External relations

Cooperation with international partners in the human rights field

In the development of human rights law and policy in the Council of Europe and in all other relevant fora it is necessary to ensure coherence. Such coherence is ensured by developing consistent human rights standards, optimising synergies between the various actors, avoiding unnecessary overlapping and building on the respective strengths and acquis. It is also equally important to ensure adequate diffusion and awareness of relevant Council of Europe human rights standards and policies (including, for instance, by focusing on specific themes such as the abolition of the death penalty) in other organisations and worldwide.

To this effect, a network of exchanges and co-operation activities has been established with the most important human rights regional and international organisations : the European Union, including the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, the United Nations (in particular the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) and the OSCE (particularly the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights). This also contributes to ensure that the elaboration of new Council of Europe human rights standards responds to actual needs and provides specific added value at the European level, and that such standards are taken into account by those other actors.