Netherlands makes a voluntary contribution to Council of Europe projects

29 MAY 2024 STRASBOURG

The Government of the Netherlands has made a voluntary contribution of €210 000 to support human rights and equality for LGBTI persons, the activities of the Venice Commission, the campaign for the safety of journalists "Journalists matter", the Parliamentary Network Women Free from Violence, as...

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Finland Looks to the Future on Human Rights

Deputy Secretary General 28 May 2024 Strasbourg

Finland has held its second annual Council of Europe Human Rights Day, raising awareness of the Council of Europe’s work to protect and promote human rights, democracy and rule of law in Finland and throughout the continent. This year´s event had a particular focus on youth engagement. It was...

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Türkiye hosts conference on international judicial cooperation in criminal matters

Deputy Secretary General 27 May 2024 Türkiye

In cooperation with the Ministry of Justice of Türkiye, Directorate General for Foreign Relations and European Union Affairs, the Council of Europe has organised a two-day international conference “International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters and Combatting Cybercrime“ under the EU-CoE...

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Moldova: students and the government take action on gender equality and violence against women

Deputy Secretary General 23 May 2024 Moldova

At the State University of Chisinau (USM) some 120 students learned about the role of the Council of Europe in promoting gender equality and preventing violence against women. During his visit to the Republic of Moldova, Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge engaged with the students, discussing...

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Deputy Secretary General visits Portugal

Deputy Secretary General 22 May 2024 Strasbourg

During his visit to Portugal, Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge had meetings with the Portuguese Foreign Minister, Minister of Justice and the Speaker of the Parliament, and he addressed the North-South Prize Award Ceremony and the Executive Committee of the North-South Centre. In the margins...

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Stronger political will needed to guarantee the future of freedom and equality for all, say European leaders at IDAHOT+ Forum

Deputy Secretary General 15 May 2024 Strasbourg

Addressing challenges to the human rights of LGBTI persons in Europe – including clampdowns on PRIDEs, efforts to undermine human rights defenders, and a rise in violent attacks on LGBTI people – is the focus of the 11th European IDAHOT+ Forum held by the Council of Europe and the Ministry of...

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Human Rights, Camera, Action! - Council of Europe launches photo and video competition for young Europeans

Deputy Secretary General 14 May 2024 Strasbourg

To celebrate its 75th anniversary and to raise awareness of the role and impact of the Council of Europe, the Deputy Secretary General, Bjørn Berge, has launched a photo and video competition entitled “Human Rights, Camera, Action!” aimed at young people, inviting them to use their smartphones...

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Berlin conference on how religious leaders can help to re-invigorate European democracies

Deputy Secretary General 13 May 2024 Berlin

As part of Liechtenstein’s Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, an international conference on “How can interreligious engagement help to re-invigorate the European democracies?” will take place on 14 May at the Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ) in Berlin,...

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"Defending fundamental freedoms in times of war and crises” on the Kristiansand conference agenda

Deputy Secretary General 6 May 2024 Kristiansand, Norway

The future of European co-operation and justice for Ukraine featured heavily at the 5th European Conference on Democracy and Human Rights in Kristiansand, Norway on 6 May. Following a welcome address by the Mayor of Kristiansand, Matthias Bernander, the official opening speeches focused on the...

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The Netherlands: “Council of Europe is your friend who helps you stick to the rules”

Deputy Secretary General The Netherlands

On the 3rd of April 2024, at the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security and at the Utrecht University, Ambassador Tanja Gonggrijp, Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the Council of Europe gave presentations on the Council of Europe’s central role in strengthening human rights, the...

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