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Council of Europe human rights mission returns from Crimea
The Council of Europe’s human rights mission to Crimea, led by Swiss diplomat Ambassador Gérard Stoudmann, has returned to Strasbourg after a 7-day visit to the peninsula. Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland today informed the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers that the delegation met...
Council of Europe and German OSCE Chairmanship in close cooperation for European security
Special Representative for the German Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Gernot Erler, visited the Council of Europe in Strasbourg today to present the OCSE Chairmanship’s programme for 2016. Mr. Erler was welcomed by the Secretary General of the...
Immigration: 'kneejerk' responses risk departure from European values
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland has delivered a keynote speech on the risk of 'kneejerk' responses to immigration at a high-level seminar organised by the Dutch EU chairmanship: “EU fundamental values, immigration and integration: a shared responsibility” in Strasbourg today. "We should be...
Combating hate speech online: Council of Europe and Germany to co-operate
The German Federal Minister for Justice and Consumer Protection, Heiko Maas, today paid an official visit to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg and held talks with its Secretary General, Thorbjørn Jagland. The items discussed included combating online hate speech and incitement to hatred, and...
Belgium should speed up the social inclusion of persons with disabilities
“Belgium is failing to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities to live independently and be included in the community. Planned measures to improve the situation should be implemented as a matter of priority” said today Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, while...
Data Protection Day
The Council of Europe is organising a workshop on 28 January in Brussels at the 9th Edition of the “Computers, Privacy and Data Protection international conference” (CPDP) to take stock of ten years of experience of the Data Protection Day, and to assess how this celebration has contributed to...
Anti-money laundering measures and financing of terrorism report on Armenia
Armenia urged to develop an effective national policy to investigate and prosecute money laundering
Let's not play off fighting terrorism against protecting human rights
"The threat of terrorism is ever present in our countries. It would be a grave mistake to try to play the fight against terrorism off against human rights protection and suggest that one should be chosen over the other", said Harlem Désir, French Secretary of State for European Affairs, today....
European Committee of Social Rights annual conclusions
European Committee of Social Rights finds 277 violations related to children, families and migrants in 31 countries in 2015
In memory of the victims of the Holocaust
A ceremony to mark the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust will take place on Wednesday 27 January, 1.00pm, on the forecourt of the Palais de l’Europe. Wreath-laying in front of the commemorative stone or addresses by: Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary...
The European Convention on Human Rights is our compass
Secretary General Jagland has asked parliamentarians to go home and be louder than ever in defending Europe’s human rights architecture. Speaking about the many challenges facing Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland said the European Convention on Human Rights is a shared vocabulary, the set of values which...
Bulgaria has become a pillar of stability in the Balkan region
Address by Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev
The fight against terrorism will continue to be a priority far beyond our chairmanship
Allocution by Daniel Mitov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers
Spaniard Pedro Agramunt elected PACE President
The Spaniard Pedro Agramunt (EPP/CD) has been elected President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for a mandate of one year, renewable once. He succeeds Anne Brasseur (Luxembourg, ALDE), who has occupied the post since January 2014. He is the fourth Spaniard to take up...
Council of Europe human rights mission starts in Crimea today
Secretary General Jagland sends Swiss diplomat Gérard Stoudmann to lead delegation
UK: Forthcoming reforms to human rights law must not weaken protection
“The repeatedly delayed launch of the consultation process for repeal of the Human Rights Act has created much speculation and an atmosphere of anxiety and concern in civil society and in some parts of the devolved administrations. There is a real fear of regression in terms of rights’ protection...
GRECO report on Romania
Council of Europe report acknowledges Romania´s efforts in prosecuting corruption, calls for more effective prevention measures
Regional and minority languages in Spain
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe today issued six recommendations to the Spanish authorities on the application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. It also published a report by a committee of experts assessing Spain´s compliance with the Charter. In its...
Council of Europe at Brussels Conference: 10th anniversary of Data Protection Day
The Council of Europe is organising a workshop on 28 January in Brussels at the 9th Edition of the “Computers, Privacy and Data Protection international conference” (CPDP) to take stock of ten years of experience of the Data Protection Day, and to assess how this celebration has contributed to...
Call for nominations for the 2016 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in partnership with the Vaclav Havel Library and the Charta 77 Foundation, has today issued a call for nominations for the 2016 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, which will be awarded for the fourth consecutive year on 10 October next in...