Newsroom
Secretary General meets Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić in her meeting with Lasha Darsalia, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia, stressed the unwavering commitment of the Council of Europe to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, as well as support to Georgia’s European path. The...
Vigdís Prize for Women's Empowerment: call for nominations
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in partnership with the Government of Iceland, has issued a call for nominations for the first ever edition of the Vigdís Prize for Women's Empowerment. A joint initiative of the Icelandic Government and PACE, the Prize pays tribute to...
Secretary General at the International Conference on a Global Alliance to counter migrant smuggling in Brussels
“We must unite to close the loopholes in national legislation and international systems and prevent this criminal trade in human lives. The Council of Europe has been working in this direction for several years”, emphasised Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić while addressing the...
How the Istanbul Convention is saving lives
As we approach the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, sobering statistics remind us of the urgent need to stop this violence, and a landmark treaty is proving increasingly successful to do just that: the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating...
Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner: shortlist announced
The Committee of Ministers has submitted a shortlist of three candidates for the post of Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner to the organisation’s Parliamentary Assembly. The candidates are, in alphabetical order: - Meglena KUNEVA (Bulgaria) - Manfred NOWAK (Austria) - Michael O’FLAHERTY...
Croatia: “Marked improvement” in treatment of detained criminal suspects, but prison overcrowding a concern
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published the report of its periodic visit to Croatia in September 2022, together with the response of the Croatian authorities (see executive summary in English – in Croatian) - Read...
European organisations and national authorities to help Belarusian media in exile to continue their work in Europe
The Council of Europe has held the Second Workshop for Belarusian journalists in exile. The issues that were discussed included professional solidarity and cooperation among journalists in exile and national and international associations, support to Belarusian journalists through European...
WADA annual meeting: Reforms and key governance issues discussed to help combat doping in sports world-wide
Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge has represented the Council of Europe in the annual meetings of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on 16 and 17 November in Montréal, Canada. The Deputy Secretary General attended the Executive Committee and participated, as a member...
Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) approves €100 million loan for restoration of health infrastructure damaged by the war in Ukraine
The CEB’s loan will support the Health Enhancement and Life-Saving (HEAL) project, a $500 million framework operation developed by the World Bank in collaboration with the Ukrainian authorities, which is designed to bring together development partners. The World Bank has already approved a $100...
European day against child sexual abuse: stronger engagement with victims and survivors needed to stop stigmatisation and prevent further crime, says Secretary General
Ahead of the European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (18 November), Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has called on Council of Europe member states to step up their engagement with victims and survivors of childhood sexual violence to help...
Secretary General meets San Marino Minister for Foreign Affairs
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Minister for Foreign Affairs of San Marino Luca Beccari. The meeting focused on the follow up to the Reykjavik Summit, highlighting the need to respond to new challenges such as artificial intelligence and the impact of climate change and...
Conference of Participants of the Register of Damage for Ukraine elects its Board
The Conference of Participants of the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation Against Ukraine came together for its 3rd meeting on 16 November and elected the seven members of the Register’s Board. Of the 18 candidates (9 men and 9 women) from four different...
Armenia signs second additional Protocol to Cybercrime Convention
Ambassador Arman Khachatryan, the Permanent Representative of Armenia to the Council of Europe has signed, in the presence of Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, the Second additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime on enhanced co-operation and disclosure of electronic evidence...
Foreign Minister of Liechtenstein: “We have become a community of values”
Liechtenstein is both celebrating its 45th anniversary as a Council of Europe member state and preparing for its Presidency of the Organisation’s Committee of Ministers from November 2023 to May 2024. In the spirit of the Council Of Europe Days Project, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique...
Liechtenstein takes over the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers
Liechtenstein has taken over the rotating Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers from Latvia at a meeting with representatives of the organisation’s 46 member states. The Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Reinis Brusbārdis, gave an...
Rise in hate speech and hate incidents
Statement by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić
Istanbul Convention: Council of Europe expert group on violence against women issues reports on Greece, Ireland and Republic of Moldova
GREVIO’s baseline evaluation report on Greece welcomes positive steps since Greece became a party to the Istanbul Convention in October 2018, but also points out shortcomings. GREVIO praises the establishment of 74 specialised police units to improve law enforcement responses to violence against...
Secretary General on official visit to Türkiye
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye Hakan Fidan during an official visit to the country. Discussions focused on the geopolitical situation in and around Europe, and on the co-operation between Türkiye and the Council of Europe.
Mental well-being of young people affected by war: Seminar at European Youth Centre in Budapest
A seminar on the role of youth work in supporting the mental well-being of young people affected by war is taking place at the European Youth Centre in Budapest from 12-15 November. According to a survey conducted in February 2023 among young Ukrainian respondents forced to flee their homes due...
Secretary General on official visit to Lithuania opens “Future of Democracy” Forum in Vilnius
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has opened the high-level Forum “Future of Democracy” on Defending Against Authoritarianism in Vilnius while conducting an official visit to Lithuania. “The Council of Europe has been warning about the rise of authoritarianism rooted in the return of...
The Netherlands should do more to combat human trafficking for labour exploitation, say Council of Europe experts
The Council of Europe’s group of experts on human trafficking has called on the Dutch authorities to take a number of further steps to tackle human trafficking and to ensure that trafficking victims have access to justice. In its third report on the Netherlands the Group of Experts on Action...
Azerbaijani students tackled digital media literacy and disinformation
In Azerbaijan, the Council of Europe has organised a three-day training programme to show journalist students how they can use the standards of the Organisation to improve the quality of journalism by analysing the accuracy of what they see and read online on television and in newspapers every...
Hate speech in times of crisis: new study published by the Council of Europe anti-discrimination, diversity and inclusion committee
In order to be prepared to tackle hate speech in times of crisis, legal frameworks should be amended, law enforcement measures reinforced, collaboration between media, national human rights institutions and equality bodies strengthened, and support to those targeted by hate speech prioritised....
The Defensores de la Democracia Living Archive (Mexico) wins Council of Europe’s Democracy Innovation Award
At closing session of the 11th World Forum for Democracy, the Council of Europe announced that the winner of its 2023 Democracy Innovation Award was the Defensores de la Democracia Living Archive, the first online, public, searchable archive that preserves, catalogues and aggregates the work of...
Secretary General at the Closing session of the 11th World Forum for Democracy
“At a time when some opinion polls suggest that younger people are losing faith in democracy, your ideas, enthusiasm, and presence at this World Forum show that the fatalists are wrong. That a democratic future is yours (and ours) and, with it, the promise of peace”, highlighted Secretary...
Local elections in the Republic of Moldova: A well-organised election process, despite challenging circumstances
At the invitation of the authorities of the Republic of Moldova, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe deployed a mission to observe the local elections held on 5 November 2023 throughout the country. The Congress mission was led by Gunn Marit Helgesen (Norway,...
Preserving the integrity of sport by combatting illegal betting
A Council of Europe conference in Rabat (Morocco) aims to raise awareness of illegal betting, one of the biggest challenges to sport integrity and a key target in the fight against the manipulation of sports competitions, as addressed by the Macolin Convention. During the conference speakers are...
World Forum for Democracy 2023 opens in Strasbourg
The 2023 World Forum for Democracy has opened in Strasbourg. Taking place from Monday 6 to Wednesday 8 November the event brings together intellectuals, politicians, activists, experts and young people from all over the world to debate how democracy can give better guarantees of peace. This...
CEB Governor Monticelli joins President von der Leyen for Regional Housing Programme ceremony
Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) Governor Carlo Monticelli joined European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Borjana Krišto, in a ceremony on 1 November in the municipality of Vogošća, near Sarajevo, to...
Youth work in Ukraine: Council of Europe supports exchanges with Finland and Ireland
Representatives from youth centres in Ukraine have taken part in study visits to counterparts in Finland and Ireland that hold the Council of Europe Quality Label for Youth Centres. The exchanges, which took place in October, were an opportunity for Ukrainian youth workers to present their...
2 November: International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
Impunity is an increasingly worrying trend that has developed into a real culture of impunity for crimes against journalists, with serious consequences on journalistic work and people's access to information of public interest. Combating impunity and the constantly developing tendancy of allowing...
Secretary General at Artificial Intelligence Safety Summit in Bletchley Park
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić participated in the Artificial Intelligence Safety Summit (AISS) in Bletchley Park. The Secretary General highlighted the relevance of the Council of Europe draft framework convention on Artificial Intelligence (AI), as a potentially global treaty...
Secretary General meets United Kingdom’s Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice of the United Kingdom, Alex Chalk. The meeting focused on current political and legal issues of relevance to the United Kingdom and the Council of Europe as a whole. Among the subjects...
Council of Europe to prepare package of measures in response to refugee influx in Armenia following Special Representative on Migration and Refugees’ visit
The Council of Europe is preparing a comprehensive response package to the refugee influx in Armenia following a visit by the Special Representative on Migration and Refugees (SRSG) Leyla Kayacik from 11 to 13 October 2023. This package aims to provide support to Armenia in addressing the issues...
Secretary General meets Chief of State Security Service of Azerbaijan
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the Chief of State Security Service of Azerbaijan Ali Naghi oglu Naghiyev. The meeting focused on the importance of fostering dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including through confidence-building measures (CBMs). Marija Pejčinović Burić...
Violence against local and regional elected representatives: a threat to our democracies
An extremely unpleasant experience for those on the receiving end, verbal abuse and physical violence against local and regional elected representatives is on the rise throughout Europe. As well as being traumatic and damaging, such violence can also have a “demotivating” effect on elected...
Congress expresses deep concern over humanitarian situation in Karabakh and neighbouring cities and regions
The Congress held a debate on 26 October on the humanitarian situation following the flight of more than 100,000 Karabakh Armenians to neighbouring Armenia. In the adopted Declaration presented by Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE), the Congress strongly condemned the military operation carried...
Secretary General on official visit to Liechtenstein
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met His Serene Highness Alois Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein, Prime Minister Risch, Foreign Minister Hasler, and other key personalities during an official visit to discuss the priorities of the country’s upcoming Committee of Ministers Presidency...
Local and regional media: Council of Europe Congress calls for more support to prevent local media deserts
Grassroots media play a key role in upholding local democracy, and authorities at all levels can and should take steps to strengthen grassroots media, finds a new report on local and regional media, presented by co-rapporteurs, Cecilia Dalman Eek (Sweden, SOC/G/PD) and Mélanie Lepoultier (France,...
Iceland should improve identification of human trafficking victims and step up investigations and prosecutions
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has published its third evaluation report on Iceland, with a thematic focus on human trafficking victims’ access to justice and effective remedies. The report assesses developments since the...
Secretary General meets Latvian Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development of Latvia Inga Bērziņa. The meeting highlighted how human rights and the environment is a priority for the Council of Europe, as underlined in the Reykjavik Summit. The...
Congress sets new priorities as a follow-up to the Reykjavik Summit
In the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the refocusing of the Council that followed it, the Congress has adopted a new set of priorities for the period from 2023 until the end of its current mandate in 2026. These priorities are inspired by the Reykjavik Summit of Heads...
Congress elects new President
Members of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Council of Europe have elected Marc Cools (Belgium, GILD) as the new President of the Congress, for a mandate of two-and-a-half years. Marc Cools is Communal Councillor of Uccle and Honorary Vice-President of the Brussels Parliament and...
Secretary General marks European Day of Justice in Brussels
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has marked in Brussels the European Day of Justice, a joint initiative between the Council of Europe and the European Union, taking the floor at the conference on “The role of the European institutions in upholding the core values of the legal profession...
Deputy Secretary General visits Türkiye
On 22 October, Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge paid a working visit to Gaziantep, Türkiye, where he met with the Turkish Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mehmet Kemal Bozay. They had an important and constructive discussion on issues of common interest to the Council...
Election of new President among highlights of the 45th Congress session
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe is holding its 45th Session from 24 to 26 October 2023. The election of a new President of the Congress, as well as Presidents of Congress’ Chambers and their vice-presidents will take place. The role of local and regional...
New opinions on national minorities protection in Albania, Austria and Moldova
The Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) has published new opinions on Albania, Austria and the Republic of Moldova. The Advisory Committee praises the prevailing atmosphere of mutual respect and intercultural dialogue in Albania,...
Armenia becomes 45th member state to abolish the death penalty in all circumstances
The Permanent Representative of Armenia to the Council of Europe, Ambassador Arman Khachatryan, in the presence of Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, has deposited the ratification instrument, thereby completing the process of ratification by Armenia of Protocol No. 13 to the European...
Sweden: more efforts needed to identify victims of trafficking, including amongst children, and to prosecute traffickers
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has published its third evaluation report on Sweden, with a thematic focus on human trafficking victims’ access to justice and effective remedies. The report assesses developments since the publication...
European Anti-trafficking Day: Council of Europe expert group calls for preventing human trafficking risks exacerbated in the context of migration
On the eve of the European Anti-Trafficking Day (18 October), the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has warned of the increased risk of human trafficking created by restrictive immigration policies and failure to address the vulnerabilities...
