Newsroom
Gudrun Mosler-Törnström elected as first woman President of the Congress
The members of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, meeting for the 31st Session in Strasbourg (France), elected Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC) as President for a two-year term of office. Ms Mosler-Törnström is the first woman being elected to the...
How to fight human trafficking: new guide for governments
10th European Anti-Trafficking Day, 18 October
Why remembering the Holocaust is a human rights imperative
"The Shoah stands out as one of the defining moments of history that has shaped the conscience of mankind. It is unique in its roots, implementation and envisioned totality", says Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner of Human Rights, in his latest Human rights Comment published today....
Calais camp closure
There must be alternative accommodation in France and increased cooperation for the transfer of unaccompanied children to the United Kingdom
Venice Commission: New Polish law on constitutional tribunal gives excessive power to parliament and the executive over the judiciary
An opinion adopted today by the Council of Europe’s constitutional law experts, the Venice Commission, found that Poland’s new Act on the Constitutional Tribunal does not meet two essential standards of balance of power in government: the independence of the judiciary and the position of the...
New tool to help governments strengthen democracy through culture
The 47-nation Council of Europe is today launching a new statistical tool to help decision-makers see where changes in cultural policy can best help to strengthen democracy. “Experts have thought for a long time that there are strong links between people taking part in cultural activities and...
Finland: new report on minorities
Efforts needed to protect Samí rights, Swedish language and combat hate speech, says a report on minorities in Finland
Conference on Migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in the context of major risks prevention and management
Migrants are a risk group also facing natural hazards and technological accidents. To analyse how countries deal with their vulnerabilities, the EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement of the Council of Europe will hold a conference on Migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in the context of natural and...
Frank-Walter Steinmeier: ‘Human rights are and must remain non-negotiable’
“Human rights are and must remain non-negotiable,” German Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told parliamentarians today at PACE’s plenary session in Strasbourg. “They are not just an instrument to be used when it suits on the road to peace. They are in fact the cornerstone on which...
Ukraine: only ‘significant progress’ by Russia can form basis for full-fledged dialogue
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has said that only “significant and measurable progress” by Russia towards implementation of three recent resolutions of the Assembly can form the basis for restoration of a fully-fledged, mutually respectful dialogue. In a resolution on...
Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu : les valeurs du Conseil de l’Europe doivent inspirer la poursuite des réformes en Turquie
« L’essentiel des progrès réalisés depuis quinze ans en Turquie l’ont été grâce au Conseil de l’Europe. Nous poursuivrons notre programme de réformes constitutionnelles et institutionnelles et continuerons à tenir compte des recommandations du Conseil », a déclaré Mevlüt Çavusoglu, ministre des...
Thomas Bach: Governments and the Olympic Movement have a common responsibility in the fight against doping
“Deficiencies of the World Anti-Doping Agency in the fight against doping have become apparent. It is encouraging to see that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is now starting to address these deficiencies through the organisation of Think Tanks and other measures”, today said the President of...
Cyprus: Secretary General Jagland on Official Visit
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland is meeting with Cypriot government officials on Friday to discuss the upcoming Cypriot chairmanship of the Council of Europe (from 22 November 2016 to 19 May 2017). The chairmanship will address several key human rights issues, from detention of irregular...
Jürgen Ligi : le Comité des Ministres et l’Assemblée doivent travailler en collaboration étroite
S’adressant aujourd’hui à l’Assemblée parlementaire, Jürgen Ligi, Ministre des Affaires étrangères de l’Estonie a évoqué les évènements récents intervenus pendant la présidence estonienne du Comité des Ministres, notamment la tentative de coup d’Etat en Turquie. « Les deux principaux organes...
Managing diversity through minority rights
Council of Europe’s national minorities body launches new guidance document
François Hollande : « Plus que jamais nous avons besoin du Conseil de l’Europe »
« La France est aux côtés du Conseil de l’Europe et je suis sûr que le Conseil de l’Europe est aux côtés de la France pour toutes les démarches qui sont utiles à la paix, à la liberté et à la démocratie », a déclaré aujourd’hui le Président de la République française, François Hollande, en...
OECD calls on policy makers to adopt a broader and more inclusive approach to productivity growth
The Deputy Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Mari Kiviniemi, today urged to do everything to address the “concerns of those that have suffered unemployment” by “creating more inclusive societies where the benefits of growth are more equally...
European Local Democracy Week 2016
“Living together in culturally diverse societies: respect, dialogue, interaction”
Secretary General’s dialogue with Assembly members
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland replied to questions from members of the Assembly in a question and answer session during the Assembly’s autumn part-session. During this exchange, PACE members asked Mr Jagland for his reaction to Turkey’s derogation from part of the European...
Václav Havel Human Rights Prize 2016 awarded to Nadia Murad
The fourth Václav Havel Human Rights Prize – which honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights – has been awarded to Yazidi human rights activist Nadia Murad. The €60 000 prize was presented at a special ceremony today at the Palais de l’Europe in Strasbourg, on the...
