Newsroom
Sexual violence in public space: stop trivialisation and impunity
The Assembly expressed today its concern with the magnitude of the phenomenon of sexual violence and harassment of women in public space. “Although this violence takes place in public, sometimes in front of dozens of people, women often find themselves facing their attackers alone because...
Immigration is both instrumental for modernisation of societies and for Europe’s survival
European states should acknowledge that immigration into Europe is both instrumental for “renewed dynamic and modernisation of societies” and for Europe’s survival of the ‘demographic winter’ which the continent is entering, PACE declared today. According to the parliamentarians, no comprehensive...
Morgan Johansson: “Migration will be a top global challenge for decades to come”
“Migration will be a top global challenge for decades to come. We must face it with more solidarity, more co-operation and more commitment than we have had before,” today said Morgan Johansson, Minister for Justice and Migration of Sweden, addressing the Assembly in the context of a joint debate...
European cities can play a central role in implementing integration policies
Statement by the Mayor of Athens Georgios Kaminis, addressing the Assembly at the opening of a joint debate on migration
Promoting integrity in governance to tackle political corruption
Stepping up the fight against corruption and restoring trust in the efficiency and effectiveness of democratic institutions “must be a priority” for many European democracies, including European institutions, the Assembly said today at the end of a debate on promoting integrity in governance to...
Lubomír Zaorálek: Czech chairmanship to focus on the protection of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups
“Our priority line of action, in the framework of our chairmanship, will focus on the protection of rights of persons belonging to vulnerable or disadvantaged groups”, said Lubomír Zaorálek, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and Chair of the Committee of Ministers, addressing the...
Duško Marković: Montenegro will be a ‘constructive partner’ for the Council of Europe
Montenegro’s Prime Minister Duško Markovic has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to implementing Council of Europe standards and recommendations – and outlined work carried out so far on combating corruption, ensuring media freedom and strengthening equality, among other areas. Addressing...
The Parliamentary Assembly adopts a procedure allowing for the dismissal of its members holding high elective office
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg, has decided to amend its Rules of Procedure and to institute a procedure to bring into play the institutional accountability of holders of elective offices within the Assembly and “to dismiss...
Secretary General Jagland says justice must start to work in Turkey now
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, in reply to questions, has told PACE members that he is concerned by the current situation regarding fundamental rights in Turkey. Following the decision to charge Taner Kiliç, Chair of Amnesty International Turkey, with “membership of a...
Pavel Filip hails his country’s ‘shared history’ with the Council of Europe
Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip has hailed the transformations his country is undergoing on the path of European integration, with the help of the Council of Europe – and urged Europe to stay true to its values. “The Republic of Moldova and the Council of Europe are connected by a shared...
Secretary General Jagland calls for release of Turkish hunger strikers
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland has called for the release of Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça. Nuriye Gülmen, a professor, and Semih Özakça, a teacher, have been on hunger strike since March to protest against their dismissal on the basis of state of emergency decree-laws. Since then, they...
Women and the drug trade: users and victims
On the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the Council of Europe’s drug policy experts, The Pompidou Group, highlight the vulnerability and the role of women in the drug trade at a two-day seminar in Rome. Held in the National School of Administration in Rome from 26-27...
International conference on fighting the smuggling of migrants
The Council of Europe is organising an international conference in Strasbourg on 23 June to discuss ways to prevent and combat the smuggling of migrants. The prevention and suppression of smuggling of migrants in Europe and its severe implications for human rights pose complex legal challenges....
The anti-racism commission publishes its annual report
Strong surge of nationalistic populism, xenophobic hate speech were key challenges in Europe in 2016
GRECO issues critical assessment of the Parliamentary Assembly integrity framework
The Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) today published an assessment of the Code of Conduct for Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in which it identifies significant shortcomings and points out the need for a number of improvements. The President of...
Criminal use of child self-generated sexual images and videos: how can states counter it?
New monitoring launched by the Council of Europe
Conference of directors of prison and probation services
The Council of Europe´s annual Conference of Directors of Prisons and Probation Services is discussing in Lillestrøm (Norway) on 20 and 21 June ways to improve the recruitment, training and professional development of their staff. Held under the theme "Staff selection, training and development in...
Learning to Live Together: a Shared Commitment to Democracy
Conference on the Future Citizenship and Human Rights Education in Europe
International conference in Brno, Czech Republic, on the binding effect of judicial decisions
Presidents of Supreme and Constitutional courts from Council of Europe member states will gather in Brno, Czech Republic on 20 and 21 June for a high-level international conference to discuss the binding effect of judicial decisions taken by the European Court of Human Rights, the Court of...
Council of Europe adopts new Recommendation on Standards for E-Voting
The Ministers' Deputies adopted at their 1289th meeting on 14 June a new Recommendation on Standards for E-Voting. The new recommendation CM/Rec (2017)5, which follows the previous Rec(2004)11, was developed to ensure that electronic voting complies with principles of democratic elections and is...
