Newsroom
More women in politics, a shared battle
On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2024, 8 March, Congress Thematic Spokesperson on Gender Equality Eirini Dourou (Greece, SOC/G/PD) has made the following statement: “On this year’s International Women’s Day, we echo the words of the Reykjavik Principles for Democracy and call for...
Artificial Intelligence - Bridging the Equality Gap
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić ahead of International Women’s Day
Council of Europe adopts Gender Equality Strategy for 2024-2029
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has adopted a new Gender Equality Strategy for 2024-2029. In line with the Reykjavik commitments of the Heads of State and Government, this Strategy will guide the organisation’s work towards gender equality over the next six years. Secretary General...
For Belarus, the path towards Europe runs through Strasbourg
Euronews publishes opinion article jointly written by Secretary General and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
Youth for Democratic Recovery: Council of Europe delegation visits Ukraine
A delegation of the Council of Europe Youth Department has made a visit to Kyiv, Ukraine. The aim was to confirm solidarity with the Ukrainian youth community in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, to participate in the Steering Committee meeting of the Council of Europe...
Council of Europe takes stock of work protecting children’s rights since 2022
Freedom from violence for all children, equal opportunities and social inclusion, access to technologies and their safe use, child-friendly justice and child participation – these are key objectives of the Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2022-2027) that was adopted on 23...
Safety of Journalists platform 2024 report: serious concern about the use of spyware against journalists, abusive lawsuits and journalists in exile
The unlawful deployment of spyware against journalists, the use of abusive lawsuits against journalists to hamper their investigative work and the precarious situation of many journalists in exile, notably from Russia and Belarus, are among the main concerns expressed by partner organisations to...
Deputy Secretary General visits Poland: Support for Ukraine and the rule of law high on the agenda
Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge paid a working visit to Poland March 4-5. In Warsaw he met the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Radosław Sikorski. Their conversation focused on the need for multilateral support for Ukraine and the Council of Europe’s specific role in addressing the...
Secretary General in Brussels
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić is visiting Brussels today, where she is speaking at the opening plenary session of the Ideas Lab 2024, organised by the Centre for European Policy Studies, alongside European Commission Executive Vice-Presidents Valdis Dombrovskis and Maroš Šefčovič and...
Rule of Law Youth Network launched in Tunis
The North-South Centre of the Council of Europe (NSC) and the joint initiative between the European Union and the Council of Europe ‘South Programme V’ today are launching the Rule of Law Youth Network (RoLYN) in Tunis. Over the next two years (2024-2026), network members will explore...
GRECO: Czechia must improve the effectiveness of its system to promote integrity and prevent corruption in government and the police
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), calls in a new report for determined measures to prevent corruption in Czechia in respect of persons with top executive functions, including the Prime Minister, ministers, deputy ministers, ministers’ advisers, as well as members...
Antalya Diplomacy Forum: Secretary General highlights Council of Europe’s commitment to fighting racism and discrimination
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has highlighted the Organisation’s commitment to combating all forms of racism and discrimination, including anti-Muslim racism and hatred, while addressing the 3rd edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Türkiye. Taking the floor during the Panel on...
Czechia extends protection of German language under the minority languages charter
Czechia has decided to extend its undertakings under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML) regarding German in the districts of Cheb, Karlovy Vary, Sokolov, Liberec, Ústí nad Labem, Český Krumlov, Opava and Svitavy (see the notification in full here). The authorities...
Lithuania should do more to ensure access to justice for trafficking victims, say Council of Europe experts
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has called on Lithuania to take further action against human trafficking, notably by improving the access of victims of trafficking to legal assistance and compensation, and by disassociating the...
Secretary General meets Yulia Navalnaya
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalnyy. While expressing condolences and deep sadness for the loss of the prominent Russian opposition leader, the Secretary General underlined how Mr Navalnyy’s death cannot be separated from the grave human...
Civic Space, Democracy and Artificial Intelligence: how do they intersect?
On the occasion of World NGO Day, the Council of Europe’s Conference of International NGOs, bringing together representatives of civil society organisations enjoying participatory status with the Council of Europe, held a public interactive and hybrid event “Civic Space, Democracy and Artificial...
Congress President condemns plans for Russian presidential elections in occupied Ukrainian regions
The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Marc Cools, has made the following statement: “I strongly condemn the plans by the Russian Federation to organise presidential elections in the temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine.” “The illegal conduct...
Congress President denounces so-called local elections in Belarus
The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Marc Cools, has made the following statement: “The so-called local elections organised in Belarus on 25 February 2024 are nothing but a sham. Without freedoms of speech, assembly and association, without...
PACE President: “The ‘elections’ in Belarus are a travesty of democracy”
“There cannot be free and fair elections in a situation where freedoms of speech, assembly and association are curtailed; where opposition political parties are liquidated and their leaders persecuted; where the freedom of the media is not respected; and where there is no redress against these...
Hungary: report calls for improving access to justice and legal remedies for human trafficking victims
In a new report the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) calls on the Hungarian authorities to take further action against human trafficking, notably by improving the assistance provided to victims of trafficking and their access to legal aid...
