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Human trafficking: Experts underline the need to help victims
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has stressed the need for states across Europe to provide a wide range of assistance to victims of human trafficking. In its latest annual report, published today, GRETA sets out a series of legal...
Award-winning films supported by Eurimages in Cannes
The 72nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival, which came to a close on Saturday evening, saw a total of 7 co-productions supported by the Eurimages Fund with 9 prizes. In official competition, the GRAND PRIX was awarded to Atlantique by Mati Diop (FR, SN, BE) and the prize for BEST DIRECTOR to...
Council of Europe-UNHCR seminar on protecting refugee and migrant children in Portugal
Key stakeholders from the Council of Europe, UNHCR (the United Nation’s refugee agency) and national experts from Portugal gathered in Lisbon this morning for the start of a seminar to discuss the “Effective Protection of Refugee and Migrant Children in Portugal”. The two-day event, organised...
Making women’s rights a reality: conference unifies efforts for global application of Istanbul Convention
French State Secretary Schiappa denounces backlash against women’s rights
Improving cooperation to end violence against women
From domestic violence to rape, to trafficking of migrant girls and female genital mutilation, violence against women takes many forms – and it requires concerted action to stop it. A Council of Europe conference in Strasbourg on Friday 24 May – open to media, in Room G03 of the AGORA building –...
Council of Europe to send experts to Yerevan
Telephone conversation between Secretary General Jagland and Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan
Council of Europe publishes Annual Statistics on Probation
Over 1.8 million people under the supervision of probation agencies in Europe, according to survey
Commissioner for human rights publishes report on Hungary
Hungary should address interconnected human rights issues in refugee protection, civil society space, independence of the judiciary and gender equality
Using technology in managing offenders in prison and probation: conference in Ayia Napa
The annual Conference of Directors of Prison and Probation Services of the Council of Europe, to be held on 21 and 22 May in Ayia Napa (Cyprus), will discuss the advantages and pitfalls when using new technologies in the management of suspects and offenders, and the central place of the human...
France takes over the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers
The Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe passed today from Finland to France, after a meeting attended by 30 foreign affairs ministers from the Organisation’s member countries. Addressing the Committee of Ministers, the outgoing Chairman, Timo Soini, Minister for...
Foreign Ministers : rights, obligations and action priorities of Member States
As the Council of Europe is celebrating its 70th anniversary, over 30 Foreign Affairs Ministers from the 47 member states reaffirmed the importance of the Organisation as a unique platform for dialogue and co-operation. Meeting in Helsinki for their annual session, the Ministers declared that:...
Treaty ceremony on the margins of the Committee of Ministers’ meeting in Finland
On the occasion of the meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Council of Europe’s 47 member states on 16 and 17 May 2019 in Helsinki (Finland), a celebratory treaty event has allowed governments to sign and/or ratify a number of Conventions, as follows: Protocol amending the...
Ground-breaking international treaty on match-fixing to enter into force in September
The Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, also known as the Macolin Convention, will enter into force on 1 September. Switzerland today became the fifth Council of Europe member state to ratify the convention – following Norway, Portugal, the Republic of Moldova...
Online child sexual exploitation and abuse addressed at a regional conference at the Council of Europe
The Council of Europe organised a regional conference on tackling online child sexual exploitation and abuse on 16 and 17 May in Strasbourg. It is the first major event of the Council of Europe’s project to end online child sexual exploitation and abuse @ Europe (EndOCSEA@Europe). While the exact...
Ministers for Foreign Affairs to discuss role of Council of Europe as the Organisation turns 70
The Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Council of Europe’s 47 member States will hold their annual meeting on 16 and 17 May 2019 in Helsinki (Finland). On this occasion, the Ministers will be invited to take key decisions for the future of the Organisation which is currently facing a number of...
Tackling information pollution – high-level conference in San Marino
How do we begin to address the challenge information pollution? Since the results of the ‘Brexit’ vote in the UK, Donald Trump’s victory in the US and Kenya’s recent decision to nullify its national election result, there has been much discussion of how information disorder is influencing...
All lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex persons must be protected from discrimination in law and practice
Ahead of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia marked on the 17th of May, Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland urged for justice and full protection against discrimination for all persons, irrespective of their sexual orientation, gender identity and...
Unboxing artificial intelligence: 10 steps to protect human rights
Ensuring that human rights are strengthened and not undermined by artificial intelligence is one of the key factors that will define the world we live in”, says Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, in a Recommendation published today. This Recommendation – entitled...
Statement by Timo Soini, Chair of the Committee of Ministers, on the use of sign languages in Europe
“I welcome the support expressed today by the Committee of Ministers to the promotion and protection of sign languages in Europe”, stated Timo Soini, Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland on 14 May. In a reply to the Parliamentary...
Georgia: anti-torture committee commends authorities for combatting ill-treatment, urges to address informal prisoner hierarchy and lack of out-of-cell activities, improve mental health care
In the report on Georgia published today, the Council of Europe anti-torture Committee welcomed the absence of allegations of ill-treatment in the institutions visited, commended the efforts to address overcrowding, improve access to healthcare and living conditions. However, the committee urged...
