Council of Europe

May

Council of Europe anti-torture Committee visits Italy
[31/05/2012] A delegation of the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) carried out a periodic visit to Italy from 13 to 25 May 2012. During the visit, the delegation reviewed the measures taken by the Italian authorities in response to recommendations made by the Committee after previous visits. Particular attention was paid to the treatment and fundamental safeguards applied to persons deprived of their liberty by law enforcement agencies and the conditions under which foreign nationals are held in an identification and expulsion centre. (more)

The Activity report 2011 of the European Committee of Social Rights is public
[31/05/2012] The European Committee of Social Rights has made public its activity report 2011 which contains information on the conclusions and decisions adopted by the Committee on the compliance of the States Parties with their obligations under the European Social Charter and covers articles of the Charter relating to the rights of children, both inside and outside the labour market, the right to maternity protection, rights related to the protection of the family, the rights of migrant workers and the right to housing in the 39 State Parties. (more)
ActivityReport 2011

Forthcoming elections of GRETA members
[31/05/2012] The terms of office of 13 of the 15 current members of the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) will expire on 31 December 2012. The elections to fill the vacant seats will be held at the 9th meeting of the Committee of the Parties of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings on 12-13 November 2012. (more)

1st Evaluation Round: GRETA visits Norway and Bosnia and Herzegovina
[31/05/2012] Delegations of the Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) carried out a country visits to Norway (21-24 May 2012) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (14-18 May 2012). The visits were organised in the context of the first round of evaluation of the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (2010-2013).
For further information: Norway - Bosnia and Herzegovina

High-level conference on drug prevention in the workplace
[11/05/2012] The Pompidou Group is organising a high-level conference on "Alcohol, drugs and prevention in the workplace: what are the issues and challenges for the government, the company and the staff?" taking place on 14-15 May 2012 in Strasbourg. During this conference, a reference framework resulting from one year’s analysis of the situation will be presented as a result of the work of the Ad hoc Experts Group on the prevention of drug use at the workplace. The objective is to encourage in each member state the setting-up of a policy to prevent addictive behaviour with due regard to human rights and personal freedoms and as a lever to improve working conditions.  (More)
Programme of the conference

Council of Europe anti-torture Committee visits Bulgaria
 [15/05/2012] A delegation of the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) carried out an ad hoc visit to Bulgaria from 4 to 10 May 2012. The main objective of the visit was to review the current situation as regards the treatment and conditions of prisoners in establishments under the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice. For this purpose, the CPT’s delegation visited Burgas and Varna Prisons. (More)

Two complaints are registered against France
[11/05/2012] The case Action européenne des handicapés (AEH) v. France, Complaint No. 81/2012, concerns the problems regarding access of autistic children and adolescents to education and access of young adults with autism to vocational training. The case Comité européen d'action spécialisée pour l'Enfant et la Famille dans leur milieu de vie (EUROCEF) v. France, Complaint no. 82/2012, concerns suspension of family allowances in cases of truancy. For more information consult the Collective complaints website.

Election procedure for members of the European Committee of Social Rights
[09/05/2012] At the 1142nd meeting of the Ministers' Deputies held on 9 May 2012 a decision was adopted concerning the procedure of electing five members of the European Committee of Social Rights.

Meeting on Medical Ethics and Health Care in Prison, Strasbourg, 10-11 May 2012
[07/05/2012] A multilateral meeting on Medical Ethics and Health Care in Prison will be held by the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on 10-11 May 2012. The meeting is being organised by the prisons and police reform unit within the multilateral co-operation activities of the Council of Europe in the prison field for participants from a number of member States which are currently in the process of developing their policies regarding the application of medical ethics and the provision of health care in prison. (More)

Council of Europe anti-torture Committee visits Belgium
[03/05/2012] A delegation of the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) carried out an ad hoc visit to Belgium from 23 to 27 April 2012. The main purpose of the visit was to review the current situation in the Belgian prison system, in particular the conditions of detention in establishments for prisoners awaiting trial and issues connected to strikes by prison staff and other industrial action resulting in a reduced work rate within prisons. The CPT's delegation visited Forest Prison for the first time. The delegation also carried out a short follow-up visit to Andenne Prison and examined Wing B of St. Gilles Prison, which is due to be opened shortly. (more)

1st Evaluation Round: GRETA visits Poland
[03/05/2012] A delegation of the Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) carried out a country visit to Poland from 23 to 27 April 2012. The visit was carried out in the context of the first round of evaluation of the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (2010-2013). During the visit, the GRETA delegation held consultations with officials from the Ministries of Interior, Justice, Foreign Affairs, National Education, Labour and Social Policy, and Health, as well as with representatives of the General Prosecutor’s Office and the National Labour Inspectorate. The GRETA delegation also met members of the Polish Parliament (Sejm). (More)