Newsroom
New opinion on the role of court presidents
The Council of Europe’s Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE) adopted an opinion on the role of court presidents. In this Opinion, the CCJE clarifies the role of court presidents concerning the representation of the court, relations within the court with other judges, and presidents’...
Refugees speak out at Lisbon Forum, amid calls to improve coordination of humanitarian aid
Refugees from Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria explained their experiences at this year’s Lisbon Forum, as calls were made to improve coordination to assist them as humanitarian crises continue. Adam, a 26-year-old Syrian student in Portugal, explained how programmes like the Global Platform for...
Celebrating 10 years of stronger Council of Europe/EU relations
Secretary General Jagland and the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, are launching a series of initiatives to mark the 10th anniversary of the 2007 Memorandum of Understanding between the Council of Europe and the European Union. In the presence...
Committee of Ministers: Estonia hands over chairmanship to Cyprus
The Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe today passed from Estonia to Cyprus, at a meeting at the Organisation's Strasbourg headquarters, attended by representatives of its 47 member States. Before handing over the chairmanship to his successor, the outgoing Chair,...
Doping, match-fixing and good governance on the agenda of Sport Ministers conference in Hungary
European Sport Ministers will meet on Tuesday 29 November in Budapest (Hungary) at a conference organised by the Council of Europe under its Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS), aimed at more effectively combating doping, promoting implementation of the Convention on match-fixing and...
Armenia: positive developments for life prisoners, problems with prison conditions
In its new report on Armenia published today, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) noted positive developments in the treatment of life-sentenced prisoners, but pointed out remaining problems with ill-treatment in the police custody, understaffing and lack of...
Russian Federation: The Group of States against Corruption publishes its Second Compliance Report
The Council of Europe’s anti-corruption group (GRECO) today made public its Second Compliance Report on the Russian Federation concerning incriminations (criminalisation of corruption) and transparency of party funding. GRECO concludes that the Russian Federation has now implemented...
Deputy Secretary General at WADA meeting in Glasgow
Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni participated today, as one of the European representatives, to the Foundation Board of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Prior to this meeting, public authorities' officials met in London, at the invitation of the Council of...
Azerbaijan: Statement by Secretary General Jagland on the decision of the Supreme Court today rejecting the appeal by Ilgar Mammadov
“Today, Azerbaijan’s highest court has failed to uphold the country’s legal obligation to execute the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights. The severity of this development for Azerbaijan as a member of the Council of Europe cannot be underestimated. Azerbaijan’s flagrant disrespect of...
Intolerable detention conditions during Belgian prison strike says Council of Europe’s anti-torture committee
In its report published today, the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has described the disturbing situation it found during its visit in May 2016 to Huy, Ittre and Jamioulx prisons, as well as in the social defence...
End Child Sex Abuse Day
European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse
Treaties of Nijmegen Medal for the European Court of Human Rights
President Guido Raimondi has received the prestigious Treaties of Nijmegen Medal on behalf of the European Court of Human Rights at a ceremony in the Netherlands on Friday 18 November. The prize is awarded every two years to a key international figure or institution in recognition of their...
Official visit of the President of Poland Andrzej Duda
Polish President Andrzej Duda today paid an official visit to the Council of Europe. Following a meeting with Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, President Duda had an exchange of views with the Ministers’ Deputies. He also met with Guido Raimondi, President of the European Court of Human...
Cybercrime: towards a new legal tool on electronic evidence
“The 15th anniversary of the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime is a turning point, in that the Convention is now reaching out into the ‘clouds’,” said the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, at the opening of the 2016 Octopus conference. Data, and therefore electronic...
Migrants in limbo in Europe have the right to live in dignity
“In some countries, they call them “invisible persons”, in others – “ghosts”. Throughout Europe there are many migrants, primarily rejected asylum seekers, who live in a state of protracted legal and social limbo without any long-term prospects.”, says Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe...
European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse
Statement by Jürgen Ligi, Chair of the Committee of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Estonia
Protecting you and your rights: the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime fifteen years on
Fifteen years after its adoption, the Budapest Convention remains the most effective international treaty on cybercrime and the rule of law in cyberspace. Achievements and challenges, such as access to electronic evidence and the use of information technology for terrorist purposes, will be...
Internment of Gypsies by France between 1940 and 1946
Special Representative for Roma Issues welcomes President Francois Hollande’s historic acknowledgement
"Public Service Media and Democracy" conference in Prague 10-11 November 2016
On 10 November 2016 in Prague, the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schultz and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, will open a conference on ‘Public Service Media and Democracy’. The conference is jointly organised by the Council of Europe and its...
Democracy Innovation Award
The Council of Europe’s Democracy Innovation Award goes to German initiative in favour of higher education for refugees
2016 Exchange on the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue
The role of education in the prevention of radicalisation
World Forum for Democracy (7-9 November 2016, Strasbourg)
“Democracy and equality: does education matter?”
Statement by Jürgen Ligi, Chair of the Committee of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
Situation in Turkey
Conference in Tallinn on children’s rights in migration crisis and digital environment
An international conference on Children’s rights in the migration crisis and the digital environment is taking place in Tallinn, Estonia from 3 to 4 November 2016. It is held under the current Estonian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. In his opening speech,...
Secretary General Jagland concerned about the situation of Ildar Dadin
Thorbjørn Jagland yesterday expressed his concern about allegations of ill-treatment of human rights activist Ildar Dadin in a telephone call to Alexander Konovalov, Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation. The Secretary General underlined the importance of the joint work carried out by the...
Nominations for UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award 2017
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced the opening of nominations for the 2017 Nansen Refugee Award. The award is bestowed on a person or group for outstanding work on behalf of the forcibly displaced, and aims to showcase the values of perseverance and conviction...
Rotterdam: Summit of Mayors for the “Alliance of European cities against violent extremism”
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, the City of Rotterdam and the European Forum for Urban Security (Efus) are organising a Summit of Mayors for the “Alliance of European cities against violent extremism” on Wednesday 9 November 2016 in Rotterdam, the...
Anti-torture committee critical of treatment and conditions of migrants and refugees in Hungary
In a report published today, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) welcomes cooperation of Hungarian authorities during its visit last year to detention centres and police detention facilities for foreigners, but...
The Czech Republic should improve measures to prevent corruption among MPs, judges and prosecutors
In a report published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) calls on the Czech authorities to make substantial reforms to strengthen the prevention of corruption among parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors (see also the Czech version of the report) GRECO...
Turkey: Secretary General Jagland concerned about state of emergency measures and freedom of expression
Council of Europe of Secretary General Jagland has commented on recent developments in Turkey in a statement released on Monday: "It is highly questionable if the raid against Cumhuriyet can be justified as a proportionate measure, even under the state of emergency. I am also concerned about the...
Secretary General on official visit to Monaco
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland will have an Audience with Prince Albert II of Monaco and meet the followings officials: - Mr Philippe Narmino, Director of Judicial Services - Mr Serge Telle, Minister of State - Mr Christophe Steiner, Chairman of the National...
Statement by the Spokesperson of the Secretary General on the arrest of co-mayors of Diyarbakır
It is a matter of particular concern to the Council of Europe when democratically-elected representatives are deprived of their liberty. We will ask the authorities in our member state Turkey to provide us with the necessary explanations.
Council of Europe calls on member states to ban genetic tests for insurance purposes
The Council of Europe calls upon the Governments of its Member States to ensure non-discrimination, including on grounds of genetic characteristics, and the protection of private life in the framework of insurance contracts covering risks related to health, age or death. “People’s health and...
Secretary General meets Hungarian Justice Minister László Trócsányi
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland on Tuesday met the Hungarian Justice Minister, László Trócsányi. Minsiter Trócsányi reported that new legislation had been adopted to provide an effective remedy to victims of prison ovecrowding in line with a pilot judgment (Varga and others) by the European...
The European day of justice is celebrated in 18 member States of the Council of Europe
The European Day of Justice is celebrated each year around the 25 October. It aims to bring justice closer to citizens, to inform them on their rights and to to promote the work of the Council of Europe and the European Commission in the field of justice, through simulation of procedures and...
Prevention of corruption in respect of top government officials and law enforcement
In 2017, the Council of Europe anti-corruption body GRECO will start monitoring the prevention of corruption and the promotion of integrity in central governments (top executive functions) and law enforcement agencies, which will be the themes of its 5th Evaluation Round. In a plenary meeting...
EUR-OPA Hazard Ministerial Conference in Lisbon: Building more disaster resilient societies
This summer, some Southern European countries have faced unprecedented heatwaves and wildfires. Portugal is due to host the 13th ministerial session of the Council of Europe’s European and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement (EUR-OPA) on 26 October 2016 in Lisbon. Designed to strengthen...
A Europe rich in history, heritage and values: the Cultural Routes Advisory Forum 2016 in Vilnius
A journey through space and time across Europe to foster cultural heritage, enhance diversity and promote intercultural dialogue: the Council of Europe Cultural Routes Annual Advisory Forum 2016 will take place at the Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva in Vilnius (Lithuania) on 26-27 October. This year’s...
Local democracy in Cyprus
Today the Congress of Local and Regional authorities of the Council of Europe adopted a report on the state of local democracy Cyprus following a monitoring visit to Nicosia, Kokkinotrimithia, Ayios Dhometios and Paphos in April 2016. It was the third monitoring report since the ratification of...
European Committee of Social Rights: Greek minister attends hearing on social rights and austerity
A public hearing of the European Committee of Social Rights today focused on how austerity in Greece has affected social rights under the guidelines of the European Social Charter. The committee granted the hearing request, which was made by the complainant organisation, the Greek General...
Thorbjørn Jagland: “Congress' thematics are in line with the Council of Europe's priorities”
“It is very important for the Council of Europe to work with the Congress which represents the grassroots level closest to the people of our member countries”, said Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland in his address to the 31st Session of the Congress on 19 October 2016. He...
Preventing radicalisation in towns, cities and regions: the Congress consolidates its strategy
The Congress committees on current affairs and governance have held joint discussions on the Congress’ strategy to prevent radicalisation in towns, cities and regions. The report and resolution presented by Josef Neumann (Germany, SOC) and Bert Bouwmeester (Netherlands, ILDG) urge the Congress...
Gudrun Mosler-Törnström elected as first woman President of the Congress
The members of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, meeting for the 31st Session in Strasbourg (France), elected Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC) as President for a two-year term of office. Ms Mosler-Törnström is the first woman being elected to the...
How to fight human trafficking: new guide for governments
10th European Anti-Trafficking Day, 18 October
Why remembering the Holocaust is a human rights imperative
"The Shoah stands out as one of the defining moments of history that has shaped the conscience of mankind. It is unique in its roots, implementation and envisioned totality", says Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner of Human Rights, in his latest Human rights Comment published today....
Calais camp closure
There must be alternative accommodation in France and increased cooperation for the transfer of unaccompanied children to the United Kingdom
Venice Commission: New Polish law on constitutional tribunal gives excessive power to parliament and the executive over the judiciary
An opinion adopted today by the Council of Europe’s constitutional law experts, the Venice Commission, found that Poland’s new Act on the Constitutional Tribunal does not meet two essential standards of balance of power in government: the independence of the judiciary and the position of the...
New tool to help governments strengthen democracy through culture
The 47-nation Council of Europe is today launching a new statistical tool to help decision-makers see where changes in cultural policy can best help to strengthen democracy. “Experts have thought for a long time that there are strong links between people taking part in cultural activities and...
Finland: new report on minorities
Efforts needed to protect Samí rights, Swedish language and combat hate speech, says a report on minorities in Finland
Conference on Migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in the context of major risks prevention and management
Migrants are a risk group also facing natural hazards and technological accidents. To analyse how countries deal with their vulnerabilities, the EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement of the Council of Europe will hold a conference on Migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in the context of natural and...
Frank-Walter Steinmeier: ‘Human rights are and must remain non-negotiable’
“Human rights are and must remain non-negotiable,” German Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told parliamentarians today at PACE’s plenary session in Strasbourg. “They are not just an instrument to be used when it suits on the road to peace. They are in fact the cornerstone on which...
Ukraine: only ‘significant progress’ by Russia can form basis for full-fledged dialogue
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has said that only “significant and measurable progress” by Russia towards implementation of three recent resolutions of the Assembly can form the basis for restoration of a fully-fledged, mutually respectful dialogue. In a resolution on...
Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu : les valeurs du Conseil de l’Europe doivent inspirer la poursuite des réformes en Turquie
« L’essentiel des progrès réalisés depuis quinze ans en Turquie l’ont été grâce au Conseil de l’Europe. Nous poursuivrons notre programme de réformes constitutionnelles et institutionnelles et continuerons à tenir compte des recommandations du Conseil », a déclaré Mevlüt Çavusoglu, ministre des...
Thomas Bach: Governments and the Olympic Movement have a common responsibility in the fight against doping
“Deficiencies of the World Anti-Doping Agency in the fight against doping have become apparent. It is encouraging to see that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is now starting to address these deficiencies through the organisation of Think Tanks and other measures”, today said the President of...
Cyprus: Secretary General Jagland on Official Visit
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland is meeting with Cypriot government officials on Friday to discuss the upcoming Cypriot chairmanship of the Council of Europe (from 22 November 2016 to 19 May 2017). The chairmanship will address several key human rights issues, from detention of irregular...
Jürgen Ligi : le Comité des Ministres et l’Assemblée doivent travailler en collaboration étroite
S’adressant aujourd’hui à l’Assemblée parlementaire, Jürgen Ligi, Ministre des Affaires étrangères de l’Estonie a évoqué les évènements récents intervenus pendant la présidence estonienne du Comité des Ministres, notamment la tentative de coup d’Etat en Turquie. « Les deux principaux organes...
Managing diversity through minority rights
Council of Europe’s national minorities body launches new guidance document
François Hollande : « Plus que jamais nous avons besoin du Conseil de l’Europe »
« La France est aux côtés du Conseil de l’Europe et je suis sûr que le Conseil de l’Europe est aux côtés de la France pour toutes les démarches qui sont utiles à la paix, à la liberté et à la démocratie », a déclaré aujourd’hui le Président de la République française, François Hollande, en...
OECD calls on policy makers to adopt a broader and more inclusive approach to productivity growth
The Deputy Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Mari Kiviniemi, today urged to do everything to address the “concerns of those that have suffered unemployment” by “creating more inclusive societies where the benefits of growth are more equally...
European Local Democracy Week 2016
“Living together in culturally diverse societies: respect, dialogue, interaction”
Secretary General’s dialogue with Assembly members
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland replied to questions from members of the Assembly in a question and answer session during the Assembly’s autumn part-session. During this exchange, PACE members asked Mr Jagland for his reaction to Turkey’s derogation from part of the European...
Václav Havel Human Rights Prize 2016 awarded to Nadia Murad
The fourth Václav Havel Human Rights Prize – which honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights – has been awarded to Yazidi human rights activist Nadia Murad. The €60 000 prize was presented at a special ceremony today at the Palais de l’Europe in Strasbourg, on the...
Assembly President calls for principles to be respected and warns against double standards
In his opening speech of the PACE autumn session in Strasbourg today, PACE President Pedro Agramunt made a plea for the strict respect of principles and rules and warned against double standards. He urged PACE to react firmly whenever someone faced persecution for his or her political views or...
European Day against the Death Penalty: Council of Europe/EU confirm their strong opposition to capital punishment
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland and the European Union’s High Representative For Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, have published a joint statement to mark the European and World Day against the Death Penalty on October 10. The statement reaffirms both...
The Commissioner publishes a memorandum on the human rights implications of the emergency measures in Turkey
The Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, published today a memorandum on the human rights implications of the measures taken under the state of emergency by the Turkish authorities. This memorandum follows up on a visit to Ankara between 27 and 29 September 2016, during which the...
UK urged to improve protection of child victims of human trafficking
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has urged the United Kingdom to improve the identification and protection of child victims of trafficking, expressing particular concern about children going missing from local authority care. “Despite...
Secretary General Jagland discusses media freedom in Turkey with international journalist associations
Representatives of the eight partner organisations of the Council of Europe Platform for the Safety of Journalists met with the Council of Europe´s Secretary General, Thorbjørn Jagland, to discuss the possible follow up to the media freedom alerts published on the Platform with regard to Turkey...
European judicial systems evaluation
The Council of Europe publishes 2016 assessment report and launches new interactive database
Declaration by the Committee of Ministers on the death penalty in Belarus
At their meeting on 5 October, the Minister’s Deputies adopted a declaration deploring the confirmation of the death sentence against Mr Siarhei Vostrykau by the Supreme Court of Belarus on 4 October 2016 and calling on the Belarus’ authorities not to carry out the execution, considering Belarus’...
Learning Equality, Living Dignity: Forum on Human Rights Education in Budapest
The 3rd Compass Forum on Human Rights Education is being held at the European Youth Centre in Budapest from 5 to 7 October. Using the slogan “Learning Equality, Living Dignity”, the forum brings together about 120 participants, including experts with extensive experience in educating young people...
Croatia should eliminate shortcomings in transitional justice, immigration and media freedom
“Croatia has substantially improved its human rights law and practice in the last years. However, some recent developments put at serious risk these achievements” said Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, while releasing today a report based on his visit to the country...
Russia’s "foreign agent” list: Inclusion of “International Memorial”
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland
Anti-racism commission issues new reports on the UK, Turkey and Armenia
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published today country reports on the UK, Turkey and Armenia. In the UK, the Council of Europe’s anti-racism experts welcomed the entry into force of the Equality Act 2010, as well as the government’s new hate crime action plan and...
Parliamentary Assembly Autumn Session
French President, German and Turkish Foreign Ministers to address Assembly
Freedom of thought (and from famine!) – The defamation balancing act
The Nobel prize-winning economist Amartya Sen once wrote that countries with a free media do not suffer from famines. Food for (free) thought – literally! But freedom of expression is by no means a modern idea. 17th century thinkers such as John Locke and John Milton underlined their opposition...
