News Archive  By year and month 2012 2011 2010

International Conference on "The Use of Special Investigation Techniques to Combat Terrorism and Other Forms of Serious Crime"

[30/04/2013] To protect society from terrorism and organised crime, law-enforcement must apply modern investigation methods incorporating the latest advances in technology. Gathering of information without alerting the suspect through interception of communication, electronic surveillance and other means known as “special investigation techniques” must be respectful of the Human Rights of all involved and ensure that the evidence obtained can be used in criminal procedures under the rule of law. On 14 and 15 May 2013, the Council of Europe will host in Strasbourg a Conference on special investigation techniques, in close co-operation with the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the League of Arab States. The aim of the Conference is to bring a broader perspective to examining the applicable international legal frameworks, to identify new developments since the adoption of CM Recommendation Rec(2005)10 on the use of special investigation techniques, and to exchange views and best practices on the new challenges and solutions.
Conference file
Journal Web TV : Interview with Ivan Koejdikov

Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) : Reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Norway and Poland published

[14/05/2013] The authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina have taken steps to combat trafficking in human beings, such as appointing a national coordinator and adopting state action plans, but a number of important challenges remain, according to a report published today by the Council of Europe’s expert group on human trafficking, GRETA. (Read more ...)

[07/05/2013] In its first report on Norway, published today, GRETA acknowledges that Norway has taken significant steps to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings, and commends Norway’s leading role in international efforts to fight human trafficking. That said, a number of important challenges remain, including the need to adopt clear procedures and criteria for identifying victims of trafficking. (Read more...)

[06/05/2013] The report notes that the criminalisation of trafficking in human beings in Poland took effect only in September 2010. There is still a significant gap between the number of identified victims of trafficking and the number of successful prosecutions and convictions. (Read more...)

The Reports : Bosnia and Herzegovina - Norway - Poland

Council of Europe anti-torture Committee publishes two reports on Spain

[30/04/2013] The Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has today published the report on its sixth periodic visit to Spain, which took place in May-June 2011. It has also published the report on its follow-up visit to Barcelona Prison for Men (La Modelo) carried out in June 2012. Both reports have been published at the request of the Spanish authorities, together with their responses.

Milestone reached in negotiations on accession of EU to the European Convention on Human Rights

[05/04/2013] Negotiators of the 47 Council of Europe member states and the European Union have finalised the draft accession agreement of the European Union to the European Convention on Human rights. The EU Court of Justice in Luxembourg will now be asked to give its opinion on the text. Accession of the EU to the ECHR will strengthen the protection of human rights in Europe, by ultimately submitting the EU and its legal acts to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights. Thorbjørn Jagland, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, welcomed the agreement reached by the negotiators. (Read more)

Council of Europe Journal : What the Organisation is doing to fight corruption ?
[04/04/2013] Interviews with Wolgang Rau, Executive Secretary of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), Erkki Laukkanen, Head of Transparency International in Finland, and Björn Thorvaldsson, Head of Iceland’s delegation to GRECO

New reports adopted by GRECO on Finland and Iceland

Finland encouraged to further sharpen its tools to prevent corruption
[27/03/2013] Finland has an effective system for preventing corruption among members of parliament, judges and prosecutors. However, there is still room for improvement – particularly with regard to conflicts of interest among parliamentarians. These are the main findings of an evaluation report published today by the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO). (more ...)
  Iceland urged to further strengthen anti-corruption measures
[28/03/2013] Due to its unique circumstances, Iceland faces particular challenges in preventing corruption among its key institutions. Significant improvements have been made recently, notably since the collapse of the banking system, but there is still work to be done. (more ...)

A new handbook on the protection of migrants :
What are the means to protect migrants in the light of the two fundamental legal instruments of the Council of Europe, which are the European Convention of Human Rights and the European Social Charter ?

Proving its topicality every day, this question has been put at the core of a book signed by Yannis Ktistakis, lecturer in public international law. The book has just been published thanks to the efforts of the Directorate General I Human Rights and Rule of Law. The author proposes a handbook for legal practitioners, such as lawyers, judges, public officials, human rights defenders, etc., in order to make better known the rights of migrants and the practical means able to make these rights respected, both at national and international levels. The handbook is covering topics regarding the international standards applicable to migrants, their living conditions and economic, social and cultural rights, their detention conditions whenever this is the case, their right to family reunification, the expulsion of migrants, the application before the ECtHR, as well as collective complaints before the European Committee of Social Rights.
The handbook is available on-line in English. It will be available soon also in French, German, Russian, Greek and Serbian.

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