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Declaration by Daniel Mitov, Chair of the Committee of Ministers
The case of Ms Nadiya Savchenko has been raised on a number of occasions within the Committee of Ministers. The Committee has already expressed its concern about Ms Savchenko’s health condition and called on the Russian authorities to release her without delay on humanitarian grounds. In my...
Penal Statistics 2014 from Council of Europe Member States
European prisons make some progress to reduce overcrowding, according to Council of Europe survey
European Court of Human Rights judgments: Committee of Ministers examines implementation
The representatives of the 47 member States of the Council of Europe will examine the implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights between 8 and 10 March 2016. This supervisory role of the Committee of Ministers is provided for under Article 46 of the European Convention on...
Europe must stop violence against women and sexist hate speech
Statement by the Secretary General
Human rights of refugee and migrant women and girls need to be better protected
For the first time since the beginning of the refugee and migrant crisis in Europe, women and children on the move outnumber adult men. While in 2015 about 70 % of the population on the move were men, women and children now make up nearly 60% of refugees and other migrants crossing into Europe....
Secretary General Jagland's statement on Zaman media group
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland
New action plan to tackle transnational organised crime
New forms of transnational organized crime - such as trafficking in human beings, human organs or illicit arms, and smuggling of migrants - together with traditional types of cross-border organised criminality, require co-ordinated action at international level. The Council of Europe has adopted...
Human rights and business – new European guidelines
Human rights and business is the topic of a new recommendation to member States from the Council of Europe’s decision-making body, the Committee of Ministers. Building on the 2011 UN Guiding Principles, the new Council of Europe text provides more specific guidance to assist member States in...
Human rights in culturally diverse societies – new guidelines
How to ensure effective implementation of existing Council of Europe standards on freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and association in culturally diverse societies? A new text from the Council of Europe’s decision-making body, the Committee...
Children rights: equal opportunities, life free of violence, safe Internet
The Council of Europe adopts new strategy for 2016-2021
Children’s Forum
1200 children of 45 school classes of CM1-CM2 of the Region Alsace, sponsored by the Association Thémis, worked on a project or an idea of concrete action to favor more tolerance and a peaceful living together. 10 projects have been selected and will be presented on March 3rd of this year to the...
Anti-torture report on Albania
Anti-torture Committee calls upon Albanian authorities to address poor detention conditions, prison healthcare services, and provide safeguards for involuntary hospitalisation
Blood antiquities
New Council of Europe initiative to combat illicit trafficking in cultural property
Protecting refugee children
Secretary General calls on member States to take urgent action
Guidelines to prevent radicalisation in prisons
The Council of Europe today issued a set of guidelines to its 47 member states to prevent the radicalisation of prisoners and people under probation, and rehabilitate individuals who have already become radicalised. According to official reports, some perpetrators of terrorist acts have in recent...
Jagland on migration: Europe-wide policy of door-slamming is not sustainable
Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland has called for collective action on migration guided by common European standards. “We do not put the fundamental rights of a minority into the hands of the majority – especially at a time of heightened anxiety...
France, Georgia, Monaco: new country reports by anti-racism commission published
The Council of Europe’s anti-racism commission (ECRI) published today its country reports on France, Georgia and Monaco. ECRI is concerned by the increase of hate speech in public discourse, and by the growth of racist, anti-Semitic and islamophobic violence in France, the report says. The...
Anti-torture report on Greece
Anti-torture committee strongly criticizes Greek prison conditions, excessive use of police force
Turkey’s Constitutional Court Judgment in the case of Dündar and Gül
Council of Europe Secretary General Jagland has commented on the Turkish Constitutional Court’s judgment in the case of Can Dündar and Erdem Gül today: “I was glad to hear the judgment of the Turkish Constitutional Court today which found that the rights of Cumhuriyet newspaper’s editor-in-chief,...
Anticorruption report on Armenia
Council of Europe urges Armenia to step up corruption prevention among parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors
Belarus: PACE rapporteurs deplore new death sentence
Meritxell Mateu (Andorra, ALDE), general rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on the abolition of the death penalty, and Andrea Rigoni (Italy, ALDE), PACE rapporteur on the situation in Belarus, deplore that for the second time since the beginning of 2016, a...
Death penalty in Belarus
Declaration by the Committee of Ministers
Lavrov, Jagland on Russia’s membership in Council of Europe
Russian Foreign Minister and Secretary General exchange letters on 20th anniversary
Anticorruption report on Bosnia and Herzegovina
GRECO calls for efficient coordination and firm steps to implement anticorruption reform
European Human Rights Moot Court Competition
Team from University of Cambridge wins 2016 edition of the European Human Rights Moot Court Competition
Terrorist attack in Ankara
Statement by Daniel Mitov, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
Ankara: Secretary General condemns deadly attack
Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, last night condemned the car bomb attack which killed at least 28 people and injured more than 60 in the centre of Ankara, close to the Parliament and military headquarters. “I am deeply saddened by the news of yet another deadly...
Sweden: Anti-torture report
Sweden should ease restrictions for remand prisoners says the Committee for Prevention of Torture (CPT) in a new report. Despite 24 years of dialogue with the Swedish authorities, there is little sign of progress concerning restrictions on remand prisoners. The risk of ill-treatment remains...
Belarus death sentence: Secretary General reacts
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, has condemned the death sentence handed down in Belarus on Tuesday 16 February. “The Council of Europe and all its member states are firmly opposed to capital punishment in all circumstances,” stressed the Secretary General. “As...
European countries must stop forced evictions of Roma
“Many Roma continue to face serious forms of discrimination and human rights violations by authorities at both national and local levels. In particular, forced evictions without due process and provision of adequate alternative housing continue unabated across Europe, in violation of member...
Poland: slow down and consult on legislation to avoid human-rights backsliding
"Human rights compliant legislation requires time and thorough consultation” said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, at the end of a four-day visit to Poland reviewing the effectiveness of the country's framework for the protection of human rights, the...
Assessing the impact of sexist hate speech – and what to do about it
What line can be drawn between sexist hate speech and freedom of expression? To what extent can sexist hate speech harm people? A three day seminar (10-12 February) in Strasbourg brings together youth and human rights activists, researchers and policy makers from around the world to deepen the...
Death penalty in the USA
Declaration adopted by the Committee of Ministers
GRECO publishes a report on Portugal
Portugal should strengthen corruption prevention in respect of parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors, says Council of Europe report
Zero tolerance for female genital mutilation (FGM)
“Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a vile crime and a gross violation of the human rights of women and girls,” said Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland just ahead of the UN International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (6 February). “According to new figures...
Travellers - Time to counter deep-rooted hostility
In October 2015, 10 persons died in a fire which broke in a Travellers’ site near Dublin. Following this tragic event, neighbours prevented the authorities from providing alternative accommodation to the surviving members of the group on a nearby site by blocking roads leading to the new site....
Identifying human trafficking victims including missing children among challenges for Croatia
In a new report, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) commends the Croatian authorities for continuing to develop their legal framework for combating human trafficking and protecting victims. The GRETA report – part of the second round of...
Gender Equality Strategy
Despite progress, stronger commitment needed to achieve gender equality in all member States
Secretary General responds to reports that French police have cleared hundreds of Roma in Paris
"It is crucial that the French authorities provide all those who have been forced to leave the ‘Petite ceinture’ camp – including children and elderly people – with adequate, alternative accommodation, particularly as they have decided to take this action during winter", said Council of Europe...
Council of Europe human rights mission returns from Crimea
The Council of Europe’s human rights mission to Crimea, led by Swiss diplomat Ambassador Gérard Stoudmann, has returned to Strasbourg after a 7-day visit to the peninsula. Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland today informed the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers that the delegation met...
Council of Europe and German OSCE Chairmanship in close cooperation for European security
Special Representative for the German Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Gernot Erler, visited the Council of Europe in Strasbourg today to present the OCSE Chairmanship’s programme for 2016. Mr. Erler was welcomed by the Secretary General of the...
Immigration: 'kneejerk' responses risk departure from European values
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland has delivered a keynote speech on the risk of 'kneejerk' responses to immigration at a high-level seminar organised by the Dutch EU chairmanship: “EU fundamental values, immigration and integration: a shared responsibility” in Strasbourg today. "We should be...
Combating hate speech online: Council of Europe and Germany to co-operate
The German Federal Minister for Justice and Consumer Protection, Heiko Maas, today paid an official visit to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg and held talks with its Secretary General, Thorbjørn Jagland. The items discussed included combating online hate speech and incitement to hatred, and...
Belgium should speed up the social inclusion of persons with disabilities
“Belgium is failing to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities to live independently and be included in the community. Planned measures to improve the situation should be implemented as a matter of priority” said today Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, while...
Data Protection Day
The Council of Europe is organising a workshop on 28 January in Brussels at the 9th Edition of the “Computers, Privacy and Data Protection international conference” (CPDP) to take stock of ten years of experience of the Data Protection Day, and to assess how this celebration has contributed to...
Anti-money laundering measures and financing of terrorism report on Armenia
Armenia urged to develop an effective national policy to investigate and prosecute money laundering
Let's not play off fighting terrorism against protecting human rights
"The threat of terrorism is ever present in our countries. It would be a grave mistake to try to play the fight against terrorism off against human rights protection and suggest that one should be chosen over the other", said Harlem Désir, French Secretary of State for European Affairs, today....
European Committee of Social Rights annual conclusions
European Committee of Social Rights finds 277 violations related to children, families and migrants in 31 countries in 2015
In memory of the victims of the Holocaust
A ceremony to mark the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust will take place on Wednesday 27 January, 1.00pm, on the forecourt of the Palais de l’Europe. Wreath-laying in front of the commemorative stone or addresses by: Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary...
The European Convention on Human Rights is our compass
Secretary General Jagland has asked parliamentarians to go home and be louder than ever in defending Europe’s human rights architecture. Speaking about the many challenges facing Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland said the European Convention on Human Rights is a shared vocabulary, the set of values which...
Bulgaria has become a pillar of stability in the Balkan region
Address by Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev
The fight against terrorism will continue to be a priority far beyond our chairmanship
Allocution by Daniel Mitov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers
Spaniard Pedro Agramunt elected PACE President
The Spaniard Pedro Agramunt (EPP/CD) has been elected President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for a mandate of one year, renewable once. He succeeds Anne Brasseur (Luxembourg, ALDE), who has occupied the post since January 2014. He is the fourth Spaniard to take up...
Council of Europe human rights mission starts in Crimea today
Secretary General Jagland sends Swiss diplomat Gérard Stoudmann to lead delegation
UK: Forthcoming reforms to human rights law must not weaken protection
“The repeatedly delayed launch of the consultation process for repeal of the Human Rights Act has created much speculation and an atmosphere of anxiety and concern in civil society and in some parts of the devolved administrations. There is a real fear of regression in terms of rights’ protection...
GRECO report on Romania
Council of Europe report acknowledges Romania´s efforts in prosecuting corruption, calls for more effective prevention measures
Regional and minority languages in Spain
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe today issued six recommendations to the Spanish authorities on the application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. It also published a report by a committee of experts assessing Spain´s compliance with the Charter. In its...
Council of Europe at Brussels Conference: 10th anniversary of Data Protection Day
The Council of Europe is organising a workshop on 28 January in Brussels at the 9th Edition of the “Computers, Privacy and Data Protection international conference” (CPDP) to take stock of ten years of experience of the Data Protection Day, and to assess how this celebration has contributed to...
Call for nominations for the 2016 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in partnership with the Vaclav Havel Library and the Charta 77 Foundation, has today issued a call for nominations for the 2016 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, which will be awarded for the fourth consecutive year on 10 October next in...
Turkey: Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland concerned by arrests of academics
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland today issued the following statement: “Reports from Turkey about arrests of several academics and intellectuals today are very worrying. In this difficult time when Turkey is facing an immense challenge due to terrorist attacks, I call on all...
Denmark: amendments to Aliens Act risk violating international legal standards
“Recent restrictive changes to asylum and immigration law in Denmark raise serious concerns of conformity with human rights standards. The government should reconsider them and ensure that law and practice fully comply with Denmark’s obligation to uphold refugee protection standards” said today...
MONEYVAL publishes a report on Guernsey
Guernsey urged to strengthen financial penalties related to money laundering and terrorist financing
National minorities in Georgia
Despite important progress, marginalisation of national minorities remains, inter-faith tensions on the rise, says new Council of Europe report
Helping refugees in the Mediterranean: Greek association “Agkalia” awarded Raoul Wallenberg Prize
Today, a Greek association Agkalia from the island of Lesvos has received the Council of Europe’s Raoul Wallenberg Prize 2016 Prize for outstanding achievements in providing frontline assistance to thousands of refugees irrespective of their origin and religion. As Lesvos has become a European...
Network neutrality guidelines to protect freedom of expression and privacy
The Council of Europe today called on European states to safeguard the principle of network neutrality in the development of national legal frameworks in order to ensure the protection of the right to freedom of expression and to access to information, and the right to privacy. In a...
Response to terrorism must be resolute, says Secretary General in the wake of Istanbul attack
Following today’s bomb attack in Istanbul that claimed at least ten lives and left more people injured, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland expressed his solidarity with Turkey’s people and leadership conveyed his deepest condolences to the families of victims, many of...
Istanbul terrorist attack
Statement by Daniel Mitov, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria
Georgia should continue strengthening the independence and impartiality of judges
Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks addressed observations to the Prime Minister of Georgia following a visit to the country
How Europe can defeat terrorism
A “resolute and relentless” response to armed fanatics, “anchored by human rights first-principles,” can help democracies to defeat terrorism, according to Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland. He marked the one year anniversary of the attacks on the Charlie Hebdo magazine and a Jewish supermarket...
Poland: Jagland offers expertise on media law
Council of Europe Secretary General Jagland has written to Polish President Duda expressing his concern regarding the legislative draft on public service broadcasting and its possible impact on the integrity and independence of public TV and radio. Jagland invites the Polish authorities to submit...
Counterfeiting of medical products: entry into force of the Medicrime Convention
The Council of Europe’s Medicrime Convention, which aims to combat the counterfeiting of medical products and protect public health, will enter into force on 1st January 2016. This Convention is the first legally binding international instrument making criminal offences of the counterfeiting,...
Helping refugees in the Mediterranean
Greek association “Agkalia” awarded Raul Wallenberg Prize on 13 January at Council of Europe Headquarters
Elections at the Venice Commission
During its December plenary session (18-19 December 2015), the Venice Commission held biennial elections of its governing structures: Presidency, Bureau and Chairs of Sub-Commissions and Councils. The incumbent President of the Commission Mr Gianni Buquicchio of Italy was re-elected to lead the...
Council of Europe and UNHCR urge Hungary to change tone over refugees
UNHCR - the UN Refugee Agency, the Council of Europe and ODHIR (Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights) have urged Hungary to refrain from policies and practices that promote intolerance, fear and fuel xenophobia against refugees and migrants.
