Newsroom
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...
