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Work-life balance crucial for gender equality and empowering women
Gender and labour ministers from all regions of Europe took part at a high-level conference in Rome on 12 April to explore how to face the challenge of creating a better work-life balance for women, ensure that family responsibilities can be better shared, improve gender equality and prevent...
How well are states protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse during the refugee crisis?
With Europe facing the second major refugee crisis in less than a decade, the Council of Europe’s Lanzarote Committee has published ten compliance reports evaluating legislation, services and other measures in place for the protection of children affected by the refugee crisis from sexual...
Education in time of crisis
As a result of the Russian Federation’s armed attack on Ukraine, millions of people are fleeing Ukraine. In anticipation of the immediate and short-term impact of such an inflow of refugees and, in particular, young adults and children, the Council of Europe’s Education Department, in close...
European Label of Governance Excellence launched in Venice
A launch conference for the European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE) was held under the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Venice on 11 April. Good Democratic Governance is encapsulated in the 12 Principles which can be measured by applying the...
Learning Equality, Dignity, Democracy: forum on citizenship and human rights education in Europe
A Forum on the present and future of citizenship and human rights education in Europe has opened in Turin, Italy. It aims to strengthen the quality, recognition and outreach of young people’s education in the fields of democratic citizenship and human rights. The event, from 11 to 13 April has...
Ministers to share workplace equality proposals
Gender and labour ministers from all regions of Europe are to meet in Rome to share how countries are facing the challenge of creating a better work-life balance for women. The conference, to be held in Rome on April 12, will look at ways that family responsibilities can be better shared and...
Child self-generated sexual images and videos: new report provides guidance to governments
Addressing challenges raised by the significant increase and exploitation of child self-generated sexual images and videos is the focus of the new monitoring report presented by the Council of Europe’s Lanzarote Committee in Rome. The report covers 43 European states Parties (*) to the Lanzarote...
“Local governments unite for welfare and peace”: online marathon exchanges between Ukrainian local leaders and international counterparts
Through its Centre of Expertise for Good Governance the Council of Europe has held a series of online conferences “Local governments unite for welfare and peace” from 18 March to 7 April 2022. Amid the ongoing aggression from the Russian Federation, local authorities in Ukraine continue to...
Roma in Ukraine and throughout Europe in 2022
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić on International Roma Day
Council of Europe bank issues a new social inclusion bond to bolster its response to Ukraine refugee crisis
The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) issued a new € 1 billion seven-year Social Inclusion Bond (SIB) to bolster its response to the social crisis unfolding due to the war in Ukraine and help its member states assist millions of refugees seeking safety. The proceeds of the new bond could...
Children’s rights in crisis and emergency situations: a new Council of Europe priority for 2022-2027
With climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, securing and protecting children’s rights in crisis and emergency situations has been designated a new priority in the Council of Europe’s Strategy for the Rights of the Child for 2022-2027...
Justice needed for residents of Bucha and all other victims of the war in Ukraine
Statement by Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović
Congress President condemns the crimes against Ukrainian citizens and elected local leaders
On the occasion of his exchange of views with the Deputies in the Committee of Ministers on 6 April, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Leendert Verbeek made the following statement: “The war in Ukraine has entered a new phase of atrocities....
Assembly delegation condemns atrocities and pledges help after first Ukraine visit
Parliamentary Assembly President Tiny Kox has condemned atrocities by the Russian army and promised all possible assistance in investigating war crimes following the first official visit to Ukraine since hostilities began. “I strongly condemn the atrocities against innocent civilians, including...
Tackling the risks for democracy of digital political campaigning: Council of Europe issues guidelines
The Council of Europe has issued a set of guidelines to its 46 member states to address the challenges to the fairness and legitimacy of electoral processes created by new digital political communication techniques. These challenges include the possible abusive use of microtargeting, personal...
Children’s rights : a new strategy to be launched in Rome
The new Strategy to guide the 46 member States of the Council of Europe in protecting and promoting the rights of the child in 2022-2027 will be officially launched on 7-8 April at a high-level conference in Rome. Benedetto Della Vedova, Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and...
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić on the atrocities in Bucha
"I am appalled at the horrific images of atrocities emerging from the Ukrainian town of Bucha and other towns near Kyiv following the withdrawal of Russian forces. “I call for an urgent, full and independent investigation into these horrendous crimes. The perpetrators must be brought to justice....
Council of Europe’s annual penal statistics: Covid-19 pandemic helped reduce Europe’s prison population
The Covid-19 pandemic contributed to reducing the prison population in Europe between January 2020 and January 2021, consolidating a ten-year-long trend in most European states, according to the Council of Europe’s Annual Penal Statistics on Prison Populations for 2021, (see also Key findings)....
Council of Europe bodies observe national and local elections in Serbia
On 3 April 2022, presidential and early parliamentary elections were held in Serbia, observed by international observers, among them the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. On the same day, local elections in Belgrade and 12 other municipalities were held; they were observed by the...
PACE President reacts to reports of civilian killings by Russian forces around Kyiv
PACE President Tiny Kox has expressed shock and horror at reports of civilian killings by Russian forces withdrawing from Bucha and other towns around Kyiv. “These horrible crimes need to be thoroughly investigated, and the perpetrators of any war crimes in this terrible war brought to justice,”...
Links between Artificial Intelligence and human rights at the heart of high-level event in Rome
The impact of Artificial Intelligence on human rights, democracy and the Rule of Law in building a person-friendly future is the theme of a high-level event at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Rome. Co-organised by the Italian Presidency of the Committee of...
Ministers of Culture conference: “Creating our future: creativity and cultural heritage as strategic resources for a diverse and democratic Europe”
In the framework of the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, the Council of Europe and the Italian Ministry of Culture has organised a Conference of Ministers of Culture in a hybrid format (in Strasbourg and online), on April 1st. The Italian Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini...
Protecting witnesses and collaborators of justice: Committee of Ministers recommendation
The Council of Europe´s Committee of Ministers has adopted a Recommendation providing guidance to its 46 member states on the protection of witnesses and collaborators of justice and aiming to strengthen international cooperation in this field. The text, which updates a recommendation on the same...
Progress and challenges seen in implementing human rights judgments, says annual report
Human rights have improved in a number of countries thanks to moves by governments to implement judgments from the European Court of Human Rights, but serious challenges remain, according to the latest annual report from the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers. The report underlines...
Foreign terrorist fighters: new recommendation on the use of information collected in conflict zones as evidence in criminal proceedings
The Committee of Ministers has adopted a Recommendation on the use of information collected in conflict zones as evidence in criminal proceedings related to terrorist offences. Prepared by the Committee on Counter-Terrorism (CDCT), the Recommendation provides guidance to member States on the...
Congress President strongly condemns abductions of Ukrainian mayors and elected representatives
Following up on his statement of 15 March 2022 concerning the abduction of mayors from the Melitopol and Dniprorudne, Zaporizhya oblast, and the Congress Declaration adopted on 24 March 2022, the Congress President Leendert Verbeek has made the following statement regarding the war in Ukraine: “I...
New online platform matches cities in Ukraine with European cities that can provide help
A new online platform, Cities4Cities, has been developed to help Ukrainian cities. Launched at the initiative of Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE), President of the Chamber of Local Authorities of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and Mayor of the city of Sindelfingen, with the...
United Kingdom local authorities limited by over-regulation and funding issues, says Council of Europe Congress
Local authorities in the UK are hampered from effective action by government over-regulation and lack of freedom to raise and spend money, a key report from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities has concluded. Monitoring how the UK respects the European Charter of Local Self Government,...
Implementing ECHR judgments: New factsheet on domestic violence cases
The Council of Europe’s Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights has published a new thematic factsheet on cases related to domestic violence. The factsheet summarises measures reported by 12 member states to help prevent domestic violence, protect victims...
Urgent need to protect Ukrainian children in migration from sexual abuse
Children in vulnerable situations, such as unaccompanied children and missing children, are at a higher risk of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, noted the Council of Europe’s Lanzarote Committee in its Statement on protecting children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse resulting from...
Commissioner urges protection of humanitarian needs and human rights of people fleeing war in Ukraine
“All member states should strengthen their efforts to coordinate – both at domestic and European levels – and scale up support for the response to the humanitarian and human rights needs of people fleeing the war in Ukraine. Medium and long-term planning is urgently needed to ensure...
Human Rights Commissioner advocates support to Russian civil society
The Human Rights Commissioner has expressed appreciation for the courageous work of civil society actors. Dunja Mijatović stressed that support to human rights defenders and journalists, including those from the Russian Federation and Belarus, will remain one of the priorities for her future...
Congress highlights “generally degrading situation” of local democracy in Turkey
The 46-nation Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities has reported a “generally degrading situation” with regard to local democracy in Turkey. In its latest report on Turkey’s application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, the Congress welcomes the impressive...
Russia ceases to be a Party to the European Convention on Human Rights on 16 September 2022
Following its expulsion from the Council of Europe on 16 March 2022, the Russian Federation will cease to be a High Contracting Party to the European Convention on Human Rights on 16 September 2022. This was confirmed today in a Resolution by the Committee of Ministers. In line with the...
European Committee of Social Rights’ Conclusions on Health, Social Security and Social Protection
The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) today published its Conclusions 2021 in respect of 33 States* on the articles of the Social Charter relating to Health, Social Security and Social Protection. In the framework of the reporting procedure, the Committee adopted 401 conclusions: 165...
Congress holds debates on the war in Ukraine, local democracy in Germany and involving children in sustainable development
“We are meeting at a time when a Council of Europe member state, Ukraine, is the victim of an act of war committed by a former member state, the Russian Federation, said Congress President Leedert Verbeek at the opening of the 42nd session. “This new reality has produced the opposite effect from...
Democracy Here | Democracy Now - reaching out to young people, including in times of crisis
A campaign to revitalise democracy through youth participation Democracy Here | Democracy Now has been launched today at an event organised by the Council of Europe’s Youth Sector, with the support of the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers. Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General...
As Venice Commission adopts opinions on key constitutional issues, it voices “firm condemnation” against Russian aggression
During its first plenary session of the year, held on 18 and 19 March, the Council of Europe's Venice Commission announced “firm condemnation” against Russian aggression and deplored “the loss of lives and the destruction in Ukraine”. The constitutional experts furthermore fully supported the...
Venice Commission plenary session underway
The first plenary session of the year for the Venice Commission is underway. Expected to be adopted, among other texts, are opinions on Armenian draft laws concerning amendments to the Judicial Code and the Law on the Constitutional Court; the drafting of a new Constitution in Chile; a draft law...
Committee of Ministers suspends relations with the Belarusian authorities
The Committee of Ministers has decided to suspend all relations with Belarus as a result of the country's active participation in the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. In its decision, the Committee of Ministers suspends the rights of Belarus to participate in all meetings and...
European governments must ensure Holocaust Remembrance and education to combat anti-semitism
Council of Europe Recommendation aims to prevent future crimes against humanity
Council of Europe calls on states to support quality journalism: new guidelines
The Council of Europe has adopted a Recommendation calling on its 46 member States to create a favourable environment for quality journalism to thrive and to play its essential role in democracy. The recommendation contains a set of legal, administrative and practical guidelines aimed at ensuring...
Human trafficking experts: States must urgently protect refugees fleeing Ukraine
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has warned of the dangers of people fleeing the armed conflict in Ukraine falling victim to human trafficking and exploitation, amid the fastest-growing refugee flow in Europe since World War Two....
Congress 42nd Session: situation in Ukraine; local democracy in Germany, Luxembourg, Turkey and the UK; fake news, threats and violence against mayors in the current crises in Europe
The 42nd Session of the Congress will take place from 22-24 March. A debate on the situation in Ukraine will take place on Tuesday afternoon, March 22nd. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been invited to address the Congress by video conference and the Congress will adopt an...
The Russian Federation is excluded from the Council of Europe
In an extraordinary meeting this morning, the Committee of Ministers decided, in the context of the procedure launched under Article 8 of the Statute of the Council of Europe, that the Russian Federation ceases to be a member of the Council of Europe as from today, after 26 years of membership....
The Russian Federation can no longer be a member State of the Council of Europe, PACE says
The Russian Federation “committed grave violations of the Council of Europe Statute incompatible with the status of a member State, does not bear its undertakings before the Council of Europe and does not comply with the commitments before it”. Therefore, the Council of Europe Parliamentary...
Council of Europe leaders make joint statement on the exclusion of the Russian Federation from the Council of Europe
The Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chair of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, Luigi Di Maio, the President of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly, Tiny Kox, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović...
Congress President strongly condemns abduction of Mayors and pressure on local and regional authorities in Ukraine
The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Leendert Verbeek, made the following statement regarding the war in Ukraine: “I strongly condemn the abduction of the mayors of Melitopol and Dniprorudne, Zaporizhya oblast and the pressure on local elected...
“Council of Europe has been at the forefront to ensure a prompt, cohesive and strong reaction”, says Della Vedova at PACE
“The Council of Europe, the depositary and guardian of the fundamental principles of coexistence, respect for human rights, the promotion of democracy and the rule of law, has been at the forefront to ensure a prompt, cohesive and strong reaction”, highlighted Italian Under-Secretary of Foreign...
Secretary General condemns the Russian Federation’s aggression, calls for solidarity with Ukraine
Addressing the extraordinary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić spoke about the organisation’s response to the ongoingRussian aggression in Ukraine. “Since the decision to suspend Russia’s representation was taken on 25...
Ukrainian Prime Minister demands that Russia be immediately ousted from the Council of Europe
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, addressing an extraordinary session of PACE by video-link, has demanded that the Russian Federation be immediately ousted from the Council of Europe. “The right to life is one of the key fundamental rights – and today, at the centre of Europe, this right is...
Psychological first aid for Ukrainian people
The Pompidou Group, together with leading European psycho-trauma experts, has developed recommendations on how people can better interact and communicate with persons who have experienced a crisis or difficult life event. The recommendations were developed at the request of the Ukrainian Ministry...
Italian Presidency: high-level event in Rome to promote equality and combat discrimination
The promotion of equality, the fight against discrimination and the protection of vulnerable groups are the focus of a high-level event of the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers (Rome, March 17th European Parliament Liaison Office & online), in the framework of the 5th meeting of...
Council of Europe to discuss potential further measures against Russia
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers today decided to consult the Parliamentary Assembly on potential further use of Article 8 of the Organisation’s Statute (*) in response to the serious violations by the Russian Federation of its statutory obligations as a member State. The Committee...
Implementing ECHR judgments: latest decisions from the Committee of Ministers
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has published the case-by-case decisions taken by the Committee during its meeting from 8 to 9 March to supervise the implementation of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights. The Committee adopted 37 decisions concerning 19...
Anti-torture committee: police ill-treatment in Serbia remains a serious problem, but some progress observed in prisons
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published a report (see also in Serbian) on its periodic visit to Serbia from 9 to 19 March 2021 together with the response from the authorities (see also in Serbian). While...
PACE to debate the consequences of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine at a two-day extraordinary session
The consequences of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine will be the focus of an extraordinary plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), to be held in hybrid mode on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 March 2022. The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr...
More support urgently needed to assist people fleeing the war in Ukraine and countries of arrival, in particular the Republic of Moldova
“Beyond the prompt humanitarian response already provided by European states to people fleeing the war in Ukraine, more support is urgently needed to protect their human rights and to support countries of arrival, in particular the Republic of Moldova”, said today the Council of Europe...
Council of Europe leaders make joint statement on the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine
The Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chair of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, Luigi Di Maio, the President of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly, Tiny Kox, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović...
8 March: International Women’s Day
Statement by Chair of Committee of Ministers, Luigi Di Maio, Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
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 8 to 10 March. Cases proposed for detailed examination concern Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and...
War in Ukraine: protecting women and girls
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić ahead of International Women’s Day 8 March
Authorities should stop the unprecedented crackdown on freedoms of expression, assembly and association in Russia
“Russia's military attack against Ukraine has lasted for almost 12 days now, causing death and destruction. It is also leading to a large-scale repression of freedoms in the Russian Federation”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović. "Since the war began, more...
International Women’s Day : #BreakTheBias starts with men
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić underlines that to achieve gender equality, men should make more effort to promote equal pay for equal work
Council of Europe and European Commission organise regional cyber training for East and South-East European countries
At a time when strengthening capacities on cybercrime and cybersecurity is more important than ever, the Council of Europe Cybercrime Programme Office (C-PROC) and the European Commission will organise, from 7 to 11 March in Athens (Greece), a regional cyber exercise involving co-operation...
Anti-racism commission publishes conclusions on Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Romania and Slovenia
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published today its conclusions on the implementation of its priority recommendations addressed to Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Romania and Slovenia in 2019. As regards Finland, ECRI concluded that the authorities had not...
Council of Europe suspends Russia’s rights of representation
In line with the Statute of the Council of Europe, the Committee of Ministers has today decided to suspend the Russian Federation from its rights of representation in the Committee of Ministers and in the Parliamentary Assembly with immediate effect as a result of the Russian Federation’s armed...
Situation in Ukraine: Decisions by Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers
In a decision adopted today, at the end of an extraordinary meeting which brought together the representatives of the 47 Council of Europe member states, the Committee of Ministers: condemned in the strongest terms the armed attack on Ukraine by the Russian Federation in violation of...
Situation in Ukraine
The Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chair of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, Luigi Di Maio, has made the following statement: “The Russian military operation is a very serious, unjustified and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine, which...
The new Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2022-2027) adopted by the Committee of Ministers
On 23 February 2022, the Committee of Ministers adopted the new Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2022-2027) “Children’s Rights in Action: from continuous implementation to joint innovation” which will guide the work of the Council of Europe over the next six years. The new Strategy is the...
Statement from Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić on the military attack by the Russian Federation on Ukraine
“I strongly condemn the Russian military attack against Ukraine in flagrant violation of the Statute of Council of Europe and the European Convention on Human Rights. This is a dark hour for Europe and everything it stands for. I call upon the authorities of Russia to immediately and...
European Court of Human Rights : updated “country profiles” now online
The European Court of Human Rights has published an updated set of “country profiles” containing facts, figures and summaries of key cases for all 47 Council of Europe member states. The factsheets have been revised to take into account the Court’s annual statistics for 2021, which were published...
Situation in Ukraine
The Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chair of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, Luigi Di Maio, has made the following statement: “As Chair of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, I support the statement of the Secretary General of the...
Belarus: constitutional amendments put to referendum fail to correct existing strong imbalance of powers, says Venice Commission
The Venice Commission in its urgent interim opinion on the constitutional reform in Belarus said that the draft amendments which will be submitted to referendum of 27 February 2022 “fail to correct the strong imbalance of powers which already exists under the current Constitution and indeed may...
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić on the recognition of the so-called “people’s republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk by the Russian Federation
“The recognition of the so-called ‘people’s republics’ of Donetsk and Luhansk by the Russian Federation is in violation of international law and represents a unilateral breach of the Minsk agreements - which remain the only basis for a settlement of the conflict in Donbas. The Council of Europe...
