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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 20 to 22 September. Cases proposed for detailed examination concern Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium,...
Anti racism commission releases new conclusions on Albania, Austria, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) today published conclusions on how Albania, Austria, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland implemented priority recommendations addressed to them in 2020. These covered the situation of Roma, social rights of vulnerable groups, support to...
Russia ceases to be party to the European Convention on Human Rights
Six months after its exclusion from the Council of Europe, the Russian Federation ceases to be party to the European Convention on Human Rights on 16 September 2022. The European Court of Human Rights remains competent to deal with applications against Russia concerning actions or omissions...
ECHR judgments: New factsheet on personal data protection
A new thematic factsheet summarising how member states have responded following judgments by the European Court of Human Rights on the protection of personal data has been released. It gives examples of how member states have acted after judgments by the court, covering areas such as collection...
No impunity for Russia’s crimes against Ukraine
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has adopted a decision today in which it stresses the urgent need to ensure a comprehensive system of accountability for serious violations of international law arising out of the Russian aggression against Ukraine to avoid impunity and to...
Secretary General deplores Russian plans for a referendum to annex Ukrainian territories
Statement by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić
Secretary General: Millions of Russians no longer protected by the European Convention on Human Rights
Following Russia’s exclusion from the Council of Europe on 16 March 2022, as a result of its aggression against Ukraine, the Russian Federation will cease to be a High Contracting Party to the European Convention on Human Rights on 16 September 2022. “Russia’s aggression against Ukraine continues...
Secretary General meets First Lady of Ukraine
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić met in Strasbourg with the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska. They discussed the situation in Ukraine and the support the Council of Europe is providing.
Positive progress for German detainees, but serious concerns remain, says Anti Torture Committee
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has welcomed positive trends in prisoner treatment in Germany, but outlined a number of serious concerns. The delegation - which visited police stations, prisons and psychiatric clinics...
Civil Society in the spotlight at Venice Commission round table
The participation of civil society in public decision-making and the foreign funding of associations were the key themes of the international round table event entitled “Civil Society: Empowerment and Accountability” in Strasbourg, organised by the Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR in the...
Hostilities at the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan: Committee of Ministers Chair and PACE President call for de-escalation and respect for a cease-fire
Following last night’s escalation of violence along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, which has reportedly already caused numerous casualties and significant damage, Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Chair of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, Simon Coveney, and the...
Hostilities around Armenian-Azerbaijan border: statement by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić
“Reports of escalating armed hostilities around the Armenian-Azerbaijani border are very alarming. Disagreements between Council of Europe member States must be resolved peacefully through negotiations. Recent direct contacts between the highest authorities of both countries were promising and...
Council of Europe statement on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, has made the following statement: “I am deeply saddened by the death of Europe’s longest reigning monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On behalf of the Council of Europe, I send my heartfelt condolences to the Royal...
Council of Europe launches regular dialogue with Belarusian democratic forces
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has agreed to hold regular exchanges with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and other representatives of Belarusian democratic opposition forces, following a fruitful exchange of views with Ms Tsikhanouskaya on 6 July. The Committee has invited the Secretary...
European Heritage Days 2022 shine a spotlight on “Sustainable Heritage”
Sustainable Heritage is the theme for the 2022 European Heritage Days: a focus on the active role of communities building a more sustainable and resilient future for European heritage, in the context of environmental changes and related risks. The European Heritage Days, a joint initiative of the...
Three candidates shortlisted for the 2022 Václav Havel Prize
The selection panel of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, which rewards outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights in Europe and beyond, has announced the shortlist for the 2022 Award. Meeting in Prague the panel, made up of independent figures from the world of human rights...
Congress President condemns the continuing abduction of Ukrainian local elected representatives
In light of the continuing abductions of Ukrainian local elected representatives, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Leendert Verbeek, endorsing the statement made by Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović on the...
Greece: Too many prisoners held in conditions that represent “an affront to their human dignity” according to CPT report
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published its report on a visit to Greece (from 22 November to 1 December 2021) to examine prisoner treatment and review progress made by the authorities in implementing...
Lighting the Shade: Effective Application of the ECHR in Areas of Conflict in Europe
Areas of conflict in Europe are territories "where politics - and arms - stand between people and their rights", highlighted the Deputy Secretary General while giving the opening address to the conference "Lighting the shade: Effective Application of the ECHR in Areas of Conflict in Europe", held...
Congress President warns of fictitious Russian "referendums" in Ukrainian territories
Against the background of mounting indications of possible "pseudo-referendums" in Ukrainian territories currently occupied by Russia, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Leendert Verbeek, has urged the Russian authorities to refrain from such...
Statement by Simon Coveney, Chair of the Committee of Ministers, on the death of Mikhail Gorbachev
“Through his leadership, Mikhail Gorbachev contributed greatly to ending the Cold War, bringing down the Iron Curtain that had for so long divided our continent. His speech in the Palais de l'Europe in Strasbourg in 1989 was a seminal moment in the history of the Council of Europe. By referring...
Europride in Belgrade: statement by Simon Coveney, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence of Ireland and Chair of the Committee of Ministers
“Freedom of assembly and prohibition of discrimination are fundamental freedoms enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights. As Council of Europe Presidency, Ireland recognizes LGBTQI rights as human rights and encourages Serbia to support and facilitate a peaceful and secure Europride.”
Council of Europe leaders pay tribute to Mikhail Gorbachev
PACE President Tiny Kox and Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić have paid tribute to former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. In a joint statement, they said: “Europe has lost a great statesman and peacemaker. By bringing the Cold War to a peaceful end, Mikhail Gorbachev...
Georgia: Draft surveillance law adopted hastily, needs further elaboration, finds Venice Commission opinion
The draft law amending Georgia’s procedure for the use of covert investigative measures was adopted in a hasty procedure and requires both impact assessment and more detailed justification, according to an urgent opinion from the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission of legal and constitutional...
PACE President marks Ukraine’s independence day: ‘Ukraine needs Europe, and Europe needs Ukraine’
PACE President Tiny Kox, in a message to mark the 31st anniversary of the independence of Ukraine, has again pledged the Council of Europe’s full support in the coming months and years, adding: “Ukraine needs Europe, and Europe needs Ukraine”. “I want to express my admiration for the courage and...
Council of Europe will continue to support Crimea and all of Ukraine, says Secretary General
The situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol has further deteriorated, but the Council of Europe will continue doing all it can to support the people of Crimea and of Ukraine in general, despite Russia’s brutal, illegal and ongoing aggression against the country,...
Secretary General took part in Second Summit of Crimea Platform
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić participated in the Second Summit of the Crimea Platform on 23 August, hosted by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Secretary General spoke about the support provided by the organisation to Ukraine and specifically addressed human rights...
New initiative to help Roma people in Bulgaria and Romania
A new agreement between the Council of Europe and the European Union will help marginalised Roma communities in Bulgaria and Romania to access education, housing and employment, and promote Roma inclusion. To date, the ROMACT programme has mobilised over €140 million to fund more than 120...
International Youth Day
“Creating stronger links between youth and other generations can help us find solutions to today’s challenges” says Congress Spokesperson
The right to a healthy environment, a universal human right and an emergency for all levels of governance
Following the resolution just adopted by the United Nations General Assembly declaring access to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a universal human right, Congress spokesperson on human rights Harald Bergmann (Netherlands, ILDG), welcomed this historic decision. "This recognition...
European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić
GRETA calls on states, civil society and tech companies to counter the use of technology to recruit and control victims of human trafficking
On the occasion of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, held every year on 30 July, the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) joins the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) in calling on State Parties to...
Anti-torture Committee announces regular visits to eight countries in 2023
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has announced its 2023 programme of regular visits. The Committee intends to examine the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in the following countries: Albania Armenia Cyprus...
“Sport is a great leveller that can bring people together in a way that nothing else can”, Bjørn Berge tells Commonwealth Sports Ministers
“Sport is a great leveller that can bring people together in a way that nothing else can”, highlighted Deputy Secretary General while addressing the 10th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting in Birmingham. Bjørn Berge underlined how the Council of Europe’s four-year strategic priorities for...
Council of Europe at the Ministerial Ukraine Accountability Conference
The Council of Europe was represented at the Ministerial Ukraine Accountability Conference in The Hague on 14 July by the Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law, Christos Giakoumopoulos. The Conference was hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, the Prosecutor of...
SRSG on Migration and Refugees publishes reports of visit to Czech and Slovak Republics
The Special Representative on Migration and Refugees (SRSG), Leyla Kayacik, has emphasised in her report the efficient response of the Czech Republic to an unprecedented situation, resulting in a swift setting-up of well-run registration centres where national, local and non-governmental actors...
Trafficking in human beings: expert group GRETA releases its annual report
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has published its annual report for 2021. During 2021 GRETA was able to achieve a number of milestones in spite of the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and continued to develop its cooperation...
For a quality education free of fraud and corruption – a new Recommendation adopted by the Committee of Ministers
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has adopted a Recommendation addressed to its 46 member states aimed at assisting them in combating fraud in the field of education. The recommendation follows four years of work in the framework of the ETINED platform of the Council of Europe...
ECHR judgment in the case Kavala v. Türkiye: joint statement by the Council of Europe leaders
Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, Simon Coveney, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Tiny Kox, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, have made the following...
Secretary General attends Srebrenica Commemoration: Remembrance and reconciliation are hard, but essential
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has attended the Commemoration ceremony for the victims of the Srebrenica genocide. In her speech, she stressed the importance of remembrance and reconciliation. “We have gathered here today to pay tribute to the immense suffering of the victims, their...
Srebrenica: the mothers’ fight for justice should inspire us all
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović has taken part in the inauguration of the ‘Mother’s Scarf’ art installation initiated by the Mothers of Srebrenica, as part of the Srebrenica Heroines Initiative, and issued the following statement: “As we honour the memory of...
CEB approves €465 million in new loans, appoints new vice-governors and agrees on Ukraine’s accession to the Bank at zero cost
The governing bodies of the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) have discussed its strategic and policy priorities, with a focus on Ukraine’s membership. Noting that the process is well advanced, CEB members states agreed, as a tangible sign of support, to relieve the country from any...
Congress delegation meets women and child refugees in Polish cities
A delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe visited Poland from 4-5 July to gather experiences from Polish cities hosting Ukrainian refugees. Poland has received more Ukrainian refugees than any other member state, more than 90% of whom are women and...
Progress in legal gender recognition in Europe is slow, further steps needed on civil and human rights aspects
A new Council of Europe report reviews the progress achieved in European countries in guaranteeing full legal gender recognition (LGR) in all areas of life. The report acknowledges advances in legislation, practices and public attitudes, but progress is slow and additional steps are needed, inter...
CPT report on UK: persistent overcrowding and violence in prisons and insufficient legal safeguards for psychiatric patients
In a new report on the United Kingdom the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) again raises concerns over the numerous cases of serious inter-prisoner violence and violence by prisoners on staff and the lack of a coherent strategy to tackle chronic overcrowding. It...
Serbia: GRECO calls for further measures to prevent corruption among top public executives and in the police
In a new report on Serbia, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) calls for further measures to prevent corruption respect of persons with top executive functions, including the President of the Republic, ministers, assistant ministers, state secretaries, chiefs of...
Youth Action Week: young people call on European governments to step up action to revitalise democracy
The Council of Europe’s Youth Action Week concluded on Friday 1 July 2022 with a presentation by the participants of a call for action directed to national governments to step up the actions and policies to revitalise democracy with the participation of young people. The 450 young people who took...
Ukraine’s full recovery must be underpinned by good governance and European values, says Secretary General
“Ukraine’s recovery, in its fullest sense, requires good governance, European values to underpin it, and democratic security as the basis of lasting peace, so that stability, prosperity and progress can take root”, said Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić at the Ukraine...
Member States hold informal exchange of views with representatives of civil society
At an informal meeting on 1 July 2022, delegations from the Council of Europe’s 46 member States held an exchange of views with representatives of youth civil society organisations. They discussed how to overcome the obstacles to inviting young people and youth organisations to the policy-making...
Ukraine: Statement by Congress President condemning the abduction of the Mayor of Kherson
I strongly condemn the continued abduction of local officials in Ukraine, most recently of the mayor of Kherson, Ihor Kolykhayev, and call for his immediate release. The pressure and continuous offenses that the local elected representatives are suffering in the illegally occupied territories of...
PACE delegation, ending Kyiv visit: ‘The worst crime of all is the war itself'
A cross-party delegation of 10 members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE),* ending a visit to Kyiv on Ukraine’s Constitution Day (28 June 2022), has expressed shock at the level of evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity it saw, denounced the war in the...
HELP Network conference focuses on Council of Europe response to the war in Ukraine
The Council of Europe HELP Programme (Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals) is holding its 2022 Annual Network Conference in Strasbourg and online from 30 June - 1 July 2022. This year, the Council of Europe’s response to the war in Ukraine is one of the key themes of the conference....
Council of Europe Digital Partnership: two new partners
The International Chamber of Commerce and The LEGO Group have joined the Council of Europe’s Digital Partnership, an initiative aimed at fostering cooperation with companies and their business associations to promote respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law on the internet. During...
Council of Europe statement on missile attack in Kremenchuk
The Secretary General of the 46-nation Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, has today made the following statement: “Yesterday’s missile attack carried out by the Russian Federation on a shopping centre in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, was utterly barbaric. Such senseless killing of civilians shows...
Young people should stand up against populism, nationalism and extremism that risk silencing their voices, says Secretary General
Opening the major event in Strasbourg, Youth Action Week which marks the 50th anniversary of the Council of Europe’s youth sector, Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić called on young people to remain engaged in revitalising democracy and in addressing the emerging threats...
New thematic factsheet on Protection of Property
The Execution Department issued today a new thematic factsheet on Protection of Property. The European Convention on Human Rights enunciates the principle of the peaceful enjoyment of one’s property and subjects its deprivation to conditions, protecting a person against unjustified interference...
MONEYVAL calls on Bulgaria to improve use of financial intelligence, investigation and prosecution and the confiscations regime
In a new report the Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering body MONEYVAL draws up a comprehensive assessment of the country’s level of compliance with the Recommendations by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as at the date of the onsite visit in September 2021. It calls on Bulgaria’s...
PACE President reacts to attack in Oslo
“I am shocked by last night’s terrible attack in Oslo – which seems to have specifically targeted the LGBTI community,” said the PACE President Tiny Kox. “My thoughts are with the families of the victims, and all those affected, as well as those who were looking forward to a peaceful Pride...
Council of Europe marks 20 years of action for the proper functioning of justice
The European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice of the Council of Europe (CEPEJ) is marking its 20th anniversary on 27 June in La Valletta (Malta) at an event devoted to challenges of a digitised judicial system and the way to improve the work of the CEPEJ in the future. Known mainly for...
Ireland supports Action Plans and joins Human Rights Trust Fund
In the framework of their Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, the Government of Ireland has made a voluntary contribution of €665 616 towards Council of Europe Action Plans and projects that support the priorities of the Irish Chairmanship. Ireland’s contribution will support the Council...
Flight MH17 shot down by a Russian-supplied Buk missile ‘most convincing scenario by far’, says PACE
PACE has said that, based on the evidence made available to its rapporteur by Ukrainian and Dutch authorities, it considers “as the most convincing scenario by far” that flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine in 2014 by a Buk missile made available to military units controlled by the Russian...
“Brute force and misuse of power can never be allowed to have the last word” King of The Netherlands tells PACE
“Brute force and misuse of power can never be allowed to have the last word. That conviction is what inspired the Kingdom of the Netherlands to join with nine other countries in 1949 to establish the Council of Europe”, highlighted His Majesty King Willem-Alexander while addressing PACE. ‘It must...
Greek President calls for a strengthened Council of Europe to face Russian aggression and other challenges
In an address to the Parliamentary Assembly today, Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou called for a stronger Council of Europe and greater multilateralism to tackle the many challenges facing Europe today – ranging from the war in Ukraine to climate change and economic and social upheaval....
Simon Coveney at PACE: It’s time for Council of Europe Heads of State and Government to reconvene
In the wake of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Ireland’s Foreign Minister Simon Coveney has called for a fourth summit of Heads of State and Government of the 46-nation Council of Europe. Speaking to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe as chair of the organisation’s Committee...
Marija Pejčinović Burić: upholding the principles of democratic security requires political will
“The time has come for a fourth Summit of Heads of State and Government” to agree on how we best fit in the newly shaped geopolitical architecture of Europe and how to put democratic security on a firmer footing for the years to come, said Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović...
Sanctions and measures without deprivation of liberty in Europe: annual statistics for 2021
The number of persons subject to sanctions and measures which keep offenders in the community remained relatively stable from January 2020 to January 2021, after several years of regular growth, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the 2021 SPACE II annual survey, carried out for...
Türkiye: Reducing threshold for parliamentary elections is welcome but other amendments could hamper inclusive democracy and impartiality of elections
Despite some positive aspects, a recent law amending parliamentary election procedures in Türkiye (Law No. 7393) could impede the participation of newer (and smaller) parties, according to an opinion by the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission of legal and constitutional experts. Jointly drafted...
Azerbaijan media law: overregulation in an already restrictive environment
In the context of an already extremely confined space for independent journalism and media in Azerbaijan, the new media Law in Azerbaijan will have a “chilling effect”, said the Council of Europe’s body of constitutional legal experts, the Venice Commission, in its joint opinion together with the...
Secretary General welcomes Ukrainian Parliament’s approval of Istanbul Convention
Council of Europe Secretary General, Marija Pejčinović Burić, has made the following statement today: “As women and girls are particularly vulnerable during the conflict, I warmly welcome the approval by the Ukrainian Parliament of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating...
PACE President urges members not to get used to the war in Ukraine
In his opening speech of the PACE summer session, President Tiny Kox invited members to hold a minute of silence for all the victims of the war in Ukraine, urging them to help end the suffering of the Ukrainian people and to continue showing solidarity. “This horrible war should never become a...
Council of Europe and UNHCR: anyone fleeing war or persecution has the right to seek safety and protection
On the occasion of World Refugee Day on 20 June 2022, the Council of Europe and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) emphasise that anyone fleeing war, conflict or persecution or risking violence, abuse or exploitation, has the right to seek safety and protection. Almost four months into the war in...
Continued use of the situation of Russian as a minority language as a pretext for aggression against Ukraine unacceptable
The Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in the statement adopted at the latest plenary session condemned in the strongest possible terms the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and expressed its solidarity with all people of Ukraine....
Moldova needs more resources and expertise to welcome refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine
The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees (SRSG) has concluded her fact-finding visit to the Republic of Moldova (13-15 June 2022), which focused on the protection of the refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. The number of arrivals in the country has decreased...
Venice Commission plenary session
The June plenary session of the Venice Commission took place on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 June. The constitutional law experts adopted opinions on the Media Law of Azerbaijan, the Independence of Judicial Courts of Lebanon, amendments to electoral legislation in Türkiye, the vetting of judges and...
Romania has improved protection of women from domestic violence, but progress needed on definition of rape
In its first report on Romania, the Council of Europe’s GREVIO – the independent expert group that monitors implementation of the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) – acknowledges the steps taken by the country to comply with...
