Directorate General
Human Rights and
Rule of Law

Monitoring mechanisms
   
Over almost sixty years, the 47-member Council of Europe has developed a considerable acquis, encompassing not only standards on civil and political rights, social rights, minority rights, treatment of persons deprived of their liberty, the fight against racism and the fight against corruption and money laundering, but also active European monitoring of these standards. Such monitoring is carried out by several well-established independent bodies with recognised expertise and professionalism that enable the Council of Europe to identify areas of non-compliance and address recommendations to its member states.

"Practical impact
of the Council of Europe
monitoring mechanisms

This document describes the way in which the Council of Europe mechanisms pertaining to human rights and rule of law have worked towards definite improvements in legislation, practice and the situation of individuals in the member states.
Read more and download the document 

   
Human Rights Rule of Law
   

Action against Trafficking in Human Beings

The entry into force of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings on 1 February 2008 triggered the setting of this new human rights monitoring mechanism composed of two pillars: the Group of Experts of Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) in charge of monitoring the implementation of the Convention and the Committee of the Parties which may make recommendations on the basis of GRETA's Report.

Exécution des arrêts de la Cour

Respect of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and, in particular, of the Court's judgments, is a crucial element of the Council of Europe's system for the protection of human rights, rule of law and democracy and, hence, for democratic stability and European unification.

Prevention of torture

The CPT (European Committee for the Prevention of Torture) visits places of detention, in order to assess how persons deprived of their liberty are treated. These places include prisons, juvenile detention centres, police stations, holding centres for immigration detainees, psychiatric hospitals.

Protection des droits sociaux

The European Social Charter, the natural complement of the European Convention on Human Rights, guarantees social and economic human rights. It was adopted in 1961 and revised in 1996. The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) is the body responsible for monitoring compliance in the states party to the Charter.

Fight against Corruption  

The objective of the Group of States against corruption (GRECO) is to improve the capacity of its members to fight corruption by monitoring their compliance with Council of Europe anti-corruption standards through a dynamic process of mutual evaluation and peer pressure.

Fight against Money Laundering
and Financing of Terrorism

MONEYVAL : The Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL) evaluates in-depth the effectiveness of domestic measures to counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism in Council of Europe member states which are not members of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

COP198 : The Conference of the Parties under the Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism (CETS No. 198) monitors the proper implementation of the Convention by the Parties and, at the request of a Party, expresses an opinion on any question concerning the interpretation and application of the Convention.

   

See also the other Council of Europe monitoring mechanisms :

   

Combating Racism 

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) is the Council of Europe’s monitoring body, combating racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance in greater Europe, from the perspective of the protection of human rights.

 

Protection of Minorities

The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of 1994 entered into force on 1 February 1998. Although not the only instrument to be developed within the Council of Europe relevant to the protection of national minorities, the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities is certainly the most comprehensive document in this area.

Regional or Minority Languages

Regional or minority languages are very much part of the wealth and diversity of Europe’s cultural heritage. Since 1992, Member States have been able to confirm their commitment to the protection of this heritage by ratifying the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.