Newsroom
New public policies for the Internet – 2019 IGF in Berlin
What are the risks of discrimination created by the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)? What access to data across borders do law enforcement need in order to fight cybercrime? How can privacy be protected in digital platforms? How do we rise to the challenge of tackling illegal content online...
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
Council of Europe leaders note success of Istanbul Convention, but warn of challenges ahead
Marija Pejčinović Burić: The Budapest Convention will remain the most relevant international standard on cybercrime
Speaking at the opening of the conference on cybercrime, Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić stressed the importance of the Budapest Convention, the only legally-binding international treaty, which is used on a daily basis by criminal justice authorities in national and international...
Preventing torture in Europe: The CPT at thirty
In November 2019 the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment - or CPT for short - celebrates 30 years of work. Stopping torture and inhuman and degrading treatment is an essential ingredient in human rights protection. When people are...
Conference on cybercrime: evidence in cyberspace, fake news and election interference
From 20 to 22 November, ministers, other senior government officials, legal experts in criminal matters, and representatives of the internet industry, civil society and data protection organisations from all over the world will be meeting at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg with a view to...
Shaping future visions of Europe: European citizenship education is key
The concept of European Citizenship is a dynamic and complex idea deeply connected with the ideals of democracy, participation and human rights in Europe. Formal and non-formal education play a key role in promoting it to young people, engaging them in discussions about European topics,...
Violence against women in France: need to better protect victims and their children
In its first report on implementation by France of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (the Istanbul Convention”) the Group of Experts (GREVIO) welcomes the authorities’ commitment and efforts in this field. It also underlines...
Secretary General: urgent measures needed to fight anti-Semitism and online hate speech
In a live television interview on German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has highlighted the key role of the Council of Europe in countering a rising trend of anti-Semitism and online hate speech in Europe and further afield. Speaking after an official...
Artificial intelligence: is a legal framework feasible?
The Ad hoc Committee on Artificial Intelligence (CAHAI), an intergovernmental committee set up by Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to examine the feasibility of a legal framework for the development, design and application of artificial intelligence based on the organisation´s...
French launch for “Start to Talk” campaign against child sexual abuse in sports
Roxana Maracineanu, Minister of Sports of France, and Adrien Taquet, French Secretary of State on Child Protection, have announced today the launch of the Council of Europe’s campaign “Start to Talk” in France. “Start to Talk” is a Council of Europe campaign against the abuse of children in...
GRECO calls for an overall anticorruption strategy and effective implementation of laws in Spain
In an evaluation report published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) calls on Spain to develop a comprehensive anticorruption strategy, and to improve its legal framework to prevent corruption in top governmental functions and law enforcement agencies. This...
Do European states do enough to protect the rights of the child?
A two-day international conference on children’s rights has started in Strasbourg today in the framework of the French Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. It looks at what European states are doing to promote children’s rights protection and what challenges remain....
Inauguration of the new secondary site of the EDQM: resilience and business continuity
The Council of Europe will open and inaugurate on 15 November the new secondary site of the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM) in Ars-Laquenexy, close to Metz in eastern France. It will enable the safe storage of contingency stocks of European Pharmacopoeia...
Secretary General in Georgia: high-level meetings, new Action Plan launch
Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, has concluded on 11 November 2019 her official two-day visit to Georgia ahead of the Chairmanship in the Council of Europe that Georgia will assume on the 27th of November 2019. The agenda of the Secretary General’s visit...
International conference on children’s rights
Challenging social norms, attitudes and behaviours that hinder effective protection of children’s rights: conference in Strasbourg next week
Statement of Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić on the 30th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall
Statement of Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić on the 30th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall “All Europeans have a reason to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall. People won freedom and democracy through peaceful revolution - and by efforts in the east and...
“Follow The Money” Initiative in Nigeria wins Council of Europe’s Democracy Innovation Award
At today’s closing session of the 2019 World Forum for Democracy, the Council of Europe announced that the winner of its Democracy Innovation Award was the initiative “Follow The Money”, a network of grassroots citizens in Nigeria dedicated to tracking government and international aid spending....
New guidelines for recruitment and training of prison and probation staff
The Council of Europe issued today a new set of Guidelines aimed at assisting its 47 Member States in improving the recruitment, education, training and professional development of prison and probation staff. The guidelines have been developed as a way to share best practices taking into account...
World Forum for Democracy
“Is democracy in danger in the information age?”
Raoul Wallenberg Prize 2020: deadline for candidates extended to 30 November
The Council of Europe Raoul Wallenberg Prize has been awarded every two years since 2014 in recognition of extraordinary humanitarian achievements by a single individual, a group of individuals or an organisation. The prize, which was established by the Committee of Ministers in 2012, derives...
Secretary General calls on member states to recognise, protect and promote Romani language
On the occasion of the World Day of Romani Language, Ms Marija Pejčinović Burić, Council of Europe Secretary General, calls on the Organisation’s member states to recognise, protect, and promote the Romani language, which forms an integral part of our common European cultural heritage. Romani is...
CPT at 30: conference on safeguards during first hours of custody
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) is organising a conference in Strasbourg on 4 November to mark its 30th anniversary and to discuss the implementation of detention safeguards in the first hours of police custody, a time when the risk of ill-treatment is higher. The...
Aegean islands: Greece should urgently transfer asylum seekers and improve their living conditions
“The situation of migrants, including asylum seekers, in the Greek Aegean islands has dramatically worsened over the past 12 months. Urgent measures are needed to address the desperate conditions in which thousands of human beings are living,” said today the Council of Europe Commissioner for...
National minorities in Finland: rising intolerance needs tackling
Finland has a long tradition of support for minority languages and cultures, through a well-developed legal framework that is generous towards persons belonging to minorities and affords extensive linguistic rights. However, as in other European countries, levels of intolerance and nationalism...
Russian local elections: all candidates need equal access to electoral rights
In its report on the Russian Federation adopted today, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe noted with satisfaction the developments that have taken place since 2010: the principle of local self-government is now recognised both in the Constitution and in...
Turkey: Congress adopts report on the observation of local elections and the Istanbul repeat mayoral election
Meeting in session on 30 October 2019, the members of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe adopted a report on the local elections in Turkey (31 March 2019) and the Istanbul repeat mayoral election (23 June 2019), following observation missions led by the...
Liliane Maury Pasquier: "The Council of Europe needs the continuing commitment of the Assembly and the Congress"
"The Council of Europe has already strongly demonstrated its ability to adapt to the changing world. But the organisation needs our continued commitment and the Assembly and the Congress, as well as our national parliaments and local and regional authorities, have a fundamental role to play. It...
Council of Europe Secretary General addresses Congress members
“We can take pride in having created a common legal area for 47 member states in which common legal standards are adopted, promoted and upheld,” said the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, in an address to Congress members at their session in Strasbourg, France,...
Anders Knape: "The Congress must have resources corresponding to its responsibilities within the Council of Europe"
Speaking at the opening of the 37th Session in Strasbourg on 29 October 2019, Congress President Anders Knape recalled the role of the Council of Europe in guaranteeing in its 47 member States democracy, human rights and the rule of law. He stressed that the Congress, which plays a key role in...
Language policies should protect minority rights, promote diversity and lower tensions
Languages are immensely enriching. They enable us to communicate with more people, to be better understood and to better understand other perspectives. Unfortunately, however, in many countries of the Council of Europe, languages are still sometimes used as tools to pit people against each other....
Tunisia: Secretary General confirms Council of Europe commitment to reinforced political dialogue
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić met with Mr Mokhtar Hammami, Minister of Local Affairs and Environment of Tunisia today, underlining the increasing political dialogue between Tunisia and the Council of Europe. She welcomed cooperation on democratic reforms, notably...
37th Session of the Congress: Mayors safeguarding democracy
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will meet in Strasbourg, France, from 29 to 31 October 2019, for its 37th Session, under the theme “Mayors safeguarding democracy”. The Session’s debates will focus on smart cities and cybersecurity, the working conditions of...
12 Principles of Good Democratic Governance: conference on 28 October
An international conference on the Twelve Principles of Good Democratic Governance is taking place in Strasbourg on 28 October. The event has been organised by the Council of Europe Centre of Expertise for Good Governance, within the framework of the French presidency of the Council’s Committee...
Session of the Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations
The Conference of INGOs has chosen the theme of migration for its October session, taking place in Strasbourg from 28 to 31 October 2019. The theme will be dealt with at different times and in different ways during the week: The Human Rights Committee will hold a round table on hate speech on the...
Supreme Court of Slovenia wins Crystal Scales of Justice Prize
The Supreme Court of Slovenia has just been rewarded for an initiative entitled “Improving the quality of justice” (IQ Justice) [video – powerpoint presentation] The 2019 European Crystal Scales of Justice prize, organised by the Council of Europe and rewarding innovative judicial practices in...
“Act for Heritage!”: Conference in Cyprus on protecting Cultural Property
Cultural property, as an invaluable testimony of history and identity to be preserved in all circumstances, contributes to the creation of a more peaceful, just and cohesive society. However, with alarming frequency, cultural property is targeted in both peace and wartime, often leading to a...
European summit of Presidents of Parliament in Strasbourg
The Presidents of Parliament from the 47 Council of Europe member states and many partner, observer and neighbouring countries, along with the Presidents of other international assemblies, will be meeting in Strasbourg on 24 and 25 October 2019 for a European parliamentary summit. Some 60...
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...
Cérémonie de commémoration du 70e anniversaire
Le Conseil de l’Europe a célébré son 70e anniversaire lors d’une cérémonie de commémoration qui s’est tenue le mardi 1er octobre à l’Opéra de Strasbourg. Le maire de la ville, Roland Ries, a ouvert la cérémonie. Son discours a été suivi des interventions de l’ancien Premier Ministre espagnol...
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 : "Rassembler notre famille européenne autour de valeurs communes"
Amélie de Montchalin, Secrétaire d'Etat française chargée des Affaires européennes s’est exprimée aujourd’hui au nom de la Présidence française du Comité des Ministres devant l’Assemblée parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe. Après avoir rendu un hommage appuyé au Président Chirac, dans lequel...
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...
Déclaration de la Secrétaire Générale, Marija Pejčinović Burić, suite à la disparition de Jacques Chirac
"Jacques Chirac, un immense Européen et grand Français n'est plus. Son engagement en faveur de la paix, du respect du droit international et de la tolérance ont marqué l’histoire de la France et de toute l'Europe. Nous gardons de lui l’image d’un homme d'Etat hors norme, humaniste et proche des...
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:
Reconstitution de la première réunion du Comité des Ministres du Conseil de l’Europe et exposition
Du 8 au 13 août 1949, le Comité des Ministres du Conseil de l’Europe se réunissait pour la première fois, à l’Hôtel de Ville de Strasbourg. Dans le cadre de la Présidence française du Comité des Ministres et du 70ème anniversaire du Conseil de l’Europe, les Ambassadeurs des 47 pays actuellement...
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...
North-South Prize 2018 honours fight to end female genital mutilation and the promotion of social ecology
Jaha Mapenzi Dukureh founder and CEO of the Non-Governmental organisation “Safe Hands for Girls” and Damien Carême, Mayor of Grande-Synthe are the laureates of the North-South Prize of the Council of Europe 2018. The Award Ceremony of the XXIV North-South Prize of the Council of Europe took place...
Artificial intelligence: Expert committee to explore the development of a legal framework
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe representing its 47 members states has decided to set up an intergovernmental committee of experts to examine the feasibility of a legal framework for the development, design and application of artificial intelligence. To carry out its work, the...
Congress President calls on Russia to allow international observers to strengthen the integrity of municipal elections
Following Sunday's municipal elections in the Russian Federation, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Anders Knape, underlined the importance of democratic framework conditions in order to ensure genuinely free and fair elections, in...
Malta: more needed to investigate and prosecute money laundering and strengthen its supervisory system
In a report published today, the Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering body MONEYVAL calls on the Maltese authorities to strengthen their practical application of their measures to combat money laundering and financing of terrorism (see also the summary of the report). The report makes a...
Free Press Unlimited and European Centre for Press and Media Freedom join Council of Europe Platform
Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists now includes 14 partners
Moldova needs better criminal asset recovery and confiscation systems
In a report published today, the Council of Europe anti money laundering body MONEYVAL calls on the Moldovan authorities to fully and consistently use its legislative framework to combat money laundering and to increase the effectiveness of confiscation of proceeds, in particular regarding...
Finland: action needed to combat hate speech and scrap transgender persons sterilisation requirement
In a report published today, the Council of Europe Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) calls on Finland to tackle growing racist and intolerant hate speech, better coordinate integration activities for immigrants and review the law requiring transgender persons to be sterilised...
Trafficking and exploitation - Human Rights Commissioner calls for swift action
“Few human rights violations are so universally condemned by Council of Europe member states as the exploitation of the most vulnerable”, says Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, in her Human Rights Comment published today. As a result, year on year, the fight...
School starts with more inclusion for Roma children in Romania – and beyond
On 9 September, Council of Europe Director General of Democracy Snežana Samardžić-Markovic joined Romanian President Klaus Iohannis to open the new school year through a visit to Ferdinand I Elementary and Secondary School in Bucharest, where they addressed the impact so far of a joint European...
Secretary General welcomes release of prisoners by Russia and Ukraine
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland made the following statement today: “The Council of Europe welcomes the release of prisoners by Russia and Ukraine today. This is an encouraging step towards the reconciliation of the two member states of the Council of Europe and an important element of the...
MONEYVAL issues follow up reports on Ukraine and Isle of Man
The Council of Europe´s anti money laundering and counter terrorist financing body MONEYVAL has published two follow up reports assessing the progress made by Ukraine and the United Kingdom Crown Dependency of Isle of Man in implementing its recommendations. MONEYVAL finds that Ukraine has made...
National minorities’ rights: new reports on Georgia and the Netherlands
New opinions on the situation of national minorities in Georgia and the Netherlands have published by the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Over the past three years, Georgia has strengthened its legislative framework for promotion of rights...
Denmark needs stronger anti-corruption policies for government and the police force
In an evaluation report published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) calls upon Denmark to strengthen its policies to prevent corruption in respect of persons entrusted with top executive functions (members of the government and – in certain cases – special...