Newsroom
Violence in Barcelona is an attack on Europe’s freedom and democracy
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland today issued the following statement, “Innocent people – children, adults, residents and visitors to one of Europe’s most attractive touristic cities have been hit by cowardly acts of violence. I strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attacks in Barcelona. The...
Hungarian higher education law: requirements for already operating universities “highly problematic” say Venice Commission experts
In a preliminary opinion issued today, the Council of Europe’s legal experts of the Venice Commission note that in general the regulations of Hungary’s higher education law are in line with usual European practice but criticise that many requirements of the law are overly stringent or even...
Ukraine has made promising reforms to fight corruption, but now it must deliver
A new report published today by the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) encourages Ukrainian authorities to pursue anti-corruption reform efforts it had launched following the Revolution of Dignity and calls for effective results to be delivered in practice. GRECO warns...
Slovenia: more money-laundering investigations needed to tackle serious crimes
The number of money-laundering investigations has risen in Slovenia since the last evaluation in 2010, but it is still not commensurate with the number of investigations and convictions for proceeds-generating crimes, such as tax evasion, fraud and other economic crimes, as well as drug...
Council of Europe honours victims of Roma Holocaust
Today in Strasbourg, the Council of Europe held a commemorative wreath-laying ceremony in memory of Roma victims of the Holocaust. This year marks the 73rd anniversary of 2 August, 1944, when some 3,000 Roma were exterminated in the gas chambers of the so-called “Zigeunerlager” (Gypsy camp) at...
European countries must acknowledge the Roma genocide
Statement by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks
Violence against women: Council of Europe ready to assist Tunisia on new law
Since the Tunisian parliament passed a new law last week to stop violence against women, the Council of Europe stands ready to assist in its implementation. “We welcome this law as a substantial step forward in Tunisia and for the entire region to end violence against women” said William...
States must act urgently to protect refugee children from trafficking
Statement by GRETA on the occasion of the 4th World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Venezuelan President's bid for new constitution lacks "credibility": Venice Commission
Venice Commission constitutional experts today have determined that attempts by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to prepare a new constitution have many shortcomings that “undermine democratic credibility.” The Council of Europe’s experts replied to a request last month for an opinion from the...
Belarus death sentences: Secretary General reiterates disappointment
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland reacts to two death penalty sentences pronounced today in Belarus “I am deeply concerned by the decision of the Mogilev regional court in Belarus to pronounce two death penalty sentences today,” said the Secretary General. “I reiterate our disappointment and...
Secretary General expresses concerns over situation in Turkey in call to Prime Minister
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland has released the following statement: "Yesterday evening, I had a phone conversation with Mr Binali Yıldırım, Prime Minister of Turkey, to discuss the latest developments in the country. One year after the attempted coup, I told him that this event should be...
Human trafficking: new reports published on Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France and Norway
The Council of Europe’s expert group against human trafficking (GRETA) has recently published its new monitoring reports on Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France and Norway, outlining progress and outstanding issues, and providing recommendations to the countries’ authorities. The report on...
Secretary General raises concerns over Polish draft law on Supreme Court
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland has sent a letter to the Speaker of the Sejm, Mr Marek Kuchciński, concerning the new parliamentary draft law on the Polish Supreme Court. Highlighting the crucial role played by Supreme Courts in democracies, he wrote that he was particularly concerned by the...
Migrants can contribute to preventing, preparing for and responding to disasters in Europe, says new EUR-OPA/IOM study
The Council of Europe’s EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement and the UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM) are to publish a joint study on the benefits of involving migrants in disaster risk reduction initiatives. The study, entitled Migrants in Disaster Risk Reduction: Practices for...
Council of Europe calls on Bosnia and Herzegovina to improve protection of child victims of trafficking
In a report published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) welcomes the legislative changes that have been made since the publication of its first report on Bosnia and Herzegovina in May 2013. The introduction of the criminal...
Anti-torture Committee issues public statement on Belgium
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has issued a Public Statement on Belgium today. This Statement, which is made in application of Article 10 (2) of the ECPT*, addresses the ongoing failure of the Belgian authorities to put in place a minimum level of service to guarantee...
GRECO calls on Monaco to strengthen anti-corruption measures in parliament and the judiciary
In its report on Monaco published today, the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body (GRECO) concludes that although the management of anti-corruption policies has continued to evolve in the right direction in recent years and anti-corruption mechanisms have gradually been strengthened, progress...
The Russian Federation’s Law on Foreign Agents contravenes human rights
“The Russian Federation’s legislative framework on non-commercial organisations is incompatible with international and European human rights standards”, writes the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, in his observations submitted to the European Court of Human Rights...
Slovenia should pursue its efforts to protect vulnerable people
“Slovenia has undertaken a number of initiatives in recent years to address major human rights issues concerning migrants, Roma, the “erased” and people living in poverty. It is crucial to reinforce these efforts to ensure that no one is left behind and the human rights of all are upheld”, said...
G20 Hamburg summit demonstrations
"I am saddened by the images of the demonstrations in Hamburg. Freedom of assembly is one of the core rights enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights," said the Secretary General. It is accepted by all 47 member states of the Council of Europe and must be protected by the authorities....
