Newsroom
Alternatives to the detention of migrants: how we can make it work
A variety of concrete examples and practices of alternatives to the detention of migrants from different corners of Europe were presented to some 200 participants at an International conference on Effective Alternatives to the Detention of Migrants, organised jointly by the Council of Europe, the...
Implementing ECHR judgments: 10-year reform process brings clear results
Reforms to ensure the long-term effectiveness of the European Convention on Human Rights have clearly improved the implementation of judgments from the European court in Strasbourg, according to the latest annual report from the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. The report states that...
European states must demonstrate resolve for lasting and concrete change for Roma people
“On 8 April, we will celebrate International Roma Day. This is a day to celebrate Roma culture and Roma contributions to European societies, and the cultural diversity of Europe. The 8th of April, which commemorates the first World Romani Congress held in London in April 1971, should also be a...
Norway: a role model for preventing corruption in parliament and among judges and prosecutors
The Council of Europe anti-corruption body (GRECO) published today its Fourth Evaluation Round Report on Norway concerning corruption prevention in respect of members of parliament, judges and prosecutors. GRECO concludes that Norway has implemented satisfactorily, or dealt with in a satisfactory...
Corruption in the Maltese government and police: more robust and effective action needed
In an evaluation report published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) assesses the effectiveness of the framework in place in Malta to prevent corruption amongst persons with top executive functions (ministers and other senior government officials) and the...
Poland: relatively alarming developments for local and regional democracy
The situation of local and regional democracy in Poland has changed significantly over the past years: formerly one of the “top ten” countries in the EU, in terms of the level of local autonomy, Poland now shows “alarming trends”. These are among the key findings of the report and recommendation...
Future of the Council of Europe – restoring confidence in democratic institutions from the local level up
In our response to the current democratic crisis, local institutions have a strategic role in restoring the links between citizens and the institutions which represent them. This is the Congress members’ message to the foreign ministers of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe, who are to...
Council of Europe and European Commission strengthen their co-operation to support reforms in the Member States
Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, Deputy Secretary General of the Council and Maarten Verwey, Director-General of the European Commission's Structural Reform Support Service announced today a new co-operation framework to provide support to a number of EU and Council of Europe member states under the...
Fighting nepotism through clear and transparent recruitment procedures
Against a background of diminished public trust in public authorities, fighting nepotism and ensuring impartial recruitment procedures are fundamental requirements. The report adopted on this subject by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe on 2 April 2019 is...
Morocco – first “Partner for local democracy”
In a resolution adopted today by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, the Kingdom of Morocco was granted the status of “Partner for local democracy” with this assembly of local and regional elected representatives from the Organisation’s 47 member states. This...
Europe’s rate of imprisonment falls, according to Council of Europe survey
The overall imprisonment rate in Europe fell by 6.6% between 2016 and 2018 - from 109.7 to 102.5 inmates per 100,000 inhabitants- according to the Council of Europe Annual Penal Statistics for 2018 (SPACE), published today (see also the key findings). This decrease continues a trend that started...
Local elections in Turkey
Congress observer delegation calls on Turkey to seize the opportunity to continue normalisation and enhance local democracy
36th Congress session: "Mayors safeguarding democracy"
The members of the Congress of local and regional authorities will meet from 2 to 4 April 2019 in Strasbourg, at their 36th session, with "Mayors safeguarding democracy" as this year's theme. A debate will be held on this topic, with the participants including Ignacio Sanchez Amor, Spanish...
Protection of health-related data: new guidelines
The Council of Europe has issued a set of guidelines to its 47 member states urging them to ensure, in law and practice, that the processing of health-related data is done in full respect of human rights, notably the right to privacy and data protection. With the development of new technological...
Council of Europe adopts first-ever international legal instrument to stop sexism
States should step up their fight against sexism in all walks of life, according to a Recommendation just adopted by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. In response to the #MeToo and other recent movements that have heightened awareness of persistent sexism in society, the Council of...
Cultural Routes programme receives the Carlos V European Award
The Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme is the 2019 recipient of the "Carlos V European Award" , which honours people, organisations, projects or initiatives that contribute “to the enhancement of Europe’s cultural and historical values”. For the first time the Carlos V European...
Election of the Secretary General: the Committee of Ministers submits candidatures to the Parliamentary Assembly
The Committee of Ministers today decided to submit to the Parliamentary Assembly, for appointment to the post of Secretary General of the Council of Europe, with effect from 1 October 2019, the following candidatures in alphabetic order: - Marija Pejčinović Burić (Croatia) (Curriculum vitae) -...
Bulgarian legislation on family allowances for children violates certain provisions of European Social Charter
In a decision published today, the Council of Europe’s European Committee of Social Rights found that certain provisions of the Family Allowances for Children Act in Bulgaria violate the right to appropriate social, legal and economic protection for the family, and are discriminatory against...
“Tackling Gender Stereotypes and Sexism”: international conference in Helsinki
Gender stereotypes and sexism represent a serious limit to the achievement of substantive gender equality: equal rights for women and men in all spheres of public and private life. Gender stereotypes and sexism contribute to different forms of hate speech (on line and off-line) and discrimination...
Labour rights under pressure across Europe
Latest annual conclusions from the European Committee of Social Rights
“Be visible, be strong” : International Roma Women’s Conference in Helsinki
In its seventh annual Roma Women's Conference, this year held in Finland, the Council of Europe stresses the importance of "mainstreaming" Roma and Traveller gender equality issues as part of its "Strategy for Gender Equality 2018-2023". The three-day conference, which brings together NGOs,...
Intercultural integration academy in Iceland
An Intercultural Integration Academy will be held in Iceland on 25-28 March organised by the Council of Europe (Intercultural cities programme), the Ministry of Social Affairs and UNHCR. The Academy will focus on intercultural competence for social workers, municipal officials, police officers...
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – Launch of the ICC Manual on community policing
The Intercultural Cities (ICC) programme launches a Manual on community policing to mark 21 March, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
5th anniversary of annexation of Crimea
Statement by Timo Soini, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland
Renewed efforts needed to eliminate racial discrimination, especially in the workplace, say Heads of Europe’s human rights organisations
Too many people with an ethnic or migrant background are still being held back in the job market. This is despite laws against racial discrimination and for equal opportunities in employment that have been in place for decades, the heads of three European human rights institutions said in a joint...
Enhancing media pluralism: Strasbourg conference
The Council of Europe and Reporters Without Borders are organising a conference in Strasbourg on 20 March to discuss public policies aimed at strengthening media pluralism. Held under the theme “Media Pluralism how can we deliver?”, the conference will explore how existing media legislation and...
25 “Venice Principles” - Democratic ABCs for ombudsman institutions
Today the Venice Commission published a set of guidelines to protect ombudsman institutions, following threats to these institutions in recent years. Ombudsman are important for democracy, their services are free, and are thus accessible to individuals who cannot afford to pursue their complaints...
GRECO publicly declares Belarus non-compliant with the CoE anti-corruption standards
Today, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption, in an unprecedented move, has publicly declared Belarus non-compliant with GRECO’s anti-corruption standards. Since 2012, when GRECO addressed 24 recommendations to Belarus and invited the authorities to authorise the publication...
Romania: anti-torture committee concerned about abuse of prisoners by staff, inter-prisoner violence and allegations of police ill-treatment
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has expressed concern about several persistent problems in Romanian prisons - including the abuse of prisoners by staff and inter-prisoner violence - as well as about numerous...
Albania needs to strengthen protection of national minority rights
In its fourth opinion on Albania, the Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) urges Tirana to make operational the county’s law on the protection of national minorities through the adoption of further legislation....
States should enable NGOs to access foreign funding, say Venice Commission experts
In the wake of recent challenges to the independent functioning of associations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the Council of Europe's constitutional legal experts today adopted a report on standards with respect to foreign funding of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Council...
Hungary: Laws on administrative courts lack effective checks and balances in government, according to the Venice Commission
An opinion adopted today by the Council of Europe’s constitutional experts of the Venice Commission raises questions over two December 2018 laws establishing a separate system of administrative courts, with its own high court (the future Supreme Administrative Court, or SAC) and its own judicial...
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 30 decisions concerning 16 member states at the end of its quarterly human rights...
Human trafficking in Iceland: Some progress, but improvements are needed in key areas
Iceland has made some progress in tackling human trafficking in recent years, but the problem requires more political attention and better co-ordination in order to help detect victims of trafficking, carry out successful investigations and prosecute offenders. These are among the main findings...
Poland should restore necessary guarantees for independence of judges and prosecutors, prevent regression on women’s rights and combat gender stereotypes
“Modern European democracies cannot function without truly independent judiciaries. Poland’s authorities should take further steps to restore full independence of the judiciary and act to resolve discord and deadlock that continue to affect the functioning and the credibility of some of the...
Secretary General Jagland condemns the deadly mosques attack in New Zealand
On behalf of the 47-nation Council of Europe, Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland has made the following statement: “I condemn in the strongest possible terms the horrific terrorist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand, that has left so many people dead and seriously wounded. Our deepest...
European Social Charter: decision in CGT v. France complaint concerning Labour Law
In a decision published today, the Council of Europe’s European Committee of Social Rights, which is responsible for monitoring the application of the European Social Charter, found that there has been no violation of Article 4§2 of the Charter with regard to the right of workers to be informed...
San Marino urged to raise public awareness of human trafficking and provide training to relevant professionals
San Marino has taken additional measures to combat trafficking in human beings, according to a new report published today by the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), but a number of issues continue to give rise to concern. The report assesses...
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 12 to 14 March. Decisions taken by the Committee of Ministers will be published on the Council of Europe...
Anti-torture Committee urges effective investigations into allegations of torture in North Caucasus
The Council of Europe’s anti-torture Committee (the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture - CPT) has today issued a public statement on the Russian Federation urging the Russian authorities to take decisive action to eradicate the phenomenon of ill-treatment by law enforcement...
Ireland ratifies treaty to end violence against women
On UN International Women’s Day on 8 March, the Council of Europe welcomes the 34th ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (also known as the Istanbul Convention) to stop all forms of violence against women. “We...
International Women’s Day (8 March)
Statement by Timo Soini, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland
Parliamentary Assembly President calls for action to end violence against women
Speaking on the eve of International Women's Day (8 March), the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Liliane Maury Pasquier urged strong action against sexism and violence against women, driven by ongoing inequality between women and men. “What the #MeToo...
We need to stand up for women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights
Ahead of International Women’s Day 2019, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović issued the following statement today: “Women’s rights are human rights and gender equality is a fundamental value of our societies, enshrined in human rights treaties. Nevertheless, progress...
International Women’s Day - Statement by Secretary General
More progress needed to end violence against women
Anti-racism commission: new reports on Latvia and Russia
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has published today two country reports on Latvia and the Russian Federation, analysing recent developments and making recommendations to the authorities. The respective governments’ comments were also published. In the report on...
The role of education in supporting refugees’ integration - joint event in Strasbourg
The role of education in supporting the integration of refugees in their host societies was the topic of a roundtable organised by the Council of Europe, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the City of Strasbourg on 1 March at the Strasbourg City Hall (Hôtel de Ville)....
Hungary: Insufficient progress and lack of transparency hamper fight against corruption
Following a high level visit today in Budapest, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) calls on Hungary to make reports public and to implement fully its recommendations. Carried out as part of GRECO’s on-going non-compliance procedure in respect of Hungary, the visit...
Romania: improving implementation of laws and ensuring funding to protect women from violence and rights of disabled people
“There are systemic obstacles which seriously hinder the effective protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in Romania”, said today Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, publishing the report on her visit to the country in November 2018. The report focuses...
Artificial Intelligence: Helsinki conference conclusions
AI should be developed in a human-centric manner to produce benefits for individuals and for societies
Polish Sport Minister Bańka is European candidate for WADA President
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe approved today the nomination of Witold Bańka, Minister for Sport and Tourism of Poland, as single European candidate to the post of President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This decision follows the recommendation formulated by the Ad...
Helsinki Conference on Artificial Intelligence
A two-day High-Level Conference “Governing the Game Changer – Impacts of artificial intelligence development on human rights, democracy and the rule of law” opened in Helsinki today. ”New technology, the collection of massive amounts of data, and the use of information, has already changed the...
Death penalty: Filling Europe’s black hole
The 47-nation Council of Europe is co-organising a round table on capital punishment in Belarus on Thursday 28 February as part of the World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Brussels. Belarus is the only country in Europe to still use the death penalty. Executions are usually carried out in...
Maintaining public order and freedom of assembly in the context of the “yellow vest” movement: recommendations by the Commissioner for Human Rights
In a memorandum containing her observations on the events linked to the so-called yellow vest movement, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, invites the French authorities to show more respect for human rights during operations aimed at maintaining public order...
Two awards won at the Césars French film festival for “Les Chatouilles”, a story of child sexual abuse
The film “Les Chatouilles” (co-directed by Andréa Bescon and Eric Métayer) won César awards at the ceremony held on 22 February 2019 in two categories: best supporting actress for Karin Viard, and best adaptation of a theatre play for the two co-directors. This autobiographical film highlights...
Criminal Justice in Cyberspace Conference in Bucharest
In today’s ultra-connected world, criminal justice is a crucial response to cybercrime. While cybercriminals are increasingly using cyberspace to conduct their offences against the law, criminal justice authorities are faced with complex challenges worldwide. Since cyber threats are touching upon...
Five nominations for the child sexual abuse film “Les Chatouilles” in the Césars French film award
The film “Les Chatouilles” (co-directed by Andréa Bescon and Eric Métayer) has been nominated for 5 categories of the French Césars Award contest: best first film, best actress and best actor in a supporting role, best adaptation and best editing. The winners will be announced at the award...
The Netherlands needs to enhance measures to preserve integrity in the government and in the police
In an evaluation report published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) called for measures to prevent corruption in the Netherlands in respect of persons entrusted with top executive functions, including ministers, state secretaries, political advisors; and in...
Council of Europe Secretary General, Finnish Foreign Minister and French Justice Minister to open Helsinki AI Conference
Council of Europe's Secretary General, Thorbjørn Jagland, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Timo Soini and the Minister of Justice of France Nicole Belloubet will open the High-Level Conference: “Governing the Game Changer – Impacts of artificial intelligence development on human...
Secretary General calls on Albanian opposition to remain in parliament, warns against violence
Expressing concern about the decision of the opposition to withdraw from Parliament, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland said: “In a democracy the legislature is the first instance where political issues affecting the whole country should be debated and solutions...
Allowing IDPs to vote in local elections in Ukraine
Congress conference in Kyiv
Déclaration du Secrétaire Général Thorbjørn Jagland sur les derniers actes antisémites en Alsace
Je condamne sans réserve l’acte antisémite, barbare et odieux de la profanation du cimetière juif de Quatzenheim, en Alsace, pas loin de Strasbourg, le siège du Conseil de l’Europe. Je voudrais exprimer ma solidarité totale à la communauté juive, encore une fois prise pour cible. Cette...
Greece: Anti-torture committee criticises poor treatment of detained foreign nationals
The Council of Europe’s European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) acknowledges significant on-going challenges that the Greek authorities face to deal with the high number of foreign nationals arriving in the country, but based on a...
Un étudiant français remporte le Prix européen de l’éloquence
L’édition 2019 du Prix européen de l’éloquence, le concours annuel d’art oratoire en langue française, a été remportée par Simon Derieux-Billaud, un étudiant français, qui s’est exprimé sur le sujet « Pouvons-nous encore rêver d’Europe ? ». Le deuxième prix a été décerné à Alina Marchenko...
Ensuring the financial sustainability of quality journalism
The Council of Europe has called on its 47 member states to ensure the financial sustainability of quality journalism taking into account that it is a public good and plays an essential role for individuals to be able to form and express their opinions and make informed choices about government...
Algorithmic processes risk being used to manipulate social and political behaviours
The Council of Europe has called on its 47 member states to tackle the risk that individuals may not be able to form their opinions and take decisions independently of automated systems, and that they may even be subjected to manipulation due to the use of advanced digital technologies, in...
Safety of Journalists' Platform report: media freedom conditions worsen
The environment for media freedom has worsened significantly in the Council of Europe area, according to a report published today by the partner organisations to the Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists. The report “Democracy at Risk: threats and...
Hungary should address many interconnected human rights protection challenges
Challenges include civil society space, gender equality, refugee protection and independence of the judiciary
Déclaration du Secrétaire Général Thorbjørn Jagland sur Tomi Ungerer
Le Secrétaire Général du Conseil de l’Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, a exprimé aujourd’hui sa profonde tristesse à l’annonce du décès de l’illustrateur alsacien Tomi Ungerer. « Nous perdons aujourd’hui un grand artiste, très attaché à l’idée de l’Europe. Les valeurs de justice et d’humanisme qu’elle...
MONEYVAL publishes report on Czech Republic
Combatting money laundering in the Czech Republic: despite progress more investigations are needed, says Council of Europe report
MONEYVAL publishes report on Lithuania
Lithuania should step up its efforts to strengthen its understanding of money laundering and financing of terrorism risks, says Council of Europe report
Official visit of the Prime Minister of Spain
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez made today an official visit to the Council of Europe. Prime Minister Sánchez held meetings with Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, President of the Parliamentary Assembly Liliane Maury Pasquier, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities...
Anti-torture committee on Montenegro: Despite some progress, ill-treatment remains a problem and must be addressed
Despite some overall improvement in the treatment of persons detained by the police in Montenegro, ill-treatment still appears widely spread and must be tackled through stricter recruitment, better training and improved oversight. In prisons, too, allegations of ill-treatment persist; the...
National Minorities in Azerbaijan: new report published
Azerbaijani multiculturalism welcomes expressions of cultural identity, but increased restrictions on democracy, absence of legislation, inflammatory language prevent national minorities from fully exercising their rights Society in Azerbaijan is broadly characterised by a climate of...
Australia signs the Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions
In the framework of Sports Diplomacy 2030 high-level event, the Minister for Regional Services, Sport, Local Government and Decentralisation of Australia Bridget McKenzie signed in a ceremony (Spotless Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park) with Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni the...
Germany: Teaching and promotion of regional and minority languages needs to be improved says group of experts
In its sixth report on Germany, the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages praises steps taken to protect and promote regional or minority languages (Danish, Lower Sorbian, Upper Sorbian, North Frisian, Sater Frisian, Low German and Romani), including...
Council of Europe posters by Mr Z
Two posters by the French illustrator and graphic designer, Richard Zielenkiewicz, also known as Mr Z, are to mark the 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe and the 60th anniversary of the European Court of Human Rights. Mr Z, who is famed for his colourful, uncluttered illustrations inspired...
Committee of Ministers adopts guidelines on electronic evidence in civil and administrative proceedings
The Committee of Ministers has adopted guidelines to facilitate the use of electronic evidence in court proceedings. These guidelines are the first such international instrument. Their primary purpose is to help the 47 member states adapt the operation of their judicial and other...
Paris : la Commissaire Mijatović livre ses premières observations sur les questions de droits de l’homme liées au mouvement des "gilets jaunes"
« Le niveau élevé de tension qui prévaut actuellement en France suscite mon inquiétude et je considère qu’il est urgent d’apaiser la situation », a déclaré aujourd’hui la Commissaire aux droits de l'homme du Conseil de l'Europe, Dunja Mijatović, à l’issue d’un déplacement à Paris, le 28 janvier...
Corruption in Croatia: Code of conduct for MPs still lacking, but progress made to limit conflict of interest
Assessing measures taken by Croatia to implement recommendations that had been made in 2014, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) regrets that its recommendation to the Croatian Parliament to adopt a code of conduct for its members still has not been realized. The...
Armenia: the Commissioner for Human Rights publishes a new report
Report on Armenia recommends measures to improve women’s rights, protection of disadvantaged or vulnerable groups, and establishing accountability for past human rights violations Today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published the report of her visit to...
Poland: Anti-corruption group calls for more transparency and preventive measures to promote integrity in central government and in law enforcement agencies
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) says that it is a “top priority” for Poland to establish a system for appointment, promotion and dismissal of all senior managers in the Police and Border Guards, which would be based on objective, merit-based criteria and...
Data Protection Day
New guidelines on artificial intelligence
Greek parliament vote over "Republic of North Macedonia" welcomed by Secretary General
The Secretary General of the 47-nation Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, has welcomed the vote in the Greek parliament today that promises to bring an end to the 27-year dispute over its northern neighbour's name. “The vote in Greece to approve the name "Republic of North Macedonia" is both...
International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust
Statement by the Finnish Presidency of the Committee of Ministers
Italy urged to improve the protection of migrants and unaccompanied children against human trafficking and exploitation
Italy has taken additional measures to combat trafficking in human beings, according to a new report published today by the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), but a number of issues continue to give rise to concern. The report assesses...
The situation of opposition politicians in Turkey is worsening, says PACE
Following an urgent debate held in plenary session in Strasbourg, PACE noted “the worsening of the situation of opposition politicians in Turkey” and called on the Turkish authorities to respect fully their rights and freedoms of expression, association and assembly. Following the co-rapporteurs'...
PACE urges Russia to release Ukrainian servicemen, ensure free passage in the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait
The Parliamentary Assembly has urged Russia to immediately release Ukrainian servicemen, to ensure freedom of passage in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, and to refrain from violence in the area. Approving a resolution based on a report by Andreas Nick (Germany, EPP/CD) after an urgent...
ECSR publishes its findings 2018 on decisions in collective complaints procedures in 8 countries
The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) today published its findings 2018 on the follow-up given by 8 States (Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy and Portugal) to decisions in the collective complaints procedure. This procedure allows national and international trade...
"Peace is the most important contribution we can make to human rights", says Sauli Niinistö
“Human rights, democracy and the rule of law – the values the Council of Europe stands for – can only thrive in a state of peace. Maintaining the absence of war must be our highest priority. At the end of the day, peace is the most important contribution we can make to human rights. Everything...
Holocaust memorial ceremony
The President of Finland Sauli Niinistö has attended a ceremony in front of the Council of Europe’s headquarters in Strasbourg, to mark the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. In his address Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland underlined the importance of...
Secretary General to PACE: Russian people would suffer most if Russia leaves the Council of Europe
Addressing the Parliamentary Assembly for the last time during a January session, Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland expressed his satisfaction that the European Court of Human Rights was now on firmer ground than when he was elected in 2009. At that time, the credibility of the Convention...
Timo Soini: “a multilateral co-operation to prevent instability and conflict”
“We need effective rules-based multilateral co-operation to prevent instability and conflicts, and the Council of Europe is an important forum in this context,” said Timo Soini, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland and Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, addressing...
The state of human rights in Europe: forward and back?
All four Commissioners for Human Rights, Álvaro Gil-Robles, Thomas Hammarberg, Nils Muižnieks and the current Commissioner Dunja Mijatović will come together in Strasbourg on Tuesday 22 January to reflect on the evolution of human rights since the office was created, twenty years ago. They’ll...
Reelected, the President reiterates the statutory responsibility of all Council of Europe actors
For the President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), speaking 70 years after the Council of Europe was set up, promoting peace and reconciliation, which has been crucial to the success of “the largest pan-European organisation”, remains central to her mission. This is what...
Violence against women in Sweden: from legal and policy innovation to blind spots in protection and support for victims
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) published its first evaluation report on Sweden today. The report analyses the implementation of the provisions of the Istanbul Convention covering psychological violence, stalking,...
Portugal and violence against women: significant progress but under-reporting and low rate of convictions
In its first report on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (“Istanbul Convention”) by Portugal, the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) acknowledges the...
Seventy years of the Council of Europe – a website to explore our European story
Today the Council of Europe is launching its 70th anniversary website – a place to explore our history, understand our mission and learn how our work is as important now as it ever was. Initally in English, a French version will follow soon. Join us every month for a new video to see how the...
Norway should improve the situation for prisoners in solitary confinement
Today the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) published a report on a visit to Norway carried out in spring 2018. During its visit, the CPT examined the situation of persons deprived of their liberty in police...
Winter Session: Finnish President to address the Assembly
On the occasion of the Winter Session of the Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) in Strasbourg (21-25 January 2019), the President of Finland will deliver a speech. In addition, the Finnish Foreign Minister will present the Communication from the Committee of Ministers and the Organisation’s Secretary...
