Newsroom
Fighting COVID-19: Council of Europe values and standards must be upheld
David Zalkaliani, President of the Committee of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia, has expressed his satisfaction following the Committee of Ministers’ adoption of a Declaration on the COVID-19 pandemic. "During this very difficult time we are living through, I am pleased that...
European Committee of Social Rights: the right to protection of health in times of pandemic
In a statement of interpretation on the right to protection of health (Article 11 of the European Social Charter) in times of pandemic, the European Committee of Social Rights endorses many measures adopted by states in response to COVID-19: “testing and tracing, physical distancing and...
Challenges to human rights in Europe intensified in 2019
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, has published her annual activity report covering 2019. The report provides an overall picture of the main problems, challenges and opportunities that European countries are facing in the field of human rights. “The image I get...
Council of Europe Bank approves € 300 million loan to Czech Republic to combat the COVID-19 pandemic
The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has approved a € 300 million loan to the Czech Republic to finance health expenditure to combat the spread and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Czech Republic was quick to undertake COVID-19 protective measures in January before any confirmed cases...
COVID-19 pandemic: GRECO warns of corruption risks
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has published guidelines addressed to its 50 member states aimed at preventing corruption in the context of the health emergency caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The guidelines, issued by GRECO’s president, Marin Mrčela, underline...
COVID-19 pandemic: tackling the dramatic increase in cases of violence against women
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, a dramatic increase has been reported in recorded cases of violence against women and domestic violence, both worldwide and in Council of Europe member states. The Committee of the Parties to the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence...
Council of Europe Bank approves € 300 million COVID-19 healthcare loan to Italy
The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has approved a € 300 million loan to Italy to finance health expenditure associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. In a decree issued on 23 March 2020, Italy defined a set of extraordinary immediate term measures aimed at managing the COVID-19 pandemic,...
During virus crisis states should ensure rescue at sea and allow safe disembarkation
Statement by Commissioner for Human Rights “Despite the unprecedented challenges European countries face due to COVID-19, saving lives at sea and disembarking survivors in a safe port must continue”, stated today Dunja Mijatović, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. The...
COVID-19: Human rights principles must guide health decisions
A statement published by the Council of Europe's Committee on Bioethics recalls the fundamental principles, based on the respect for human dignity and human rights, which must guide medical decisions and practices in the context of the current crisis. Health care systems are under extreme...
Council of Europe and UNHCR support member states in bringing refugee health workers into the fight against COVID-19
As many European countries continue to struggle with the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis, the Council of Europe and UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, are encouraging states to benefit from the support that refugee health professionals can provide to national health systems at this critical...
Greece: Reforming prison system and ending police ill-treatment are urgent priorities, says CPT
After a visit to prisons in Greece last year, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) recommends that the Greek authorities remedy structural problems that have led to enduring ill-treatment of detainees, prison...
Algorithms and automation: new guidelines to prevent human rights breaches
The Council of Europe today called on its 47 member States to take a precautionary approach to the development and use of algorithmic systems and adopt legislation, policies and practices that fully respect human rights. In a Recommendation on the human rights impacts of algorithmic systems, the...
Coronavirus: guidance to governments on respecting human rights, democracy and the rule of law
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, has issued a toolkit for governments across Europe on respecting human rights, democracy and the rule of law during the COVID-19 crisis. The Information Document was sent to all 47 Council of Europe member states yesterday....
COVID-19: How to protect against falsified medical products?
At a time when the Covid-19 epidemic is posing unprecedented challenges to the health sector, the Council of Europe calls on governments to be extremely vigilant against counterfeit or falsified medicines and medical products. Faced with this threat, states can rely on the MEDICRIME Convention to...
CEB issues social inclusion bond in response to COVID-19 pandemic
The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has issued a €1 billion seven year maturity COVID-19 Response Social Inclusion Bond. The funding will be used to support CEB member countries in mitigating the social and economic impact of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The COVID-19 Response Bond is...
Mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 crisis: Council of Europe to provide funding to youth organisations
The European Youth Foundation (EYF) is calling on youth organisations to apply for funding for activities which respond to needs at local or national level arising from the COVID-19 crisis. Priority will be given to activities that demonstrate solidarity and support to people affected by the...
8 April, International Roma Day: “Step up human rights protection for Roma and guarantee their access to vital services during COVID-19 pandemic”
Joint Statement by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Council of Europe Secretary General, and Helena Dalli, European Commissioner for Equality Many of the 10-12 million Roma in Europe still suffer from poverty and exclusion. The existence of widespread anti-Gypsyism reinforces and aggravates their...
COVID-19 confinement: States must step up protection of children against sexual exploitation and abuse says Lanzarote committee
For far too many girls and boys, strict confinement in times of the COVID-19 risks increasing their vulnerability to violence, including sexual abuse and exploitation. Council of Europe member states must step up protection of children against sexual exploitation and abuse, offline and online,...
New survey: Europe’s rate of imprisonment remained stable in 2019
Secretary General Pejčinović Burić calls on states to resort to alternatives to deprivation of liberty and to protect both the prison population and prison staff. The overall imprisonment rate – the number of inmates per 100,000 inhabitants- remained stable in Europe from 2018 to 2019, according...
Stopping violence against women: welcome progress but obstacles remain
A new report from the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) finds that while gender-based violence is now at the “forefront of public debate”, many Council of Europe member states should do more to end such violence. GREVIO,...
Anti-trafficking experts note 44% rise in identified victims since 2015
The number of people across Europe identified as being victims of human trafficking rose by almost half between 2015 and 2018, according to the latest annual report from the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA). According to information...
Human rights under quarantine: debate at St Petersburg Legal Forum
The Council of Europe’s Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law will co-chair an online debate on human rights under quarantine at the special digital session of the St Petersburg Legal Forum on 10 April 2020. The ongoing sanitary catastrophe and the measures taken by states in response...
Persons with disabilities must not be left behind in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Statement by the Commissioner for Human Rights As governments in Europe react to the rapid spread of the coronavirus through wide-reaching measures, they must not forget that a large proportion of their population is living with disabilities. Persons with disabilities are not only often at...
Supervising execution of ECHR judgments – 2019 report shows significant progress, but challenges remain
Ten years of reforms, known as the Interlaken Process, have “strengthened the system of the European Convention of Human Rights” according to the Chairs of the “Human Rights” meetings of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers in their introduction to the Committee’s 2019 annual report on...
European Convention on Human Rights: new free online training course
The 47-nation Council of Europe has launched an updated version of its free online “Introduction to the European Convention on Human Rights”, a 5-hour interactive training course aimed at legal professionals, public authorities, civil society and students. “Europe has the strongest system of...
COVID-19 crisis: Secretary General concerned about increased risk of domestic violence
Summary of interview with Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA) Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has expressed concern about an increase in domestic violence during the lockdowns due to the corona virus. Reports from member countries in the past few weeks already have shown...
COVID-19 crisis: vital that authorities also communicate in regional and minority languages
Most countries in the world, including the Member States of the Council of Europe, are facing an unprecedented pandemic, the so-called coronavirus, or COVID-19. For a few weeks now, governments have been introducing, gradually and at different paces, a wide range of measures, ranging from basic...
Fundamental rights of refugees and migrants at European borders
Joint publication from Council of Europe and Fundamental Rights Agency (EU) The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees of the Council of Europe, together with the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) have published a note on the main fundamental rights...
Commissioner calls for release of immigration detainees during Covid-19 crisis
Statement by Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović “I call on all Council of Europe member states to review the situation of rejected asylum seekers and irregular migrants in immigration detention, and to release them to the maximum extent possible. In the face of the...
Ukraine lagging in reform efforts to prevent corruption of MPs, judges and prosecutors
The Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body GRECO has published its conclusions on Ukraine’s progress in enacting recommendations that were made by GRECO in 2017, on preventing corruption of MPs, judges and prosecutors. Out of 31 recommendations, Ukraine has satisfactorily enacted five, with...
Secretary General writes to Viktor Orbán regarding COVID-19 state of emergency in Hungary
Letter from Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, for the attention of Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary “The COVID-19 pandemic legitimately prompted Council of Europe member states to take drastic measures to protect public health. These measures are restricting a...
Croatia: anti-corruption group calls for more integrity in government and law enforcement
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has published its fifth round evaluation report on Croatia dealing with preventing corruption in government (top executive functions) and the police. GRECO’s report recognises that Croatia has the tools in place to promote...
Social rights of children, families and migrants in danger across Europe
Social rights of children, families and migrants are in danger in Europe, according to the latest annual conclusions from the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR). The Committee has published 896 conclusions (289 cases of non-conformity, 453 cases of conformity and 154 “deferrals”: cases...
Anti-torture Committee publishes report on France
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published a report on its ad hoc visit to France from 23 to 30 November 2018, together with the response of the French authorities. The visit’s main aim was to examine the...
Venice Commission cancels meeting, adopts opinions by written procedure instead
Following the spread of the COVID-19 virus to northern Italy, the Enlarged Bureau of the Venice Commission has decided not to hold the scheduled 20-21 March plenary session or other scheduled meetings in Venice. Instead, only some opinions from the agenda have been adopted by written procedure,...
COVID-19: Anti-torture Committee issues statement of principles relating to the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published a statement of principles relating to the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in the context of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. “The...
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Statement by David Zalkaliani, President of the Committee of Ministers, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia
Societies that stand together are more resilient in times of crisis, say human rights heads on International Anti-Racism Day
While ever more countries introduce measures to counter the current health risks, it is important to remember that societies based on solidarity and inclusion are more resilient to fast-changing circumstances, said the heads of three European human rights institutions on the eve of the...
European Committee of Social Rights: Presentation of 2019 conclusions
The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) will present its conclusions for 2019 on Tuesday 24 March 2020. Due to restrictions related to the Covid-19 outbreak, the Committee will be unable to present the conclusions at a press conference. Instead they will be transmitted to the media via the...
Racism: Switzerland should improve support for victims says ECRI
A new report by the Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) calls on Switzerland to increase funding and human resources for counselling centres for victims of racism, and to deal more effectively with discrimination, as well as promoting integration. ECRI notes significant progress...
Coronavirus: Exceptional measures at the European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights has announced a series of exceptional measures in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The court will maintain its essential activities, especially its handling of priority cases. It will also consider urgent requests for interim measures when there is an...
Anti-torture Committee makes rapid reaction visit to Greece to examine treatment of migrants
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has just completed a five-day rapid reaction visit to Greece to examine the way in which persons attempting to enter the country and detained by the Hellenic Police or Coast Guard have been treated, notably since 1st March, when the...
Belgium: Service providers should not have to report irregular migrants, says anti-racism watchdog ECRI
Belgium should ensure that no service provider, either in the public or private sector, is required to report people suspected of being irregularly present in the country to the authorities responsible for immigration control and enforcement, in order to protect their fundamental rights. The...
Germany: Anti-racism report recommends ways of improving fight against hate crime
Chancellor Angela Merkel praised for speaking out against hate speech
Hungary: Detainees treated well overall, but more should be done to improve prison conditions says Anti-torture Committee (CPT)
In a report published today, the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) noted progress made by Hungary for its treatment of persons in prison and in police custody, since its previous visit in 2013. Most persons interviewed by the delegation...
“Moldova should ratify Istanbul Convention, strengthen hate speech protection and improve access to quality healthcare and social housing"
“The Republic of Moldova has made commendable progress in aligning its legislation on women’s rights and domestic violence with international standards and worked gradually to strengthen its implementation on many levels. A speedy ratification of the Istanbul Convention will send a strong message...
The Committee of Ministers calls for the rights of the child to be strengthened
In a Declaration adopted today, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe observed that, in times of crisis, States and society at large are at risk of overlooking or compromising on children’s rights, particularly those of children in a situation of vulnerability. Reiterating its firm...
Statement by the Spokesperson of the Secretary General on the political agreement in Georgia on a new electoral system
We welcome the political agreement reached yesterday, 8 March, by the majority and opposition in Georgia on the 2020 electoral system, which puts an end to uncertainty that lasted for several months and opens the way to depolarization of the political debate, in the run-up of this year’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 39 decisions concerning 19 member states at the end of its quarterly human rights...
Congress cancels its 38th Session planned in Strasbourg, France
Due to the evolving situation of the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak in the Council of Europe’s host country France, in neighbouring and many other countries, the President of the Congress, together with the Presidents of the Chambers and the Congress Secretariat, has taken the decision to cancel...
“Sex without consent is rape: European countries must change their laws to state that clearly”
Ahead of International Women’s Day on Sunday 8 March, Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has called on all member states to change how rape is defined. In an opinion article published in today’s EU Observer, she says that “Too few of our members treat this crime as...
Czech Republic urged to step up anti-corruption efforts
The Council of Europe anti-corruption body GRECO has urged the Czech Republic to accelerate the pace of ongoing reforms aimed at preventing and combatting corruption among parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors. In a follow up report issued today evaluating the implementation of its...
President Knape reaffirms Congress support for Georgia’s decentralisation reforms
During his official visit to Georgia from 22 to 25 February 2020 the President of the Congress Anders Knape welcomed the continued commitment of Georgia to decentralisation, in line with the post-monitoring dialogue in 2014, the signature of the road map of the Congress in 2015 and the latest...
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 3 to 5 March. Information on the cases to be examined in detail during the meeting is available here....
Governments must not stifle civil society: INGO seminar in Brussels
Be sure to watch live the Council of Europe’s Conference of INGOs celebration of World NGO Day, to highlight the importance of civil society as an essential democratic actor, but one which faces too many restrictions today. Held at the Council of Europe’s Brussel’s office, “From the Past to the...
Environment and Human Rights: Georgian Presidency calls for modern legal standards and tools
In a declaration made today in Strasbourg at a conference on environmental protection and human rights, the Georgian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers called to review the relevant Council of Europe legal arsenal and complement it by adopting a recommendation and a strategy in this field....
Migration and refugees: Council of Europe presents achievements and sets new objectives
In a report published today, the Council of Europe takes stock of achievements and sets out new objectives for protecting vulnerable migrants and refugees, including children. “The Council of Europe will continue to play a key role in the protection and promotion of human rights of the most...
Ultra-nationalism, anti-semitism, anti-Muslim hatred: Anti-racism commission raises alarm over situation in Europe
Increasing influence of ultra-nationalistic and xenophobic politics across Europe, hate speech setting the tone in social media, rampant anti-semitism and anti-Muslim hatred, as well as an increasingly hostile environment for NGOs working with vulnerable groups - these alarming trends and new...
Environment and human rights: towards a right to a healthy environment?
In response to the threats to climate and biodiversity, the Georgian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe will organise a conference on Thursday 27 February in Strasbourg on the protection of the environment from a human rights perspective. The conference, which will...
Statement by David Zalkaliani, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia and President of the Committee of Ministers
“This year marks the 6th anniversary of the illegal annexation of the autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation, and the beginning of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. In my capacity as President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, I...
Secretary General tells UN Human Rights Council: “You can rely on our support”
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has assured the United Nations Human Rights Council that it can count on the Council of Europe’s support across a wide range of sectors. Speaking in Geneva at the UN body’s 43rd session, the Secretary General underlined the importance of close cooperation...
Osman Kavala ruling in Turkey: Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić's letter to Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić's letter to Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül, sharing her concerns about Osman Kavala’s re-arrest and the investigation against the Istanbul judges who delivered the verdict of acquittal in favour of Kavala.
Congress President Anders Knape on official visit to Georgia
The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Anders Knape, will pay an official visit to Georgia from 22 to 25 February 2020, organised in the framework of the Georgian chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Accompanied by Congress Secretary...
Secretary General expresses condolences after deadly shootings in Hanau
Statement by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić: I am shocked and deeply saddened by the terrible events in Hanau, Germany. I join my German friends and colleagues in their sorrow for the victims and their families. I wish the injured a swift recovery.
Turkish authorities must restore judicial independence and stop targeting and silencing human rights defenders
In a report published today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, calls on the Turkish authorities to restore judicial independence and stop the practice of targeting human rights defenders, lawyers and journalists and silencing them by using administrative and...
Osman Kavala ruling in Turkey: Reaction from the Council of Europe Secretary General
In response to today’s ruling from a court in Istanbul relating to the Taksim Square protests in 2013, the Secretary General of the 47-nation Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, said: “We welcome today’s ruling from the court in Istanbul ordering Osman Kavala to be released, in line with...
Slovenia: GRECO considers whether parliamentary inquiry into judiciary interferes with separation of powers
In a new ad hoc report on Slovenia the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption group GRECO did not rule out that parliamentary inquiries, if directed towards the judiciary in ongoing individual cases, may potentially interfere with the separation of powers and respect for judicial independence....
Monaco: insufficient anti-corruption progress says expert report
In a new report on the prevention of corruption of parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors in Monaco the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body GRECO regrets the low level of implementation of its recommendations (two out of sixteen). As far as parliamentarians are concerned, GRECO notes that...
Protecting human rights in biomedicine, 2020-2025
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe today supported a new five-year strategic action plan, presented by the Committee on Bioethics, on human rights and technologies in biomedicine. Designed to protect human dignity, human rights and individual freedoms with regard to the...
Towards a recommendation to ban the trade in goods used for torture and the death penalty
The Committee of Ministers has given its green light to the preparation of a recommendation concerning the trade in goods used for torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and the death penalty. The Committee of Ministers draws on a feasibility study, prepared by the...
Human Trafficking: Monaco should raise awareness, train professionals, with focus on victims’ rights
A new report welcomes anti-trafficking moves taken by authorities in Monaco, but also calls on them to adopt legal and practical measures aimed at respecting the human rights of the victims. Although no victims of trafficking have been identified to date in Monaco, the Council of Europe’s Group...
Czechia should improve identification and compensation of victims of trafficking
Czechia has taken important steps to combat trafficking in human beings, but improvements are needed through legislative, policy and practical measures, notably in respect of the identification, protection and compensation of victims, as well as the effectiveness of investigations and...
Safer Internet Day: we’ve joined the campaign for a safer, better Internet
Imagine you find yourself in a world of infinite possibilities, a world with new friends to be found, new games to play and new ideas to explore. But how can you be sure you’re safe, how can you trust people you can't see, how do you know what you're learning is true? How can the Internet be...
Secretary General: countries and international organisations must work together to tackle today’s challenges
On her first working visit to the European Union institutions as Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić has underlined the importance of countries and international organisations working together to tackle modern-day challenges. Speaking to the EU’s Political and...
Council of Europe strengthens cooperation with internet sector
Five new companies and business associations today joined the Council of Europe Partnership with the IT sector aimed at promoting respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law on the internet: the artificial intelligence software provider Element AI, the International Communications...
