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Fair treatment for refugees: a moral and legal obligation
Statement by Igor Crnadak, Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers
Dialogue du Secrétaire Général avec les membres de l’Assemblée
Thorbjørn Jagland a répondu aux questions des parlementaires au cours d’un exercice de questions-réponses organisé dans le cadre de la session d’automne de l’Assemblée. Lors de cet échange, dominé par la crise migratoire, M. Jagland a rappelé l’importance de placer tous ceux qui arrivent sur le...
PACE President gives mixed assessment on human rights in Europe
After almost two years at the head of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the President, Anne Brasseur, has given a mixed assessment of progress in human rights throughout Europe in her opening address at the autumn session in Strasbourg. Among the positive developments, she...
Ludmilla Alexeeva wins Václav Havel Human Rights Prize
The third Václav Havel Human Rights Prize – which honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights – has been awarded to veteran Russian human rights defender Ludmilla Alexeeva. The €60 000 prize was presented at a special ceremony today at the Palais de l’Europe in Strasbourg,...
The European Day of Languages 2015
Celebrating the linguistic diversity of Europe
Secretary General Jagland meets Foreign Minister Schetyna of Poland
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland today met in Warsaw with and Foreign Minister of Poland Grzegorz Schetyna. Topics of discussion included the human rights of refugees, the situation in Ukraine and Poland’s relations with the Council of Europe.
Counterfeiting of medical products
Entry into force of the Medicrime Convention
Committee of Ministers adopts interim resolution on Azerbaijan
Ilgar Mammadov must be immediately released and his physical integrity guaranteed by the Azerbaijani authorities
Anti-torture committee calls on Romania to combat ill-treatment in prisons
In a report on Romania published today, the Council of Europe anti-torture committee (CPT) expresses its concern about numerous credible allegations of ill-treatment by persons held in prisons, although it also points out significant progress in reducing such practice in police stations. The CPT,...
Massive arrival of refugees in Europe
Following the thematic debate which took place last week, the Ministers' Deputies adopted a series of decisions today concerning the massive arrival of refugees in Europe. In particular, they recalled the obligations which fall upon member States under international law, particularly the...
Chair of the Committee of Ministers on visit to Tunisia
Mr Igor Crnadak, Chair of the Committee of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina paid a visit to Tunisia on 20-21 September 2015. He was received by the President of the Republic of Tunisia, Mr Béji Caïd Essebsi. He also met his counterpart Mr Taieb Baccouche,...
Jacques Bühler receives the Pro Merito Medal of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Mr Jacques Bühler, Deputy Secretary General of the Swiss Federal Court, CEPEJ member and President of the SATURN Centre Steering Committee for judicial time management, has been awarded the Pro Merito Medal of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, in the framework of the 10th plenary...
Committee of Ministers examines implementation of European Court of Human Rights judgments
The representatives of the 47 member States of the Council of Europe will examine the implementation of the judgments and decisions of the European Court of Human Rights on 22‑24 September 2015. This supervisory role of the Committee of Ministers is provided for under Article 46 of the European...
Remove obstacles to the work of women’s rights defenders
“Human rights defenders and civil society organisations working to protect the human rights of women and gender equality perform an essential role in Europe. They provide much needed assistance to victims of gender-based violence, combat discrimination against women, contribute to peace-building...
Council of Europe monitoring group on violence against women names President and Vice-Presidents
Following its inaugural meeting held in Strasbourg, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) today announced the election of its first President and two Vice-Presidents. The President is Professor Feride Acar, faculty member...
First meeting of the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence
Statement by Igor Crnadak, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, and Semiha Borovac, Minister for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina
"In the face of indifference and rejection, we must move towards a globalisation of solidarity"
Following her audience with His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican today, Anne Brasseur, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), made the following statement: “In the course of my discussion with Pope Francis, I expressed my conviction that our absolute priority...
Belgium: accelerate reception of asylum-seekers and improve inclusive education
"The overwhelmingly positive response of Belgian society to the arrivals of refugees and the decision of the authorities to increase the quota of Syrian refugees they accept for resettlement are encouraging signs. They suggest that Belgium is ready to play its part to ensure that Europe meets the...
Freedom of Expression: still a precondition for democracy?
The Council of Europe brings together top judges, government officials and activists to address current challenges to freedom of expression at a conference in Strasbourg
Minority languages in Norway: Council of Europe praises government efforts
Council of Europe experts, in their new report published today evaluated the application by Norway of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. The independent expert committee acknowledged the commitment and the efforts of the authorities to support and protect the languages, but...
