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Council of Europe treaty bolstering data protection opened for signature
Twenty-one states signed today a Council of Europe treaty aimed at strengthening the principles and rules for the protection of personal data at international level. The treaty, an Amending Protocol, updates the Council of Europe’s Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to...
Slovenia adopts a declaration on the creation of a Children’s House for child victims of sexual abuse
Representatives of Slovenian authorities have signed and adopted the Declaration on the creation of a Barnahus (Children’s House) for child victims of sexual abuse in Slovenia. The declaration was signed by the Slovenian Minister of Justice Andreja Katič; Minister of Family, Labour, Social...
Tunisian Foreign Minister thanks Council of Europe for its support
“May I pay tribute to the Council of Europe for the precious support it has given to Tunisia in this period of democratic transition, and for its commitment to accompanying us in implementing constitutional arrangements and the process of reforming Tunisia’s institutional and legal frameworks,”...
Jagland calls for immediate action in defence of journalists
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland made the following statement today: "Although the motives remain unclear, this week we have again witnessed a brutal murder of a journalist in a Council of Europe member State – the fourth in a year. We cannot remain passive following such an outburst of...
European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation (EODD) 2018
Statement by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Chair of the Committee of Ministers, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia
10 October: European Day against the Death Penalty
The 47-nation Council of Europe and the 28-member European Union have published a joint declaration to mark the European and World Day against the Death Penalty on 10 October. The declaration underlines the two organisations’ strong opposition to capital punishment in all circumstances. “The...
Václav Havel Human Rights Prize 2018 awarded to Oyub Titiev
The sixth Václav Havel Human Rights Prize – which honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights – has been awarded to the head of the Grozny office of the Memorial Human Rights Center in Chechyna, Oyub Titiev (Russian Federation). The prize was presented at a special...
Council of Europe and FIFA sign Memorandum of Understanding
Council of Europe Secretary General Thørbjorn Jagland and FIFA President Gianni Infantino have signed today at the Palais de l’Europe in Strasbourg a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the co-operation between the two institutions and further develop synergies and partnerships in areas of...
Efficiency and quality of justice: Council of Europe publishes its 2018 report
The European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) of the Council of Europe today sets out the main trends observed in this field in 45 European countries (*) in a report and a publicly accessible interactive database. The evaluation report - the 7th since the CEPEJ was set up in 2002...
Finland: Awareness of minority languages in education and media should be improved
While the Committee of Experts of The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, acknowledges the efforts undertaken by the authorities in protecting regional and minority languages spoken in Finland, it recommends that further measure are needed, according to a report published today....
Commissioner Mijatović intervenes before the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Emin Huseynov v. Azerbaijan
Today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published written observations submitted to the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Emin Huseynov against Azerbaijan, relating to the deprivation of nationality of the applicant, who subsequently became...
More must be done to help women and girl refugees and migrants
At a Council of Europe conference today in Athens to focus on challenges faced by women and girl refugees and migrants, Anna Zobnina, Strategy & Policy Coordinator for the European Network of Migrant Women stressed that not enough is being done to care for the specific needs of women and girl...
Bosnia and Herzegovina national minorities do not enjoy effective access to their rights
While acknowledging some progress on Roma issues and emerging potential for moving towards integrated schools, the Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities concludes in its new opinion that national minorities in Bosnia and...
Croatia: Anti-torture report on police, prisons and psychiatry yields mixed results
In a new report published today with the response of the Croatian authorities, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) finds that most people detained by the police had been treated correctly, but allegations of ill...
Anti-racism commission: new reports on Moldova and Portugal
The European Commission against Intolerance and Discrimination (ECRI) published today new reports on the Republic of Moldova and Portugal. In the Republic of Moldova, ECRI concludes that hate speech against Roma, LGBT and black communities in the public discourse is escalating whilst the...
Estonia should adopt more human rights oriented policies to improve the protection of women and the inclusion of older persons
“To build a more cohesive society, the Estonian authorities should strengthen the protection of women from violence, close the gender pay gap and uphold the rights of older people”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, while releasing today the report on her...
Council of Europe to continue building solutions for IDPs in Ukraine
The Council of Europe today announces a new three-year initiative to support internally displaced people (IDPs) in Ukraine entitled “Building Solutions”. Carried out as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine 2018-2021, “Building Solutions” should improve protection for internally...
Progress made in actions protecting refugee and migrant children in Europe
Council of Europe is presenting progress in actions taken to ensure the safety and the proper treatment of children entering Europe, according to the report “Refugee and migrant children in Europe” - Progress in implementation of the Action Plan (2017–2019), published today. “I am pleased that...
Why NGOs matter
One of the most important issues raised at the FRA forum this week in Vienna was the need for greater funding and support for non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Anna Rurka, President of the Council of Europe’s Platform of International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) told forum...
Görlitz, Germany, hosts Forum highlighting Council of Europe Cultural Routes
"Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe connecting cultural values, heritage sites and citizens: strategies and synergies in a global perspective" will be the theme of the Annual Advisory Forum 2018 organised from 26 to 28 September by the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the...
Council of Europe leads fight for fundamental rights and against the evil of corruption
As the Fundamental Rights Agency Forum in Vienna gets underway on 25 September, the Council of Europe is playing an integral part to uphold fundamental human rights and combat corruption in an increasingly challenging period for Europe. From fighting hate speech and discrimination to promoting...
Armenia’s new government should place human rights at the centre of its policies
“Armenia’s peaceful transfer of power in May 2018 has been truly remarkable. However, popular expectations are high that there will be tangible improvements to people’s lives, and the government should devote its attention to upholding the long-neglected rights of those who are most vulnerable”,...
Deputy Secretary General opens International Conference on the fight against the manipulation of sports competitions
“It is in everyone’s interests that the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions (known as “Macolin Convention”) comes into force as soon as possible. The moment is approaching: it is not a matter of if, but when”, highlighted Deputy Secretary General while opening...
Rules Committee proposes to strengthen PACE's decision-making process on credentials and voting
In order to "strengthen the coherence, legitimacy and effectiveness of its decision-making mechanisms", the Committee on Rules of Procedure today proposed to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to amend certain provisions of its Rules of Procedure concerning the credentials...
Implementing ECHR judgments: Latest decisions from the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers
The latest case-by-case decisions on the implementation of judgments from the European Court of Human Rights have been published by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. The committee adopted 26 decisions concerning 17 member states at the end of its quarterly human rights meeting in...
Mental health of children on the move
Mental health of children affected by migration, their well-being and their rights was the key subject of the address by Regina Jensdottir, the Head of the Children’s Rights Division and Programme Co-ordinator at the Council of Europe, to the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC)...
Democracy and the People
To mark the International Day of Democracy, the Directorate General of Democracy and the Conference of INGOs are organising a debate entitled: Democracy & “The People”, aiming at re-asserting the value of our democratic institutions based on individual human rights, civic participation in public...
Ending violence against women: a new focus for continued Southern Mediterranean co-operation
On 18 September 2018, the Council of Europe and European Union launched the “South Programme III: Ensuring sustainable democratic governance and human rights in the Southern Mediterranean” in Strasbourg. This programme will build on the results from the past two programmes, and will have a new...
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 from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from 18 to 20 September. Decisions taken by the committee will be published on the Council of Europe website as soon as...
Hungary: Anti-torture committee observed decent conditions in transit zones, but criticises treatment of irregular migrants when “pushed back” to Serbia
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published a report on its most recent visit to Hungary from 20 to 26 October 2017, together with the response of the Hungarian authorities (see also the main findings of the...
Combating corruption: France can do better
In a report published today on corruption prevention in respect of members of parliament, judges and prosecutors, GRECO, the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body, concludes that France has implemented only four of the eleven recommendations made since 2013. While a number of positive measures...
European Heritage Days
Statement by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Chair of the Committee of Ministers, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia
Albania should continue improving child protection and inclusion of persons with disabilities
“The protection of children and inclusion of persons with disabilities has improved in Albania, but the authorities still have to address remaining shortcomings”, said today Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, while releasing the report on her visit to the country...
GRECO places Denmark in its non-compliance procedure
Council of Europe anti-corruption experts (GRECO) have placed Denmark in its non-compliance procedure due to lack of sufficient measures taken to prevent corruption in respect of members of parliament and in the judiciary, according to a compliance report published today. GRECO concludes that...
Congress President meets Belarus President
The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Gudrun Mosler-Törnström, met with the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on 11 September 2018. They discussed the importance of local self-government in the governance of our societies. During this exchange,...
Parliamentary Assembly Autumn Session
Debate on decision-making process concerning credentials and voting
Despite challenges in managing mixed migration Spain should guarantee effective access to asylum also in Melilla and Ceuta
”Every person arriving in Spain, including those jumping the border fences in Melilla and Ceuta, should be protected against refoulement and collective expulsions with a real possibility to have access to an effective and fair asylum procedure”, says the Secretary General’s Special Representative...
Cyprus makes promising moves to fight corruption
Cyprus makes promising moves to fight corruption, but many results yet to materialise, says anti-corruption group
Anti-torture Committee on Ukraine: severity of police ill-treatment diminished, material conditions in prisons remain poor
The severity of ill-treatment by the law enforcement in Ukraine appears to have diminished, but allegations are still frequent. Poor material conditions, overcrowding and lack of out-of-cell activities remain major problems in prisons; and the system of guardianship in psychiatric and social care...
20th anniversary of Children’s Houses: Icelandic model to counter child sexual abuse continues inspiring change across Europe
The 20th anniversary of the Barnahus (Children’s House), a Council of Europe-promoted model to address child sexual abuse by coordinating parallel criminal and social welfare investigations in a child-friendly and safe environment , is marked today at an event in Reykjavík, Iceland. The first...
Global Education: Human Rights dimension
The North-South Centre of the Council of Europe launches new free online course on the Human Rights dimension of Global Education
Thirty years of the European Charter of Local Self-Government
"Thirty years after the entry into force of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, we must more than ever ensure respect for its principles", says Congress President
“A safety net for the people of Europe”: 65 years of the European Convention on Human Rights
The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, better known as the European Convention on Human Rights, entered into force on 3 September 1953. Ahead of the anniversary, Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland said: “The European Convention on Human...
European Heritage Days 2018: Celebrating the Art of Sharing
The European Heritage Days (EHDs), a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Commission, are the most widely celebrated participatory cultural events shared by the citizens of Europe. The pan-European nature of this project contributes to bringing citizens together and...
MONEYVAL calls for actions to combat money laundering and terrorist financing in line with Latvia’s risk profile
In a report published today on Latvia, MONEYVAL acknowledges that large financial flows passing through the country pose a significant money laundering threat. Latvia is a regional financial centre, with a majority of its commercial banks focusing on servicing foreign customers, mainly from the...
Latvia: new GRECO report on corruption prevention in central government and law enforcement bodies
Latvia to further boost the integrity, transparency and accountability of those exercising top executive functions in central government and of police and border guard staff
Release of Taner Kiliç, Amnesty International
Statement by Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland
Statement by Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland on the release of human rights defender Ilgar Mammadov in Azerbaijan
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland made the following statement today: “News that the Shaki Court of Appeal in Azerbaijan today ordered the release of prominent human rights defender Ilgar Mammadov after more than five years in prison is to be welcomed. We cannot accept political prisoners in...
Transparency of political funding in Switzerland
The Council of Europe’s anti-corruption group regrets the lack of progress
GRECO says “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” makes no substantial progress; urges more action to apply recommendations
In its second compliance report released today, GRECO (Group of States against Corruption) finds that “the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” made no substantial progress in implementing recommendations on preventing corruption among MPs, judges and prosecutors. Calling the country’s...
Searches and arrests in Belarusian media
Statement by the Spokesperson of the Secretary General
10th anniversary of the conflict in Georgia
Statement by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia
Council of Europe honours Roma victims of the Holocaust: “acknowledge the past and improve Roma rights today”
Today in Strasbourg, the Council of Europe held a commemorative wreath-laying ceremony in memory of Roma and Sinti victims of the Holocaust. This year marks the 74th anniversary of 2 August, 1944, when all remaining Roma of the so-called “Zigeunerlager” (Gypsy camp) – 2,897 men, women and...
Moldova: Council of Europe anti-money laundering committee concerned about misleading media reports
Media reports in Moldova seem to wrongly suggest that the Law on Voluntary Declaration and Fiscal Stimulation, which was passed by the Moldovan Parliament on 26 July 2018, had been analysed positively by an expert from the Council of Europe’s Committee on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering...
Poland: Persons taken into police custody still run “appreciable risk” of being ill-treated, says anti-torture committee
A report published today by the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) found that most people who were or recently had been in police custody reported correct treatment by the police. However, although the report includes...
Keeping the promise: ending poverty and inequality
“Poverty and inequality are closely interlinked”, says Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, in her Human Rights Comment published today. “People living in poverty are much more likely to be relegated to low-income work, poor housing, and inadequate health care, as...
Submit your examples of good practices on child-friendly procedures in the migration context
The Office of the Special Representative on migration and refugees is looking for examples of good or promising practices of migration-related procedures that are child-friendly. Selected examples will be published in a compilation of good practices being prepared under the Council of Europe...
SRSG on migration and refugees: visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees (SRSG), Ambassador Tomáš Boček, will be visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina from 24 to 27 July 2018. He will have meetings with the government officials and representatives of relevant international organisations to discuss...
Azerbaijan: torture, impunity and corruption highlighted in new anti-torture committee publications
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published today reports on six of its visits to Azerbaijan – in 2004, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017 – together with the responses of the Azerbaijani Government. Thus, all...
The Commissioner requests decisive measures to safeguard Oyub Titiev’s rights
Today the Commissioner published a letter she sent to the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation, Mr Yury Chaika, concerning the situation of Mr Oyub Titiev, the leading member of the Human Rights Centre Memorial who is being prosecuted in the Chechen Republic. In the letter, the...
The CEPEJ adopts a toolkit to strengthen the implementation of the CEPEJ guidelines on mediation
At its 30th plenary meeting, the CEPEJ completed the list of existing Council of Europe instruments in the field of mediation, in particular the Council of Europe Recommendations (Recommendation (98) 1 on family mediation; Recommendation (99) 19 concerning mediation in criminal matters ;...
Romania: Proposed reforms could undermine independence of judges and prosecutors according to Venice Commission
In a preliminary opinion published today and requested in May this year by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission commented on three legislative drafts amending existing judiciary legislation: Draft law amending Law 303/2004 on the statute of judges and...
GRECO acknowledges progress in Albania, but calls for further action
In a report published today, the Council of Europe´s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) acknowledges the progress made by Albania in implementing its recommendations to prevent corruption in respect of parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors, but it also calls for a number of...
We must not forget Srebrenica
Today, Commissioner Mijatović, participated in the commemoration of the 23rd anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. In her speech she expressed her deepest condolences to the families of the victims, honoured the memory of the victims and called on all political leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina...
Conference on cybercrime: evidence in cyberspace, WHOIS data, cyberviolence, global state of legislation
From 11 to 13 July, the Council of Europe will bring together ministers and other high-ranking government representatives, criminal justice experts, and representatives from the Internet industry, civil society and data protection organisations from all over the world to step up international...
Regional or minority languages are protected in Norway, but further efforts needed
Progress has been made while promoting regional and minority languages in Norway, such as the Sami languages, Kven/Finnish and Romani/Romanes, according to a report published today by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Almost all undertakings are fulfilled concerned the...
GRECO urges Ireland to ensure judiciary's independence on appointments and promotion of judges
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has urged the Irish authorities to step up their efforts to ensure judicial independence in respect of appointments and promotion of judges. In a report published today, GRECO notes that Ireland has only implemented fully three of...
Secretary General calls on Romania to wait for Venice Commission opinion on reform of Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe made the following statement today: “I call upon all parties concerned to wait for the Venice Commission’s Opinion, and to take it into account, before any further steps are taken to amend Romania’s Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code. This...
European states must put human rights at the centre of their migration policies
“European states’ current approach to the arrivals of refugees and migrants has transformed a manageable issue into an extremely divisive topic, in particular within EU member states. And it has caused immense suffering and hardship to thousands of people who sought our protection. It is time...
Council of Europe gives recommendations to member States on children’s rights in the digital environment
How to better respect, protect and fulfil the rights of the child in the digital environment is at the core of the new Recommendation adopted today by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. Building on international and European legal instruments, the text provides comprehensive...
The Council of Europe adopts a new counter-terrorism strategy for 2018-2022
In response to the acute terrorist threat in Europe, the Council of Europe today adopted a new strategy based on prevention, prosecution and protection, including assistance to victims. “We must improve the ability of our member states to prevent and combat terrorism, in full compliance with...
Safeguarding human rights in the era of artificial intelligence
“The use of artificial intelligence in our everyday lives is on the increase, and it now covers many fields of activity. Something as seemingly banal as avoiding a traffic jam through the use of a smart navigation system, or receiving targeted offers from a trusted retailer is the result of big...
Greece: immediate action needed to protect human rights of migrants
“The humanity and hospitality that Greece’s people and authorities demonstrated towards migrants in recent years is truly commendable. In spite of these efforts, however, the situation remains worrying and much more needs to be done to protect the human rights of those who have had to flee their...
Mexico joins the data protection convention
Mexico today acceded to the Council of Europe´s Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data, known as “Convention 108”, and to its Additional Protocol on transborder data flows and supervisory authorities. Mexico, which has observer status in...
The future of the Council of Europe depends on respect for its underlying precept – “effective multilateralism”
“For the future of the Council of Europe to be secured, we must respect its underlying precept of ‘effective multilateralism’, in other words the process of seeking solutions together with due regard for international law”, said Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg’s Minister of Foreign and European...
