Newsroom
Venice Commission: Proposed constitutional amendments in Turkey would be a “dangerous step backwards” for democracy
The Council of Europe’s constitutional law experts, the Venice Commission, warn against a one-person regime in Turkey in a definitive, as-adopted, opinion on proposed constitutional amendments to be put to a referendum next month. The Venice Commission warns that by removing necessary checks and...
Concerns raised over intolerance, discrimination and minority languages in the UK
There have been positive steps across the United Kingdom to boost the rights of national minorities, say European experts, but intolerance and hate speech are growing. Furthermore, national minorities still face discrimination in many areas of life and additional efforts are needed to protect...
Parliamentary Assembly Monitoring Committee calls for monitoring procedure in respect of Turkey to be re-opened
The Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has today called for the monitoring procedure in respect of Turkey to be re-opened in order to strengthen its co-operation with the Turkish authorities and all forces in the country and thus ensure respect for...
European Prize for Eloquence 2017 won by British law student
Alice Shaw, a British law student at Strasbourg University, was declared the winner of the 2017 edition of the European Prize for Eloquence. The competition took place on 7 March at the Council of Europe. The six best speakers qualified from semi-finals, which brought together 16 candidates from...
Human Rights Commissioner concerned about Hungary’s new law allowing automatic detention of asylum seekers
Statement by Nils Muižnieks
Portugal: progress in participation of Roma in local decision-making should be sustained
Concrete measures to address the discrimination Roma face in Portugal and ways to foster the participation of Roma in society were at the centre of a two day visit the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks made to Lisbon and Torres Vedras on 6-7 March. “It is heartening...
Fighting violence against women is not about “gender ideology” or breaking families
In a statement published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) expresses concern about misconceptions surrounding the Council of Europe’s Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic...
Italy should improve its asylum reception-capacity, prevent human trafficking and strengthen its child-protection system
“Italy should improve its asylum reception-capacity and integration policies, prevent human trafficking and combat corruption in the migration-related services sector” are the main recommendations in a report published today by the Secretary General’s Special Representative on migration and...
New report on protecting refugee children from sexual abuse
A new report focusing on the protection of children affected by the refugee crisis from sexual exploitation and abuse was presented today. Non-comprehensive data collection, inadequate reception conditions, problems with age verification and with identification of victims are among the key...
Press statement by Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland on the occasion of the visit of Mr Bekir Bozdağ, Minister of Justice of Turkey
"It is imperative for Turkey and Europe that the judicial safeguards for all those who have been dismissed or are in prison are based on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and on the case law of the European Court of Human Rights. The Commission that will be set up in Turkey to go...
National minorities: new reports on Armenia and Republic of Moldova published
The Council of Europe Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) published today its new Opinions on Armenia and Republic of Moldova, assessing the progress over the past years and giving recommendations for the government. In Armenia, the...
New reports by anti-racism commission on Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland and Luxembourg
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has published today four country reports on Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland and Luxembourg, analysing recent developments and making recommendations to the authorities. The respective governments’ comments were also published....
Secretary General Jagland in Geneva for Human Rights Council and high-level meetings
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland is addressing the Human Rights Council of the United Nations on 28 February during a two-day working visit to Geneva (27-28 February). Meetings are scheduled with: António Guterres, United Nations Secretary General Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, UN...
Strengthened social rights needed to face frustration in Europe: Cyprus conference
Why are millions of Europeans willing to support nationalist, xenophobic and anti-democratic forces, sending shockwaves through our political systems,” asked Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, in her opening speech to a conference on social rights in Europe....
Secretary General welcomes the Russian Supreme Court’s decision to release Ildar Dadin
The Secretary General of the 47-nation Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, today made the following statement in reaction to the Russian Supreme Court judgment concerning Ildar Dadin: “I welcome the decision from the Russian Supreme Court to overturn the guilty verdict against opposition...
Protect journalists – Rory Peck Trust and the International News Safety Institute join Council of Europe platform
The Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists, through which media freedom organisations and associations of journalists inform the Council of Europe and disseminate information on alleged violations of media freedom has two new partners – The Rory Peck Trust and...
Access to registered same-sex partnerships: it’s a question of equality
Commissioner Muižnieks publishes his latest Human Rights Comment
Pontifical Academy of Sciences Summit highlights role of CoE Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs
The Council of Europe’s EDQM has participated last week in the Summit on Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism organised by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences of the Vatican State to raise awareness on organ trafficking and human trafficking for the purpose of organ removal. On the occasion,...
European Human Rights Moot Court Competition
Team from National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” wins 2017 edition of the European Human Rights Moot Court Competition
Live debate on populism with Jan-Werner Müller
Professor of Politics at Princeton University and leading expert on populism, Jan-Werner Müller, is taking part in a lecture-debate at the Council of Europe on Friday 17 February: « How Populism endangers Democracy – and how to fight it ». Follow it live on our Facebook page and on this website...
