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Significant increase in sanctions and measures without deprivation of liberty in Europe: SPACE II annual statistics for 2022
The number of persons in Europe subject to sanctions and measures which keep offenders in the community grew significantly from January 2021 to January 2022, consolidating the last decade’s general trend, in contrast with the decrease caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in the previous year. These...
Secretary General on official visit to Georgia
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met the President and key ministers during an official visit to Georgia. Meeting Georgian President Salomé Zourabichvili, the Secretary General reaffirmed the Council of Europe’s full support to the ongoing reform process, highlighting the strategic...
Secretary General supports the authority of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić today made the following statement: “I strongly condemn the adoption of the Law on the non-application of decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Republika Srpska by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska....
Migration: Anti-torture committee reports on November 2022 visit to UK
The Council of Europe’s anti-torture committee (CPT) has published the report on its ad hoc visit to the United Kingdom in November 2022, together with the response of the UK authorities. The focus of the visit was to examine the treatment of foreign nationals arriving by small boat in the UK...
The European Union deposited the instrument of approval of the “Istanbul Convention”
The European Union has ratified today the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (CETS No. 210), known as “Istanbul Convention”. In a ceremony at the Palais de l’Europe, in the presence of Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić,...
The Conference of Participants of the Register of damage caused by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine holds its first meeting
The Conference of Participants of the Register of damage caused by the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine held its constitutive meeting, bringing together the representatives of more than 40 countries. The Register will serve as a record of evidence and claims for damage, loss or...
Secretary General meets Minister of Culture of North Macedonia
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has exchanged views today with Minister of Culture of North Macedonia, Bisera Kostadinovska Stojchevska. The Secretary General highlighted the measures taken to ensure non-discrimination, diversity and inclusion and address the challenges of democratic...
European incarceration rate increased following the end of Covid-19 lockdown measures: Council of Europe’s annual penal statistics released
The end of lockdown measures to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic produced a rebound effect in the incarceration rates in many European countries between January 2021 and January 2022: the median incarceration rate rose by 2.3% in countries exceeding one million inhabitants, according to the Council...
Austria and detention: While vast majority of detainees report no ill-treatment, a new report outlines some poor conditions and a shortage of health-care staff in prisons
For persons held in police custody in Austria, the “vast majority” of detainees interviewed by a delegation of the Council of Europe’s European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) made no allegations of ill-treatment, according to a CPT...
MONEYVAL publishes follow-up reports on Albania and Slovenia
The Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering body MONEYVAL has published new reports on Albania and Slovenia assessing measures to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing. In a follow-up report released on 21 June, MONEYVAL finds that Albania has improved its measures for tackling money...
Secretary General on official visit to the United Kingdom
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met key ministers and personalities during an official visit to the United Kingdom. Meeting the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Cleverly, the Secretary General highlighted the Fourth Summit of the Heads of...
Council of Europe’s commission against racism and intolerance publishes monitoring reports on Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, conclusions on Norway
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has published this week new monitoring reports on Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The Commission outlines areas of progress, outstanding issues and provides recommendations for improving the situation. It has also published...
Anti-torture committee critical of police ill-treatment and poor living conditions for remand prisoners in Montenegro
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published today the report on its ad hoc visit to Montenegro, which took place from 7-13 June 2022, together with the response of the Montenegrin Government. To address the...
Slovenian President makes the case for the Council of Europe in tackling regional and global problems, climate crisis, international law violations
Advocating the Council of Europe’s role as the legal bedrock of Europe, promoting the human right to clean and healthy environment, working with the young people, continuing support to Ukraine in fighting against Russia’s aggression and thinking about post-war reconstruction, as well as...
Secretary General highlights Council of Europe role at Ukraine Recovery Conference
“The Council of Europe has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine. This includes doing what we can to ensure that when peace comes, it is just and durable. A firm foundation on which the country can rebuild with strong, democratic institutions. A clear European perspective and a positive...
Secretary General meets Slovenian President
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with Nataša Pirc Musar, President of Slovenia. At their meeting, which took place in Strasbourg, the Secretary General commended Slovenia and the President for their support for the promotion of the protection of the right to...
Latvian Foreign Minister: Ukraine must receive all the support it needs
“The Council of Europe Summit in Reykjavik was an important milestone for the organisation at a critical time and resulted in strong European unity in responding to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine,” said Edgars Rinkēvičs, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia and Chair of the Committee of...
Secretary General meets Committee of Ministers Chair Rinkēvičs
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has had an exchange of views with Edgars Rinkēvičs, Chair of the Committee of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia. The meeting focused on the implementation of the Fourth Summit of the Heads of State and Government decisions and on the...
States need to improve criminal asset recovery in combatting money laundering, says MONEYVAL Committee
In its annual report for 2022 the Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing body MONEYVAL warns that the recovery of proceeds from crime across states remains insufficient and calls on governments to step up their efforts to strengthen their national frameworks for...
World Refugee Day: The Council of Europe maintains its focus on protecting the vulnerable
Each year on 20 June, the world marks World Refugee Day, to draw attention to the plight of millions of people who have been forced to flee war, violence and persecution and to the international obligations under the United Nations 1951 Geneva Convention on the Protection of Refugees. In the face...
