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Ukraine: new financial disclosure requirements for NGOs and activists likely to have chilling effect on civil society, should be fully reconsidered
Stringent financial reporting and disclosure requirements for public activists, coupled with severe sanctions, are likely to have a chilling effect on civil society in Ukraine and should be removed in their entirety or significantly narrowed down, said the Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR in...
Slovak Republic: adopt a bolder approach to ensure inclusive education and strengthen the safety of journalists
Today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, concluded a visit to the Slovak Republic which focused on inclusive education of children with disabilities and Roma children. At the same time, since the visit took place shortly after the murder of investigative...
SRSG on migration and refugees: fact-finding mission to Spain
The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees (SRSG), Ambassador Tomáš Boček, will be conducting a fact-finding mission to Spain from 18 to 24 March 2018. The Special Representative will visit migrant temporary stay facilities and centres for children in the...
Serbia has not implemented any of the recommendations on preventing corruption among parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors
Serbia has not implemented in a satisfactory manner any of the thirteen recommendations provided by the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body GRECO (Group of States against Corruption) to the country in July 2015, according to the new compliance report published today. GRECO specifically...
The Group of States against Corruption publishes two reports on Turkey
The Council of Europe’s 49-member Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has published two reports assessing Turkey’s record on preventing and combatting corruption. With few exceptions, GRECO notes a worrying lack of progress in many areas. In the first report, GRECO expresses concern about...
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 from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from 13 to 15 March. Information on the cases to be examined at the meeting is available here. Decisions taken by the...
Human Rights Commissioner concerned by certain provisions of draft law on immigration and asylum in France
In a letter to members of the French National Assembly published today, Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks expresses concern at the risk of violations of the rights of migrants, including asylum seekers, if the provisions of the draft law for managed immigration and an effective right...
Don't obstruct ratification of Istanbul Convention!
In a video message to mark International Women’s Day 2018, the Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, underlines that politicians and opinion makers should promote an honest and well-informed public debate about the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against...
International Women’s Day (8 March)
Statement by Karen Ellemann, Minister for Equal Opportunities of Denmark, on behalf of the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers
Anti-torture Committee publishes a report on Belgium
CPT calls for improved prison conditions, better care for psychiatric internees and stronger action against police brutality
8 March: “I too can make equality happen”
On 8 March 2018, as International Women’s Day is celebrated around the world, the PACE Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, which brings together members of parliament from Council of Europe member States, acknowledges the progress that has been achieved towards greater equality between...
The Council of Europe adopts its Gender Equality Strategy 2018-2023
On 7 March 2018, the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers adopted the new Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy 2018-2023. The Strategy renews the Organisation’s commitment to address current and emerging challenges and remove barriers towards achieving substantive and full gender...
New guidelines on media pluralism and transparency of media ownership
The Council of Europe has issued guidelines to its 47 member states aimed at assisting them in the promotion of media pluralism and transparency of media ownership. In a Recommendation adopted today, the Committee of Ministers underlines that advances in modern technology have a profound impact...
Protecting human rights online: new guidelines on internet intermediaries
The Council of Europe today adopted policy guidelines addressed to its 47 member states on the roles and responsibilities of internet intermediaries such as search engines and social media. The power of such intermediaries as protagonists of online expression is such that their role and impact on...
Istanbul Convention: clearing away the fog of misconceptions
In recent months, several Council of Europe member states have shown “cold feet” in moves to ratify the Council of Europe’s Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (more commonly known as the "Istanbul Convention"). Although almost every single member...
Joint statement - International organisations commit to building broader support for human rights
With the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 70 years ago, governments around the globe committed to making peace, democracy and justice a reality for all. We, national, regional and international institutions have worked towards that objective, striving to improve the life of...
Anti-corruption body calls on Portugal to speed up reforms to prevent corruption among MPs, judges and prosecutors
In a report published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), calls on Portugal to step up its efforts to improve its legal framework to prevent corruption in respect of MPs, judges and prosecutors. This report, which assesses Portugal’s compliance with the...
Children in migration need information on reality, not just on rights, says a new report
Children in migration at all the stages of their journey to Europe should receive child-friendly and understandable information, which nevertheless must reflect the realities and difficulties they may face in the new environment, says the Council of Europe in a new report published today. The...
Extending rights, responsibilities and status to same-sex families: trends across Europe
Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Government officials, non-governmental organisations and independent experts are meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark on 2 March 2018 for a conference to discuss equal opportunities and rights in private and family life for lesbian, gay,...
Greece: anti-corruption group offers praise and criticism
In two reports published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) mixed praise with criticism regarding Greek efforts to fight corruption in both the legislative and judicial branches of government. One of the two reports – Corruption prevention in respect of...
