Newsroom
Italian Justice Minister Orlando signs “Blood Antiquities” Convention
The Minister of Justice of Italy, Andrea Orlando, signed today with Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni the new Council of Europe Convention on Offences relating to Cultural Property (CETS No.221), known as the “Blood Antiquities” Convention. The Convention on Offences relating to...
Council of Europe launches Twitter campaign against illegal bird killing
The Council of Europe’s Bern Convention is launching a social media campaign to raise awareness on illegal bird killing. The launch coincides with a report by the BirdLife Partnership which underlines the extent of this environmental crisis. An estimated 36 million birds are illegally killed...
Secretary General appalled by attack against Russian journalist
Secretary General Jagland is appalled by the violent attack against Tatiana Felgenhauer, Deputy Editor of Ekho Moskvy, which took place on the premises of the well-known Russian radio station. The Secretary General wishes to express his support to Ms Fegenhauer, who is now hospitalised, and to...
Social rights committee condemns local authority housing in Ireland
The European Committee of Social Rights has partially upheld a complaint from the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) against Ireland concerning local authority housing. The committee found Ireland to be in violation of the European Social Charter on the grounds that the government...
GRECO issues recommendations to prevent corruption to INGOs Conference
The Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has published today an assessment of the framework to prevent corruption and address conflicts of interest of the Council of Europe's Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs). GRECO recommends a number of measures, including...
Testimonies and debate on reception of unaccompanied migrant children in European towns
On 18 October 2017, during its 33rd session, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe held a debate on the reception of unaccompanied migrant children in European towns. Yoomi Renström (Sweden, SOC) commented that although, in this year’s statistics, the number of...
Belgium: Congress adopts report on local democracy in a context of linguistic diversity in the municipalities with language facilities
On 19 October 2017, in Strasbourg, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe examined a report on the functioning of the organs of local democracy in a context of linguistic diversity in the “communes with facilities” in the Flemish region around Brussels (Belgium)....
Petr Mlsna: “Supporting local and regional democracy is a top priority of the Czech Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers”
Deputy Minister for Legislation and Archiving, Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic, Petr Mlsna, presented the key priorities of the Czech Chairmanship during the 33rd Congress Session in Strasbourg, on 18 October 2017. Among them, Mr Mlsna pointed out the importance of supporting...
Report: The situation of migrants and refugees in Serbia and transit zones in Hungary
“Thousands of migrants and refugees who travelled along the Western Balkans’ migration route in 2015 and 2016 are now stranded in Serbia in a precarious legal situation” says the Secretary General’s Special Representative on migration and refugees Ambassador Tomáš Boček in a report published...
Telephone conversation of Secretary General Jagland with Turkish Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gül
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland today had a phone conversation with the Turkish Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gül. They discussed the latest developments regarding human rights defenders, including the Director and Chair of Amnesty International Turkey, Idil Eser and Taner...
Thorbjørn Jagland: “Member states have a duty to ensure Council of Europe principles are respected”
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, today addressed Congress members during their 33rd Session in Strasbourg, France. “Our Organisation, which covers the European continent from the Atlantic to Vladivostok, promotes fundamental standards, particularly those of the...
First evaluation of Greece’s compliance with the Council of Europe’s Anti-trafficking Convention: progress made, but gaps remain
In its first report on Greece, the Council of Europe’s expert group against human trafficking (GRETA) praises positive steps taken by Greek authorities to combat human trafficking, but also highlights a number of shortcomings. GRETA welcomes the adoption of anti-trafficking legislation, the...
Murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia
Statement by Secretary General Jagland
Turkey: Anti-torture committee publishes report on 2015 visit to immigration detention centres
At the request of the Turkish authorities, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has today published the report compiled following its visit to a number of immigration detention centres in the country in June 2015. The report notes that the visit took place at a...
Switzerland should reinforce its human rights protection framework and better respond to the needs of vulnerable migrants
Reinforcing the institutional and legal framework for safeguarding and promoting human rights and enhancing the protection of migrants and asylum seekers are the key recommendations addressed to the Swiss authorities by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, in a...
Women in power: Major inequalities remain across Europe
European countries are still struggling to achieve gender balance in public decision-making, according to a new report from the Council of Europe. The report looks at progress made by 46 countries towards the goal set by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers in 2003 of having at least...
Commissioner urges Azerbaijan to investigate allegations of human rights violations of LGBT persons recently arrested and detained in Baku
Today Human Rights Commissioner Nils Muižnieks published a letter sent on 9 October to Ramil Usubov, Minister of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan, in which he calls for thorough investigations into serious allegations of human rights violations of LGBT persons recently arrested and detained in...
Republic of Moldova: important advances on addressing domestic violence, but more progress needed in justice reform
Declaration by Human rights Commissioner Nils Muižnieks at the end of his five-day visit to the country
33rd Session of the Congress
Unaccompanied refugee minors, local and regional democracy, situation in Catalonia and fight against corruption amongst the highlights
Ukrainian law on education: implementing the conclusions of the Venice Commission
The Assembly today expressed its concern about the articles relating to education in minority languages of the new Education Act recently adopted by Verkhovna Rada and deplored the fact that “there was no real consultation with representatives of national minorities in Ukraine”. While noting that...
The role of internet intermediaries as gatekeepers to freedom of expression – Conference in Vienna
The role and responsibilities of internet intermediaries, which critically influence the way we receive and impart information in the digital age, will be the focus of a conference on internet freedom, organized by the OSCE and the Council of Europe in Vienna on Friday 13 October. The function of...
CPT publishes highly critical report on prisons in “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”
In a report published today on its December 2016 visit, the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) strongly criticises the conditions of detention and treatment of inmates at Idrizovo Prison, which holds some 60 % of the...
Germany ratifies Council of Europe convention to end violence against women
Monitoring procedure to be strengthened as a result
Call for Fourth Summit and harmonised rules for member states’ participation in the Organisation’s statutory bodies
PACE today unanimously called for a Fourth Council of Europe Summit to preserve and further strengthen the pan-European project in a Europe which has profoundly changed since the last Summit 12 years ago. Such a Summit of Heads of State and Government should define, at the highest political...
Petro Poroshenko: Ukraine is fighting on two fronts – one military, the other for reform
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said his country is fighting a war on two fronts at the same time – one to counter military aggression and restore its territorial integrity, and the other to implement difficult and complex reforms. Addressing PACE today in Strasbourg, he hailed his...
Azerbaijan: strengthening parliamentary control over the executive; ensuring independence of the judiciary
During a debate today at its plenary session in Strasbourg on “The functioning of democratic institutions in Azerbaijan”, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) raised a number of concerns, particularly with regard to checks and balances, the functioning of the justice system,...
Parliamentary Assembly overhauls its Code of Conduct in response to corruption allegations
Responding to allegations of corruption in its ranks, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has unanimously adopted a heavily revised Code of Conduct for its members, with the aim of “restoring public confidence” in its work. Approving a report by Ian Liddell-Grainger (United...
Miloš Zeman: "the endeavour of the Council of Europe towards friendship and not hatred among European nations will be successful"
“I believe that the Council of Europe’s endeavour towards friendship and not hostility and hatred among European nations – including Russia – will be successful in the long term,” said Miloš Zeman, President of the Czech Republic, addressing the Assembly today. “I believe that the role of the...
Secretary General Jagland says Catalonia crisis must be solved within the context of the Spanish constitution
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, in reply to questions from PACE members, has emphasised the importance of resolving the conflict in Catalonia on the basis of the existing Spanish constitution, or an amended version of it. He rejected the idea of international mediation, and...
Stella Kyriakides elected PACE President
Stella Kyriakides (Cyprus, EPP/CD) has been elected President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe following the resignation of Pedro Agramunt (Spain, EPP/CD) on 6 October 2017. She obtained a large majority over the other candidate, Emanuelis Zingeris (Lithuania, EPP/CD), in...
Ángel Gurría on the global economic outlook: "better but not good enough"
“There are some welcome signs that our economies may finally be escaping the low growth trap. The OECD projects global growth to increase to around 3.5 per cent in 2017 and 3.7 per cent in 2018, up from 3 per cent in 2016. But we are not out of the woods yet,” said OECD Secretary General Ángel...
Palais in pink to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month
For the first time ever, the Palais de l’Europe in Strasbourg was illuminated in pink last night – in a special initiative to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The building, which houses the headquarters of the Council of Europe, will stay illuminated throughout the week of the PACE plenary...
The Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine celebrates its 20th anniversary
How can human rights be safeguarded in the face of scientific and technological developments in the biomedical field? The Committee on Bioethics of the Council of Europe will discuss the challenges ahead at an international conference being held on 24 and 25 October in Strasbourg to mark the 20th...
The Committee of Ministers shares the Assembly’s ambition to raise the Council’s profile and step up its activities
“The Committee of Ministers shares the Assembly’s ambition to raise the Council of Europe’s profile and step up its activities to help member States meet the challenges they currently face,” said Lubomír Zaorálek, Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic and Chairperson of the Committee of...
Václav Havel Human Rights Prize 2017 awarded to Murat Arslan
The fifth Václav Havel Human Rights Prize – which honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights – has been awarded to Turkish supporter of the independence of the judiciary Murat Arslan. The €60 000 prize was presented at a special ceremony today at the Palais de l’Europe in...
Human Rights Commissioner calls on Spain to investigate allegations of disproportionate use of police force in Catalonia
Today, the Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks published a letter sent on 4 October to Mr Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez, Minister of the Interior of Spain, in which he raises concerns regarding allegations of disproportionate use of force by law enforcement authorities in Catalonia on 1...
Europe against the death penalty
The 47-nation Council of Europe and the 28-member European Union have published a joint statement to mark the European and World Day against the Death Penalty on 10 October. The statement underlines the two organisations’ firm opposition to capital punishment in any circumstances. It also calls...
Turkey: Emergency Decree Laws are obstructing local democracy
In an opinion adopted today, the European Commission for Democracy through Law (the “Venice Commission”) assessed the extent to which Turkey’s Emergency Decree Laws – passed in the wake of the failed 2016 coup attempt – include measures that go beyond what is permitted by international standards...
Venice Commission invites the President of Ukraine to submit a revised draft law on anti-corruption courts to Parliament, based on its recommendations
In its opinion on the draft law on anti-corruption courts in Ukraine adopted today, the European Commission for Democracy through Law (the “Venice Commission”) said that many of the provisions of the draft law provide a good basis for the establishment of a high specialised anti-corruption court,...
Pedro Agramunt resigns as PACE President
In a letter, Pedro Agramunt today announced his resignation as President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). A motion for his dismissal had been scheduled for debate at the opening of the plenary session in Strasbourg on 9 October. This debate will now not take place....
Sweden: move beyond emergency mode in migration-related areas to strengthen human rights
Declaration by Human Rights Commissioner Nils Muižnieks at the end of a five-day visit to the country
Autumn session: Czech and Ukrainian Presidents to address PACE, Václav Havel Prize awarded
Addresses by the President of the Czech Republic Miloš Zeman and the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and a debate on two reports calling for a Council of Europe Summit are among the highlights of the autumn session of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), which takes place in...
Conference on harmonisation of case law and judicial practice
A high-level conference on the harmonisation of case law and judicial practice tackles inconsistent interpretations of legal instruments that adversely affect their implementation – and result in numerous complaints brought before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Most such cases do not...
The law on freedom of assembly in the Russian Federation needs thorough revision
Human rights Commissioner Nils Muižnieks publishes memorandum
Award of "Meritorious for Justice " medal to President of Consultative Council of European Judges Nils Engstad
Nils Engstad, President of the Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE), was awarded the medal of the National Council of the Judicial of Poland “ Meritorious for Justice – Bene Merentibus Iustitiae” for his work on behalf of the CCJE in defending the independence of judges and courts in...
Fighting corruption in France: what progress?
In a report published today, the Council of Europe's anti-corruption group (GRECO) reviews a number of measures taken by France since 2009. While it welcomes France's implementation of recommendations on the criminalisation of acts of corruption, particularly the extension of the limitation...
Council of Europe publishes its first monitoring reports on violence against women: Austria and Monaco
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) have published their first two evaluation reports: on Austria and Monaco. In Austria, among other findings, GREVIO notes a “stark contrast” in the number, scale and regional spread of...
Civil participation in decision-making in the spotlight
The Committee of Ministers today adopted guidelines aimed at promoting civil participation in political decision-making in the Council of Europe 47 member states. At a time when democracy is challenged by diminishing trust of people towards politicians and elites in general, one of the...
Prague international conference to end the immigration detention of children
”The cost of alternatives is much lower than that of migration detention. In addition, alternatives are less dangerous than detention; for the children themselves, in terms of the harm that deprivation of liberty inevitably causes. They are also less dangerous for our societies; the message...
Arbitrary Internet blocking jeopardises freedom of expression
“Internet blocking is a widespread phenomenon in Council of Europe member states”, says Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, in his latest Human Rights Comment published today. “Its impact on freedom of expression was highlighted already in 2011, when the former UN...
Greece: Anti-torture committee criticises treatment of irregular migrants – and continued detention of migrant children
In a report on its April and July 2016 visits to Greece, published today, the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) raises concerns over the situation in the “hotspots” on the Aegean islands. It is highly critical of the...
European Day of Languages 2017: statement from Council of Europe Secretary General, Thorbjørn Jagland
"This year's European Day of Languages celebrates innovation in language learning and teaching. This provides us with the perfect opportunity to highlight the huge value of Europe's cultural diversity. Europe's nations are always at their strongest and most prosperous when we are open and...
2017 Crystal Scales of Justice Prize - Publication of the final selection
The European “Crystal Scales of Justice Prize”, awarded by the Council of Europe, allows discovering, highlighting and sharing innovative practices aimed at improving the efficiency and quality of judicial systems. Out of 37 applications from 18 countries and also from two international...
26 September: European Day of Languages
The European Day of Languages (EDL) is an annual celebration day to encourage language learning across Europe. At the initiative of the Council of Europe, EDL has been celebrated every year, on 26 September, since the European Year of Languages in 2001. The specific aims of the EDL are to: raise...
30 years of Cultural Routes: Building dialogue and sustainable development through European values and heritage
A Europe rich in history, heritage and values: the Council of Europe Cultural Routes’ programme celebrates its 30th anniversary, on the occasion of the 7th Advisory Forum in Palazzo Ducale and Real Collegio in Lucca (Italy) on 27-29 September, with a special ceremony to highlight the relevance of...
Implementing ECHR judgments: Latest decisions now online
The latest case-by-case decisions on the implementation of judgments from the European Court of Human Rights have been published by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. The committee adopted 39 decisions concerning 21 member states at the end of its regular three-day meeting in...
Venice Commission on Georgian draft Constitution
Postponement of proportional election system regrettable, bonus system of unallocated votes distribution should be abandoned
Luxembourg: Authorities encouraged to continue efforts to integrate asylum-seekers and migrants
“Luxembourg has made considerable efforts to respond to Europe’s refugee and migrant crisis by receiving asylum-seekers and relocating and resettling refugees from other parts of Europe and beyond. It has largely avoided the trap of political instrumentalisation of the issue of migration, and...
International conference on links between organised crime and terrorism
The Council of Europe, with the support of the City and the University of Málaga, is organising an international conference in Málaga (Spain) on 21 and 22 of September aimed at improving international co-operation to better address the interaction between transnational organised crime and...
Age assessment of young migrants: child’s best interests must be safeguarded, invasive methods avoided
A new report “Age assessment: Council of Europe member states’ policies, procedures and practices respectful of children’s rights in the context of migration” has been issued today. This report, prepared by an independent expert, is based on a survey conducted in 37 Council of Europe member...
Human trafficking: Ireland urged to improve the identification and protection of victims
European anti-trafficking experts have urged the Irish authorities to improve the identification of human trafficking victims and to review the policy of housing presumed victims in accommodation centres for asylum seekers as a matter of priority. These are among the main recommendations in the...
Anti-torture committee: New report on Slovenia
Overcrowding in prisons decreased, climate improved, but reservations exist about aliens legislation and means of restraint for psychiatric patients
New reports on racism and discrimination in Ukraine, Montenegro and Slovenia
The Council of Europe’s anti-discrimination commission, European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has published today new reports on Ukraine, Montenegro, as well as conclusions on Slovenia. In Ukraine, the ECRI commended new legal provisions to combat discrimination, progress in...
Implementing European Court of Human Rights judgments
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers will hold its quarterly meeting to oversee member states’ execution of judgments from the European Court of Human Rights from 19 to 21 September. An indicative list of cases to be examined was published at the end of the last meeting in June....
New legal tool on electronic evidence: Council of Europe welcomes civil society opinion
In a “Global Civil Submission” handed to the Council of Europe today, European Digital Rights (EDRI), an association defending rights and freedoms online, has provided an opinion from civil society worldwide on the proposed protocol to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime. Alexander Seger, the...
International Day of Democracy 2017
Statement from Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland
Committee of Ministers calls for effectively preventing and combating female genital mutilation and forced marriage
The Committee of Ministers today called on member states to step up efforts to prevent and combat female genital mutilation and forced marriage across Europe, as it adopted a guide on good practices. Female genital mutilation and forced marriage violate fundamental rights enshrined in the...
School segregation still deprives many children of quality education
“The right to education is a fundamental human right. Yet, many European countries still deny thousands of children, including children with disabilities, Roma children and refugee or migrant children, equal access to it by keeping them in segregated schools. This is a violation of children’s...
Council of Europe experts discuss freedom of expression and terrorism with the Turkish authorities
On 7 and 8 September 2017, the working group between the Council of Europe and the Turkish Ministry of Justice met in Ankara to discuss issues relating to freedom of expression and the fight against terrorism in Turkey. The Council of Europe experts also held exchanges with members of the...
European Heritage Days 2017
Celebrating the intrinsic relationship between people and nature
Anti-Torture Committee examines conditions in police stations, prisons and psychiatric establishments in Italy
The Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published today a report on its periodic visit to Italy (see also the executive summary), together with the Italian Government’s response. The CPT notes the broad reform...
Respecting fundamental rights, security forces and fight against terrorism
Conference held by Council of Europe and French Defender of Rights
Council of Europe joins forces with International Peace Institute
The Council of Europe and the International Peace Institute (IPI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together on building peace and democracy. Director General of Democracy Snežana Samardžić-Marković signed on behalf of the Council of Europe at the IPI’s Salzburg Forum “Mapping of...
ECHR: monitoring an employee’s electronic communications amounted to a breach of his right to private life
The European Court of Human Rights has held that there was a violation of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (right to respect for private and family life, the home and correspondence) in the case of Bărbulescu v. Romania. The case concerned the decision of a private company to...
Revision of the Constitution of Georgia
Statement by Venice Commission President Gianni Buquicchio
Meeting of Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland with the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland and President Emmanuel Macron met today at the Elysée Palace to discuss current developments in Europe and issues of common interest. The President and the Secretary General underline the excellent cooperation between the host nation France and the...
The long march against homophobia and transphobia
“Summer is the time of Pride marches. The numerous marches in Europe are a testament to the ground-breaking progress toward acceptance of the equal rights of lesbians, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons”, says Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights,...
Secretary General Jagland meets President Macron at the Elysée on 31 August
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, will meet the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Thursday. Topics of discussion include: The important role of France as host nation of the Council of Europe and European Court of Human Rights; European...
Statement on the arrest of Mehman Aliyev in Azerbaijan
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, has today made the following statement in response to the arrest of journalist Mehman Aliyev: “I have been informed that Mehman Aliyev, a prominent journalist and editor-in-chief of the renowned news agency Turan, was detained...
Terrorist attacks in Spain
Statement by Lubomír Zaorálek, Chair of the Committee of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
Violence in Barcelona is an attack on Europe’s freedom and democracy
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland today issued the following statement, “Innocent people – children, adults, residents and visitors to one of Europe’s most attractive touristic cities have been hit by cowardly acts of violence. I strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attacks in Barcelona. The...
Hungarian higher education law: requirements for already operating universities “highly problematic” say Venice Commission experts
In a preliminary opinion issued today, the Council of Europe’s legal experts of the Venice Commission note that in general the regulations of Hungary’s higher education law are in line with usual European practice but criticise that many requirements of the law are overly stringent or even...
Ukraine has made promising reforms to fight corruption, but now it must deliver
A new report published today by the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) encourages Ukrainian authorities to pursue anti-corruption reform efforts it had launched following the Revolution of Dignity and calls for effective results to be delivered in practice. GRECO warns...
Slovenia: more money-laundering investigations needed to tackle serious crimes
The number of money-laundering investigations has risen in Slovenia since the last evaluation in 2010, but it is still not commensurate with the number of investigations and convictions for proceeds-generating crimes, such as tax evasion, fraud and other economic crimes, as well as drug...
Council of Europe honours victims of Roma Holocaust
Today in Strasbourg, the Council of Europe held a commemorative wreath-laying ceremony in memory of Roma victims of the Holocaust. This year marks the 73rd anniversary of 2 August, 1944, when some 3,000 Roma were exterminated in the gas chambers of the so-called “Zigeunerlager” (Gypsy camp) at...
European countries must acknowledge the Roma genocide
Statement by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks
Violence against women: Council of Europe ready to assist Tunisia on new law
Since the Tunisian parliament passed a new law last week to stop violence against women, the Council of Europe stands ready to assist in its implementation. “We welcome this law as a substantial step forward in Tunisia and for the entire region to end violence against women” said William...
States must act urgently to protect refugee children from trafficking
Statement by GRETA on the occasion of the 4th World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Venezuelan President's bid for new constitution lacks "credibility": Venice Commission
Venice Commission constitutional experts today have determined that attempts by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to prepare a new constitution have many shortcomings that “undermine democratic credibility.” The Council of Europe’s experts replied to a request last month for an opinion from the...
Belarus death sentences: Secretary General reiterates disappointment
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland reacts to two death penalty sentences pronounced today in Belarus “I am deeply concerned by the decision of the Mogilev regional court in Belarus to pronounce two death penalty sentences today,” said the Secretary General. “I reiterate our disappointment and...
Secretary General expresses concerns over situation in Turkey in call to Prime Minister
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland has released the following statement: "Yesterday evening, I had a phone conversation with Mr Binali Yıldırım, Prime Minister of Turkey, to discuss the latest developments in the country. One year after the attempted coup, I told him that this event should be...
Human trafficking: new reports published on Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France and Norway
The Council of Europe’s expert group against human trafficking (GRETA) has recently published its new monitoring reports on Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France and Norway, outlining progress and outstanding issues, and providing recommendations to the countries’ authorities. The report on...
Secretary General raises concerns over Polish draft law on Supreme Court
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland has sent a letter to the Speaker of the Sejm, Mr Marek Kuchciński, concerning the new parliamentary draft law on the Polish Supreme Court. Highlighting the crucial role played by Supreme Courts in democracies, he wrote that he was particularly concerned by the...
Migrants can contribute to preventing, preparing for and responding to disasters in Europe, says new EUR-OPA/IOM study
The Council of Europe’s EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement and the UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM) are to publish a joint study on the benefits of involving migrants in disaster risk reduction initiatives. The study, entitled Migrants in Disaster Risk Reduction: Practices for...
Council of Europe calls on Bosnia and Herzegovina to improve protection of child victims of trafficking
In a report published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) welcomes the legislative changes that have been made since the publication of its first report on Bosnia and Herzegovina in May 2013. The introduction of the criminal...
Anti-torture Committee issues public statement on Belgium
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has issued a Public Statement on Belgium today. This Statement, which is made in application of Article 10 (2) of the ECPT*, addresses the ongoing failure of the Belgian authorities to put in place a minimum level of service to guarantee...
GRECO calls on Monaco to strengthen anti-corruption measures in parliament and the judiciary
In its report on Monaco published today, the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body (GRECO) concludes that although the management of anti-corruption policies has continued to evolve in the right direction in recent years and anti-corruption mechanisms have gradually been strengthened, progress...
The Russian Federation’s Law on Foreign Agents contravenes human rights
“The Russian Federation’s legislative framework on non-commercial organisations is incompatible with international and European human rights standards”, writes the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, in his observations submitted to the European Court of Human Rights...
Slovenia should pursue its efforts to protect vulnerable people
“Slovenia has undertaken a number of initiatives in recent years to address major human rights issues concerning migrants, Roma, the “erased” and people living in poverty. It is crucial to reinforce these efforts to ensure that no one is left behind and the human rights of all are upheld”, said...
G20 Hamburg summit demonstrations
"I am saddened by the images of the demonstrations in Hamburg. Freedom of assembly is one of the core rights enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights," said the Secretary General. It is accepted by all 47 member states of the Council of Europe and must be protected by the authorities....
