Newsroom
PACE maintains sanctions against Russian delegation
But leaves door open to dialogue
Mladen Ivanić: joining the EU ‘is the only hope for Bosnia and Herzegovina’
Joining the European Union “is the only hope for our country”, said Mladen Ivanić, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, speaking today in an address to the Parliamentary Assembly. “If we remain isolated, our internal differences will be more relevant. If we are part of something...
Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni re-elected Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe today re-elected Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni (Italy) as Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe. It is her second mandate in this post. For the past two and a half years, Mrs Battaini-Dragoni has served as the Council of Europe’s Deputy...
Let Snowden return to US and plead ‘public interest’, says PACE
The United States should allow whistle-blower Edward Snowden to return to his home country “without fear of criminal prosecution under conditions that would not allow him to raise the public interest defence”, according to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The 1917...
Ban Ki-moon calls for mobilisation against violent extremism
In his address to PACE convened today in plenary session in Strasbourg, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon assured Europe of UN support in combating violent extremism and the rise of antisemitism, anti-muslim attacks and related forms of discrimination. He commended the action of the...
MONEYVAL publishes a report on Montenegro
Council of Europe report calls on Montenegro to investigate and prosecute money laundering offences more proactively
Igor Crnadak presents the priorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Chairmanship
Addressing the Assembly today, Igor Crnadak, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina and current Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, said his country is “honoured to be assuming the Chairmanship for the first time since its accession to the Council of Europe in 2002”. The...
International Conference on the interface between trafficking in human beings and asylum
The Bulgarian National Commission for Combatting Trafficking in Human beings, the Council of Europe and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in partnership with the Hanns Seidel Foundation is holding an International Conference on “The interface between protection of victims...
Human Rights report on Bulgaria
Progress on human rights protection remains slow in Bulgaria
Migrants can become an asset to our economies, says Maltese President
Addressing PACE today at its June session, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Malta’s membership of the Council of Europe, the President of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, called for “an effective, comprehensive and holistic migration policy”, pinned on a human rights-based approach....
Hungary must ensure greater independence of media regulatory authority, say Council of Europe constitutional law experts
An Opinion adopted on 19 June 2015 during the plenary session of the Council of Europe’s constitutional law experts (the Venice Commission) calls on the Hungarian government to create a more independent regulatory framework and more balanced media environment. “Hungary has made significant...
Thorbjørn Jagland: Fight against violent extremism is a battle of ideas
Address to United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee
Slovakia should set ambitious targets for the social inclusion of Roma and persons with disabilities
“Although Slovakia has taken important measures to advance its human rights agenda, much more ambitious targets need to be set for eradicating the social exclusion and marginalisation of Roma and persons with disabilities. Also much more should be done to reinforce the effectiveness of the...
GRECO: regulating conflicts of interest must be a priority
The evaluations carried out so far by the Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) show that in many European states there are currently no regulations to deal with the conflicts of interest parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors might face, and that in some countries...
New guidance for states to fight “online grooming” of children
All cases of sexual abuse of children – no matter if they are a result of a physical meeting, or committed purely online – should be criminalized, says a new Council of Europe’s opinion on “online grooming” presented in Strasbourg today. The opinion was adopted by the Lanzarote Committee bringing...
Safety and security at sports events: Adapting to today's challenges
30 years after the Heysel Stadium tragedy, the Council of Europe and the Royal Belgian Football Association are holding an international conference in Brussels to discuss how best to ensure safety, security and a service-oriented approach at football matches and other major sporting events. The...
Secretary General: Cybercrime is reaching epic proportions
Octopus conference 2015
Lowest reported drug seizures at airports since 2012: new statistics from the Council of Europe
Unveiled at a meeting organised by the Council of Europe’s drug policy experts (The Pompidou Group) new statistics indicate the lowest number of drug seizures at airports on passengers and in airfreight since 2012. Statistics indicate seizure data for 40 countries in 2014: 3,657 drug seizures...
Tackling human trafficking: Secretary General urges 5 countries to complete the jigsaw
Strasbourg event marks ten years of Europe’s anti-trafficking convention
Secretary General's message to the people of Georgia
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland today expressed his condolences over the loss of life in the devastating flood in Tbilisi during the weekend. At least twelve people died and many others are missing. “On this day of national mourning, I would like to express my...
The Bureau of the Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE) makes public its position on the suspension and arrest of judges in Turkey
Having received from various sources information concerning the situation of judges in Turkey and the question of the independence of justice in this member state, the Bureau of the Consultative Council of European Judges, advisory body of the Council of Europe on issues related to the...
Committee of Ministers: decisions on the execution of European Court of Human Rights judgments
The Committee of Ministers today published the decisions and resolutions adopted at its 1230th special “human rights” meeting (9-11 June 2015) during which it has examined the state of implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. The list of the cases which were subjected to...
Babysitting via the Web
New report on protecting minors from harmful online and TV content
San Marino should not jeopardize media freedom
"San Marino should reconsider its current plans to regulate the work of journalists and ensure full respect of the right to report in the public interest” stated Nils Muižnieks, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, after his visit to the country on 9-10 June. The Commissioner was...
Ukraine derogation from European Convention on Human Rights
Secretary General Jagland: Council of Europe standards still apply in Ukraine
Council of Europe Chair Bosnia and Herzegovina to intensify co-operation with OSCE, says Foreign Minister Crnadak
Bosnia and Herzegovina, which took up the Chairmanship of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, will work to intensify co-operation between the Council of Europe and the OSCE, said the country’s foreign minister Igor Crnadak as he addressed the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today....
Secretary General’s statement on Travellers' rights in France
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, welcomed yesterday’s vote in the French National Assembly to abolish the travel document imposed on Travellers and to improve the arrangements for their reception. "These measures represent a significant advance in the recognition...
Combatting racism and intolerance
New monitoring reports on Albania, Hungary, Poland, Andorra, Croatia, Denmark, Sweden and Ukraine
Countering radicalisation in prison and probation services
Directors of prison and probation services from the 47 Council of Europe member states and the USA are meeting on 9 and 10 June in Bucharest to discuss measures to counter radicalisation to violent extremism in prisons leading to terrorism. The 20th Council of Europe Conference of Directors of...
Turkish elections
High participation and wide choice among strong and active parties, but 10 per cent threshold limited political pluralism, international election observers say
Secretary General Jagland visits Reykjavík
High level meetings and lecture at the University of Iceland, Institute of Human Rights
Secretary General Jagland statement on elections in Turkey
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, today released this statement on the elections in Turkey: "Turkey is an important member of the European family. Yesterday’s legislative elections have shown the strong commitment of the Turkish people to democracy and their...
European Court of Human Rights decision in Vincent Lambert end of life case
In today’s Grand Chamber judgment in the case of Lambert and Others v. France the European Court of Human Rights held, by a majority, that there would be no violation of Article 2 (right to life) of the European Convention on Human Rights in the event of implementation of the Conseil d’État...
Reinforcing democratic oversight of security services cannot be further delayed
"The current systems of oversight of national security services in Europe remain largely ineffective. Revelations over the last years about security operations which have violated human rights should have prompted reforms in this field, but progress has been disappointingly slow. European...
Human trafficking
Expert group issues first-ever report on Lithuania
Secretary General Jagland visits Prague
Lecture on human rights and democratic security at Charles University
Slovakia minority rights: Countering anti-Gypsyism must remain high on government agenda
The ability of the Slovakian Government to effectively co-ordinate national minority protection has weakened lately, and increased attention should be paid to keeping these rights an integral part of the government agenda; efforts to protect Roma from discrimination and especially address...
Abolition of death penalty in the State of Nebraska
Declaration of the Committee of Ministers on the abolition of death penalty in the State of Nebraska, United States of America
ICANN should strengthen its mechanisms to respect human rights
The Council of Europe has called upon its 47 member states to ensure that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which manages Internet domain names globally, creates adequate mechanisms to identify, prevent and mitigate possible breaches to human rights in its work,...
Children’s Rights GPS: no excuse to get lost
Access to justice, child participation and zero tolerance towards violence against children are three key guiding principles in the Council of Europe’s work in protecting the rights of children. How to best build an integrated child protection system is the theme of the 9th European Forum on the...
First expert report on human trafficking in Germany
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has published its first evaluation report on Germany today. The report welcomes action taken by Germany to fight human trafficking, including an elaborate system of specialised counselling centres for...
Commissioner Muižnieks urges Serbia to shield the national Ombudsman from undue pressure
Today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, published a letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Serbia, Mr Aleksandar Vučić, in which he urges the government to fully respect the Serbian Ombudsman’s independence and guarantee a favourable environment for his work....
Breaking down barriers in South East Europe schools
Euronews is currently featuring an 8 minute film in its Reporter series called “Count me in – Inclusiveness is the key to breaking down barriers in the Balkans”. It highlights the 3 year programme “Regional Support for Inclusive Education” which is jointly funded by the European Union and Council...
First expert report on human trafficking in Hungary
Council of Europe experts assess the fight against human trafficking in Hungary
Secretary General appeals Egypt death sentences
Thorbjørn Jagland writes to the Grand Mufti of Egypt
30th anniversary of the Heysel Stadium tragedy
Secretary General on 30th anniversary of the Heysel Stadium tragedy: stop violence in sporting events
Fighting hate speech online and offline
Curbing hate speech online and offline is in focus of a series of events held by the Council of Europe on 28-30 May 2015.
4 films supported by Eurimages rewarded in Cannes
The juries of the different selections of the Cannes Film Festival decided to reward four films supported by the Eurimages Fund: The Lobster (IE, FR, GB, NL, GR) by Yorgos Lanthimos, selected in official competition of this 68th edition of the Cannes Film Festival received the Jury Prize chaired...
Corporal punishment of children
Belgium, Czech Republic, Ireland and Slovenia found in breach of the European Social Charter
Accessibilité aux personnes handicapées
Le Conseil de l’Europe remet un Prix à la Ville de Sofia pour son métro 100% accessible
Launch of Bosnia and Herzegovina Action Plan 2015-2017
Today in Sarajevo, Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland and Igor Crnadak, Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, launched the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2015-2017. “This plan which we have put together is filled with...
Local democracy in Ukraine
Signing of a roadmap for implementation of the Congress recommendations
Transfer of Chairmanship
The 125th session of the Committee of Ministers brought together, on 19 May 2015 in Brussels, Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the 47 member states of the organisation. At the close of the session, Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken over from Belgium the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers...
European ministers adopt new legal standards for tackling foreign terrorist fighters
Foreign ministers from across Europe have adopted the first set of legally-binding international standards to help tackle so-called "foreign terrorist fighters". The measures take the form of an additional protocol to the Council of Europe's convention on the prevention of terrorism, which has so...
Human Rights report on Norway
Norway: people with disabilities and Roma need more attention
Minority languages in Montenegro: new evaluation report released
In its latest meeting this week, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted recommendations and issued a new evaluation report on the application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in Montenegro. The report was drawn up by a committee of independent...
LGBT people in Europe
All efforts must be made to eradicate hate and violence against LGBT people in Europe, says Secretary General
Council of Europe parliamentarians to meet in Sarajevo
The Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is to meet in Sarajevo on 22 May, ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina's six-month chairmanship of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers. Following welcome addresses from the Speakers of the House of...
Committee of Ministers: annual session - Brussels, 19 May
Meeting in Strasbourg on 12-13 May, the Ministers' Deputies finalised the preparation of the annual session of the Committee of Ministers, which will be held in Brussels on 19 May, under the Belgian Chairmanship. Besides the preparation of the ministerial session, Deputies also adopted several...
GRECO report on Bulgaria
Bulgaria to adopt a more cohesive and systematic approach to corruption prevention among MPs, judges and prosecutors
18 November to be marked as European Day against Sexual Abuse of Children
The Committee of Ministers of the 47-member Council of Europe took a decision today to establish a new European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse that from now on will be marked on the 18th of November in member States of the Council of Europe. Sexual...
Austerity Bites: Children’s Voices
Austerity burden must fall on those with the broadest shoulders, not on children, says Secretary General opening new video exhibition
Europe disregards intersex people’s right to self-determination and physical integrity
“Europeans remain largely unaware of the painful personal histories of intersex people and the human rights violations they face. Stereotypes and norms grounded on the binary female-male classification have led to unnecessary medical and surgical interventions on intersex infants and a climate of...
Germany should advance protection of asylum seekers and improve response to racism and extremism
“Germany has done a lot in the field of asylum in recent years, including launching three humanitarian admission programmes for Syrian refugees (concerning 20 000 individuals) and registering more than 200 000 asylum applications in 2014. However, with an estimate of 400 000 asylum applications...
IDAHO Forum 2015
No cultural, traditional, religious values can justify hate crime and violence against LGBT people – Council of Europe participates in IDAHO Forum in Montenegro
On 9 May, Council of Europe's leaders pay tribute to victims, urge recommitment to values
Working to overcome differences in today’s Europe, upholding the rights of all people, recommitting to principles of democracy and the rule of law is the best tribute that can be paid to those who lost their lives in the Second World War, stressed the leaders of the Council of Europe today at the...
Council of Europe to commemorate end of Second World War in Europe on 9 May
On Saturday 9 May at 11.00 a.m., a ceremony to mark Europe Day and to commemorate the end of the Second World War and liberation of Europe will be held at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland, the President of the Parliamentary...
New group to monitor violence against women
An important step was taken to deter violence against women yesterday, when the Council of Europe named 10 members to a new monitoring group that will enforce the organisation’s unique convention to end violence against women. The first 15 countries that ratified the convention have just elected...
Inclusive education vital for social cohesion in diverse societies
“Public debates on the need to ensure more inclusive education for children and young adults who face social exclusion in diverse societies have recently rekindled in Europe. Evidence shows that in many European states the dropout rate of children coming from migrant families or minority groups,...
Emerging Technologies and Human Rights: what are the challenges?
Emerging technologies (such as nanotechnology, information technology and cognitive technologies) and their convergence have opened new perspectives for progress in particular for human health. But what are the human rights challenges? The question will be discussed at a conference organised by...
Combating racial discrimination and intolerance in Finland
The Council of Europe’s anti-racism commission to hold an event in Helsinki
World Press Freedom Day, 3 May
Secretary General calls on European states to protect journalists
Investigation of the Odesa tragedy
International Advisory Panel updates on its review work
Decision on Abolition of the Death Penalty
Committee of Ministers reaffirms unequivocal opposition to the death penalty
