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Congress: 7 local authorities of Friuli Venezia Giulia join network of governance excellence
The seven local authorities of Pagnacco, Premariacco, Reana del Rojale, Ruda, Sagrado, San Lorenzo Isontino and Tavagnacco from the Friuli Venezia Giulia region join over 50 peer municipalities in Italy and nearly 300 across more than 20 member states awarded the European Label of Governance...
Freeing of Vladimir Kara-Murza and other political prisoners: 'Our collective resolve can make a difference'
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly President Theodoros Rousopoulos today made the following statement: “It is with great joy that I welcome, on behalf of the Assembly, the liberation of our friend Vladimir Kara-Murza as well as the other political prisoners who have reached safety today,...
Why teaching Roma history – and the Roma Holocaust – is more important than ever
Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day, 2 August, Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, made the following statement: “On the night of 2–3 August 1944, over 3,000 Roma women, men and children were exterminated in the gas chambers of the ‘Zigeunerlager’ at...
Groundbreaking Council of Europe treaty to protect women and girls entered into force 10 years ago
The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention after the city in which it opened for signature, marks 10 years since it entered into force on 1 August 2014. It is the most far-reaching international...
Increased risks of human trafficking require concerted action to reduce children’s vulnerability to trafficking
On the occasion of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) joins the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Human Beings (ICAT) in calling for concerted measures to reduce the...
European Committee of Social Rights: Insufficient protection of workers in cases of unfair dismissal in Spain breaches Social Charter
In a new decision on the merits of the collective complaint Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT) v. Spain, Complaint No. 207/2022, the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) concludes that Spanish legislation does not afford sufficient protection to workers in cases of termination of...
Poland: all laws and practices related to the situation on the Belarus border should comply with human rights standards
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty has published two letters sent on 17 July to the Prime Minister and the Marshal of the Senate of Poland concerning the human rights situation on the border with Belarus. In his letter to the Prime Minister, the Commissioner...
GRECO calls on Monaco to supplement and extend its mechanism for fighting corruption in the executive and the police
In a new report which evaluates the effectiveness of Monaco’s framework for preventing corruption among persons with top executive functions and members of law enforcement agencies, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) calls on Monaco to take resolute steps to...
MONEYVAL acknowledges Jersey’s progress in combatting money laundering and financing of terrorism
In a new report the Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering body MONEYVAL commends the UK Crown Dependency of Jersey for taking steps to strengthen its legal and regulatory framework to combat money laundering (ML), financing of terrorism (FT) and financing of proliferation (FP). It also calls...
The European Pharmacopoeia: 60 years of leadership and collaboration for safe medicines
We often assume that the medicines we take are safe. Every year, billions of doses of painkillers, diabetes treatments, antibiotics, vaccines and drugs to reduce blood pressure, cholesterol or stomach acid are prescribed and taken. Yet how many people really know how these drugs are developed and...
Synergy for change: Civil society raising awareness on violence against women in a context of global challenges
On 11 and 12 July 2024, the Gender Equality Division hosted the conference “Synergy for Change” for representatives of civil society organisations active in combating violence against women...
Five Basque municipalities recognised for excellence in local governance
In a ceremony marking the conclusion of the 2024 edition of the European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE) in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country (Spain), the municipalities of...
Secretary General at European Political Community Meeting
“The Reykjavík Declaration reaffirmed member states’ commitment to democratic values and standards and agreed a set of 10 Principles of Democracy by which to measure and address the health of our democracies. These principles cover participatory democracy, the separation of powers and the rule of...
Anti-torture Committee highlights dire situation in Lithuanian prisons
In a report published today, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has reiterated concerns over inter-prisoner violence in Lithuania, following an ad hoc visit to the country in February 2024. The objective of the visit was to examine the implementation of the...
On-the-spot appraisal (OSA) in Anamur Mersin, Türkiye - Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats
On 2 – 4 July 2024 an on-the-spot-appraisal (OSA) was convened in Anamur Mersin, Türkiye. Related to the case-file 2019/5: Habitat destruction in Mersin Anamur Beach, the appraisal included...
Council of Europe evaluates access to official documents held by public authorities in 11 states
The Council of Europe’s Access Info Group (AIG), an independent group of experts created to monitor the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents by its parties, published today its first baseline evaluation reports on 11 states: Bosnia and Herzegovina,...
Slovak Republic: urgent need to address human rights of Roma and adopt an intergenerational approach
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, calls for emergency interventions to address the dreadful housing conditions of thousands of Roma, following his visit to the Slovak Republic from 8 to 12 July. The Commissioner engaged extensively with Roma communities to...
PACE committee, setting out new ways to tackle migrant smuggling, proposes a Council of Europe instrument
In line with the priorities set in the Reykjavík Declaration calling for reinforced action against the smuggling of migrants and as the European Committee on Crime Problems is exploring avenues towards reinforced co-operation between member States, a PACE committee has urged a dual approach to...
Anti-torture Committee again calls on Greece to reform its immigration detention system and stop pushbacks
In a report on its ad hoc visit to Greece, which took place from 21 November to 1 December 2023, published together with the response of the Greek authorities, the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) once again urges...
Facing challenges to human rights posed by climate change
A panel discussion during the UN 2024 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development has assessed how best to build a resilient, multi-stakeholder coalition to face climate challenges and how they relate to human rights. Organised by the Council of Europe and Lithuania, the event –...
Albania and the Republic of Moldova mark 29 years of Council of Europe membership
On the same day in July 1995, Albania and the Republic of Moldova respectively became the 35th and 36th members of the Council of Europe. Representing Albania on July 13 was the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alfred Serreqi, while the Republic of Moldova was represented by its Minister of...
11 July: International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica
Statement by the Secretary General
Srebrenica Genocide: Remember, honour and act - Commissioner for Human Rights
This year is the first time that 11 July is marked as International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica, following the adoption by the United...
Two more weeks to enter the Council of Europe´s photo and video competition for young Europeans!
The Council of Europe has extended the deadline for the photo and video competition Human Rights, Camera, Action! aimed at young people, inviting them to use their smartphones or digital cameras to convey a creative vision of human rights in Europe through a photograph or short video. Prize...
Commissioner O’Flaherty condemns deadly missile attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine
“Russia's deadly missile attacks on civilian infrastructure in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities yesterday are yet another glaring example of the brutality of Russian forces and their...
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...
PACE : Georgia’s foreign influence transparency law should be repealed without delay
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) today expressed its deep concern at recent developments in Georgia that “raise serious doubts" about the country’s commitment to international democratic norms and Euro-Atlantic integration, and about its willingness to honour its...
Germany: Report on implementation of recommendations for immediate action for regional and minority language use
In an evaluation adopted on 20 June this year and published today, the Council of Europe's Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages acknowledges legal and policy measures that have been taken by the German federal authorities and by the Länder to protect and...
Europride2024: Proud and concerned
Speech delivered at the closing session of the Thessaloniki EuroPride 2024 Human Rights Conference (check against delivery) Dear friends, It's a great pleasure to be here. I want to...
ECRI: new reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina, San Marino, Malta and Serbia
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has published new reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Malta, San Marino and Serbia. In its report on Bosnia and Herzegovina, while also highlighting progress made in some areas since the adoption of its previous report in 2016, ECRI...
PACE sets out plans to try Russian leaders, strengthen sanctions and stop the ‘erasure’ of Ukrainian identity
In a trio of resolutions, adopted today after a joint debate in Strasbourg, PACE has set out plans to try Vladimir Putin and his generals for aggression against Ukraine, strengthen sanctions against Russia and counter its attempts to “erase” Ukrainian cultural identity. Approving a resolution and...
Secretary General meets Public Defender of Georgia
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Public Defender of Georgia Levan Ioseliani. The Secretary General recalled her statement on the law “on transparency of foreign influence” and reiterated the importance of the Venice Commission Urgent Opinion in this context. The Secretary...
Protection of national minorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia
The Council of Europe has published two new opinions by the Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM), on Bosnia and Herzegovina and on Georgia. In its opinion on Bosnia and Herzegovina the Committee urges Bosnia and...
The Olympic Torch is welcomed at the Council of Europe on its way to Paris
The Olympic Torch was greeted today by leading officials, parliamentarians and staff of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg during an unprecedented stop on its journey to the host city of Paris ahead of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. A torch-bearer passed through crowds of well-wishers in...
The Olympic torch arrives at the Council of Europe
One month before the opening of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the Council of Europe today welcomed the Olympic Torch Relay. For the first time ever, the torch entered the premises of a parliament, and did so during the plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the organisation’s 46 member...
Alternative sanctions and measures to prison: European annual statistics for 2023
The overall number of persons subject to sanctions and measures which keep offenders in the community remained stable in Europe from January 2022 to January 2023, although some probation administrations experienced significant increases or decreases, according to the Council of Europe Annual...
European Committee of Social Rights Publishes annual report
The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) has published its Annual Activity Report for 2023. The report provides an account of many aspects of the ECSR’s work throughout the year, in particular the monitoring of the compliance of states with the Charter, but also a wide range of other...
Secretary General meets Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets. The meeting focused on the situation of children of Ukraine who were unlawfully deported and forcibly transferred by the Russian Federation. The state of play of the Register...
5 priorities to stand up for the human rights of the people of Ukraine
Speech delivered at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) joint debate on the legal and human rights aspects of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine President, thank...
Alain Berset elected Secretary General of the Council of Europe
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) today elected Alain Berset (Switzerland) as Secretary General of the Council of Europe for a five-year term beginning on 18 September 2024. In the second round of the election, Mr Berset obtained 114 votes, a majority of the votes cast....
Civil society in Europe needs to be protected!
Civil society plays an essential role in encouraging respect for human rights, as well as strengthening democracy and the rule of law in Europe. The Council of Europe Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) organised a conference in Helsinki, Finland, on protecting and promoting the space for...
CM President Landsbergis: Council of Europe must remain the driver of real action against Russia’s aggression
“Your strong and timely political recommendation to the Committee of Ministers to expel Russia was groundbreaking and – for many of us – brought back faith in our common institutions,” said Gabrielius Landsbergis, President of the Committee of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of...
Secretary General meets UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. The excellent institutional co-operation between the Council of Europe and United Nations has been underlined during the exchange of views. Marija Pejčinović Burić...
Secretary General meets Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the Committee of Ministers Gabrielius Landsbergis. The meeting focused on the Priorities of the Lithuanian Presidency. The opening for signature of the Framework Convention on Artificial...
Georgia: Venice Commission publishes two new opinions
The Venice Commission has published two new opinions on Georgia adopted at the latest plenary session: the Opinion on amendments to the Election Code abolishing gender quotas and the Follow-up opinion to the December 2023 joint opinion by the Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR on the draft...
Council of Europe Congress visits Bulgaria to discuss the execution of Court judgements at local level
Congress Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC/G/PD) will carry out a visit to Bulgaria on 25 June 2024 to hold a political dialogue with local authorities...
Secretary General highlights Council of Europe 75th anniversary at Assembly Summer plenary session
“As we continue to celebrate the Council of Europe’s 75th anniversary, I believe that the importance of its future success is understood by our member states and that despite all the complications there is an opportunity to build on this Organisation’s extraordinary legacy with a new layer of...
First Vigdís Prize for Women’s Empowerment awarded to Irida Women’s Center in Greece
The first Vigdís Prize for Women’s Empowerment has been awarded to the Irida Women’s Center in Greece, a grassroots NGO which works for positive change in the lives of women experiencing poverty, social exclusion and gender-based violence. The 60,000-euro annual prize, awarded jointly by PACE and...
Register of Damage for Ukraine and the Congress launch awareness campaign for Ukrainian Local and Regional Authorities
The Register of Damage for Ukraine (RD4U) and the Council of Europe’s Congress held an event in Kyiv to kick off preparations for an awareness campaign aimed at involving representatives of Ukrainian cities and regions in promoting RD4U's mandate and the process of submitting claims to the...
A Commissioner’s call to action for civil society
Speech delivered by Michael O’Flaherty at the 100th session of the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH), Conference on the Protection and the Promotion of Civil Society Space in...
Secretary General meets President of Iceland
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met President of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson. The meeting focused on the Reykjavik agenda follow-up, notably in the areas of non-discrimination, gender equality, the environment, and artificial intelligence. The 75th anniversary initiatives and the...
Sofia conference tackles challenges in prison and probation services
Directors of European prison and probation services from the 46 Council of Europe’s member states are meeting in Sofia on 24 and 25 June to discuss ways to improve the autonomy and resocialisation of prisoners and combat organised crime groups in the prison and probation contexts, among other...
Venice Commission adopts or endorses 17 opinions
The Venice Commission plenary session on 21 and 22 June adopted or endorsed 17 opinions concerning eight countries (Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Haiti, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, and Poland). The documents adopted by the plenary session are being published this...
The Olympic torch comes to the Council of Europe on 26 June
On Wednesday 26 June, the Council of Europe, in the presence of its Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, will have the honour of welcoming the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch to its Assembly Chamber. For the first time ever, the torch will enter the premises of a parliament, and will be doing so...
Paris 2024: Commissioner O’Flaherty engages with the host city and civil society actors about the human rights impact of the Olympic Games
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, visited Paris today to meet with the City of Paris, the French National Consultative Human...
Venice Commission holds its plenary session
The Venice Commission is holding its second plenary session of the year, with an agenda that includes 17 opinions concerning eight countries (Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Haiti, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, and Poland). The session is closed to the public, but the...
PACE summer session: Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, challenges to democracy in Georgia, Vigdís Prize
A joint debate on the legal and human rights aspects of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, on the role of sanctions and on the erasure of cultural identity are among the highlights of the summer plenary session of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, taking place from 24 to 28 June...
GRECO: 25 years helping states to combat corruption
The Council of Europe´s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2024. Since 1999, when it was established, GRECO has been a driving force in countering corruption in its member states, which today include the 46 Council of Europe member states, the United...
Budapest Convention reaches 75 Parties
Benin, Fiji and Kiribati have acceded to the Convention on Cybercrime. With these new accessions, made in Strasbourg on 20 June in the presence of Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge, 75 States are now Parties, two have signed it and 18 have been invited to accede to the Convention....
Ukraine becomes member state of Observatory on History Teaching in Europe
After one year of membership as an observer state, Ukraine has joined the Observatory on History Teaching in Europe as a fully-fledged member state. “Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine reconfirmed the need to change approaches and practices in history teaching, the importance of implementing...
Switzerland should improve identification of human trafficking victims and their access to justice and assistance
A new report by the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) calls on Switzerland to take more measures against trafficking, particularly by improving victim identification and access to compensation, combating trafficking for the purpose of...
World Refugee Day: Upholding refugee rights shows shared values and humanity
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has marked World Refugee Day by paying tribute to the support given by Council of Europe member states to millions of refugees. “Our continued commitment to upholding the rights of refugees is a testament to our shared values. Over the last decade, Europe...
Key challenges of 2023 and beyond: dire situation of people displaced by war, the rise of antisemitism and anti-Muslim racism
Addressing the situation of people displaced by war and other emergencies, countering the rise of antisemitism in Europe as a result of the current conflict in the Middle East, taking resolute action against anti-Muslim racism and discrimination across the continent – these were the key trends in...
Junior Crystal Scales of Justice Prize awarded at the CEPEJ plenary meeting
The award ceremony for the Junior Crystal Scales of Justice Prize took place during the 42nd plenary meeting of the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ), held in Strasbourg on June 18 and 19, 2024. The winning team of students from the Faculty of Law at Leiden University...
“Death is not justice”: Strasbourg workshop on the abolition of the death penalty
In collaboration with civil society partners Ensemble contre la peine de mort (ECPM) and the German Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (GCADP), the Council of Europe is holding the second edition of a workshop, “Death is not justice – advocacy for the abolition of the death penalty”, in...
Secretary General marks 75th anniversary in Vilnius and opens EuroDig conference
“Lithuania has embarked on a positive and ambitious agenda for its Presidency of the Committee of Ministers. One that respects the legacy and ongoing aims of our Organisation. But also addresses some of the more recent and defining challenges of our times. This really is the story of the Council...
Exchange of views with the Committee of Ministers
Speech by Michael O’Flaherty at the Exchange of view with the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe President, distinguished Ambassadors, Thank you for the invitation to...
Journalism Excellence Awards honour media professionals for ethical reporting in combating racism and antigypsyism
Five media professionals have earned Journalism Excellence Awards for the programme “Ethical Media Reporting on Roma and Combating Racism and Antigypsyism through the Media.” Organised under the EU-CoE Joint Programme EQUIROM (Equality and Freedom from Discrimination for Roma), as part of the...
Denmark protects German minority to a high level, but should improve protection of other communities
Denmark has a high level of social welfare, protection of citizen rights and a strong focus on gender equality, which benefits also persons belonging to minorities, be it the recognised German minority or other non-recognised communities. However, in an opinion on Denmark’s implementation...
Journalism Excellence Awards 2024: the media is a key ally in defending the human rights of Roma
Speech by Michael O’Flaherty on the occasion of the Journalism Excellence Awards Ceremony - “Ethical media reporting on Roma and combating racism and antigypsyism through the media”...
First ‘No Hate Speech Week’ started at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg
The first ever No Hate Speech Week organised by the Council of Europe has kicked off in Strasbourg today, on the International Day for Countering Hate Speech. The three-day conference offers a platform to discuss recent legal and policy developments, to share innovative practices, and to...
New report on role of Roma in Ukrainian war efforts and on post-war reconstruction
Roma people living in Ukraine are fighting on the front lines and in high numbers, many as volunteers, to defend the country against Russian aggression. This is the finding of a new report, Fighting for a Fairer Future: The Impact of the War in Ukraine on Roma and Lessons for Post-War...
Finland should reject the draft law on instrumentalisation of migration, protect access to asylum and prevent summary expulsions
In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the Parliament of Finland and several Committee chairpersons, published today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael...
European Dialogue on Internet Governance
The Council of Europe is taking part in the 2024 edition of the European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG), which brings together representatives of governments, international organisations, business, civil society, academia and the technical community to discuss in internet-related...
Secretary General at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine
“Since the outset of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Council of Europe has been clear about its determination to do whatever we can to support the Ukrainian Government and people. President Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula is equally clear about the way out of this brutal,...
PACE President attends Ukraine Recovery Conference, holds high-level meetings
PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos participated in the Ukraine Recovery 2024 Conference, organised under the theme “United for Defense. United for recovery. Stronger together.” The conference followed an annual series of high-level political events dedicated to the rapid recovery and long-term...
Implementing ECHR judgments: Latest decisions from Committee of Ministers
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has published the case-by-case decisions taken during the Committee’s meeting from 11 to 13 June to supervise the implementation of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights. The Committee of Ministers adopted 42 decisions...
Congress Vice-President attends Ukraine Recovery Conference
Congress Vice-President Bernd Vöhringer welcomed the local dimension put forward at the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2024) in Berlin on 11-12 June 2024. Organised by the governments of Germany and Ukraine, the Conference brought together heads of state and governments, international...
PACE summer session: Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, challenges to democracy in Georgia, Vigdís Prize
A joint debate on the legal and human rights aspects of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, on the role of sanctions and on the erasure of cultural identity, as well as an address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (to be confirmed), are among the highlights of the summer plenary session...
Deputy Secretary General meets Italian Justice Minister
Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge has met Carlo Nordio, the Minister of Justice of Italy. The meeting focused on the accountability for the Russian aggression against Ukraine, notably regarding the Register of Damage for Ukraine. They also discussed other ongoing initiatives in this context,...
Congress launches revision of the Youth Participation Charter
The Congress’ Committee on Social Inclusion and Human Dignity has launched a survey among key partners as part of the revision of the European Charter on the Participation of Young People in...
Congress’ Governance Committee debates development of circular economy at local and regional level
The Committee on Governance, Civic Engagement and the Environment (Governance Committee) of the Congress met for the first time under its new terms of reference on 11 June 2024 in Strasbourg....
Secretary General at Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin
“Since the beginning of Russia’s brutal and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, the Council of Europe has been actively supporting Ukraine in its judiciary reforms, even more so after Ukraine was granted EU candidate status last June. As part of the Action Plan on Resilience, Recovery, and...
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 and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from 11 to 13 June. Cases proposed for detailed examination concern Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium,...
CEB and Ukraine sign a loan agreement to address urgent housing needs
At the Ukraine Recovery Conference on 11 June 2024 Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) Governor Carlo Monticelli and the Minister of Finance of Ukraine Serhii Marchenko signed a €100 million loan agreement on project “HOME: Compensation for destroyed residential properties,” supporting the...
ERIAC Board discusses Roma inclusion and democratic backsliding
The 13th Board Meeting of the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) was held on 10 June in Berlin, Germany and focused on the preparation of ERIAC’s strategy, 2026-2030. Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge emphasised that “7 years after its launch in Berlin, on 8...
MONEYVAL: the Republic of Moldova has improved its compliance with FATF recommendations, but further progress is needed
The Republic of Moldova has strengthened its legal and institutional framework to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism, but it still needs to address several shortcomings, concludes MONEYVAL in a follow-up report released today. The follow-up report welcomes that the Republic of...
GRETA: Finland should ensure access to compensation for human trafficking victims and effective sanctions for traffickers
In a new report published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has called on Finland to strengthen the criminal justice response to human trafficking and to provide victims with compensation and specialised assistance. The report...
Secretary General at Privacy Symposium 2024 Conference in Venice
“How do we ensure that legal systems across our Continent and beyond are able to protect the personal data of citizens in the digital age? The Council of Europe has developed specific treaties to help governments achieve this. Convention 108 was opened for signature 43 years ago and it has been...
Today, tomorrow, together for public health – EDQM high-level conference celebrating 60 years of excellence in public health protection
The European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM) of the Council of Europe is proudly marking its 60th anniversary this year, celebrating six decades of pioneering work in protecting public health and striving for a world in which everyone can enjoy better health. Marija...
In Luxembourg, parliamentarians seek solutions for Belarusians in exile
Participants at a major conference in Luxembourg have explored ways that national parliaments can help to address the challenges faced by Belarusians in exile – whether practical support on issues such as avoiding reprisals and entry and residence procedures, or by helping to preserve Belarusian...
Acting together, meeting Europe’s challenges – Reykjavik Joint Meeting of the Council of Europe Development Bank
Disaster risk management and climate action are amongst the priorities and new projects under discussion at the 57th joint meeting of the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) held in Reykjavik, Iceland today, bringing together the bank’s governing bodies, appointed officials and management....
Warsaw Ukrainian School in Poland wins CEB Social Cohesion Award 2024
Top marks awarded for innovative curriculum designed to help integrate refugee children from Ukraine
GRETA: Germany should ensure effective sanctions for traffickers and access to assistance and compensation for human trafficking victims
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has urged the German authorities to take further action against human trafficking, notably by providing specialised assistance and compensation for victims and ensuring effective sanctions for human...
Prison overcrowding remains a problem in Europe: Council of Europe’s annual penal statistics for 2023
Prison overcrowding continues to be an acute and persistent problem in a significant number of European prison administrations, according to the Council of Europe’s Annual Penal Statistics on Prison Populations (SPACE I) for 2023, released today (see also the Key findings). In countries with over...
Combating hate speech in sport : from words to action with a powerful commitment by the sport community
In Madrid, Spain, the Council of Europe/European Union project “Combating hate speech in sport” is presenting effective tools and progress made in the participating countries (Spain, France, Germany, Greece, Italy and Montenegro) to address hate speech in sport. The event is bringing together key...
EDQM celebrates 60 years of advancing public health
In a landmark celebration of six decades of co-operation, excellence and leadership, the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM), part of the Council of Europe, is set to host its 60th anniversary conference on 11 and 12 June 2024, under the theme “Today, tomorrow,...
PACE Summer Session: Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Vigdís Prize, election of the next Council of Europe Secretary General
A joint debate on the legal and human rights aspects of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the role of sanctions and the erasure of cultural identity, with an address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (to be confirmed), are among the highlights of the summer plenary session of the...
Congress President calls for concerted action at all levels of governance to tackle the environmental crisis
To mark World Environment Day on 5 June 2024, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Marc Cools, made the following statement: “Not a day goes by without local and regional elected representatives taking a decision relating to the environment....
Expert committee calls on Finland to strengthen education in the different Sami languages and ensure their use in services
The Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages has called on the Finnish authorities to further strengthen education of Inari Sami, North Sami and Skolt Sami and ensure their effective use in social and health care services. The committee also recommends that...
Congress advocates for deliberative processes to restore trust in democratic institutions
On 30 May 2024, Congress Vice-President Gunn Marit Helgesen (Norway, EPP/CCE) held an exchange of views with the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy of the Council of Europe’s...
Congress Spokesperson warns against risks of AI for human rights
“Artificial intelligence (AI) is now an integral part of our private and professional lives and of governance at every level. However, the unregulated design and use of AI tools present...
"Nothing about us without us" - new guidelines on engaging with victims and survivors of childhood sexual violence
Ahead of the International Children’s Day celebrated on 1 June, the Council of Europe has published Guidelines for policy makers on engaging with victims and survivors of child sexual exploitation and sexual abuse – “Nothing About Us Without Us” . This initiative is in line with the day’s mission...
Advancing the Abolition of the Death Penalty Among Belarusian Society and Diaspora: Workshop in Vilnius
A training workshop on the advancement of the issue of abolition of the death penalty in Belarus among Belarusian society, including diaspora, took place in Vilnius, Lithuania from 30-31 May. The event was opened by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Jonas Survila on behalf of the...
At the French Senate, Congress calls for a global strategy against hate speech
“In recent years, there has been a deplorable rise in all kinds of violence against local elected representatives in Europe, whether physical, psychological or verbal. A global strategy is urgently needed to protect them against hate speech...
Congress assists Finland in historic local government reform
After 30 years of discussions, Finland embarked in 2023 upon the largest public administrative reform in its history – with the creations of its wellbeing counties. Ensuring access to quality...
Deputy Secretary General and Finnish Sports Minister discuss values-based sport
On the occasion of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) annual plenary meeting in Strasbourg, Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge has met with the Minister of youth, sport and physical activity of Finland, Sandra Bergqvist. Their meeting focused on current global challenges for sports...
Launching Gender Equality Strategy 2024-2029; ten years since Istanbul Convention entered into force
A conference entitled “United around gender equality: making space for women and girls” will launch the Council of Europe’s Gender Equality Strategy 2024-2029 and mark ten years since the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (also...
Secretary General marks 10 years of the Istanbul Convention launching the Gender Equality Strategy 2024-2029
“Throughout my mandate, I have returned over and over to the importance of the Istanbul Convention. Marking its 10 years in force here today, I am very happy to speak about it once again. The Istanbul Convention is a landmark treaty in the battle to end violence against women and domestic...
Stricter regulation needed to prevent corruption in top executive functions of central governments, says GRECO
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has called on governments to adopt stricter regulations to prevent corruption and promote integrity in the top executive functions of central governments, particularly regarding lobbying and contacts with third parties, and to...
Ministerial 2024: a vision for an agile and flexible Commissioner's mandate
Address at the 133rd Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe Mesdames et Messieurs les Ministres, Monsieur le Président, Excellences, Il y a un an, à Reykjavik,...
IDAHOT+ Forum 2024, not a time for business as usual: wake up!
Speech given at the Opening Plenary Session of IDAHOT+ Forum 2024 at The Hague Minister, Excellencies, Friends, It is a great pleasure to be with you. I'm a 65-year-old gay Irish man,...
Slovak Republic: new draft laws risk having a chilling effect on civil society and interfering with independence of public service media
In a letter addressed to the Deputy Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic (Parliament) and several Committee chairpersons, published today, the Council of Europe...
Commissioner O'Flaherty calls for greater efforts to protect press freedom
Ahead of World Press Freedom Day 2024, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, issued the following statement: “Despite a growing awareness...
Human Rights Commissioner O’Flaherty calls for stronger support to Ukraine
From 23 to 25 April 2024, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty carried out a visit to Ukraine (Kyiv). This was his first visit to a member state...
Serious human rights concerns about United Kingdom’s Rwanda Bill
“The adoption of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill by the UK Parliament raises major issues about the human rights of asylum seekers and the rule of law more...
Congress fosters open government in Ukraine
The Ukrainian Platform for National-Local Dialogue has held a meeting on “Open government as a key ingredient for resilient local authorities”. “It is inspiring to witness that authorities in Ukraine continue to dedicate time and resources to engaging the population in decision-making, even under...
Exchange of views between the Commissioner for Human Rights and the PACE Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination
Speech delivered on the occasion of the exchange of views between the Commissioner for Human Rights and the PACE Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination Chairperson, esteemed...
Georgia: concerns about the compatibility of the draft law “On transparency of foreign influence” with the rights to freedom of association and expression
In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia published today, Commissioner O’Flaherty expresses concerns about the compatibility of the draft law “On transparency...
Commissioner pledges to prioritise the defence of civil society
Speech delivered at the exchange of views with the Council of Europe's Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations (CINGO): “Dear friends, Thank you for inviting me to...
The Commissioner calls for an enhanced respect for the dignity of Romani people
Speech - Commissioner O’Flaherty participated in the International Romani Day celebration held at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg, where he has cast a rose in the river in honour of the...
Situation in Georgia: Statement by the Secretary General
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić today made the following statement: “I strongly deplore today’s decision by the Parliament of Georgia to overrule the President’s veto and proceed with the final endorsement of the law “on transparency of foreign influence” in its...
Gabrielius Landsbergis: ‘The fate of Europe is currently being decided in Ukraine’
“The Council of Europe is celebrating its 75th anniversary. We can be proud of its principled performance when faced with an unprecedented ethical choice. It is one of the very few organisations that expelled the aggressor state right after the start of Russia’s full-scale war of aggression...
PACE Standing Committee holds current affairs debate on 'Recent challenges to democracy in Georgia'
PACE’s Standing Committee, meeting in Vilnius, held a current affairs debate on “Recent challenges to democracy in Georgia”, focusing primarily on the controversial adoption by the Georgian Parliament of the law on transparency of foreign influence and the mass protests it has sparked. Opening...
Current affairs debate on 'Recent challenges to democracy in Georgia'
PACE’s Standing Committee, meeting in Vilnius, held a current affairs debate on “Recent challenges to democracy in Georgia”, focusing primarily on the controversial adoption by the Georgian Parliament of the law on transparency of foreign influence and the mass protests it has sparked. Opening...
Lithuanian Prime Minister meets with the Women@PACE group in Vilnius
“With seven women and eight men as Ministers, your government has become the most gender-balanced cabinet in eastern Europe, with women holding key ministries, notably those of Justice, Finance, Economy, and the Interior,” said PACE Secretary General Despina Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis, welcoming...
MONEYVAL publishes follow-up reports on Bulgaria, the Holy See and San Marino
The Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL) has published three follow-up reports evaluating progress by Bulgaria, the Holy See (including the Vatican City State) and San Marino in implementing the Financial Action Task...
2024 World Forum for Democracy: call for initiatives
The 12th World Forum for Democracy, “Democracy and Diversity - Can we transcend the divides?” will take place from 6-8 November 2024 in Strasbourg. In a year during which around one half of...
GRETA carries out third evaluation visit to Ukraine
A delegation of the Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) carried out an evaluation visit to Ukraine from 21 to 23 May 2024, as part of the third evaluation round of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. The focus of...
Ukraine’s commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the deportation of the Crimean Tatars and remembrance of the victims of the genocide of the Crimean Tatar people
Joint Statement by Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the Committee of Ministers Gabrielius Landsbergis, Parliamentary Assembly President Theodoros Rousopoulos, Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, and Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty
Finland Looks to the Future on Human Rights
Finland has held its second annual Council of Europe Human Rights Day, raising awareness of the Council of Europe’s work to protect and promote human rights, democracy and rule of law in Finland and throughout the continent. This year´s event had a particular focus on youth engagement. It was...
Croatia: Minority languages widely used in education, but too limited in public administration and broadcasting
A new report from the Committee of Experts for the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages praises Croatia for continued protection and promotion of minority languages for national minorities, and enabling their use in fields such as education, judicial authorities, administration,...
Türkiye hosts conference on international judicial cooperation in criminal matters
In cooperation with the Ministry of Justice of Türkiye, Directorate General for Foreign Relations and European Union Affairs, the Council of Europe has organised a two-day international conference “International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters and Combatting Cybercrime“ under the EU-CoE...
The protection of the human rights of Roma and Travellers must become a top priority in our member states
“The discrimination experienced by Roma and Travellers in Europe and the scale of human rights violations that they face is shocking and calls for firm action”, said the Council of...
First Manual on the New Law on Local Public Service in Ukraine presented
On 23 May 2024, the first Manual “Novelties of the Law on Local Public Service in Ukraine of 2 May 2023: commentary and comparative analysis” was presented at a hybrid meeting in Kyiv, with the online participation of more...
Congress participates in North-South Dialogues in Lisbon
On 20 and 21 May, the Congress participated in the North-South Dialogues in Lisbon, a new initiative launched by the North South Centre intended to provide a platform to discuss the state of...
Michael O'Flaherty takes up office as Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights
Statement The Council of Europe's new Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, begins his six-year mandate today with a pledge to put human rights at the heart of member states’...
Montenegro: Venice Commissions publishes a series of urgent opinions
The Council of Europe’s body of constitutional legal experts, the Venice Commission, has recently published five new urgent (follow-up) opinions on draft legislation of Montenegro. All of them were requested by the Minister of Justice of Montenegro. The urgent opinions published are those on the...
Moldova: students and the government take action on gender equality and violence against women
At the State University of Chisinau (USM) some 120 students learned about the role of the Council of Europe in promoting gender equality and preventing violence against women. During his visit to the Republic of Moldova, Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge engaged with the students, discussing...
Human Rights Commissioner O’Flaherty calls for stronger support to Ukraine - Commissioner for Human Rights
Country visit From 23 to 25 April 2024, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty carried out a visit to Ukraine (Kyiv). This was his first visit to a member state...
Georgia should repeal the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence in its current form, says Venice Commission
In an urgent opinion published on 21 May 2024, the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission strongly recommends repealing the Law of Georgia on Transparency of Foreign Influence in its current form, as its fundamental flaws will involve significant negative consequences for freedoms of association...
Expert committee calls for action plans to protect minority languages in Czechia
The Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages of the Council of Europe has called on Czechia to design and implement a specific strategy and action plan for protecting and promoting each of the languages covered by the treaty in the country: German, Moravian...
Deputy Secretary General visits Portugal
During his visit to Portugal, Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge had meetings with the Portuguese Foreign Minister, Minister of Justice and the Speaker of the Parliament, and he addressed the North-South Prize Award Ceremony and the Executive Committee of the North-South Centre. In the margins...
Confidence in Tomorrow event: statement by the Advisory Council on Youth
The youth event Confidence in Tomorrow, organised as part of Liechtenstein’s Presidency of the Committee of Ministers and of the celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe, was held at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg from 14 to 16 May 2024. This gathering showcased...
OSCE and Council of Europe leadership stress importance of strengthened cooperation to protect their principles and values
The leadership of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) met in Strasbourg on the margins of the 133rd Session of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers in Strasbourg on 16 and 17 May. The discussions were led by OSCE Chair-in-Office,...
Foreign ministers support Ukraine, define the organisation’s priorities and adopt a treaty on artificial intelligence
As the organisation celebrates its 75th anniversary, the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Council of Europe’s 46 member states came together at their annual session to reaffirm their support for Ukraine on the road to justice and reconstruction. Following on from the Reykjavik Summit, they also...
Lithuania takes over Presidency of Committee of Ministers
Lithuania has taken over the rotating Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers from Liechtenstein at a meeting of foreign affairs ministers from the organisation’s 46 member states. Addressing the Committee of Ministers, the outgoing Chairperson, Dominique Hasler, Minister for...
‘As long as our principles gather us around the same table, there is still hope’, says PACE President addressing the Committee of Ministers
“As long as our principles gather us around the same table of mutual understanding, there is still hope, even though the landscape ahead is rocky,” said PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos, at the opening of the 133rd Session of the Committee of Ministers, in the presence of the Foreign Affairs...
Secretary General meets Prime Minister of Lithuania
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė. The meeting focused on the priorities of the upcoming Lithuanian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers. The relevance of the follow up of the Reykjavik agenda was highlighted, with a particular...
Council of Europe adopts first international treaty on artificial intelligence
The Council of Europe has adopted the first-ever international legally binding treaty aimed at ensuring the respect of human rights, the rule of law and democracy legal standards in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The treaty, which is also open to non-European countries, sets out...
Secretary General at the opening of the Committee of Ministers’ Session
“Twelve months ago, European leaders met in Reykjavík for our 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government. It was one of the largest ever gatherings of our continent’s presidents and prime ministers and its significance and impact remain clear. Following the Russian Federation’s full-scale...
Cyprus: Anti-torture committee report finds poor prison living conditions, increased overcrowding and inter-prisoner violence
A new report by the Council of Europe’s European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has found that the prison situation in Cyprus had significantly deteriorated since its previous visit in 2017 (see the executive summary of the report)....
Secretary General marks Council of Europe’s 75th anniversary
“Seventy-five years after the creation of the Council of Europe, when I think of the first signatories of the Treaty of London, I often ask myself: what would they think of us today? Vast as was their vision, their optimism, and their determination. As strong as their desire to work towards a...
Attack against Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico: Statement by Committee of Ministers' President
Liechtenstein Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education and Sport and President of the Committee of Ministers, Dominique Hasler made the following statement: "Today's attack on Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia, is unacceptable. It runs counter to all democratic values defended by the Council...
Stronger political will needed to guarantee the future of freedom and equality for all, say European leaders at IDAHOT+ Forum
Addressing challenges to the human rights of LGBTI persons in Europe – including clampdowns on PRIDEs, efforts to undermine human rights defenders, and a rise in violent attacks on LGBTI people – is the focus of the 11th European IDAHOT+ Forum held by the Council of Europe and the Ministry of...
Anti-torture committee report on North Macedonia
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published a report on its periodic visit to North Macedonia, which took place in October 2023 (see executive summary). The visit focused on treatment by the police, including the...
Slovenia’s Marko Bošnjak elected President of the European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights has elected Marko Bošnjak – the judge in respect of Slovenia – as its new President, to succeed Ireland’s Síofra O’Leary. The Court has also elected a new Vice-President, Norway’s Arnfinn Bårdsen, and a new Section President, Ivana Jelić of Montenegro. All three...
Foreign ministers of 46 member states meet a year after Reykjavik Summit
The Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Council of Europe’s 46 member states will hold their annual session on 17 May 2024, in the context of the organisation’s 75th anniversary. The agenda will include the measures which the Council of Europe is continuing to take in response to the Russian...
Human Rights, Camera, Action! - Council of Europe launches photo and video competition for young Europeans
To celebrate its 75th anniversary and to raise awareness of the role and impact of the Council of Europe, the Deputy Secretary General, Bjørn Berge, has launched a photo and video competition entitled “Human Rights, Camera, Action!” aimed at young people, inviting them to use their smartphones...
Secretary General: “We need ideas, voices, and energy of young Europeans to win the fight for human rights, democracy and the rule of law”
Young people have a role to play in making sure that our standards prevail in the long term, but it will only be possible if the Organisation opens its ears, mind and doors to young people, stressed Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić in her opening address at the youth...
What makes young Europeans confident in tomorrow?
The youth event “Confidence in Tomorrow”, to be held at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg from 14-16 May, will focus on the aspirations and commitments of today’s young Europeans and their role in shaping democracy and human rights. Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić and Permanent...
Berlin conference on how religious leaders can help to re-invigorate European democracies
As part of Liechtenstein’s Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, an international conference on “How can interreligious engagement help to re-invigorate the European democracies?” will take place on 14 May at the Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ) in Berlin,...
High-level Congress delegation attends Second International Summit of Cities and Regions in Ukraine
The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Marc Cools, Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights, Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC/G/PD) and Thematic Spokesperson on Youth, Véronique Bertholle (France, SOC/G/PD), participated in a high-level visit to...
Hate crimes must be unmasked, recorded and investigated, and victims supported
New Committee of Ministers Recommendation
Council of Europe evaluates anti-corruption progress in Belgium
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has published two reports on Belgium, assessing progress towards implementing GRECO recommendations concerning members of parliament, judges and prosecutors as well as central governments (top executive functions) and law...
Council of Europe adopts guidelines on emergency responses to terrorist attacks
The Committee of Ministers has adopted a series of guidelines aimed at its 46 member states, in order to help public authorities and the public sector to strengthen their emergency responses in case of a terrorist attack. Prepared by the Committee on Counter-Terrorism (CDCT), the guidelines...
"Defending fundamental freedoms in times of war and crises” on the Kristiansand conference agenda
The future of European co-operation and justice for Ukraine featured heavily at the 5th European Conference on Democracy and Human Rights in Kristiansand, Norway on 6 May. Following a welcome address by the Mayor of Kristiansand, Matthias Bernander, the official opening speeches focused on the...
Europe Day 2024 : video message from Secretary General
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić marks the organisation’s 75th anniversary. The Council of Europe was founded in London on 5 May 1949 by ten European countries. The organisation now comprises 46 member states, representing 700 million European citizens. 5 May is...
“Confidence in Tomorrow”
Statement by Secretary General on Europe Day 2024
Situation in Georgia: Statement by the Secretary General
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić today made the following statement: “I am deeply concerned by the developments unfolding in Georgia and regret Parliament’s adoption in second reading of the draft law ‘on transparency of foreign influence’, despite calls by Georgia’s...
World Press Freedom Day
2024 election year: Secretary General urges governments to protect journalists to safeguard democracy
Ukraine: Disregard false information concerning derogations from the European Convention on Human Rights
In 2022, Ukraine notified the Council of Europe of derogations to several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights resulting from the Russian aggression and ongoing state of war in the country. Ukraine regularly updates the Council of Europe about these derogations. As of 4 April 2024...
One year on from Reykjavik, the Congress is working to implement the Summit’s conclusions
In his communication to the Committee of Ministers on 30 April 2024, Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori presented the Congress action to implement the decisions of the Reykjavik Summit, notably in supporting Ukraine, fighting against democratic backsliding, upholding human rights and the...
“Our rights, our future”
Secretary General 2024 report on democracy, human rights, and rule of law in Europe
L’Atelier de l’Europe: immersion in the Council of Europe’s art collection
To mark its 75th anniversary, the Council of Europe is offering a unique audio experience featuring 12 works of art that are emblematic of the organisation’s history, heritage and values. L’Atelier de l’Europe (Europe’s workshop), a 12-episode podcast in French, will be available from 1 May. The...
Anti-trafficking group GRETA issues 2023 report
The Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has published its latest general report of activities, highlighting the key achievements in 2023. These include the publication of 11 new country evaluation reports (in respect of Azerbaijan, Estonia,...
Secretary General welcomes new three-year contract “Strasbourg, European Capital”
Statement by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić
Ukraine: Anti-torture committee expresses concern over prison overcrowding and informal hierarchies
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published the report on its October 2023 periodic visit to Ukraine, the first since the start of the full-scale military aggression by Russia in February 2022. Despite the efforts by...
Human Rights Commissioner calls for stronger support for Ukraine
The new Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, carried out a visit to Kyiv, Ukraine from 23-25 April. This was his first visit to a member state since taking up his post on 1 April. With the current human rights landscape in Europe being dominated by Russia’s war...
Secretary General attends OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna
“I said at the very beginning of my mandate, in 2019, that I wanted to reinforce co-operation between the Council of Europe and other international organisations in the interest of people in Europe, and the wider world. And I cannot think of a better way to mark the Council of Europe’s 75th...
