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Human trafficking: UK urged to better identify and assist victims
The Council of Europe’s expert group on human trafficking has urged the United Kingdom to take further steps to improve the identification of trafficking victims, to make sure victims receive legal and psychological assistance and to ensure that more traffickers are convicted. These are among the...
Secretary General highlights poverty and trafficking as human rights violations
How many more people will be cast into poverty? How many more people will find themselves trafficked as a result? Speaking at a ceremony to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and European Anti-Trafficking Day 2021, Marija Pejčinović Burić called for essential coordination...
European Social Charter 60th anniversary: Committee of Ministers Declaration
Adopted on 13 October 2021 at the Ministers’ Deputies’ 1414th meeting
Congress President: “The European Social Charter now needs to develop an effective local anchorage”
60 years after the adoption of the European Social Charter, a multitude of challenges remain, especially regarding the local anchorage, underlined President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Leendert Verbeek, ahead of the Charter’s anniversary on October 18, 2021. When the Social...
Tackling human rights in the digital sphere: international seminar
An international seminar to be held on 18 October on the theme of “Human Rights in the digital sphere” will bring together experts from different legal systems and jurisdictions, judges of the European Court of Human Rights and governmental representatives from Europe and beyond to examine the...
Venice Commission holds hybrid plenary session
Meeting on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 October in Venice, the Council of Europe’s constitutional experts adopted – among other texts – an opinion on draft constitutional amendments in Serbia and an opinion on the legal protection of citizens in the Netherlands. Other opinions adopted concern the...
Social Charter 60th anniversary: the Social Constitution of Europe
Employment, housing, health, education, social protection and welfare rights: the European Social Charter - often referred to as the Social Constitution of Europe – is celebrating its 60th anniversary as a guardian of fundamental social and economic rights. The Charter, together with the European...
Committee of Ministers adopts recommendation on Revised European Sports Charter
The Committee of Ministers has adopted a recommendation on the Revised European Sports Charter submitted by the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS). The revised version concludes a process initiated by the 15th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for sport in Tbilisi in...
Secretary General at Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić is taking part in the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism on 13 October 2021. She is making a speech and is taking part in the panel entitled “Countering contemporary antisemitism and other forms of racism online...
Slovenia: first report on implementation of the Istanbul Convention notes many positive measures
The first evaluation report of Slovenia’s implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (“the Istanbul Convention”) has been published together with the comments by Slovenian authorities. The report highlights numerous...
European and World Day against the Death Penalty: Joint declaration
Ahead of the European and World Day against the Death Penalty on 10 October, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, and the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, have issued a joint declaration reaffirming the...
2021 Nobel Peace Prize: Statement by the Council of Europe Secretary General
The Secretary General of the 47-nation Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, today made the following statement: "I am delighted that the Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize to journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov for their efforts to safeguard freedom of...
Fundamental Rights Forum 2021: social rights, data protection and artificial intelligence among Council of Europe sessions
The Council of Europe will host a series of sessions at the hybrid Fundamental Rights Forum 2021 on 11 and 12 October. Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić will take part in the opening session of the multi-location event from 13h30 Central European Summer Time (CEST) on...
Secretary General opens conference on women’s access to justice and full ratification of the Istanbul Convention
To mark the 10th anniversary of the Istanbul Convention – the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence – the Council of Europe is holding an international conference on 7-8 October 2021 to promote full ratification and implementation of...
Implementing ECHR judgments: new factsheet on freedom of assembly and association
The Council of Europe’s Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights has published a new thematic factsheet on cases related to freedom of assembly and association. The factsheet summarises measures reported by 17 member states to protect and further strengthen...
Czech Republic should intensify efforts to combat stereotypes and hate speech against national minorities
In its latest Opinion on the Czech Republic the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM), whilst acknowledging some progress in combatting discrimination, urges the authorities to intensify their efforts to combat stereotypes and prejudice...
Secretary General exchanges views with Italian Undersecretary Della Vedova
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has had an exchange of views with Benedetto Della Vedova, Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation of Italy. The meeting focused on the priorities of the up-coming Italian Presidency of...
Commission against racism and intolerance publishes conclusions on Russia and Latvia
The Council of Europe’s Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has published its conclusions on the implementation of its priority recommendations made in 2019, by Russia and by Latvia. In its conclusions ECRI expresses its concern about the non-implementation by Russia of the priority...
Digital technology and artificial intelligence on the agenda of justice ministers’ conference
Council of Europe ministers of justice are meeting in Gödöllő (Hungary) today for a conference held under the Hungarian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers on Digital Technology and Artificial Intelligence – New Challenges for Justice in Europe. The conference is being opened by Hungarian...
2 October vote: a missed opportunity for local democracy in Georgia, says Head of Congress delegation
The Congress concluded its mission to observe the local elections held on 2 October in Georgia. David ERAY (Switzerland, EPP/CCE, R), Head of the delegation, underlined the extremely polarized political environment in the country as well as an increase in verbal aggression, hate speech and fake...
Statement by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe concerning the reported liquidation of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee
The Secretary General of the 47-nation Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, has today made the following statement: “I am very concerned by reports that the Supreme Court of Belarus has this week liquidated the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, one of the oldest NGOs defending human rights in...
French Ministry of Justice wins the Council of Europe Crystal Scales of Justice Prize
The 2021 European "Crystal Scales of Justice" prize, organised by the Council of Europe and rewarding innovative judicial practices within European judicial institutions, was awarded to the French Ministry of Justice on 1st October 2021 in Ljubljana (Slovenia) for a project "Simplified filing of...
A warm welcome at the Council of Europe for Little Amal
There was a warm welcome today at the Council of Europe for Little Amal, a 3.5m-tall animated puppet of a nine-year-old refugee from Syria, the latest stop on her 8,000-kilometre journey across the continent to raise awareness of the situation of child refugees. “The Walk” is Amal’s epic voyage...
10th Annual Advisory Forum on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe: Online from 29 September-1 October
The Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Annual Advisory Forum 2021 “Resilient and Sustainable Cultural Routes – Innovating Out of Crisis" will take place online from 30 September-1 October. Organised by the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) in...
Right to a healthy environment: reducing inequalities, protecting the rights of climate migrants and promoting research and development policies
Adopting a resolution today in Strasbourg, based on a report by Edite Estrela (Portugal, SOC), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) said that access to the fundamental right to a safe, clean and healthy environment was unequally shared between regions, countries and...
PACE sets out steps to address humanitarian consequences of conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan
Following the recent conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan / Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, PACE has set out a series of recommendations to both countries to address the humanitarian consequences in the short and long term, and move towards a process of peace and reconciliation. Approving a...
Hungarian Foreign Minister presents the work of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers
The situation in Afghanistan, access to Covid vaccines, national minority rights, the persecution of Christian communities worldwide, and promoting family values online were among topics raised by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó, presenting the Communication from the Committee of...
Secretary General tells PACE: implementing ECtHR’s judgments is a non-negotiable obligation
In her regular dialogue with the PACE, Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić underlined the vital importance of Council of Europe member states fully implementing the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. This is a non-negotiable obligation, essential for upholding the system of...
“Cycling for Democracy” or hitting the road in pursuit of original initiatives that help answer the question “Can democracy save the environment?”
In 13 short films, each roughly 5 minutes long, Nicolas introduces us to the individuals behind environmental and community-based groups around the world, which have been selected for the World Forum for Democracy (8-10 November 2021, Strasbourg). In search of answers to the environmental...
2021 Václav Havel Prize awarded to Belarusian opposition leader Maria Kalesnikava
The ninth Václav Havel Human Rights Prize – which honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights – has been awarded to Belarusian opposition leader and activist Maria Kalesnikava. The 60,000-euro prize was presented at a special ceremony on the opening day of the autumn...
Poland: Judicial independence remains at risk according to new report from GRECO
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has published a report on the prevention of corruption in respect of members of parliament, judges and prosecutors. This report contains an update of GRECO’s critical assessment of the 2016-2018 reforms concerning the Polish...
Human rights and environment: the impact of the European Convention on Human Rights
Ahead of a series of Parliamentary Assembly debates on the right to a healthy environment, the Council of Europe has published a new “environment” section of its dedicated website highlighting the impact of the European Convention on Human Rights. The new section includes ten case studies showing...
The Council of Europe stands united in the fight against antisemitism
On 23 September the Ministers’ Deputies held an informal meeting under the Hungarian Presidency on “Combating and preventing antisemitism in Europe: challenges and perspectives” with guest speakers: Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, Chief Rabbi of Moscow and President of the Conference of European...
PACE Autumn Session focuses on the right to a healthy environment
A high-level panel and interactive debate on “The environment and human rights: the right to a safe, healthy and sustainable environment”, as well as a full day of debates on this topic, forms the centrepiece of the Autumn Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE),...
European Day of Languages 2021: “All voices matter” says Secretary General
26 September 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the European Day of Languages. Since 2001, the Day has been celebrating the rich tapestry of languages coexisting in Europe and beyond. According to Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić “The European Day of Languages reminds...
San Marino: GREVIO reports substantial progress in national policies to stop violence against women
In its first report on San Marino’s implementation 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) highlights several positive developments. These include the enactment...
Statelessness and the right to a nationality in Europe
Strengthening efforts to end statelessness in Europe and guarantee the provision of fundamental rights to everyone was the key theme of the events organised on 23-24 September in Strasbourg by the Council of Europe’s European Committee on Legal Co-operation (CDCJ) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee...
Secretary General attends UN General Assembly in New York
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić is taking part in the high-level General Debate of the 76th United Nations General Assembly in New York. Her participation includes a series of bilateral meetings with foreign ministers from a number of countries. Prior to this the...
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 and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights have been published by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. The Committee adopted 44 decisions concerning 20 member states during the meeting, including three...
Impact of Covid-19 on mental health in prisons and probation
The impact of Covid-19 on the mental health of offenders and staff and the enhanced use of new technologies lead the agenda of the annual conference of Directors of Prison and Probation Services of Council of Europe member states, taking place in Funchal on the island of Madeira (Portugal) on 20...
Poland: Promising initiatives against domestic violence but urgent steps needed to combat other forms of violence against women
In its first report on Poland, the Council of Europe’s GREVIO – the independent group that monitors implementation of the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) – praises recently introduced emergency barring orders, allowing...
Congress President: “Cities and regions build a democracy of proximity”
On the International Day of Democracy on 15 September 2021, Congress President Leendert Verbeek desired to draw attention to the situation of local and regional democracy. In his words, this “democracy of proximity” – the first level of democracy – enables citizens to most quickly “witness their...
Artificial intelligence – a new portal to promote global cooperation launched with eight international organisations
On 14 September 2021, eight international organisations joined forces to launch a new portal promoting global cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI). The portal is a one-stop shop for data, research findings and good practices in AI policy. The objective of the portal is to help policymakers...
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Anti-torture committee calls for vigorous action to prevent police ill-treatment
In a report published today, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) calls on the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to take vigorous action to address the problem of police ill treatment (summary of the report)....
Governments must step up the fight against antisemitism in all its forms, says anti-racism commission
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) issues a new General Policy Recommendation to the 47 Council of Europe member states
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 14 to 16 September.Cases proposed for detailed examination concern Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium,...
Secretary General participates in International Remembrance Ceremony at Natzweiler - Struthof
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić took part on Sunday in the international ceremony of Remembrance in the former concentration camp of Natzweiler – Struthof. The Secretary General lit the commemorative flame after having received the torch from deported victims Pierre Rolinet and Henri...
CPT calls on Sweden to improve conditions for remand prisoners
In a new report the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) calls on the Swedish authorities to limit restrictions on remand prisoners to only exceptional circumstances and to refrain from detaining foreign nationals in prisons instead of placing them in centres specifically designed for...
Crystal Scales of Justice Prize: shortlisted projects announced
The Council of Europe’s “Crystal Scales of Justice Prize” identifies, publicises and shares innovative practices aimed at improving the efficiency and quality of judicial systems. Of 23 applications received from 15 countries, the jury, composed of justice professionals, selected three projects...
Implementing ECHR judgments: new factsheet on rights of LGBTI people
The Council of Europe’s Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights has published a new thematic factsheet on cases related to the rights of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) people. The factsheet summarises measures reported by 18 member...
National minority rights: conference in Budapest assesses NGO role and presents study on national minority youth
The Hungarian Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers is hosting a conference in Budapest on “The role of NGOs and research institutes in promoting Council of Europe norms and standards on national minority rights”. Promoting national minority rights is a priority for the...
European Heritage Days 2021 celebrate “Heritage: All Inclusive!”
The 2021 #EuropeanHeritageDays will celebrate Inclusive and Diverse Heritage to encourage broad participation in culture, to foster and celebrate diversity, and to emphasise that interaction with individuals and communities with different cultural backgrounds can enrich our lives. Particular...
Eighth Regional Rule of Law Forum for South East Europe
The President of the European Court of Human Rights, Robert Spano, a number of current and former ECHR judges and Thomas Markert, the former Secretary of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission of constitutional experts, will take part in the Eighth Regional Rule of Law Forum for South East...
Ukraine joins Council of Europe’s drug policy cooperation platform the Pompidou Group
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has delivered a letter to Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić informing her of his country's decision to join the Pompidou Group as of January 2022. The participation of Ukrainian experts in the work of the Group will help with the...
Council of Europe member states should not undermine human rights protections in response to Afghans seeking safety
“Member states should unequivocally commit to handling the arrival of persons fleeing the horrendous situation in Afghanistan in accordance with their human rights obligations”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović. “Various governments and local authorities...
Tunisia: statement by Venice Commission President Gianni Buquicchio
“Since the declaration of the state of emergency on 25 July 2021, the President of Tunisia has concentrated in his hands the legislative, executive and, partially, judicial powers. Tunisia does not have a constitutional court. Tunisia is facing a very deep crisis, caused on the one hand by the...
Crimea: Secretary General underlines Council of Europe’s support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has repeated the organisation’s condemnation of the illegal annexation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. Speaking at the Crimea Platform summit in Kiev, she said “We remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and...
PACE President: international community should demand respect for human rights and an immediate end to violence in Afghanistan
“The entire world is watching the events unfolding in Afghanistan with grave concern and sadness. The international community should remain united and firm in demanding an immediate end to violence and the respect of human rights for all, both in the current situation and once a system of...
Deputy Secretary General: many LGBTI people in Europe can “state their pride”, but more remains to be done
“Much progress has been achieved in Europe and many LGBTI people can march in many streets throughout our continent, stating their rightful pride in who they are, but much more remains to be done,” said Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge in an address to participants of the...
Pride vs. indignity: political manipulation of homophobia and transphobia in Europe
World Pride is being celebrated on our continent this week, but a surge in intolerance towards LGBTI people in Europe is nothing to be proud about. In more and more European countries, politicians and public officials are shamelessly targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex...
Young people must have their say in protecting the environment, says Secretary General
On the occasion of International Youth Day, marked on 12 August, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić calls for more meaningful participation of young people in decision-making processes to tackle the climate crisis and to revitalise democracy. “The consequences...
Building bridges between past and present, to enable a better future
In a statement to mark European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day, on 2 August 2021, Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Buric has highlighted the importance of remembering Roma Holocaust victims. She stressed that learning from the past would allow for a better future for Europe’s...
World Day against Trafficking in Persons: joint statement from GRETA and ICAT
On the occasion of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) joins the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) in calling on stakeholders to include victims’ and...
North Macedonia: Cramped prison conditions, detainee ill treatment and opaque prison management among longstanding concerns for anti-torture committee
Despite minor improvements including the renovation of one wing of the remand section of Skopje Prison and the closure of three problematic wings of Idrizovo Prison, most longstanding concerns with respect to living conditions in prisons persist, concludes the latest report on North Macedonia...
Developments in Varosha district of Famagusta, Cyprus
We are deeply concerned by the announcements of the President of Turkey and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community on 20 July regarding the further re-opening of the fenced-off area of Varosha. Such unilateral action is regrettable as it would be in contradiction with the relevant United...
Un site web sur l’égalité de genre et la lutte contre les violences à l’égard des femmes lancé en Tunisie
Le site web sur l’égalité de genre et la lutte contre la violence à l’égard des femmes a été lancé aujourd’hui dans le cadre d’un événement en ligne tenu le 16 juillet 2021 en présence de la Ministre de la femme, de la famille et des séniors et de la Cheffe du bureau du Conseil de l’Europe en...
A 10th Palme d’Or for Eurimages
With an exceptional selection of 18 films supported by Eurimages, including 8 in the official competition, the 74th edition of the Cannes Film Festival wrapped up on Saturday evening with Julia Ducournau’s TITANE, a co-production between France and Belgium and supported by the Fund, receiving the...
Launch of the 2nd edition of the "Junior Crystal Scales of Justice" Prize
This Prize, organised jointly by the CEPEJ and the Faculty of Law of Strasbourg, complements the existing Crystal Scales of Justice Prize. It is open to Master's students from law schools in one of the member States of the Council of Europe or an observer country to the CEPEJ and is organised...
Searches and detentions of civil society representatives in Belarus
Statement by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić
Public symposium to assess behavioural addictions linked to technology including smartphone addiction
From internet and smart phone use addiction to artificial intelligence simulating the effects of psychoactive substances, an online international symposium – Addictions of the 21st Century: Challenges and Effective Responses – will evaluate the “crossover” between psychoactive substances and...
Moldova celebrates 26 years of Council of Europe membership
13 July 2021 marks 26 years since the Republic of Moldova became a full-fledged member of the Council of Europe on 13 July 1995. It was the first former CIS state to join the organisation. “During the past 26 years, the Council of Europe and the Republic of Moldova have been working together...
Statement of Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić on the commemoration of the Srebrenica genocide
« The genocide of Srebrenica was the most horrible atrocity in Europe since the Second World War, one we all thought impossible. Nationalism, hatred and ethnic cleansing led to death, destruction and human rights violations on a massive scale on our continent. The immeasurable suffering of the...
Effective remedies at European borders for migrants, asylum applicants and refugees: Council of Europe and EU Fundamental Rights Agency publish a new joint note
The Council of Europe and the European Union’s Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) have published a joint Note entitled “European standards on legal remedies, complaints mechanisms and effective investigations at borders”. In an effort to join forces in the protection of human rights at European...
Council of Europe Congress to co-organise the First Citizens' Assembly in Mostar to promote deliberative democracy
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, jointly with the City of Mostar, is organising a Citizens’ Assembly, which will be inaugurated on 10 July 2021, as part of the first deliberative process of this kind in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the South East of...
Striking the right balance between the public interest and individual rights: role of prosecutors discussed in Saint-Petersburg
Role of prosecutors in the protection of individual rights and public interest in light of requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights has been the topic of the high-level conference that concluded in Saint-Petersburg today. The Conference was co-organised by the General Prosecutor’s...
