Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni today met the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Italy, Emma Bonino, who attended the 123rd Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. They discussed a number of issues related to the co-operation in the Mediterranean, participation of Italy in the "No hate speech" campaign of the Council of Europe, ratification by Italy of the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence as well as the implementation of the EctHR judgments with regard to prison conditions and excessive length of proceedings.

The Deputy Secretary General welcomed the determination of the authorities to tackle in a comprehensive manner the issue of prison conditions and to execute the judgments of the ECtHR.