Newsroom
“No peace without justice and accountability" – Council of Europe took part in high-level international Lviv conference “United for Justice”
A Council of Europe delegation took part in the conference “United for Justice”, organised by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine in Lviv, Ukraine from 3-5 March. The conference hosted discussions on the accountability for the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine. In the...
Urgent action needed to reunite Ukrainian children transferred to Russia and Russian-occupied territories with their families
“Russia’s failure to return Ukrainian children separated from their families and legal guardians is a serious violation of their human rights. Concrete mechanisms and solutions must urgently be identified and used to reunite these children with their families,” said Council of Europe Commissioner...
Implementing European Court of Human Rights judgments
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers is holding its quarterly meeting to oversee the execution of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from 7 to 9 March. Cases proposed for detailed examination concern Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Finland,...
Congress of The Hague at 75: political will needed to ensure culture of multilateralism lasts
Seventy-five years ago, over 750 delegates from around Europe took part in the historic steps towards European unity at the Congress of Europe in The Hague. Against this background, a special event that took place at the Peace Palace in The Hague on 2 March reflected upon the geopolitical balance...
New Thematic Factsheet - Right to free elections
The Execution Department has issued a new Thematic Factsheet on the right to free elections. This right, guaranteed under Article 3 of Protocol No. 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights, is crucial to establishing and maintaining the foundations of an effective and meaningful democracy...
How well are young people prepared to understand pandemics and natural disasters?
Pandemics have always had a considerable impact on human history. Each time, they remind humans of their fragility and how limited their knowledge is. Despite their impact, these events receive little attention in the teaching of history. With the Covid-19 pandemic, and more recently the...
Secretary General meets the President of the European Commission
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić met today the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in the Berlaymont building. The meeting focused on the upcoming Council of Europe Fourth Summit of the Heads of State and Government in Reykjavik (16th – 17th May). Marija Pejčinović...
Austria must improve its strategy to prevent risks of corruption in government and in law enforcement
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against corruption (GRECO) has published its fifth-round evaluation report on Austria dealing with corruption prevention in central government (top executive functions) and law enforcement authorities. (German version of the report) GRECO considers that,...
Secretary General meets EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić met the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell Fontelles. The meeting, which took place in Brussels on 28 February, focused on the need to ensure...
European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages: 25th anniversary of entry into force
1st March 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of the entry into force of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, which was created to protect languages that form an inseparable part of Europe’s rich cultural and intangible heritage. The 25 Council of Europe member states that have...
Secretary General and EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement launch two major co-operation programmes
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić and European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi have today launched two major co-operation programmes between the European Union and the Council of Europe. The “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”...
Secretary General on official visit to Brussels
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić is paying an official visit to Brussels from Monday 27 February to Wednesday 1 March. During the visit, the Secretary General will take part in high-level meetings with: The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen; The High...
Finland to launch a Council of Europe Human Rights Day
To be held for the first time in Turku, Finland, on 4 May 2023, the Council of Europe Human Rights Day will bring together leading expert speakers to discuss the Council of Europe’s impact on human rights in Finland. The event will be organised as part of the project Council of Europe Days –...
Secretary General meets Committee of Ministers President
The President of the Committee of Ministers, Iceland’s Foreign Minister Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir and Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić have met in Strasbourg to mark one year since the start of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Their discussions...
Committee of Ministers stresses urgent need to establish accountability and compensation mechanisms in response to Russian aggression against Ukraine
In a decision adopted today at an extraordinary meeting, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers reaffirmed the need for a strong and unequivocal international legal response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. It welcomed ongoing international efforts to ensure accountability for the...
Council of Europe ceremony marks one year of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine
Representatives of Ukraine, Iceland and the Council of Europe have taken part in a ceremony at the organisation’s Strasbourg headquarters to mark the passing of one year since the start of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. In her address the Foreign Minister of Iceland and President of the...
Environment showcases the role of the Council of Europe for young generations
A consultative meeting “Climate crisis and young people” was held in the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg on 22-23 February 2023, in preparation for the work of the Joint Council on Youth to draft a new recommendation for the 46 member states of the Council of Europe focusing on climate...
Brutal aggression against Ukraine: One Year On
Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs and President of the Committee of Ministers Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, President of the Parliamentary Assembly Tiny Kox, Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović as well as President of the Congress...
Anti-torture Committee Lithuania report: persistent violence in prisons, need to modernise prison estate
In a new report on Lithuania the Council of Europe’s European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) again raises concerns over the numerous allegations of serious inter-prisoner violence and the ineffectiveness of measures taken to address...
European Committee of Social Rights publishes 2022 Findings
The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) has published its Findings 2022 adopted at its 331st session (5-9 December 2022) in respect of seven states (Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia and Sweden) which have accepted the collective complaints procedure. The...
New HELP online course on Prohibition of Ill-treatment, including in times of conflict
An updated version of the Council of Europe Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) online course on Prohibition of Ill-treatment is now available on the HELP e-learning platform. Over 10,000 applications pending before the European Court of Human Rights concern conflicts between...
One year since the war against Ukraine started: Council of Europe ceremony in support of the Ukrainian people
On 24 February the Council of Europe will hold a ceremony to mark one year of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, followed by an extraordinary meeting of the Committee of Ministers (to be broadcast live). At 9h00, the Foreign Minister of Iceland and Chair of the Committee of Ministers,...
New Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia launched in Yerevan
The Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026 has been officially launched in Yerevan by Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan. “This joint Action Plan we are launching today, is another step in the positive...
Cybercrime Convention: Argentina signs the protocol on disclosure of electronic evidence
Argentina has become the 35th state to sign the Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime, which aims to enhance international co-operation and the disclosure of electronic evidence. The Minister of Security of Argentina, Aníbal Fernández, signed the treaty in Strasbourg in the...
Secretary General welcomes UK Attorney General Victoria Prentis
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić today met the Attorney General of the United Kingdom, the Rt Hon Victoria Prentis MP. The Council of Europe’s support for Ukraine was a central feature of their discussion. Both the Attorney General and the Secretary General agreed on...
Human Rights Commissioner calls on all member states to end so-called “conversion” therapies for LGBTI people
In her latest Comment article, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović urges all Council of Europe member states to adopt a human rights-based approach to eliminating so-called “conversion therapies”, which are aimed at changing or suppressing a person’s sexual...
Ireland: Anti-corruption group calls for further steps to prevent corruption in central government and the police
The Irish authorities should adopt further measures to help prevent corruption among people with top executive functions in central government and also in the police, according to the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO). GRECO’s fifth evaluation report on Ireland notes...
Free to Create: Report on Artistic Freedom in Europe
A new report entitled Free to Create: Artistic Freedom in Europe examines the challenges European artists and cultural workers face in the practice of their right to freedom of artistic expression. These range from laws that curtail creative freedom, attacks from non-governmental groups and...
Council of Europe Days shows lives transformed
The Council of Europe is today launching a visibility project to “tell the Council of Europe story”. The Council of Europe Days, supported by an online resource for its member states, highlights how the Organisation has helped to improve the lives of millions of Europeans by protecting their...
Secretary General meets Latvian President Egils Levits
At a challenging time both for the continent and the Council of Europe, Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with Egils Levits, the President of Latvia, for an exchange on the upcoming Latvian Presidency. She welcomed Latvia’s determination to reinforce democracy, human rights and...
Repeat elections in Berlin: Congress delegation welcomes orderly election, but calls for more clarity on distribution of responsibilities
A delegation from the Congress of the Council of Europe observed local and regional elections to the Berlin House of Representatives as well as Berlin District Councils in Germany on 12 February 2023. These elections represented a re-run of the elections of 26 September 2021, which were declared...
Protection of national minorities: new opinions published on Armenia and Italy
The Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, has published two new opinions. Society in Armenia is characterised by a climate of tolerance and mutual understanding, and there is good provision of public TV and radio programming in minority...
Congress to observe repeat regional and district council elections in Berlin
A 10-member delegation from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities will carry out an election observation mission from 11 to 13 February to observe the repeat elections of the House of Representatives and District Councils in Berlin (Germany). These will be held on 12 February 2023, as...
Secretary General signs the book of condolences for Türkiye
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has signed in the Palais de l’Europe the book of condolences following the earthquake in Türkiye. Marija Pejčinović Burić, shocked by this tragedy, has underlined how her thoughts are with the victims and their families. Following a decision by the...
Council of Europe adopts new counter-terrorism strategy for 2023-2027
Responding to the evolving nature of terrorism threats in Europe, the Council of Europe today adopted a counter-terrorism strategy for 2023-2027 which offers new tools and concrete responses to continuous and emerging challenges faced by state authorities. The strategy aims at strengthening...
Secretary General sees key role for Council of Europe in establishing accountability for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and securing justice for victims
In an information document sent to governments and published today, Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić proposes that the 46-state organisation plays a leading role in the establishment of a register to record and document evidence and claims of damage, loss or injury as a...
The Netherlands should strengthen the use of Frisian, Limburgish and Low Saxon, and support Romanes and Yiddish
The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages has published its seventh report on the Netherlands, highlighting how the use of Frisian, Limburgish, Low Saxon, Romanes and Yiddish should be strengthened. The report, which welcomes the on-going discussions on the extension of the Charter...
Twenty-five years of ensuring equality in law and in fact for national minorities
The violent break-up of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s consolidated the resolve in the Council of Europe to draft a dedicated legally binding treaty for the protection of national minorities. This is how, twenty-five years ago, the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities was...
Roma children begging: criminalisation is not the only answer, says anti-discrimination committee
Begging among Roma children, which had been decreasing in many European countries at the beginning of this decade, has recently become more visible again, along with a rise in anti-Roma and anti-Traveller discourse and attitudes in many member states, according to a report of the Council of...
Council of Europe launches action plan to support Belarusian democratic forces and civil society
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has announced a 15-point action plan to support civil society and democracy representatives working towards a future free and democratic Belarus. Developed jointly in the framework of the Council of Europe Contact Group on Belarus the list covers 15...
Equitable access to medicinal products and medical equipment in a situation of shortage: new recommendation
The Committee of Ministers has adopted a Recommendation to promote, in the 46 Council of Europe member states, equitable access to medicinal products and medical equipment in a situation of shortage and to safeguard the fundamental rights of individuals who need them for serious or...
Report: experts call on Sweden to include language as a ground for discrimination in its legislation
The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages entered into force in Sweden in 2000. In its eighth evaluation report on Sweden, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts notes that the Swedish authorities have increased the financial support designated for the protection of the...
Secretary General meets Ukrainian Parliament Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić today met with Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, for an exchange on current human rights challenges in the country. She welcomed Mr Lubinets’ action in the difficult context of Russia’s war against Ukraine and...
Estonia should continue to strengthen the private sector’s role and law enforcement efforts to combat money laundering and terrorism financing
In a new report the Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering body MONEYVAL encourages Estonia to further strengthen measures to combat money laundering (ML) and financing of terrorism (FT), among others by re-enforcing the capacities and performance of the private sector and improving its law...
Data Protection Day: New guidelines to ensure that national digital identity systems respect human rights standards
To mark Data Protection Day, celebrated every year on 28 January, the president of the Consultative Committee of the Council of Europe data protection “Convention 108”, Elsa Mein, has stressed the need for national digital identity schemes and systems to comply with human rights standards,...
ECHR President: Reykjavik summit should ‘translate the discourse of values into material support’
The President of the European Court of Human Rights, Síofra O’Leary, has encouraged Council of Europe member states to use the forthcoming Summit of Heads of State and Government in Reykjavik to commit further resources to the Court. Speaking at the Court’s annual press conference in Strasbourg,...
Human rights of intersex people: work launched on new Council of Europe recommendation
Advancing the human rights of intersex people was the key theme of a conference held as part of Iceland’s Presidency of the Committee of Ministers. Conference topics included the right to physical integrity and bodily autonomy, comprehensive medical and social care, access to justice and...
Prime Minister of Iceland calls for justice for Ukraine war victims and a system of accountability for human rights violations and crimes
The Prime Minister of Iceland, Katrin Jakobsdóttir, commended the response of the Council of Europe and its Parliamentary Assembly to the major crises in the past few years. “It was able to adapt its procedures to continuing its work through the pandemic and demonstrated its unity around the...
Icelandic presidency and Reykjavik Summit an historical opportunity, Deputy Secretary General tells Prime Minister Jakobsdóttir
Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge has welcomed Iceland’s leadership during its Council of Europe presidency with a core focus and thematic priorities that “unite around our values”, including the topics of equality, youth and the environment. Meeting Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín...
Secretary General meets Oleksandra Matviichuk, pledges full support to Ukrainian civil society
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has pledged full support to Ukraine during a meeting with Oleksandra Matviichuk from the country’s Centre for Civil Liberties. Ukrainian civil society was key to documenting gross human rights violations and war crimes, and the Council of Europe was...
GRECO report on Romania’s progress in tackling corruption among parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors
The Group of States against Corruption of the Council of Europe (GRECO) has published a follow-up report assessing Romania’s progress in implementing the recommendations issued to the country in a 4th round evaluation report adopted in 2015 on the prevention of corruption among parliamentarians,...
Secretary General: Ukraine is our priority and Russia must account for its aggression; urges ambition for upcoming summit
In her speech to the Parliamentary Assembly Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić said “Ukraine must take centre stage” at the Council of Europe Summit on 16-17 May in Reykjavik. Stressing that “accountability for the death and destruction caused by Russian aggression is vital”, she restated...
German Foreign Minister Baerbock: we need to set up the Council of Europe for a new era in European history
Speaking to the Parliamentary Assembly, Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Baerbock has called on member states to reaffirm their commitment to the core values of the Council of Europe at the upcoming summit of heads of state and government, which in particular means all member states respecting...
International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust
“Every European should learn what happened. How and why the Holocaust took place. To keep the promise of never again “, said Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić at the Council of Europe ceremony on Tuesday 24 January, marking the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims...
Secretary General meets German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić met with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on the occasion of the Minister’s visit to the Council of Europe and her speech at the Parliamentary Assembly. The Secretary General thanked Ms Baerbock for Germany’s political and financial support to...
Monaco should step up its efforts to investigate and prosecute money laundering
In a new report the Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering body MONEYVAL encourages Monaco to further strengthen measures to combat money laundering (ML) and financing of terrorism (FT), in particular when it comes to investigating and prosecuting money laundering, confiscating and recovering...
Call for summit input launched
The Council of Europe is calling for people and organisations to offer their own ideas to feed the discussions at the upcoming summit of heads of state and government in Reykjavik, Iceland on 16 – 17 May. It is asking for contributions from international organisations, national human rights...
Bulgaria: GRECO publishes a report on corruption prevention and integrity concerning top executive functions and the police
The Council of Europe’s Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) has published a new report today evaluating the situation with preventing corruption and promoting integrity among persons entrusted with top executive functions (Prime Minister, ministers, secretaries general, chiefs of political...
President of the Committee of Ministers calls for reopening of the Lachin corridor
Iceland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and President of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, has made the following statement: “I am concerned about the increasingly precarious humanitarian situation of people living in Nagorno-Karabakh as a...
Secretary General calls on the Russian authorities to execute European Court of Human Rights’ judgment on Navalny case
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić made the following statement: “Today marks the second anniversary since Alexei Navalny’s incarceration in Russia after an attempt on his life by poisoning. Since then, despite Council of Europe calls for his release without delay and in...
PACE monitors for Türkiye meet Osman Kavala
Following a meeting with Osman Kavala at the Silivri prison today, the PACE rapporteurs for the monitoring of Türkiye, John Howell (United Kingdom, EC/DA) and Boriss Cilevičs (Latvia, SOC), have again called on the Turkish authorities to implement the judgments of the European Court of Human...
Secretary General meets UK Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab
The Secretary General had a positive and productive meeting with UK Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Justice, Dominic Raab. Among the topics discussed were the UK’s ratification of the Istanbul Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence,...
Venice Commission plenary opinions published
The Venice Commission has published this week, inter alia, opinions on amendments to the Judicial Code of Armenia, on draft amendments to the Election Code and the Law on Political Associations of Citizens in Georgia (jointly with OSCE/ODIHR), on draft amendments to the Law on the Judicial...
Round table surveys Human Rights situation in Crimea and Sevastopol
On 20 December 2022, a round table was held in Strasbourg to examine the Human Rights situation in the occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine. It gathered Ukrainian stakeholders, including the Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the...
Psychological support for refugees: training to strengthen capacities of professionals working in Poland
The Council of Europe has held a pilot training on Psychological Support to Refugees: Strengthening Professional Capacities in Warsaw, Poland. The event, held on 19 and 20 December, was aimed at enhancing the capacities of relevant professionals working on the ground to detect war-related traumas...
New thematic factsheet on Hate Crime and Hate Speech
The Execution Department has published a new thematic factsheet on Hate Crime and Hate Speech. Hate crime is a criminal act motivated by bias or prejudice towards a person or group of persons while hate speech concerns various forms of expression directed against a person or group of persons on...
International Migrants Day: Council of Europe publishes guidance on how to better protect children against sexual exploitation and abuse
Children’s lives are disrupted and seriously affected when forced to leave their homes, whilst on the move, internally displaced or once they have reached the host country. These circumstances make children particularly vulnerable to violence, sexual abuse and exploitation, including trafficking...
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu’s sentence a direct attack on local democracy, says Congress President
The President of the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Leendert Verbeek, has made the following statement concerning the prison sentence and political ban imposed on the Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu, by a Turkish court on 14 December: "I am extremely concerned...
Freedom of expression of judges: Consultative Council of European Judges adopts new Opinion
In a new Opinion, the Council of Europe’s Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE) has issued a set of recommendations to judges across Europe on the way to exercise their right to freedom of expression both inside and outside the court, including in the media and social media. The Opinion...
Resilience, recovery and reconstruction: Council of Europe adopts new Action Plan for Ukraine
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has adopted a record €50 million Action Plan for Ukraine for 2023-2026. “The Action Plan “Resilience, Recover and Reconstruction” (2023-2026) has been developed in close consultation with the Ukrainian authorities. It is part of our Organisation’s...
Age assessment in the context of migration: new Committee of Ministers Recommendation
The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers has adopted a new Recommendation to member States on human rights principles and guidelines on age assessment in the context of migration. Refugee and migrant children are among the most vulnerable and exposed persons on the move. Being unable to prove...
Ministers declare human rights centred approach to face drug addiction at Pompidou Group conference
Closing the 18th Ministerial Conference of the Council of Europe’s Pompidou Group, ministers and high-level participants from 41 Pompidou Group member states have called for a human rights centred approach to address drugs addictions and related disorders. In their “Lisbon Declaration”,...
Management of frozen or seized property: new report assesses compliance with Warsaw Convention
Most European states have put in place legislation or other measures to ensure the proper management of frozen or seized property, although improvements are still needed in certain countries, according to a report by the Conference of the Parties of Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and...
Monitoring violence against women: Key recommendations for nine member States published
Following a meeting of the Committee of the Parties to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention) on 5 and 6 December 2022, the Committee adopted key recommendations on implementing the treaty in nine state...
Secretary General urges the Russian Foreign Minister to implement ECHR judgments
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has written to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov urging the Russian Federation to implement outstanding judgments from the European Court of Human Rights. At its latest quarterly meeting on the execution of ECHR judgments, the...
Implementing ECHR judgments: Latest decisions from the Committee of Ministers
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has published the case-by-case decisions taken during the Committee’s meeting from 6 to 8 December to supervise the implementation of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights. The Committee adopted 46 decisions concerning 21...
Human Rights Day: Council of Europe leaders call for collective action to end impunity for crimes committed against Ukraine
Ahead of Human Rights Day (10 December), the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, and the Committee of Ministers Chair, Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs, have issued a joint statement calling for a collective response to...
Putting human rights at the heart of drug and addiction policies: Pompidou Group Ministerial Conference in Lisbon
The 18th Ministerial Conference of the Pompidou Group, Europe’s premier platform for drug policy (programme), will focus on promoting sustainable drug and addiction policies in conformity with human rights. The conference, taking place in Lisbon from 13-14 December, gathers Ministers, Government...
Anti-Corruption Day: GRECO president calls for transparency and appropriate consultation in law making processes
To mark International Anti-Corruption Day, commemorated every year on 9 December, the President of the Group of States against Corruption of the Council of Europe (GRECO), Marin Mrčela, issued the following statement: “Preventing corruption and promoting integrity in public life requires openness...
Secretary General participates in Washington International Anti-Corruption Conference
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić today intervened in the high-level segment of the International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) alongside other political leaders from Council of Europe member states and beyond. The Secretary General highlighted the importance of ensuring public sector...
Joining forces in fighting digital violence against women
Applying Council of Europe legal instruments to the prevention of violence against women in the digital world, protection of victims and prosecution of perpetrators is the central theme of the conference held in Strasbourg today under the Icelandic Presidency of the Council of Europe. Marija...
Implementing European Court of Human Rights judgments
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers holds its quarterly meeting to oversee the execution of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from 6 to 8 December. Cases proposed for detailed examination concern Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria,...
Anti-discrimination and inclusion: practical tools for reaping the benefits of migrant integration
Well-designed and well-managed intercultural integration strategies are essential to increase the resilience and cohesion of European societies, and to build a solid basis for the inclusion of everyone, including migrants arriving to Europe. The Council of Europe’s Steering Committee on...
Governing Board approves the CEB’s 2023-2027 Strategic Framework and an historic capital increase
The Governing Board of the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) approved today the CEB’s new Strategic Framework 2023-2027 and an historic capital increase. “The historic decision of our Member States to strengthen the CEB’s capital base is a clear vote of confidence in its special role in...
Enhanced co-operation and disclosure of electronic evidence: new countries join additional Protocol to Cybercrime Convention
The Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention), aimed at enhancing co-operation and disclosure of electronic evidence, has been signed by Croatia, the Republic of Moldova, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. With this, 30 states are now...
Europe needs more solidarity to help subnational governments face a 'perfect storm'
The Presidents of the European Committee of the Regions and of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe have warned that local and regional governments are struggling to cope with the series of crises that have rocked the continent since 2020. The statements came at...
Anti-torture committee highlights continuing overcrowding and staff shortages in Belgium’s prisons
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has highlighted a range of persistent problems, including long-standing overcrowding and staff shortages, in Belgian prisons. Its latest report on Belgium follows an ad-hoc visit to prisons...
InvestEU: Council of Europe Bank and European Commission sign agreement to mobilise €500 million in financing for social investments
The European Commission and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) have signed an InvestEU guarantee agreement worth up to €159 million. This makes the CEB an InvestEU implementing partner and will mobilise around €500 million in additional loans for social projects. It represents an...
Council of Europe at the 2022 Internet Governance Forum in Ethiopia
The Council of Europe is taking part in the 17th United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) hosted by the government of Addis-Ababa (Ethiopia) from 28 November to 2 December. Held in a hybrid format under the theme “Resilient Internet for a Shared Sustainable and Common Future”, the IGF will...
Observatory on History Teaching in Europe: Annual Conference tackles the future of history teaching
The past year has shown how historical arguments can be used to nurture hate, but when taught in all its complexity, history can in fact help appease conflicts - as the 70 years’ experience of the Council of Europe in the field has shown. On December 1-2 the Council of Europe’s Observatory on...
Norway: evaluation report on violence against women
The Council of Europe Expert Group on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) has published its baseline evaluation report on Norway. It contains a comprehensive analysis of the implementation of the Istanbul Convention in Norway. While acknowledging the steps taken...
“There’s no place for violence against women in democratic cities and regions” says Congress Spokesperson on Gender Equality
On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women the Congress spokesperson for Gender Equality, Eirini Dourou (SOC, Greece), made the following statement: “Inclusive societies start with inclusivity at decision-making levels. However, women still remain...
Statement by Committee of Ministers Chair, Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs
“On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, I reaffirm Iceland’s steadfast commitment to gender equality and the protection of the hard-earned progress concerning the human rights of women and girls. Together, we must combat all forms of violence against women and...
Secretary General condemns Russia's attacks on hospitals and infrastructure in Ukraine, with repercussions in Moldova
“I condemn yet again Russia’s brutal attacks against hospitals (including a maternity ward), civilian and energy infrastructures in Ukraine, and their repercussions in the Republic of Moldova. This senseless and inhuman violence must stop.”
Ukraine: We must help victims of sexual violence by Russian soldiers
Statement by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Council of Europe Secretary General
Poland’s implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights: Secretary General’s Report
A report by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has been published on 23 November on serious issues raised by two judgments of the Polish Constitutional Court of 24 November 2021 and 10 March 2022. In these judgments, the Constitutional Court found that the European Convention on Human...
Violence against women in Cyprus: Despite positive developments, rape victims need more support says new report
The first evaluation of Cyprus by the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) highlights positive steps by Cypriot authorities taken since ratification in 2017 of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating...
First report on Georgia’s implementation of Istanbul Convention welcomes steps on legislation, calls for more services for victims and dissuasive sanctions for perpetrators
In its first report on Georgia the Council of Europe’s monitoring body GREVIO has welcomed the many steps taken by the Georgian authorities to align its laws, policies and institutional framework with the standards of the Istanbul Convention. However, further legal amendments are needed, more...
Vilnius conference discusses Public Service Media’s role in supporting democracy, including in times of crisis
The Council of Europe and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) are organising a conference in Vilnius (Lithuania) on 22 November to discuss the way to protect the critical role of public service media in upholding democracy at times when their sustainability and independence are being challenged...
Local elections in Slovenia: Congress delegation welcomes an orderly ballot, but calls for more coherent regulations
A delegation from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities carried out an observation mission of the local elections held on 20 November in Slovenia. The 18 observers were deployed to different regions of the country, in order to follow the electoral procedures in 120 polling stations,...
