Newsroom
Romania should improve the protection of persons with disabilities, combat violence against women, safeguard press freedom and maintain the independence of the judiciary
“Romania needs to strengthen its institutional framework to better protect the rights of persons with disabilities, and should step up the efforts to combat violence against women,” said today Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, at the end of her five-day visit to...
Statement on the detention of prominent academics in Turkey including Hakan Altinay
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland said: "I am very concerned by the detention of a group of academics including Hakan Altinay and will raise this alarming development with the Turkish government as a matter of urgency."
Making sport safe for children: Stop Child Sexual Abuse Day
Governments and sports organisations must redouble their efforts to break the silence surrounding sexual abuse of children in sports, prevent it and fight impunity, stressed the Secretary General of the Council of Europe ahead of the European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual...
Execution of Mr Roberto Ramos Moreno (USA)
Statement by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
The Grand Chamber delivers judgment on Aleksey Navalnyy’s case: various violations found
Today, the Grand Chamber delivered a judgment on the case of Navalnyy v. Russia (application no. 29580/12 and four others) which concerned the applicant’s complaint that his arrest, detention and administrative conviction on seven occasions in 2012 and 2014 had breached his rights and had been...
Tolerant and inclusive societies in Western Balkans: conference in Montenegro
A Regional Conference taking place on 14 and 15 November in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, is discussing standard setting, monitoring and co-operation in anti-discrimination work, combating hate speech and protecting minority rights. The event, entitled “Tolerant and Inclusive Societies in...
International Day of Tolerance, 16 November
Statement by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
Launch of New Education Campaign in Oslo
A new Council of Europe education campaign is being launched this week (14-16 November) in Oslo, Norway. Free to Speak, Safe to Learn – Democratic Schools for All is aimed at creating ‘safe spaces’ in schools, where controversial subjects can be openly and safely debated, to prevent ideas that...
Secretary General participates in Paris Armistice centenary commemoration
At the invitation of France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Council of Europe Secretary General Jagland is taking part in the ceremonies to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War on 11 November in Paris. Together with other heads of state, government and international...
Pompidou Group workshops in Ukraine: Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine calls for health reforms in prisons
“This workshop is an opportunity for us to learn from international experiences and use these to improve our penitentiary system, leading to a more secure society”, said Denys Chernyshov, Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine, when addressing executives of the State Penitentiary Service of...
Secretary General Jagland meets Finnish Foreign Minister, President and Parliament speaker
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland is on an official visit to Helsinki, in preparation for Finland’s upcoming presidency of the Committee of Ministers, which will run from 21 November 2018 until 17 May 2019. He said ”Finland will take up the presidency of the Council of Europe Committee of...
Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers: “The European Charter of Local-Self-Government is a major achievement of the Council of Europe”
“These are, undoubtedly, difficult times. At the European level, at the national and local level and also at an institutional level. Pan-European challenges are more present than ever,” said Marija Pejčinović Burić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia,...
Council of Europe to take part in Internet Governance Forum in Paris
A Council of Europe delegation will take part in discussions to be held at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) at UNESCO headquarters in Paris from 12 to 14 November, under the heading of “Internet of Trust”. Throughout the Forum, which will bring together representatives of governments,...
Anders Knape elected new president of the Congress
Meeting at their 35th session in Strasbourg (France), Congress members have elected Anders Knape (Sweden, EPP/CCE) president of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities for a two-year term. “Our Congress is a political body tasked with protecting local democracy. We represent not...
Luxembourg must improve the identification of victims of trafficking in human beings
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has published today its second evaluation report on Luxembourg as regards the implementation of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. The report assesses developments since the...
HIV prevention and drug treatment in European prisons: training in Ukraine
The Council of Europe's Pompidou Group drug policy experts are holding a workshop and an executive training on drug treatment and HIV prevention in prisons in Kyiv Oblast from 5 to 9 November. Ukraine’s 40% increase in annual new HIV infections from 9,500 in 2010 to 15,680 in 2017 is especially...
Greece should safeguard social rights for all and improve the reception and integration of migrants
“Greece should take urgent steps and adopt long-term policies to improve the reception and integration of migrants and to reverse the adverse effects of austerity measures on access to health care and education”, says Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, publishing...
Secretary General Jagland meets German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland will meet German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Tuesday 6 November in Berlin. The meeting will focus on challenges to human rights in Europe and the current situation at the Council of Europe. A press briefing is scheduled at 11:45 in the...
Tackling hate speech in the media: Zagreb conference
The Council of Europe and the Croatian Agency for Electronic Media are organising a conference on 6 and 7 November in Zagreb (Croatia) to discuss the different ways European states have regulated hate speech, and specifically the measures to tackle it taken by national regulatory authorities, the...
Secretary General Jagland on official visit to Finland
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland is making an official visit to Finland on 8 November 2018. The Secretary General is going to hold meetings in Helsinki with President Sauli Niinistö, Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini and Speaker of the Parliament Paula Risikko. The...
World Forum for Democracy - “Gender Equality: Whose Battle?”
A year after the #MeToo movement first started, the World Forum for Democracy 2018, from 19 to 21 November, will focus on gender equality and women’s rights, in particular, women’s public, political and economic participation, and on combating violence against women. Dolores Delgado Garcia,...
World Day of Romani Language
Secretary General statement
Brain drain or brain gain? Seminar in Zagreb
A two-day seminar with this title is taking place in Zagreb, Croatia, to look at the phenomena of “brain drain” (the emigration of educated young people) and “brain gain” (the influx of qualified people who are either immigrating or returning home). It will also examine the possible role of the...
Secretary General Jagland on official visit to Liechtenstein
On official visit in Liechtenstein on 29 October, Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland held meetings with Prime Minister Adrian Hasler, Speaker of Parliament Albert Frick and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Justice and Culture Aurelia Frick, as well as with the delegation to the...
Tirana: international conference on transparency of beneficial ownership
The Council of Europe is organising an international conference under the theme “Transparency of beneficial ownership” on 30 and 31 October in Tirana, Albania, in the framework of its work to strengthen capacities in member states to fight money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The...
Secretary General Jagland on official visit to Liechtenstein
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland is making an official visit to Liechtenstein on 29 October. The Secretary General is holding meetings in Vaduz with Prime Minister Adrian Hasler, Speaker of Parliament Albert Frick and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Justice and Culture Aurelia...
Russia: Excessive fine for ‘New Times’ endangers media pluralism and press freedom
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland
Europe and North America Education 2030 consultation
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Romania criminal justice reform proposal weakens fight against corruption and serious crime
Venice Commission Opinion
Human trafficking in the Netherlands: Significant progress, but further action needed in several areas
The Council of Europe’s group of experts on human trafficking has welcomed the significant progress made by the Netherlands in recent years, whilst also calling on the authorities to take further action in a number of areas. In its second evaluation report on the Netherlands, published today, the...
Access to justice for women victims of violence in Eastern Partnership countries
Regional Conference of the PGG Project "Strengthening Access to Justice for Women Victims of Violence in the Six Eastern Partnership Countries"
#MeToo: alarming levels of sexual abuse and violence found in parliaments
A new study by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) shows that acts of sexism, abuse and violence against women are widespread in parliaments across Europe. The findings reveal that 85 per cent of women MPs have suffered from...
Secretary General Jagland on official visit to Slovakia
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland is making an official visit to the Slovak Republic on 16 and 17 October. The Secretary General is holding meetings in Bratislava with President Andrej Kiska, Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav...
Turkey and Montenegro: Council of Europe experts on ending violence against women publish monitoring reports
Reports that monitor the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) by Turkey and Montenegro have been published by the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic...
Latvia should step up efforts to integrate national minorities and combat Roma discrimination
The Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities today urged the Latvian authorities to promote integration and participation of national minorities in society and combat discrimination of the Roma. In a new Opinion assessing the progress made since...
Protecting Human Rights and Fighting Corruption in Sport
Which steps could be taken by public authorities to address human rights’ violations in the context of sport? How to support sport movement to protect and promote human rights? What are the obstacles to leading a more effective fight against corruption in the field of sport? Taking stock of...
Combating corruption –Šibenik international conference
The Croatian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) of the Council of Europe and the Ministry of Justice of Croatia are organising an international conference on 15 and 16 October in Šibenik (Croatia) to discuss ways to...
European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation 2018
“Be ready to save lives, become a superhero! Say yes to organ, tissue and cell donation!”
E-relevance of Culture in the Age of AI
Culture, Creativity and Artificial Intelligence will be discussed at an expert seminar in Rijeka, Croatia on 12-13 October 2018. The seminar “E-relevance of Culture in the Age of AI”, organised in the framework of the Croatian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe,...
Secretary General: Russia leaving the Council of Europe would be a “huge setback” for human rights
Answering a question from a PACE member relating to Russia’s continued non-payment of its budget contributions, Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland warned that if Russia were to leave the organisation, its citizens would no longer have access to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHtR). Mr...
Gudrun Mosler-Törnström: “It is through synergy that we will succeed to strengthen democracy”
“We, in the Congress, and our mayors and council members, need our MPs as much as you need local and regional elected representatives to carry out successful decentralisation policies that meet the needs of our citizens”, today said Gudrun Mosler-Törnström, President of the Congress of Local and...
Open minds are needed to improve the protection of LGBTI asylum seekers in Europe
“In many states around the world, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons face serious violations of their human rights on account of their sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics”, says Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights,...
‘Pursuing a constructive dialogue between the Committee of Ministers and the Assembly’
The Committee of Ministers is determined to pursue a constructive dialogue and close co-operation with the Assembly. It is by joining forces that we can meet current challenges and protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe,” said Marija Pejčinović Burić, Deputy Prime Minister...
Council of Europe treaty bolstering data protection opened for signature
Twenty-one states signed today a Council of Europe treaty aimed at strengthening the principles and rules for the protection of personal data at international level. The treaty, an Amending Protocol, updates the Council of Europe’s Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to...
Slovenia adopts a declaration on the creation of a Children’s House for child victims of sexual abuse
Representatives of Slovenian authorities have signed and adopted the Declaration on the creation of a Barnahus (Children’s House) for child victims of sexual abuse in Slovenia. The declaration was signed by the Slovenian Minister of Justice Andreja Katič; Minister of Family, Labour, Social...
Tunisian Foreign Minister thanks Council of Europe for its support
“May I pay tribute to the Council of Europe for the precious support it has given to Tunisia in this period of democratic transition, and for its commitment to accompanying us in implementing constitutional arrangements and the process of reforming Tunisia’s institutional and legal frameworks,”...
Jagland calls for immediate action in defence of journalists
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland made the following statement today: "Although the motives remain unclear, this week we have again witnessed a brutal murder of a journalist in a Council of Europe member State – the fourth in a year. We cannot remain passive following such an outburst of...
European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation (EODD) 2018
Statement by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Chair of the Committee of Ministers, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia
10 October: European Day against the Death Penalty
The 47-nation Council of Europe and the 28-member European Union have published a joint declaration to mark the European and World Day against the Death Penalty on 10 October. The declaration underlines the two organisations’ strong opposition to capital punishment in all circumstances. “The...
Václav Havel Human Rights Prize 2018 awarded to Oyub Titiev
The sixth Václav Havel Human Rights Prize – which honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights – has been awarded to the head of the Grozny office of the Memorial Human Rights Center in Chechyna, Oyub Titiev (Russian Federation). The prize was presented at a special...
Council of Europe and FIFA sign Memorandum of Understanding
Council of Europe Secretary General Thørbjorn Jagland and FIFA President Gianni Infantino have signed today at the Palais de l’Europe in Strasbourg a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the co-operation between the two institutions and further develop synergies and partnerships in areas of...
Efficiency and quality of justice: Council of Europe publishes its 2018 report
The European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) of the Council of Europe today sets out the main trends observed in this field in 45 European countries (*) in a report and a publicly accessible interactive database. The evaluation report - the 7th since the CEPEJ was set up in 2002...
Finland: Awareness of minority languages in education and media should be improved
While the Committee of Experts of The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, acknowledges the efforts undertaken by the authorities in protecting regional and minority languages spoken in Finland, it recommends that further measure are needed, according to a report published today....
Commissioner Mijatović intervenes before the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Emin Huseynov v. Azerbaijan
Today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published written observations submitted to the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Emin Huseynov against Azerbaijan, relating to the deprivation of nationality of the applicant, who subsequently became...
More must be done to help women and girl refugees and migrants
At a Council of Europe conference today in Athens to focus on challenges faced by women and girl refugees and migrants, Anna Zobnina, Strategy & Policy Coordinator for the European Network of Migrant Women stressed that not enough is being done to care for the specific needs of women and girl...
Bosnia and Herzegovina national minorities do not enjoy effective access to their rights
While acknowledging some progress on Roma issues and emerging potential for moving towards integrated schools, the Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities concludes in its new opinion that national minorities in Bosnia and...
Croatia: Anti-torture report on police, prisons and psychiatry yields mixed results
In a new report published today with the response of the Croatian authorities, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) finds that most people detained by the police had been treated correctly, but allegations of ill...
Anti-racism commission: new reports on Moldova and Portugal
The European Commission against Intolerance and Discrimination (ECRI) published today new reports on the Republic of Moldova and Portugal. In the Republic of Moldova, ECRI concludes that hate speech against Roma, LGBT and black communities in the public discourse is escalating whilst the...
Estonia should adopt more human rights oriented policies to improve the protection of women and the inclusion of older persons
“To build a more cohesive society, the Estonian authorities should strengthen the protection of women from violence, close the gender pay gap and uphold the rights of older people”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, while releasing today the report on her...
Council of Europe to continue building solutions for IDPs in Ukraine
The Council of Europe today announces a new three-year initiative to support internally displaced people (IDPs) in Ukraine entitled “Building Solutions”. Carried out as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine 2018-2021, “Building Solutions” should improve protection for internally...
Progress made in actions protecting refugee and migrant children in Europe
Council of Europe is presenting progress in actions taken to ensure the safety and the proper treatment of children entering Europe, according to the report “Refugee and migrant children in Europe” - Progress in implementation of the Action Plan (2017–2019), published today. “I am pleased that...
Why NGOs matter
One of the most important issues raised at the FRA forum this week in Vienna was the need for greater funding and support for non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Anna Rurka, President of the Council of Europe’s Platform of International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) told forum...
Görlitz, Germany, hosts Forum highlighting Council of Europe Cultural Routes
"Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe connecting cultural values, heritage sites and citizens: strategies and synergies in a global perspective" will be the theme of the Annual Advisory Forum 2018 organised from 26 to 28 September by the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the...
Council of Europe leads fight for fundamental rights and against the evil of corruption
As the Fundamental Rights Agency Forum in Vienna gets underway on 25 September, the Council of Europe is playing an integral part to uphold fundamental human rights and combat corruption in an increasingly challenging period for Europe. From fighting hate speech and discrimination to promoting...
Armenia’s new government should place human rights at the centre of its policies
“Armenia’s peaceful transfer of power in May 2018 has been truly remarkable. However, popular expectations are high that there will be tangible improvements to people’s lives, and the government should devote its attention to upholding the long-neglected rights of those who are most vulnerable”,...
Deputy Secretary General opens International Conference on the fight against the manipulation of sports competitions
“It is in everyone’s interests that the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions (known as “Macolin Convention”) comes into force as soon as possible. The moment is approaching: it is not a matter of if, but when”, highlighted Deputy Secretary General while opening...
Rules Committee proposes to strengthen PACE's decision-making process on credentials and voting
In order to "strengthen the coherence, legitimacy and effectiveness of its decision-making mechanisms", the Committee on Rules of Procedure today proposed to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to amend certain provisions of its Rules of Procedure concerning the credentials...
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 from the European Court of Human Rights have been published by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. The committee adopted 26 decisions concerning 17 member states at the end of its quarterly human rights meeting in...
Mental health of children on the move
Mental health of children affected by migration, their well-being and their rights was the key subject of the address by Regina Jensdottir, the Head of the Children’s Rights Division and Programme Co-ordinator at the Council of Europe, to the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC)...
Democracy and the People
To mark the International Day of Democracy, the Directorate General of Democracy and the Conference of INGOs are organising a debate entitled: Democracy & “The People”, aiming at re-asserting the value of our democratic institutions based on individual human rights, civic participation in public...
Ending violence against women: a new focus for continued Southern Mediterranean co-operation
On 18 September 2018, the Council of Europe and European Union launched the “South Programme III: Ensuring sustainable democratic governance and human rights in the Southern Mediterranean” in Strasbourg. This programme will build on the results from the past two programmes, and will have a new...
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 from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from 18 to 20 September. Decisions taken by the committee will be published on the Council of Europe website as soon as...
Hungary: Anti-torture committee observed decent conditions in transit zones, but criticises treatment of irregular migrants when “pushed back” to Serbia
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published a report on its most recent visit to Hungary from 20 to 26 October 2017, together with the response of the Hungarian authorities (see also the main findings of the...
Combating corruption: France can do better
In a report published today on corruption prevention in respect of members of parliament, judges and prosecutors, GRECO, the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body, concludes that France has implemented only four of the eleven recommendations made since 2013. While a number of positive measures...
