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European states urged to strengthen and support families before resorting to out-of-home care
A declaration on ”Protecting children in out-of-home care from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse” has been adopted in Nicosia, Cyprus on 18 October by the Lanzarote Committee, the Council of Europe body overseeing the implementation by states of the Convention on the Protection of Children...
European Anti-trafficking Day (18 October)
Victims must have justice, including compensation, says Council of Europe Secretary General
Deputy Secretary General at European Heritage Days annual assembly
European Heritage Days, a joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Union, holds its annual Assembly of national co-ordinators of the 50 States Parties to the European Cultural Convention, in presence of the Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni. European Heritage Days...
Integrating migrants: survey finds language courses more beneficial than tests
Policies on language and knowledge of society for migrants in Council of Europe member states and the learning opportunities are the focus of the new survey that has been presented at the conference in the Council of Europe on 16 October. The survey was conducted by the Council of Europe in...
Council of Europe receives Future Policy Award for empowering youth
The Council of Europe’s co-management system in the youth field, where youth NGOs and governments have an equal say, has received the 2019 Future Policy Bronze Award at a ceremony on the margins of the 141st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Belgrade, Serbia. The theme of this year’s...
Malta must establish accountability for the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia
“The Government of Malta remains far behind in its obligation to ensure that investigations in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia are conducted in a prompt, effective, independent and impartial manner,” said today in a joint statement Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human...
Azerbaijani Justice Minister signs protocol to Extradition Convention
Today, 15 October 2019, Fikrat Mammadov, Minister of Justice of Azerbaijan, has signed the Fourth Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Extradition in the presence of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić in Strasbourg. The European Convention on...
Syria humanitarian situation
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić expresses concern for migrants
Tunisia joins convention to protect children against sexual violence
Today Tunisia became the 45th state to join the Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (CETS No.201 - “Lanzarote Convention”). Naziha Laâbidi, Minister of Women, Family and Children, has deposited the instrument of accession during a ceremony with...
Justice ministers to discuss digital challenges for justice in Europe
Council of Europe ministers of justice will gather in Strasbourg on 14 and 15 October for a conference being held under the French Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, with representatives from 47 countries. The ministers will discuss access to the law and justice in the digital era and the...
Why Istanbul Convention matters: Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić explains
Speaking at the October plenary session of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić called on all countries that have not yet done so to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence,...
From presidential overreach in Albania to the Istanbul Convention in Armenia: Venice Commission plenary session opinions
Opinion highlights from the plenary session of the Council of Europe constitutional experts of the Venice Commission included an opinion on Albania that determined that even if the President may have overstepped his bounds in postponing local elections, impeachment may not be justified. Addressed...
Council of Europe Secretary General addresses Venice Commission
In her address to the Council of Europe advisory body on constitutional matters, also known as the Venice Commission, Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić appreciated its work as “an important pillar of Europe’s legal architecture”. Speaking to its 62 members and others participating in one...
Secretary General condemns anti-Semitic attack in Halle, Germany
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has condemned the anti-Semitic attack in which two people were killed in Halle. “I am deeply saddened and concerned by this cold-blooded attack aimed against the Jewish community on Yom Kippur. I extend my condolences to the families of...
Shootings in Halle, Germany
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has expressed her great sadness and concern over the killings in Halle, Germany, as well as her solidarity with the victims and the authorities dealing with the unfolding situation.
Death Penalty Day: EU/Council of Europe joint statement
The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Federica Mogherini, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, have published a joint statement to mark the European and World Day against the Death Penalty on 10 October. The statement underlines both...
Switzerland urged to improve the identification and protection of victims of trafficking
In a report published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) welcomes the progress made by Switzerland, but also asks the Swiss authorities to take further action to improve the identification and protection of victims of trafficking. GRETA notes...
Turkey urged to improve identification and protection of victims
The Council of Europe’s group of experts on human trafficking has urged the Turkish authorities to improve the identification of victims of trafficking and the protection which is given to them. In its first report on Turkey, published today, the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in...
Deputy Secretary General opens joint workshop on family
The Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni will open together with the Italian Minister for Equal Opportunities and Family, Elena Bonetti the Joint Workshop on family as a hub for social policies. The event is organised by the Department for Family Policies of the Italian Presidency...
Cultural Routes: 9th Advisory Forum opens in Sibiu, Romania
Around 200 representatives from International Organisations, Representatives of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, Member States, national and local authorities are meeting for three days in Sibiu, Romania. The event is jointly organised by the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural...
Mechanisms to protect social rights: seminar In Madrid
The European Committee of Social Rights of the Council of Europe and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights are organising a seminar in Madrid on 3 and 4 October to discuss how to protect social rights effectively, at a time when these rights are exposed to growing risks. Organised in...
Commemorative ceremony to mark 70th anniversary
The Council of Europe has marked its 70th anniversary with a commemorative ceremony, held on Tuesday 1 October at the Opera House in Strasbourg city centre. The ceremony was opened by the Mayor of Strasbourg, Roland Ries, and featured interventions from former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe...
Secretary General to use full powers to ensure human rights protection
Extract of the speech (0'37") : Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić today pledged to use her full powers to ensure human rights standards were respected throughout the Council of Europe region. In her first address to Parliamentary Assembly, the Secretary General said respect for human...
Montenegro: good progress on national minorities, but situation of Roma and Egyptians must be improved
Montenegrin society is characterised by a general climate of tolerance, a good legal anti-discrimination framework has been set up and very welcome progress has been made on resolving the issue of displaced persons who arrived in Montenegro from Kosovo* in the late 90s. However, urgent efforts...
Emmanuel Macron: "The Council of Europe is where the divisions in our continent can be healed"
In his address to the Assembly today, the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to the “70 years of battles and conquests that are all part of the Council of Europe’s wealth of experience”. “The Council of Europe has advanced respect for fundamental rights, democracy and...
Amélie de Montchalin: 'Uniting our European family around common values'
Amélie de Montchalin, France’s Secretary of State in charge of European Affairs, addressed the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe today on behalf of the French Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers. After paying a heartfelt tribute to the former President of France Jacques...
2019 Václav Havel Prize shared by Ilham Tohti and the Youth Initiative for Human Rights
The seventh Václav Havel Human Rights Prize – which honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights – has been awarded jointly to imprisoned Uyghur intellectual Ilham Tohti from China and the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR), which brings together young people from...
President makes plea for constructive dialogue and maintaining order in ‘'our common home’'
In her opening address at her last plenary session, the PACE President made a fervent plea for maintaining order in what she described as “our common home” and for “constructive dialogue, even in the gravest crisis situations”. “Whenever the values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law...
Parliamentary Assembly Autumn Session
On the occasion of the Autumn Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg (30 September-4 October), the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, will address PACE and answer questions from parliamentarians on Tuesday 1 October. French Secretary of...
ECRI adopts a roadmap to effective equality
Following a conference to mark its 25th anniversary, the Council of Europe’s anti-racism commission (ECRI) stressed the need for joint efforts to contain the threats that racism and intolerance pose to society, guarantee respect for human dignity and lay the ground for greater equality in Europe....
[Podcast] What motivates the new Secretary General of the Council of Europe?
In her first podcast, Marija Pejčinović Burić outlines her priorities for making Europe a more tolerant and inclusive place for its citizens, and identifies new challenges to human rights, such as Artificial Intelligence. The Secretary General was interviewed by Daniel Holtgen, the Council of...
Hungary: more help needed for child and migrant victims of human trafficking
The Hungarian authorities should strengthen efforts to prevent child trafficking, particularly by sensitising and training staff working with children and raising awareness of trafficking and online safety among children, including those in residential care institutions, the Council of Europe’s...
Implementing ECHR judgments: Latest decisions from the Committee of Ministers
The latest case-by-case decisions on the implementation of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights have been published by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. The Committee adopted 29 decisions concerning 17 member states at the end of its quarterly human rights...
Statement by the Secretary General, Marija Pejčinović Burić, following the death of Jacques Chirac
Jacques Chirac, a dedicated European and a great Frenchman, is no more. His commitment to peace, respect for international law and tolerance have left their mark on the history of France and Europe. Our enduring image of him will be that of an exceptional, humanist statesman, who was close to...
The Council of Europe marks 25 years of the fight against racism and intolerance
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Council of Europe's European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), a high-level conference will be organised on 26 and 27 September in Paris to take stock of its action and of the progress achieved in Europe in the fight against racism...
Strasbourg railway station to be decorated to mark 70th anniversary
Speaking on the occasion of the inauguration of the decoration on the glass facade of Strasbourg railway station marking the 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe, the Deputy Secretary General, Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, highlighted the importance of this project, which is both a “work of...
MONEYVAL: swift action needed to combat money laundering and terrorist financing risks
In its annual report for 2018, published today, the Council of Europe anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing body MONEYVAL calls on states to ensure that they have appropriate measures in place to combat “dirty money”. The impact by economic crime, organised criminal groups and...
Liechtenstein: professionals to be trained and victims to be better protected
In a report published today, The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) welcomes the steps taken by Liechtenstein to combat trafficking in human beings, through the adoption of legislation, guidelines and a coordinating mechanism, and calls on the authorities to...
Anti-torture Committee publishes report on Russian Federation
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published today the report on its ad hoc visit to the Russian Federation, which took place from 19 to 29 October 2018, together with the response of the Russian Government....
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 23 to 25 September. Information on the cases to be examined in detail during the meeting is available...
Conference on the fight against domestic violence: the role of the police
The Council of Europe is organising a Conference of high-ranking representatives of Ministers of Internal Affairs in Strasbourg on 24 and 25 September to highlight new measures enabling the police to fight domestic violence more effectively. Bringing together police officers, associations and...
Secretary General welcomes Maltese announcement to set public inquiry into the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia
In a statement today, Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has welcomed the announcement of the Maltese Government to set up a public inquiry into the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in October 2017. “It is a positive development that the Maltese...
European Heritage Days 2019
Statement by Amélie de Montchalin, Representative of the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, Secretary of State for European Affairs of the French Republic
Reinforcing social rights protection in Europe: to achieve greater unity and equality
In the framework of the French Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, the European Social Charter organises, on 19 September in Strasbourg, an expert seminar to highlight the protection of social rights in Europe so as to achieve greater unity and equality. Welcome addresses will be delivered...
Marija Pejčinović Burić, New Council of Europe Secretary General
Marija Pejčinović Burić (Croatia) began her position as Secretary General of the Council of Europe on 18 September, after being elected in June 2019 by the Parliamentary Assembly for a five-year mandate. She is the second woman in this position after the French Catherine Lalumière (1989-1994) and...
Symposium “The future of young people’s political participation”
The changing nature and pathways of young people engaging politically keep opening new horizons interesting for the researchers, policy-makers, youth workers and young people themselves. The EU-Council of Europe youth partnership will organise a symposium, from 18 to 20 September at the European...
Thorbjørn Jagland farewell speech at ECHR
After ten years as Secretary General, Thorbjørn Jagland delivered his farewell Speech at the European Court of Human Rights. Speech by Thorbjørn Jagland Video of the speech:
Re-enactment of the first meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and exhibition
From 8 to 13 August 1949, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe met for the first time, in Strasbourg City Hall. As part of the French Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers and the 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe, the ambassadors of the organisation’s current 47...
Online child sexual abuse experts visit Ukraine and Armenia
The Council of Europe experts will visit Yerevan and Kyiv on 17-19 September 2019 under the Project to End Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse @ Europe to analyse legislation, policies and practices to prevent and combat this crime. The EndOCSEA@Europe Project promotes, facilitates and...
New Council of Europe action against sexism
In March 2019, the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers adopted a new Recommendation on Preventing and Combating Sexism. Not only does this text contain the first ever internationally agreed definition of sexism, but it also proposes a set of concrete measures to combat this wide-spread...
