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New guidelines on media pluralism and transparency of media ownership
The Council of Europe has issued guidelines to its 47 member states aimed at assisting them in the promotion of media pluralism and transparency of media ownership. In a Recommendation adopted today, the Committee of Ministers underlines that advances in modern technology have a profound impact...
Protecting human rights online: new guidelines on internet intermediaries
The Council of Europe today adopted policy guidelines addressed to its 47 member states on the roles and responsibilities of internet intermediaries such as search engines and social media. The power of such intermediaries as protagonists of online expression is such that their role and impact on...
Istanbul Convention: clearing away the fog of misconceptions
In recent months, several Council of Europe member states have shown “cold feet” in moves to ratify the Council of Europe’s Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (more commonly known as the "Istanbul Convention"). Although almost every single member...
Joint statement - International organisations commit to building broader support for human rights
With the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 70 years ago, governments around the globe committed to making peace, democracy and justice a reality for all. We, national, regional and international institutions have worked towards that objective, striving to improve the life of...
Anti-corruption body calls on Portugal to speed up reforms to prevent corruption among MPs, judges and prosecutors
In a report published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), calls on Portugal to step up its efforts to improve its legal framework to prevent corruption in respect of MPs, judges and prosecutors. This report, which assesses Portugal’s compliance with the...
Children in migration need information on reality, not just on rights, says a new report
Children in migration at all the stages of their journey to Europe should receive child-friendly and understandable information, which nevertheless must reflect the realities and difficulties they may face in the new environment, says the Council of Europe in a new report published today. The...
Extending rights, responsibilities and status to same-sex families: trends across Europe
Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Government officials, non-governmental organisations and independent experts are meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark on 2 March 2018 for a conference to discuss equal opportunities and rights in private and family life for lesbian, gay,...
Greece: anti-corruption group offers praise and criticism
In two reports published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) mixed praise with criticism regarding Greek efforts to fight corruption in both the legislative and judicial branches of government. One of the two reports – Corruption prevention in respect of...
Trafficking in human organs: Council of Europe convention enters into force
Secretary General Jagland calls on states to join the treaty
Anti-torture committee publishes a report on Portugal
In a report on Portugal published today, the Council of Europe's anti-torture committee (CPT) urges the Portuguese authorities to take determined action to prevent police ill-treatment and to provide prisoners with safe and decent living conditions. During its 2016 periodic visit to the country,...
San-Marino, Spain, Sweden: new reports by anti-discrimination body
According to the new report by European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published today, San-Marino has made progress on access to naturalisation, criminalising discrimination on the basis of gender identity, and on data collection. However, San Marino still has no criminal...
Anti-corruption group says that Germany still lags in efforts to make party financing more transparent
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) reiterates previous critiques from earlier reports concerning the transparency of party financing in Germany in a just published “addendum”. Of 20 recommendations, nine have been “implemented satisfactorily or dealt with in a...
Special Representative on Migration and Refugees Tomáš Boček publishes first activity report
Migration in Europe: Call for united political will, commitment to Council of Europe standards and durable solutions
Stressing gender perspective in drug policy at first-ever Mexico meeting
This week, the Council of Europe's drug policy experts The Pompidou Group highlight the importance of “mainstreaming” gender perspective to drug policy. Assessing negative consequences that especially women and girls face – including unequal access to health care and social services, as well as...
Anti-corruption body visits Romania to conduct urgent evaluation of reform of the judiciary
A delegation from the Group of States against Corruption of the Council of Europe (GRECO) visited Romania on 21 and 22 February as part of an ad hoc urgent evaluation concerning the recently proposed or adopted legislation in the area of the judiciary from the perspective of the fight against...
Serbia: Concerted efforts needed to address the legacy of the past, protect media freedoms and ensure inclusive education
Declaration by Human Rights Commissioner Nils Muižnieks, following a four-day follow-up visit to the country
Combatting human trafficking by “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”
Progress in legislation and practices, more needed to lower risks for children and migrants
National minorities: Romania should step up efforts to combat Roma discrimination
The Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities has urged the Romanian authorities to step up their efforts to combat discrimination, against the Roma in particular, and to improve the protection of national minorities in a number of areas. In a new...
Meeting of Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland with Italian Justice Minister Orlando
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland and Minister of Justice of Italy Andrea Orlando had an exchange of views today at the Palais de l’Europe to discuss current developments and issues of common interest. The Secretary General and the Minister underlined the excellent co-operation between Italy...
Sweden should enhance protection of asylum seekers and persons with disabilities
“Sweden’s renewed commitment to participate in the relocation of asylum seekers and to increase resettlement are positive signals, but it’s time to lift the restrictions imposed on asylum seekers at the height of the 2015 migration crisis”, says the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human...
