Newsroom
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...
