Newsroom
Enhancing media pluralism: Strasbourg conference
The Council of Europe and Reporters Without Borders are organising a conference in Strasbourg on 20 March to discuss public policies aimed at strengthening media pluralism. Held under the theme “Media Pluralism how can we deliver?”, the conference will explore how existing media legislation and...
25 “Venice Principles” - Democratic ABCs for ombudsman institutions
Today the Venice Commission published a set of guidelines to protect ombudsman institutions, following threats to these institutions in recent years. Ombudsman are important for democracy, their services are free, and are thus accessible to individuals who cannot afford to pursue their complaints...
GRECO publicly declares Belarus non-compliant with the CoE anti-corruption standards
Today, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption, in an unprecedented move, has publicly declared Belarus non-compliant with GRECO’s anti-corruption standards. Since 2012, when GRECO addressed 24 recommendations to Belarus and invited the authorities to authorise the publication...
Romania: anti-torture committee concerned about abuse of prisoners by staff, inter-prisoner violence and allegations of police ill-treatment
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has expressed concern about several persistent problems in Romanian prisons - including the abuse of prisoners by staff and inter-prisoner violence - as well as about numerous...
Albania needs to strengthen protection of national minority rights
In its fourth opinion on Albania, the Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) urges Tirana to make operational the county’s law on the protection of national minorities through the adoption of further legislation....
States should enable NGOs to access foreign funding, say Venice Commission experts
In the wake of recent challenges to the independent functioning of associations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the Council of Europe's constitutional legal experts today adopted a report on standards with respect to foreign funding of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Council...
Hungary: Laws on administrative courts lack effective checks and balances in government, according to the Venice Commission
An opinion adopted today by the Council of Europe’s constitutional experts of the Venice Commission raises questions over two December 2018 laws establishing a separate system of administrative courts, with its own high court (the future Supreme Administrative Court, or SAC) and its own judicial...
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 and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights have been published by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. The committee adopted 30 decisions concerning 16 member states at the end of its quarterly human rights...
Human trafficking in Iceland: Some progress, but improvements are needed in key areas
Iceland has made some progress in tackling human trafficking in recent years, but the problem requires more political attention and better co-ordination in order to help detect victims of trafficking, carry out successful investigations and prosecute offenders. These are among the main findings...
Poland should restore necessary guarantees for independence of judges and prosecutors, prevent regression on women’s rights and combat gender stereotypes
“Modern European democracies cannot function without truly independent judiciaries. Poland’s authorities should take further steps to restore full independence of the judiciary and act to resolve discord and deadlock that continue to affect the functioning and the credibility of some of the...
Secretary General Jagland condemns the deadly mosques attack in New Zealand
On behalf of the 47-nation Council of Europe, Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland has made the following statement: “I condemn in the strongest possible terms the horrific terrorist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand, that has left so many people dead and seriously wounded. Our deepest...
European Social Charter: decision in CGT v. France complaint concerning Labour Law
In a decision published today, the Council of Europe’s European Committee of Social Rights, which is responsible for monitoring the application of the European Social Charter, found that there has been no violation of Article 4§2 of the Charter with regard to the right of workers to be informed...
San Marino urged to raise public awareness of human trafficking and provide training to relevant professionals
San Marino has taken additional measures to combat trafficking in human beings, according to a new report published today by the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), but a number of issues continue to give rise to concern. The report assesses...
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 12 to 14 March. Decisions taken by the Committee of Ministers will be published on the Council of Europe...
Anti-torture Committee urges effective investigations into allegations of torture in North Caucasus
The Council of Europe’s anti-torture Committee (the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture - CPT) has today issued a public statement on the Russian Federation urging the Russian authorities to take decisive action to eradicate the phenomenon of ill-treatment by law enforcement...
Ireland ratifies treaty to end violence against women
On UN International Women’s Day on 8 March, the Council of Europe welcomes the 34th ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (also known as the Istanbul Convention) to stop all forms of violence against women. “We...
International Women’s Day (8 March)
Statement by Timo Soini, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland
Parliamentary Assembly President calls for action to end violence against women
Speaking on the eve of International Women's Day (8 March), the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Liliane Maury Pasquier urged strong action against sexism and violence against women, driven by ongoing inequality between women and men. “What the #MeToo...
We need to stand up for women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights
Ahead of International Women’s Day 2019, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović issued the following statement today: “Women’s rights are human rights and gender equality is a fundamental value of our societies, enshrined in human rights treaties. Nevertheless, progress...
International Women’s Day - Statement by Secretary General
More progress needed to end violence against women
Anti-racism commission: new reports on Latvia and Russia
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has published today two country reports on Latvia and the Russian Federation, analysing recent developments and making recommendations to the authorities. The respective governments’ comments were also published. In the report on...
The role of education in supporting refugees’ integration - joint event in Strasbourg
The role of education in supporting the integration of refugees in their host societies was the topic of a roundtable organised by the Council of Europe, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the City of Strasbourg on 1 March at the Strasbourg City Hall (Hôtel de Ville)....
Hungary: Insufficient progress and lack of transparency hamper fight against corruption
Following a high level visit today in Budapest, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) calls on Hungary to make reports public and to implement fully its recommendations. Carried out as part of GRECO’s on-going non-compliance procedure in respect of Hungary, the visit...
Romania: improving implementation of laws and ensuring funding to protect women from violence and rights of disabled people
“There are systemic obstacles which seriously hinder the effective protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in Romania”, said today Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, publishing the report on her visit to the country in November 2018. The report focuses...
Artificial Intelligence: Helsinki conference conclusions
AI should be developed in a human-centric manner to produce benefits for individuals and for societies
Polish Sport Minister Bańka is European candidate for WADA President
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe approved today the nomination of Witold Bańka, Minister for Sport and Tourism of Poland, as single European candidate to the post of President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This decision follows the recommendation formulated by the Ad...
Helsinki Conference on Artificial Intelligence
A two-day High-Level Conference “Governing the Game Changer – Impacts of artificial intelligence development on human rights, democracy and the rule of law” opened in Helsinki today. ”New technology, the collection of massive amounts of data, and the use of information, has already changed the...
Death penalty: Filling Europe’s black hole
The 47-nation Council of Europe is co-organising a round table on capital punishment in Belarus on Thursday 28 February as part of the World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Brussels. Belarus is the only country in Europe to still use the death penalty. Executions are usually carried out in...
Maintaining public order and freedom of assembly in the context of the “yellow vest” movement: recommendations by the Commissioner for Human Rights
In a memorandum containing her observations on the events linked to the so-called yellow vest movement, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, invites the French authorities to show more respect for human rights during operations aimed at maintaining public order...
Two awards won at the Césars French film festival for “Les Chatouilles”, a story of child sexual abuse
The film “Les Chatouilles” (co-directed by Andréa Bescon and Eric Métayer) won César awards at the ceremony held on 22 February 2019 in two categories: best supporting actress for Karin Viard, and best adaptation of a theatre play for the two co-directors. This autobiographical film highlights...
Criminal Justice in Cyberspace Conference in Bucharest
In today’s ultra-connected world, criminal justice is a crucial response to cybercrime. While cybercriminals are increasingly using cyberspace to conduct their offences against the law, criminal justice authorities are faced with complex challenges worldwide. Since cyber threats are touching upon...
Five nominations for the child sexual abuse film “Les Chatouilles” in the Césars French film award
The film “Les Chatouilles” (co-directed by Andréa Bescon and Eric Métayer) has been nominated for 5 categories of the French Césars Award contest: best first film, best actress and best actor in a supporting role, best adaptation and best editing. The winners will be announced at the award...
The Netherlands needs to enhance measures to preserve integrity in the government and in the police
In an evaluation report published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) called for measures to prevent corruption in the Netherlands in respect of persons entrusted with top executive functions, including ministers, state secretaries, political advisors; and in...
Council of Europe Secretary General, Finnish Foreign Minister and French Justice Minister to open Helsinki AI Conference
Council of Europe's Secretary General, Thorbjørn Jagland, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Timo Soini and the Minister of Justice of France Nicole Belloubet will open the High-Level Conference: “Governing the Game Changer – Impacts of artificial intelligence development on human...
Secretary General calls on Albanian opposition to remain in parliament, warns against violence
Expressing concern about the decision of the opposition to withdraw from Parliament, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland said: “In a democracy the legislature is the first instance where political issues affecting the whole country should be debated and solutions...
Allowing IDPs to vote in local elections in Ukraine
Congress conference in Kyiv
Statement by Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland on the anti-Semitic acts committed last night in Alsace
I unreservedly condemn the anti-Semitic, barbaric and disgusting acts of desecration of the Jewish cemetery in the Alsatian town of Quatzenheim, not far from Strasbourg, where the Council of Europe has its headquarters. I express my complete solidarity with the Jewish community, which has once...
Greece: Anti-torture committee criticises poor treatment of detained foreign nationals
The Council of Europe’s European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) acknowledges significant on-going challenges that the Greek authorities face to deal with the high number of foreign nationals arriving in the country, but based on a...
French student wins the European Prize for Eloquence
The 2019 edition of the European Prize for Eloquence, the annual French-language public speaking competition, has been won by Simon Derieux-Billaud, a French student, who spoke on the theme “Can we still have dreams of Europe?”. The second prize went to Alina Marchenko (Ukraine), with Ellen...
Ensuring the financial sustainability of quality journalism
The Council of Europe has called on its 47 member states to ensure the financial sustainability of quality journalism taking into account that it is a public good and plays an essential role for individuals to be able to form and express their opinions and make informed choices about government...
Algorithmic processes risk being used to manipulate social and political behaviours
The Council of Europe has called on its 47 member states to tackle the risk that individuals may not be able to form their opinions and take decisions independently of automated systems, and that they may even be subjected to manipulation due to the use of advanced digital technologies, in...
Safety of Journalists' Platform report: media freedom conditions worsen
The environment for media freedom has worsened significantly in the Council of Europe area, according to a report published today by the partner organisations to the Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists. The report “Democracy at Risk: threats and...
Hungary should address many interconnected human rights protection challenges
Challenges include civil society space, gender equality, refugee protection and independence of the judiciary
Statement by the Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland about Tomi Ungerer
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, today expressed his deep sorrow at the news of the death of the Alsatian illustrator Tomi Ungerer. "Today we have lost a great artist, and a committed European. The values of justice and humanism for which Europe is a vehicle were...
MONEYVAL publishes report on Czech Republic
Combatting money laundering in the Czech Republic: despite progress more investigations are needed, says Council of Europe report
MONEYVAL publishes report on Lithuania
Lithuania should step up its efforts to strengthen its understanding of money laundering and financing of terrorism risks, says Council of Europe report
Official visit of the Prime Minister of Spain
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez made today an official visit to the Council of Europe. Prime Minister Sánchez held meetings with Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, President of the Parliamentary Assembly Liliane Maury Pasquier, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities...
Anti-torture committee on Montenegro: Despite some progress, ill-treatment remains a problem and must be addressed
Despite some overall improvement in the treatment of persons detained by the police in Montenegro, ill-treatment still appears widely spread and must be tackled through stricter recruitment, better training and improved oversight. In prisons, too, allegations of ill-treatment persist; the...
National Minorities in Azerbaijan: new report published
Azerbaijani multiculturalism welcomes expressions of cultural identity, but increased restrictions on democracy, absence of legislation, inflammatory language prevent national minorities from fully exercising their rights Society in Azerbaijan is broadly characterised by a climate of...
Australia signs the Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions
In the framework of Sports Diplomacy 2030 high-level event, the Minister for Regional Services, Sport, Local Government and Decentralisation of Australia Bridget McKenzie signed in a ceremony (Spotless Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park) with Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni the...
