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Secretary General’s farewell statement to the Ministers’ Deputies
“In my remarks here five years ago, I said that: “The Council of Europe must…remain the benchmark for the promotion and protection of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law on our continent. In fact, this must be strengthened. This is the path that I intend to pursue.” I have pursued it,...
Secretary General receives Légion d'honneur in Strasbourg
“The Légion d'honneur is a recognition of efforts made, but it is also a call to continue to strive tirelessly for peace, justice, and solidarity between peoples. Today, these values are more necessary than ever. In receiving this award today, I reaffirm my commitment to continuing this work with...
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 17 to 19 September. Cases proposed for detailed examination concern Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium,...
European Audiovisual Observatory: new report on the share of women in today’s European film industry
The proportion of women working in the various different roles in European film production only grew from 19% in 2015 to 24% in 2023. Between 2019 and 2023, the proportion of women in the cinema industry represented around 30% for producers, editors, screenwriters and directors, and only 12% for...
“I did not realise that human brutality could have such expressions”
In just over four years, 52,000 human beings – Jews, Roma and Sinti, LGBTI people, political opponents and others – were imprisoned at Natzweiler-Struthof. 22,000 people lost their lives there. The utter cruelty – the blatant evil – came as a huge shock to many of the prisoners and was very hard...
Congress examines the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in San Marino
A delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, composed of rapporteurs Alexander Boomgaars, Netherlands and Tanja Joona, Finland, will conduct a monitoring visit to the Republic of San Marino from 17 to 18 September 2024 to assess the application of the European Charter of Local...
Democracy is built from the grassroots: Congress President statement for International Day of Democracy (15 September)
“Democracy is our common asset which is built from the grassroots, and local and regional authorities can make a valuable contribution to maintaining democratic stability,” stressed Marc Cools, President of the Congress of the Council of Europe, addressing national associations of local and...
Resilience and reconstruction of Ukraine: call for expanded partnerships with Ukrainian municipalities - Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
There is a need for expanding municipal partnerships and co-operation between Ukrainian and other European municipalities, and for sharing good practices of municipal support for rural and...
Updating the European Youth Foundation’s work after Reykjavik
The European Youth Foundation (EYF) gathered partners, international and independent funders active in the field of youth and member of the Council of Europe Joint Council on Youth in Strasbourg to chart the way to updating the Foundation’s work. The European Youth Foundation is a unique, agile...
Local and regional authorities play a crucial role in building resilient democratic societies: conference hosted by Council of Europe Congress
The role of local and regional authorities in effectively responding to the challenges facing European democracies, in supporting Ukraine, protecting human rights, saving the environment, and enabling young people’s involvement is the focus of a conference of associations of local and regional...
Secretary General at 4th Summit of International Crimea Platform
“This year, 10 years after the Russian Federation’s illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol, the European Court of Human Rights delivered a unanimous judgment, affirming that Russia has committed widespread and systemic human rights violations in the...
Council of Europe calls for strengthening international cooperation against migrant smuggling
The 2nd International Conference on Migrant Smuggling, organised by the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, has called on its 46 member states to explore all pathways to strengthen international cooperation. In her opening speech, Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić...
Georgian Parliament should not adopt anti-LGBTI law and should refrain from using stigmatising rhetoric
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty has a letter sent to the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia in which he asks members of the Parliament to refrain from adopting the draft law “On protecting family values and minors” passed in second reading on 4 September...
Austria: despite positive steps, progress still needed in family law cases related to domestic violence
A new theme-based report published by the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) commends the Austrian authorities for having taken steps to further align legislation with requirements of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and...
Congress President condemns illegal elections in the occupied Crimea
The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Marc Cools, has issued the following statement: “On behalf of the Congress, I condemn the illegal conduct of so-called elections by the Russian Federation in Ukraine’s Autonomous Republic of Crimea and City...
Kazakhstan: Anti-corruption body publishes first report on progress implementing recommendations
The Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has published the first report on Kazakhstan assessing progress made in implementing the recommendations issued to the country in the Joint First and Second Round Evaluation Report (2022). See also unofficial translations in Kazakh...
Justice for crimes committed in Ukraine: Ministers of Justice discuss legal cooperation and a special tribunal for the crime of aggression
Meeting under the Lithuanian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, the Ministers of Justice of Council of Europe member and observer states have adopted a declaration outlining a series of principles to address critical justice and accountability issues related to Russia’s aggression against...
Secretary General at Conference of European Ministers of Justice in Vilnius
“More than two and a half years into the Russian Federation’s brutal and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and with the ongoing violence and developments on the battlefield over this summer, the need for accountability burns more brightly than ever. We must be ready to extend the...
Council of Europe opens first ever global treaty on AI for signature
The Council of Europe Framework Convention on artificial intelligence and human rights, democracy, and the rule of law (CETS No. 225) was opened for signature during a conference of Council of Europe Ministers of Justice in Vilnius. It is the first-ever international legally binding treaty aimed...
Secretary General expresses condolences over loss of lives in English Channel
In response to the deadliest disaster in the English Channel this year, Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić expressed her condolences to the victims' families. “Yesterday, six children, a pregnant woman, and five other women and men lost their lives in the English Channel....
