Newsroom
Enforcing Strasbourg Court’s judgments concerning the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova
The execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights requires genuine dialogue between all those capable of providing effective redress to victims of violations in the Transnistrian region of the Republic Moldova. "We need to be creative and break the vicious circle of legal...
Slovenia: new report on combatting human trafficking
In its new report published today, the Council of Europe’s anti-trafficking expert group (GRETA) note improvements in legislation and practices to combat human trafficking in Slovenia since the publication of the first report in January 2014, and said that more should be done to help victims. The...
“Free European Media” conference in Gdansk, Poland
Over 150 journalists, representatives of national media regulators and press councils, as well as academics, politicians, and civil society activists are gathering at the Solidarność Centre in Gdansk, Poland for a conference on “Free European Media”. The event, taking place on 15-16 February, has...
Turkey: Secretary General Jagland meets Turkish leadership in Ankara on 15-16 February
Speech to the candidate judges and prosecutors of the Justice Academy
Protection of children against sexual abuse in the circle of trust: workable strategies
In a new report published today, the Council of Europe’s Lanzarote Committee analyses the strategies used by 26 European countries(*) to protect children against sexual abuse in the circle of trust (extended family and persons close to the child who exercise influence over the child). According...
Irish student wins European Eloquence Prize
The 2018 Prix européen de l’Eloquence, an annual contest of public speaking in French, has been won by Irish student John Finn, who spoke on the theme of “To dark thoughts, green answers?”. Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General, Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni chaired the jury, which awarded the...
Training on reception and integration of migrants and refugees for local authority officials in Athens
On 8-9 February 2018 in Athens, the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees (SRSG), together with the municipality of Athens, is co-organising a training session for local authority officials on their interaction with refugees and migrants in terms of emergency...
Sexual abuse of children: recommendations to Hungary
Today, the Council of Europe Lanzarote Committee published its recommendations to the Hungarian authorities on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse in the transit zones at the Serbian-Hungarian border. According to the legislation adopted in Hungary in March...
Invest in education and language acquisition to build a cohesive society, says Commissioner Muižnieks in Skopje
“The Macedonian authorities should implement policies that encourage interaction and understanding between ethnic communities and promote social cohesion while protecting diversity,” said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, after a five-day follow-up visit to “the...
Training on integration of refugee and migrant children in mainstream education
On 2-3 February 2018, the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees (SRSG), together with the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) and the municipality of Athens, is organising a training session on one of the most challenging questions in the...
Protection of National Minorities in Slovenia
Slovenia duly protects the Italian and Hungarian national minorities, but more efforts needed to improve situation of Roma, fight increase in hate speech
Ukraine: New report on combatting money laundering and terrorism financing
Tangible progress achieved, changes to legislation and practices required
GRETA’s new report on Serbia
The authorities must do to more to reduce children’s vulnerability to trafficking, improve assistance to victims
Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust and for the Prevention of Crimes against Humanity
On 27 January 1945, the concentration camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau – where more than one million people had been sent to gas chambers to perish during the Holocaust – was liberated. We mark this “Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust and for the Prevention of Crimes against Humanity” to honour the...
Data Protection Day
On 28 January the Council of Europe will celebrate the Data Protection Day, which marks the opening for signature in 1981 of the Council of Europe’s data protection convention, “Convention 108”. More than 50 countries around the world have already signed up to the convention, which sets out key...
Time to renew our commitment and halt the deterioration of human rights
“In 2017 the human rights situation continued to deteriorate in many European countries. Old crises deepened, new crises emerged and commitment to human rights values and standards seemed to weaken”, said today Nils Muižnieks, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights while presenting...
Austrian President reiterates attachment to the Council of Europe and its values
In his speech, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen made a strong commitment to Europe and its values, and reiterated Austria’s attachment to the Council of Europe. “Without the principles this organisation stands for,” he said, “we cannot have the Europe that we all want.” He stressed...
Ceremony to mark International Day of Holocaust Commemoration
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland and Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen led tributes to the memory of Holocaust victims, at a ceremony outside the main Council of Europe building in Strasbourg. Other participants who made addresses and laid wreaths in front of the commemorative stone...
Dunja Mijatović elected Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights
Dunja Mijatovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) was today elected as the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights by the Organisation’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) at its plenary session in Strasbourg. Ms Mijatovic was elected for a non-renewable term of six years starting on 1 April 2018. She...
Danish Prime Minister urges further reform of the European Convention
Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen has called for further reform of the European Convention on Human Rights – and urged member States to apply it more effectively at national level. Addressing PACE at its plenary session in Strasbourg, the Prime Minister said it was necessary to “reform...
