Newsroom
Anti-racism commission: new reports on Czech Republic and Slovakia
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) of the Council of Europe has published evaluation reports on the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, as well an assessment of the implementation of two priority recommendations by Sweden. In its report on the Czech Republic, ECRI...
Secretary General: “Local authorities on the front line" in response to Covid-19 challenges
“All levels of government needed to respond to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 crisis and local authorities were and remain on the front line. There will be lessons to learn about the division of competences and the need for coordination between layers of government in crises such as this,”...
Latvia: "A missed opportunity to adopt a territorial reform in line with the European Charter of Local Self-Government"
In a Recommendation adopted on 7 December 2020, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe expressed its concern about the deterioration of local democracy in Latvia since its last report in 2018, in particular the lack of consultation in the framework of the...
Implementing ECHR judgments: Latest decisions from Committee of Ministers
The latest case-by-case decisions on the implementation of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights have been published by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. The Committee adopted 28 decisions concerning 17 member states during the meeting, including 4 Interim...
Moldova should improve access to justice for victims of human trafficking
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has urged the Republic of Moldova to guarantee access to justice for victims of trafficking in human beings by ensuring that they receive specialised assistance and free legal aid at an early stage,...
Croatia should strengthen human trafficking investigations and sanctions and access to compensation for victims
A new report on Croatia from the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) focuses on victim access to justice and effective remedies. GRETA acknowledges steps taken, since its previous report on Croatia was published in 2016, to develop the...
Albania must implement legal framework to prevent corruption of ministers, their advisers and the police
In a new report the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) finds that in Albania, the legal framework for preventing corruption of members of the Council of Ministers and their political advisers, and of the police, is comprehensive, but still overly complex. It calls on...
Poland should stop the stigmatisation of LGBTI people
“Public officials and opinion makers should stop promoting an atmosphere of hate and intolerance vis-à-vis LGBTI people and instead, improve respect for their human rights. Stigmatisation and hate speech carry a real risk of legitimising violence. LGBTI are people, not an ideology”, said the...
States should deliver on their commitments to persons with disabilities
This year, we mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at a time when the COVID19 pandemic is still raging in Europe. The pandemic has disproportionately affected persons with disabilities and exposed all the pre-existing failings in Council of Europe member states. Among many...
“Covid-19: Local and regional authorities on the frontline”
Local and regional authorities are on the front line in containing the spread of Covid-19 and mitigating the impact of the epidemic. In order to hear the stories of those who have been organising, coordinating and delivering responses to the crisis in towns and cities, provinces and Départements,...
Nabila Hamza and Leoluca Orlando awarded North-South Prize
Portuguese Parliament President Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues today awarded the Council of Europe’s North-South Prize to Nabila Hamza (Tunisia) and Leoluca Orlando (Italy). The 2019 prize – given in the Senate room of the Portuguese Parliament – annually distinguishes two people for their exceptional...
Bulgarian psychiatric and social care institutions: ill-treatment, acute understaffing, mechanical restraint misuse
In a new report the Council of Europe’s anti-torture Committee (CPT) has expressed grave concern that many of its long-standing recommendations concerning the treatment, conditions and legal safeguards offered to psychiatric patients and residents of social care institutions remain unimplemented....
Convention on access to official documents enters into force
The Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents, the first binding international legal instrument to recognise a general right of access to official documents held by public authorities, entered into force today. The treaty, also known as the Tromsø Convention, after the city in...
Access to official documents is crucial – let’s make it a reality
People have the right to know what those in power are doing. This was the basis on which the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents was adopted more than ten years ago in Tromsø, Norway. This Convention is the first binding international legal instrument to recognise a...
Implementing European Court of Human Rights judgments
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers will carry out its latest quarterly meeting to oversee the execution of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from 1 to 3 December. Information on the cases to be examined in detail this week is available here....
Protecting human rights in pandemics and other emergencies: challenges faced by prosecutors
In a new Opinion, the Council of Europe’s Consultative Council of European Prosecutors addresses the implementation of the usual functions of prosecution services in emergency situations, their new or extended functions in response to such situations, how to overcome the challenges faced by...
Andorra: action needed in measuring violence against women and supporting rape victims
In its first report evaluating the implementation by Andorra of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, known as the “Istanbul Convention”, the Group of Experts (GREVIO) acknowledges significant progress in the legislative sphere...
Congress Bureau greenlights report on remote election observation procedure concerning Ukraine
The Bureau of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe adopted, on 26 November, an information report on the remote observation procedure regarding the local elections held in Ukraine on 25 October 2020. "This report acknowledges the extraordinary circumstances in...
Council of Europe adopts new Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova
The Committee of Ministers, representing the 47 Council of Europe member states, has adopted the Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova for the years 2021-2024, which aims to bring the country’s legislation, institutions and practice further in line with European standards in the areas of human...
Backsliding on minority rights weakens democracy
“Where divisions are constructed between different ethnic, cultural, linguistic or religious groups, democracy is weakened. The backsliding on minority rights is a cause for real concern as it may threaten the inclusive nature of European societies,” says the Advisory Committee on the Framework...
Polish Supreme Court delegation holds online discussion with Council of Europe
On 24 November 2020 a delegation of the Supreme Court of Poland, upon its initiative, held a virtual exchange of views with a delegation of the Council of Europe. The meeting took place against the background of previous findings by the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, Group of States...
Spain - Action against violence against women and domestic violence
In its first report evaluating the implementation by Spain of the Council of Europe’s “Istanbul Convention”, the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) acknowledges the commitment of the Spanish authorities to combat violence against women and the...
“We cannot allow the home to become a place of fear, again”
Statement by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Venice Commission on the draft new Constitution of Bulgaria: welcome amendments introduced, but further changes and clarifications needed
The Council of Europe’s body of constitutional legal experts, the Venice Commission, has adopted on Friday its urgent interim opinion on the draft new Constitution of Bulgaria prepared upon the request of the President of the National Assembly of Bulgaria. The opinion focuses on the reform of the...
Violence against women and domestic violence in Malta: GREVIO calls for a stronger gender perspective
In its first baseline evaluation report published today on implementation by Malta of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, known as the “Istanbul Convention”, the Group of Experts (GREVIO) emphasises a number of positive legal...
New video for migrant children explaining their rights in age assessment procedures
On World’s Children’s Day the Council of Europe and the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) have launched an animated video on age assessment of migrant children and adolescents. Age assessment is a process carried out by authorities to estimate a person’s age and determine whether he/she is an...
LGBTI policies in Europe: progress achieved, but more needs to be done
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić today highlighted substantial progress in the legal and social recognition of LGBTI people: more countries are offering civil unions and equal marriage, there are positive developments in ensuring freedom of assembly and association, in tackling bullying,...
Anti-torture Committee calls on Greece to reform its immigration detention system and stop pushbacks
In a report on a rapid reaction ad hoc visit to Greece in March 2020, the Council of Europe's anti-torture committee (CPT) once again urges the Greek authorities to change their approach towards immigration detention and to ensure that migrants deprived of their liberty are treated both with...
Germany takes over the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers
Germany has taken over the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe from Greece during a video-conference meeting with representatives of the Organisation’s 47 member States. Greece’s Alternate Minister for Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis gave an overview of his...
Secretary General warns about the risks associated with sexual images and videos self-generated by children
Report from HINA (Croatian News Agency) published on European Day on Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse The Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, on Wednesday warned about the risks associated with sexual images and videos self-generated by...
6th European Day on Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse
On the occasion of the 6th European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (18 November 2020), the following joint statement was made by: The Greek Alternate Minister for Foreign Affairs, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, outgoing Chair of the Council of Europe’s...
Cyprus: Judicial Code of Ethics praiseworthy, but Parliament needs Code of Conduct to better fight corruption
A new report on Cyprus by the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) stresses the need for a Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament to be adopted to prevent various forms of corruption, and to address issues such as conflicts of interest and lobbying. MPs’ asset...
Managing elections, including during pandemics: Venice Commission draws conclusions
The Council of Europe’s Venice Commission has published conclusions to an online international conference it held last week on electoral management, addressing electoral law and electoral administration in Europe. Conference participants focused on two main issues: Holding elections during...
How associations of judges support judicial independence: new Opinion
In a new Opinion on “The role of associations of judges in supporting judicial independence”, the Council of Europe’s Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE) calls upon member States to provide a framework within which the right of judges to associate can be effectively exercised, and to...
World Forum for Democracy 2020/2021 – “Can Democracy Save the Environment?”
Officially launching on 18 November, the next World Forum for Democracy will bring together intellectuals, politicians, activists, experts and young people from around the world to discuss responses to the environmental crisis over a whole year leading up to the live Forum event to be held in...
Manifesto on Freedom of Expression of Arts and Culture in Digital Era
The Council of Europe has launched a Manifesto on the Freedom of Expression of Arts and Culture in the Digital Era as well as the concept for a digital @exhibition « Free to Create, Create to be Free”. The Manifesto sums up the importance of artistic creation and cultural industry for our...
Anti-torture committee urges Portugal to tackle police ill-treatment and police impunity
In a new report on Portugal the Council of Europe’s anti-torture committee (CPT) once again urges the Portuguese authorities to take determined action to prevent police ill-treatment and ensure that cases of alleged ill-treatment are investigated effectively. It also proposes a series of measures...
Child self-generated sexual images/videos: education vital to prevent risks
Ahead of the European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse marked on 18 November, the Council of Europe has held a webinar on how risks associated with sexual images and videos self-generated by children can be prevented and mitigated through...
Council of Europe launches Observatory on History Teaching in Europe
Seventeen Member States (*) of the Council of Europe have decided to establish the Observatory on History Teaching in Europe as an Enlarged Partial Agreement. The Observatory’s main purpose will be to collect and make available, through a series of regular and thematic reports, factual...
Paris Peace Forum: Council of Europe presents MEDICRIME Convention
The Council of Europe MEDICRIME Convention will be presented at the Paris Peace Forum which takes place online from 11 to 13 November. The main message to the Forum is that countries worldwide should take action using the only binding international instrument in this field to combat the...
Mid-term impact of Covid-19 on European prison populations: new study
Following the overall decrease of European prisons populations during the period of the lockdowns in spring, during the summer the incarceration rate remained stable in most European countries but started to grow in several prison administrations, according to a new study by the University of...
Ministers of justice confirm their commitment to Independence of justice and the rule of law
As the Council of Europe celebrates the 70th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights, the Ministers of Justice of the 47 member States of the Organisation, meeting by videoconference under the Greek Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, reaffirmed their commitment to...
Facing COVID-19 in prisons and probation
Directors of prison and probation services from the 47 Council of Europe member states as well as renowned experts and researchers in this field are meeting online on 9 and 10 November. They will discuss measures taken to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic in prisons and services in charge of...
Slovenia: draft law on Barnahus will better protect children from sexual abuse
The results and key recommendations of the public consultation process of the draft law on Barnahus in Slovenia are being discussed today at an online event. Barnahus (“Children’s House”) is a leading European model for a child-friendly multidisciplinary and interagency response to child sexual...
Role of European Youth Card in promoting young people’s rights post-COVID
A webinar “New challenges and opportunities for innovative youth services. The role of the European Youth Card in promoting the rights of young people in post COVID era” is being held under the Greek Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers on 5-6 November 2020. The Greek Chairmanship has...
Foreign Affairs Ministers call for unity and more solidarity between nations
As the Council of Europe celebrates the 70th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights in the unprecedented context of the current health crisis, the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Organisation’s 47 member States have reiterated their commitment to unity in Europe and stronger...
Sports Ministers discuss revision of European Sports Charter and Human Rights in Sport
Sport is an important facet of modern life. Sports’ governance is facing many challenges in a world that is rapidly changing and it can also, if unchecked, lead to human rights issues. Practicing sport is a human right and a goal shared by all governments. The 16th Conference of Council of Europe...
Congress delegation concerned for increasing polarisation of Polish society and situation of LGBTI people
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe has completed a two-day fact-finding mission regarding the situation of LGBTI people in Poland. "Sexual orientation has become a polarising issue in Polish society; this is also increasingly reflected in local and regional...
Foreign Ministers discuss Council of Europe's role in the context of COVID-19 pandemic
Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Council of Europe’s 47 member States will hold an online ministerial session on 4 November. During their annual meeting, the Ministers will be invited to take position on the response to the health crisis in full respect for democracy, rule of law and human...
Secretary General condemns Vienna terrorist attack
Statement by Marija Pejčinović Burić
Internet Governance Forum 2020
The Council of Europe is taking part in the 15th UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF), being held online from 2 to 17 November under the theme “Internet for human resilience and solidarity”. Council of Europe representatives and experts are contributing to debates on the challenges to freedom of...
Anti-money laundering: Georgia should increase the use of financial intelligence
The Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering body MONEYVAL has urged the Georgian authorities to strengthen the practical application of their measures to combat money laundering and financing of terrorism. In a new report it calls for making more efforts to use financial intelligence to detect...
November 2: International Day to end Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
Based on information collected by the Council of Europe Platform for the protection of journalism and safety of journalists, perpetrators of at least 22 murders of journalists in Europe are being shielded from justice. This is another confirmation that the International Day to End Impunity for...
Council of Europe leaders condemn terrorist attack in Nice
We are deeply shocked and saddened by the barbaric and cowardly terrorist act in Nice on Thursday. We condemn in the most vigorous way this heinous attack and we express our deepest condolences and our sympathy to the families of the victims. We also express our full and unconditional support and...
Conference of Ministers of Education: response to pandemic crisis
The Conference of Ministers of Education of the Council of Europe, organised in the framework of the Greek Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, has endorsed a Political Declaration on the education response to COVID-19. The Declaration is accompanied by a Roadmap for Action on the Council...
Slovakia should prosecute money laundering with more determination
A new report by the Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering body MONEYVAL urges the authorities of the Slovak Republic to systematically pursue illicit funds generated by crimes, through effective seizure and confiscation, and to systemically tackle money laundering and terrorist financing...
Ukraine: Congress concludes remote observation procedure regarding local elections
Welcoming the fact that, for the first time, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were allowed to vote in local elections in Ukraine, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe concluded its remote election observation procedure which was introduced as a temporary and...
Poland: Poor legal and medical access for people in police custody among concerns raised in Anti-Torture Committee report
In its latest report on police detention facilities, the Council of Europe’s European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) stresses that Poland has failed to implement previous recommendations for proper legal and medical access, and that...
Poland: Congress conducts remote fact-finding mission on situation of LGBTI+
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will conduct a remote fact-finding mission on 2 and 3 November 2020 on the situation of LGBTI+ people in Poland. This mission follows a request from members of the Polish parliament regarding the increasing attacks and...
Responding to COVID-19 crisis: Ministers of Education conference
The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging our education systems and institutions, which need to innovate the ways in which we learn, teach and assess qualifications. The risk of increased exclusion and inequality in access to education is another effect of the sanitary crisis. In order to respond to...
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Congress conducts remote observation procedure for local elections on 15 November
In response to an invitation from the authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities will carry out a remote observation procedure on 29 and 30 October, for local elections set for 15 November. This new remote format has been introduced as a temporary procedure...
Efficiency and quality of justice in Europe: 2020 report
A new report has identified a number of broad trends across judicial systems in 45 European countries. Among the findings of the eighth evaluation report drawn up by the Council of Europe’s European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ): European states spend an average of €72 per...
Polish authorities should ensure continuity, independence and effectiveness of Ombudsman institution
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, made public today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović raises her concerns about risks to the continuity and the effective functioning of the Polish Ombudsman institution. A constitutional...
Setting up a European network of police forces
At a conference on the role of the police in a democratic society attended by high-level representatives of European Ministers of the Interior on 20 and 21 October, the Council of Europe proposed to set up its own permanent high-level network of the police forces of the 47 member states. Some 90...
New factsheet on the execution of ECHR judgments concerning environment
Although the European Convention on Human Rights does not contain an explicit right to a clean and quiet environment, the Court has developed its case-law and established that where an individual is directly and seriously affected by noise or other pollution, an issue may arise under the...
Ukraine: Congress conducts remote observation of local elections on 25 October
After receiving an invitation from the Ukrainian authorities, from 19 to 20 October the Congress will carry out a remote observation procedure for the local elections that will take place on 25 October. This new remote format has been introduced as a temporary procedure in exceptional situations,...
Secretary General condemns terrorist attack in France
We deplore the horrific terrorist attack against a teacher yesterday at Conflans-Sainte-Honorine and express our solidarity with those close to the victim, with the French people and with President Macron. We will not allow our rights and freedoms to be threatened by extremists of any kind. See...
European Anti-trafficking Day: Human trafficking will not be tolerated
In a statement to mark Anti-Trafficking Day, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has called for full respect for the rights of victims of trafficking in human beings during the restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the face of...
Secretary General on working visit to Moscow
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić in Moscow on 19 and 20 October for meetings on key issues facing the Organisation. The Secretary General met with Sergey Lavrov, Minister for Foreign Affairs; Valentina Matviyenko, Chairperson of the Federation Council and Konstantin...
Daphne Caruana Galizia’s final interview released on third anniversary of her death
The last interview ever given by Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia has been released today to mark the third anniversary of her assassination on 16 October 2017. The interview, carried out on 6 October 2017, was one of 20 with journalists from across Council of Europe member...
Protection of national minorities in Spain: Progress regarding Roma, but anti-discrimination laws needed
In an Opinion evaluating Spain’s level of compliance with its commitments towards the Spanish Roma under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention acknowledges the progress made by the country in providing social...
New study: journalists speak out on undue pressure
A new study has made an in-depth analysis of undue pressure exerted against journalists to prevent them from reporting freely and of the strategies they use to overcome fear and continue to perform their public watchdog mission. “A Mission to Inform: Journalists at Risk Speak Out”, authored by...
Anders Knape: “The Congress Charter has a key role for promoting local democracy and Europe’s pluralist society model”
To mark the 35th anniversary of the opening for signature of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Anders Knape, made the following statement: “The European Charter of Local Self-Government was opened for signature on 15...
Council of Europe leaders make joint statement on Belarus
The Greek Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, the President of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly, Rik Daems, and the Secretary General of the 47-nation Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić,...
Online Venice Commission plenary marks 30 years of newsworthy legal advice
Because of continued concerns over Covid-19, an “on location” celebration that was scheduled to mark 30 years of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission had to be postponed. Instead a virtual plenary session was held late last week. It resulted in the adoption of many newsworthy opinions and...
Minorities in Hungary: Roma need “urgent” help for education, housing and health care
In its latest opinion on Hungary, the Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) found that persons belonging to the Roma minority face structural difficulties in all spheres of public life, including education, employment...
National minorities in Bulgaria: more needed to combat segregation and hate speech
Bulgaria has made progress in the implementation of the Framework Convention through advancing non-discrimination legislation, promoting education for Roma children and supporting religious rights. However, the legal framework for exercising minority cultural, linguistic and participation rights...
Digital solutions to fight COVID-19: shortcomings protecting privacy and personal data
A new Council of Europe report has identified a number of shortcomings in the protection of privacy and personal data in some of the legal and technical measures adopted by governments to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic among the 55 African, Latin-American and European countries which...
World Day against the Death Penalty, 10 October 2020: joint declaration by Secretary General and EU High Representative
Today on the World and European Day Against the Death Penalty, the European Union and the Council of Europe reaffirm their opposition to the use of capital punishment in all circumstances and call for the universal abolition of the death penalty. We welcome the continued decline in the use of the...
A ‘Living Instrument’ for Everyone: Advancing Equality for LGBTI persons
A conference to mark the 70th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights has taken place in Strasbourg. Entitled “A ‘Living Instrument’ for Everyone: The Role of the European Convention on Human Rights in Advancing Equality for LGBTI persons”, it was organised by the Council of...
Secretary General appoints Special Representative on Antisemitic and Anti-Muslim Hatred and Hate Crimes
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has appointed the Council of Europe’s Director of Communications Daniel Höltgen, to the new position of Special Representative on Antisemitic and Anti-Muslim Hatred and Hate Crimes. Commenting on the appointment, the Secretary General said: “On Friday it...
New study: Slovenians consider sexual abuse of children a serious problem, but nearly half would not be able to recognise its signs
A majority of Slovenians consider sexual abuse of children to be a serious problem, with nearly one in five having experienced at least one form of sexual abuse. However, awareness of this type of abuse is low, as parents don’t feel comfortable discussing it with their children, and schools don’t...
Even in difficult times, Partnership for Good Governance programme keeps delivering
An online event to reflect on the mid-term results of the second phase of the European Union and Council of Europe Partnership for Good Governance (PGG), launched in 2019 for the Eastern Partnership region, started today under the title ‘Improving the lives of citizens through better Governance’....
Implementing ECHR judgments: Latest decisions from the Committee of Ministers
The latest case-by-case decisions on the implementation of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights have been published by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. The Committee adopted 27 decisions concerning 13 member states during the meeting, including six...
Congress President deplores yet another blow to local self-government in Turkey
“I am deeply concerned about continued arrests, over the last days, of democratically elected representatives from the opposition in Turkey, notably of Mr Ayhan Bilgen, Co-Mayor of the city of Kars in the south-east of the country, who is a member of our Congress. This morning, news arrived about...
Secretary General warns of humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, made the following statement today: “As the armed conflict around Nagorno-Karabakh escalates with a growing number of civilian casualties, I mourn the deaths of the many people, including civilians, who are falling victim to...
Preventing corruption of parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors: France can do better
In a new report published the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) notes that some progress has been made regarding members of parliament, such as oversight of senators’ operational expenses, the system for dealing with conflicts of interest and the two Houses’...
The Russian authorities should end continuous judicial harassment of human rights defenders
Statement by Commissioner for Human Rights
Human Rights for the Planet conference
What is the future role of international human rights law in helping to tackle challenges posed by climate change and the degradation of the natural environment? On Monday 5 October 2020, the European Court of Human Rights will host a high-level conference entitled “Human Rights for the Planet”....
Moldova: Draft constitutional amendments meet Venice Commission requirements
On 28 and 29 September the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Moldova Mr Fadei Nagachevski had a series of exchanges with the High-Level Working Group established by the Council of Europe to support the Republic of Moldova in the crucial task of reforming its judicial system. Representatives...
Secretary General delivers keynote speech to Athens Democracy Forum
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić is in Athens today for a series of bilateral meetings with President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Alternate Foreign Affairs Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Greek Justice Minister Costas Tsiaras and...
The EU’s accession to the European Convention on Human Rights
Joint statement on behalf of the Council of Europe and the European Commission
Implementing European Court of Human Rights judgments
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers is holding its latest quarterly meeting to oversee the execution of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from 29 September to 1st October. Cases to be examined in detail during the meeting concern Bosnia and...
San Marino: Council of Europe anti-corruption body calls for a structural reform of the judiciary
The Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body (GRECO) recommends that the composition of the Judicial Council be changed to limit political influence. In a new report it also calls for a reappraisal of the workload, internal procedures and resources of the court to improve and streamline its...
Congress Rapporteur calls for solidarity with local authorities to urgently remedy refugee situation after Moria fires
Against the background of the devastating fires in the “Moria Reception and Identification Centre” on the Greek island of Lesbos, Yoomi Renström (Sweden, SOC/G/PD), Rapporteur of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe deplored the lack of joint action in Europe,...
New Council of Europe guide to public debate on human rights and biomedicine
The Council of Europe has launched a new guide to assist member states in initiating and promoting dialogue with the public on the challenges posed by biomedical developments, both for individuals and society. Aimed primarily primarily at government officials, public authorities, national ethics...
Nagorno-Karabakh: Secretary General calls for immediate end to hostilities
The Secretary General of the 47-nation Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović-Burić, has made the following statement concerning the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh: “I am gravely concerned about reports of military escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I call on our Member States Armenia...
World Forum for Democracy adapts to Covid-19 pandemic conditions
Exceptionally, the 9th edition of the World Forum for Democracy "Can Democracy Save the Environment? will take place over a whole year and will be launched on 18 November 2020. The Forum will kick off with a campaign of activities "12 months to answer 1 question". In a real spirit of...
26 September: The European Day of Languages
Statement by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić
EU Pact on Migration and Asylum: a renewed opportunity to uphold human rights in migration governance
The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees of the Council of Europe and the Regional Representative for Europe of the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) have welcomed the presentation by the European Commission of its new Pact on Migration and Asylum. The launch of...
