Back Latest annual report from the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland

Latest annual report from the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland

Thorbjørn Jagland: Europe’s human rights and security at risk through populist nationalism

Strasbourg, 27.04.2016 – Human rights, democracy and security are threatened across the continent, according to the latest annual report from the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland.

“Europe is currently struggling with many serious challenges, including terrorism, migration and conflict. This is being successfully exploited by nationalists and populists in many places, and trust in national and European institutions is dwindling,” said the Secretary General.

“At the same time, we still see many important gaps in the laws and practices that our member states have in place, and basic human rights including free speech, freedom of assembly and the right to privacy are increasingly being restricted.

“This is not only wrong – it is also dangerous. If we don’t stand by our democratic principles and tackle our problems while fully respecting human rights then the situation will only get worse.”

The independence and impartiality of justice systems in Europe is a significant focus of the report, which highlights political interference, corruption and the non-enforcement of judicial decisions among the areas of concern. Moreover, the Secretary Jagland observes a “dangerous trend towards legislative nationalism” as states initiate laws which risk contravening international standards, notably in relation to the treatment of migrants and refugees.

The report also underlines that almost half of the 47 Council of Europe member states do not satisfactorily guarantee the safety of journalists, pointing out that the situation has deteriorated in the last year with an increase in physical attacks and the destruction of property.

Media diversity is considered to be unsatisfactory in 26 member states and concerns were highlighted over interference in media content. Freedom of expression on the internet is another key area of concern.

The report contains examples from the member states and a series of proposed Council of Europe initiatives including a  new action plan on the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, a set of common standards for member states on the blocking and filtering of internet sites and plans to 'codify' existing international standards, good practices and guidance relating to mass surveillance.

It also makes recommendations concerning integration and the protection of vulnerable groups and human rights defenders.

STRASBOURG 27 APRIL 2016
  • Diminuer la taille du texte
  • Augmenter la taille du texte
  • Imprimer la page
Fifty practitioners to enhance skills in provision of occupational therapy

Following the adoption of the Guidelines for Occupational Therapy (OT), as well as the Training of Trainers (ToT) on OT that took place in January 2024, three 2-day cascade training sessions were organised in the course of February and March 2024.  Fifty professionals, mainly from the Prison Health Department, along with representatives from the Correctional Services, Institute for Forensic Psychiatry, and the Special Institute for Persons with Mental and Physical Disabilities, were trained on this important form of therapy.

To complement the theoretical aspects and provide the trainees with practical knowledge, some of the sessions were conducted in the Dubrava Prison, in a section which houses prisoners with both mental and somatic problems. This on-site training allowed the participants to observe and understand the application of OT principles in a real-life setting, thus enhancing their learning experience by connecting theory and practice.

These cascade training sessions allowed the participants to further improve their skills in applying the OT Guidelines and tools in prisons and other closed institutions, a concept which was thus far not utilised in a structured manner. Furthermore, training healthcare and correctional professionals together helps them further strengthen the inter-institutional cooperation in the treatment and rehabilitation of some of the most vulnerable members of the society.

Each of these sessions were facilitated by two trainers who had participated in the ToT in January and were supervised and mentored by a Council of Europe consultant who has been involved in the process since the very beginning, thus further strengthening institutional capacity to provide training.

The activity was conducted under the auspices of the Council of Europe project “Improvement of the treatment of persons deprived of liberty”.

 

 

*All references to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions, or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United National Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.

Istog/ Istok 26 March 2024
  • Diminuer la taille du texte
  • Augmenter la taille du texte
  • Imprimer la page