ten years of experience of the Data Protection Day, and to assess how this celebration has contributed to...
Anti-money laundering measures and financing of terrorism report on Armenia
Armenia urged to develop an effective national policy to investigate and prosecute money laundering
Let's not play off fighting terrorism against protecting human rights
"The threat of terrorism is ever present in our countries. It would be a grave mistake to try to play the fight against terrorism off against human rights protection and suggest that one should be chosen over the other", said Harlem Désir, French Secretary of State for European Affairs, today....
European Committee of Social Rights annual conclusions
European Committee of Social Rights finds 277 violations related to children, families and migrants in 31 countries in 2015
In memory of the victims of the Holocaust
A ceremony to mark the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust will take place on Wednesday 27 January, 1.00pm, on the forecourt of the Palais de l’Europe. Wreath-laying in front of the commemorative stone or addresses by: Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary...
The European Convention on Human Rights is our compass
Secretary General Jagland has asked parliamentarians to go home and be louder than ever in defending Europe’s human rights architecture. Speaking about the many challenges facing Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland said the European Convention on Human Rights is a shared vocabulary, the set of values which...
Bulgaria has become a pillar of stability in the Balkan region
Address by Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev
The fight against terrorism will continue to be a priority far beyond our chairmanship
Allocution by Daniel Mitov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers
Spaniard Pedro Agramunt elected PACE President
The Spaniard Pedro Agramunt (EPP/CD) has been elected President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for a mandate of one year, renewable once. He succeeds Anne Brasseur (Luxembourg, ALDE), who has occupied the post since January 2014. He is the fourth Spaniard to take up...
Council of Europe human rights mission starts in Crimea today
Secretary General Jagland sends Swiss diplomat Gérard Stoudmann to lead delegation
UK: Forthcoming reforms to human rights law must not weaken protection
“The repeatedly delayed launch of the consultation process for repeal of the Human Rights Act has created much speculation and an atmosphere of anxiety and concern in civil society and in some parts of the devolved administrations. There is a real fear of regression in terms of rights’ protection...
GRECO report on Romania
Council of Europe report acknowledges Romania´s efforts in prosecuting corruption, calls for more effective prevention measures
Regional and minority languages in Spain
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe today issued six recommendations to the Spanish authorities on the application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. It also published a report by a committee of experts assessing Spain´s compliance with the Charter. In its...
Council of Europe at Brussels Conference: 10th anniversary of Data Protection Day
The Council of Europe is organising a workshop on 28 January in Brussels at the 9th Edition of the “Computers, Privacy and Data Protection international conference” (CPDP) to take stock of ten years of experience of the Data Protection Day, and to assess how this celebration has contributed to...
Call for nominations for the 2016 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in partnership with the Vaclav Havel Library and the Charta 77 Foundation, has today issued a call for nominations for the 2016 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, which will be awarded for the fourth consecutive year on 10 October next in...
Turkey: Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland concerned by arrests of academics
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland today issued the following statement: “Reports from Turkey about arrests of several academics and intellectuals today are very worrying. In this difficult time when Turkey is facing an immense challenge due to terrorist attacks, I call on all...
Denmark: amendments to Aliens Act risk violating international legal standards
“Recent restrictive changes to asylum and immigration law in Denmark raise serious concerns of conformity with human rights standards. The government should reconsider them and ensure that law and practice fully comply with Denmark’s obligation to uphold refugee protection standards” said today...
MONEYVAL publishes a report on Guernsey
Guernsey urged to strengthen financial penalties related to money laundering and terrorist financing
National minorities in Georgia
Despite important progress, marginalisation of national minorities remains, inter-faith tensions on the rise, says new Council of Europe report
Helping refugees in the Mediterranean: Greek association “Agkalia” awarded Raoul Wallenberg Prize
Today, a Greek association Agkalia from the island of Lesvos has received the Council of Europe’s Raoul Wallenberg Prize 2016 Prize for outstanding achievements in providing frontline assistance to thousands of refugees irrespective of their origin and religion. As Lesvos has become a European...
Network neutrality guidelines to protect freedom of expression and privacy
The Council of Europe today called on European states to safeguard the principle of network neutrality in the development of national legal frameworks in order to ensure the protection of the right to freedom of expression and to access to information, and the right to privacy. In a...
Response to terrorism must be resolute, says Secretary General in the wake of Istanbul attack
Following today’s bomb attack in Istanbul that claimed at least ten lives and left more people injured, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland expressed his solidarity with Turkey’s people and leadership conveyed his deepest condolences to the families of victims, many of...
Istanbul terrorist attack
Statement by Daniel Mitov, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria
Georgia should continue strengthening the independence and impartiality of judges
Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks addressed observations to the Prime Minister of Georgia following a visit to the country
How Europe can defeat terrorism
A “resolute and relentless” response to armed fanatics, “anchored by human rights first-principles,” can help democracies to defeat terrorism, according to Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland. He marked the one year anniversary of the attacks on the Charlie Hebdo magazine and a Jewish supermarket...
Poland: Jagland offers expertise on media law
Council of Europe Secretary General Jagland has written to Polish President Duda expressing his concern regarding the legislative draft on public service broadcasting and its possible impact on the integrity and independence of public TV and radio. Jagland invites the Polish authorities to submit...
Counterfeiting of medical products: entry into force of the Medicrime Convention
The Council of Europe’s Medicrime Convention, which aims to combat the counterfeiting of medical products and protect public health, will enter into force on 1st January 2016. This Convention is the first legally binding international instrument making criminal offences of the counterfeiting,...
Helping refugees in the Mediterranean
Greek association “Agkalia” awarded Raul Wallenberg Prize on 13 January at Council of Europe Headquarters
Elections at the Venice Commission
During its December plenary session (18-19 December 2015), the Venice Commission held biennial elections of its governing structures: Presidency, Bureau and Chairs of Sub-Commissions and Councils. The incumbent President of the Commission Mr Gianni Buquicchio of Italy was re-elected to lead the...
Council of Europe and UNHCR urge Hungary to change tone over refugees
UNHCR - the UN Refugee Agency, the Council of Europe and ODHIR (Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights) have urged Hungary to refrain from policies and practices that promote intolerance, fear and fuel xenophobia against refugees and migrants.
Communist and Nazi propaganda in Ukraine
Ukraine law banning Communist and Nazi propaganda has a legitimate aim, but does not comply with European standards
Turkey: Freedom of expression working group agrees 2016 actions
Jagland looking forward to “real change”
Azerbaijan human rights inquiry
The Secretary General of the 47-nation Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, has launched an official inquiry into Azerbaijan's implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights. "Judgments from the European Court of Human Rights have highlighted an arbitrary application of the law in...
Migration and Refugees: Secretary General appoints Special Representative
Council of Europe to examine reported human rights violations against migrants and refugees
Russia’s new law on the Constitutional Court. Jagland: “a solution should be possible.”
Constitutional Court will need to ensure respect for European Convention.
Holy See should step up money laundering prosecutions
The Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing body MONEYVAL today published the second progress report of the Holy See/Vatican City State. The report evaluates its compliance with the recommendations made by MONEYVAL in its Mutual Evaluation Report in July 2012 and...
LGBT sports coaches still taboo
“Sports teams should make all kinds of minorities visible, including LGBT people,” asserts former Finnish president Tarja Halonen. “I have been working for LGBT people in sports. It is still very much a taboo whether there can be gay or lesbian coaches, when we, the heterosexuals are expected to...
