Newsroom
Summer school in Liverpool examines Council of Europe law
The second Liverpool Summer School is underway at the University of Liverpool. The twelve day event, titled “Council of Europe at 75: Protecting Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law in a Rapidly Changing World” has been organised by the university’s School of Law and Social Justice in...
Georgia: anti-corruption body calls for stronger oversight and accountability in top executive functions and the police
In a new report the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has called for determined measures to prevent corruption in Georgia in respect of persons with top executive functions and law enforcement officials. (see French and Georgian version of the report). GRECO...
Hungary highlights Council of Europe's role in national minority youths’ political participation
On 17-18 June 2024, in Budapest, Hungary, the 2024 edition of Council of Europe Days event brought together young people belonging to national minorities from several Council of Europe member states to highlight the Council of Europe’s crucial role in setting standards for their political rights....
Secretary General on official visit to Mexico
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with Foreign Affairs Minister Alicia Bárcena, Senate President Ana Lilia Rivera and other key personalities during an official visit to Mexico, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the country’s observer status with the Council of Europe. ...
Landmark political declaration reaffirms importance of European Social Charter
The high-level conference on the European Social Charter in Vilnius, Lithuania, has adopted a landmark political declaration, reinforcing the commitment of Council of Europe member states to social justice and the protection of social rights. The event, held under the auspices of the Presidency...
Social Rights are Human Rights!
Introductory speech at the opening session of the High-Level Conference on the European Social Charter, organised in Vilnius, under the auspices of the Lithuanian Presidency of the...
Andorra: GRECO report on preventing corruption in top executive functions and the police
In a new report, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has called on Andorra to pursue its efforts to prevent corruption in respect of persons with top executive functions, such as members of the government, high-level officials, special relationship personnel and...
Council of Europe and Ukraine sign joint declaration on the way forward in post-war period
After the two-day session of the High Level Dialogue on good democratic governance in Ukraine and the way forward in the post-war period, Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge and First Deputy Chairperson of the Parliament of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniyenko signed the following...
How standing up for social rights can help counter Russia's war on human rights in Ukraine
Opening remarks at the side event “Protecting social rights in times of war in Ukraine” on the occasion of the High-Level Conference on the European Social Charter, organised in...
2024 Youth Peace Camp: fostering dialogue and peacebuilding
From 2-9 July the 2024 Youth Peace Camp hosted by the Council of Europe is taking place at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg. This transformative event brings together 80 young participants from regions deeply affected by conflicts, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Kosovo*,...
Anti-torture Committee (CPT) issues public statement on Azerbaijan
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has issued a public statement on Azerbaijan. This Statement, which is made in application of Article 10 (2) of the Convention establishing the Committee (*), addresses the...
HELP Programme celebrates 20th anniversary at 2024 Annual Network Conference
A two-day Annual Network Conference of HELP (Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals) starting on 4 July will be an occasion to review what has been achieved and explore avenues for the future. During its twenty years of existence HELP developed 54 courses on various human rights issues,...
News - Council of Europe Office in Yerevan
Armenian and Georgian municipalities forge new partnerships across the border Leaders and officials from neighbouring Armenian and Georgian municipalities met in Dilijan, Armenia, on 26-27 June 2024 to exchange ideas for a cross-border cooperation project involving the creation of youth centres,...
Trafficking of Ukrainian children including for sexual and labour exploitation: risks in spotlight
Millions of Ukrainian children have fled their homeland as a result of Russia’s war of aggression, with many of them being hosted in Council of Europe member states. Armed conflicts create particular vulnerabilities for children leading to increased risks of abuse at many levels, including...
Commissioner O’Flaherty raises alarm on LGBTI rights, pledges to partner with Roma
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, travelled to Thessaloniki, Greece, on 28 and 29 June to participate in the EuroPride 2024 Human Rights Conference and engage with local Roma communities who live on the outskirts of the city...
High-level dialogue on good democratic governance in Ukraine and way forward in post-war period
On 2-3 July 2024, Council of Europe and key national stakeholders from Ukraine gather in Strasbourg to discuss perspectives for good democratic governance reforms in Ukraine and further actions to improve the legal framework on multilevel governance and post-war elections in line with European...
Congress: Statement by Monitoring Committee on situation in Georgia
The Monitoring Committee of the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 2 July 2024, adopted the following statement: “The Monitoring Committee reaffirms its full support to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia...
Secretary General on official visit to Cyprus
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with President Nikos Christodoulides, Foreign Affairs Minister Constantinos Kombos, Speaker of the House of Representatives Annita Demetriou and other key personalities during an official visit to Cyprus. A lecture at the Diplomatic Academy was...
Secretary General at Dubrovnik Forum 2024
“Democracy can never be taken for granted anywhere. It is hard won, but easily lost. The Council of Europe has been warning for years now about an increase in democratic backsliding. Was the war inevitable? No, it was a choice made in Moscow and that is where responsibility lies. We must continue...