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“Learners First”: the new Council of Europe Education Strategy launched
Renewing the democratic and civic mission of education; enhancing the social responsibility and responsiveness of education; advancing education through a human rights-based digital transformation – these are three pillars of the new Council of Europe Education Strategy 2024-2030 launched at the...
Transformative power of education: universal values and civic renewal
The renewal of education's civic mission, education in times of emergency and crisis, and harnessing the potential of digital transformation in education are the main themes of the 26th Council of Europe Standing Conference of Ministers of Education held in Strasbourg on September 28-29. The...
Transformative power of education: universal values and civic renewal – Ministerial Conference in Strasbourg
The renewal of education's civic mission, education in times of emergency and crisis, and harnessing the potential of digital transformation in education are the main themes of the 26th Council of Europe Standing Conference of Ministers of Education held in Strasbourg on September 28-29. The...
Secretary General at the opening of the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament in Dublin
“Members of Parliament across Europe are experiencing a cross-current of pressures: unexpected crises, new and evolving challenges, a change in public expectations. Politicians must respond by upholding the space in which representative democracy does its job: our Parliaments”, highlighted...
Stop intolerance and discrimination against LGBTI persons: new recommendation published
As LGBTI people still experience high rates of discrimination and abuse, including violence, due to their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) of the Council of Europe today published a...
The Lanzarote Committee urges Russia to co-operate on the protection against sexual exploitation and abuse of unlawfully transferred or deported Ukrainian children
Following urgent questions addressed to the Russian Federation on 2 June 2023 about children who have been unlawfully transferred or deported to the Russian Federation or to the areas temporarily controlled or occupied by it, the Lanzarote Committee, adopted on 26 September a statement deploring...
The Committee of Ministers adopts a declaration on sport integrity
In a declaration adopted on 27 September 2023, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers invites member states and sport organisations to “promote transparency, accountability, democracy and ethical behaviour in sport, including the establishment of robust governance systems,...
Committee of Ministers calls for measures to ensure integrity in sport
In a declaration, the Committee of Ministers has called on member states and sports organisations to respond to evolving threats to integrity in sport with measures to build accountability and ensure fair and clean competitions. Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge welcomed the declaration as an...
Secretary General meets the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Liechtenstein Hasler
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Liechtenstein Dominique Hasler. The meeting focused on the priorities of the upcoming Liechtenstein Presidency (15 November 2023 - May 2024). “I look forward to hearing the priorities of your Presidency,...
European Day of Languages 2023: a Day to highlight Europe’s linguistic and cultural diversity
Every year since 2001 the European Day of Languages (EDL) celebrates the wealth of languages coexisting in Europe and beyond. Over 225 languages are native to Europe alone, not including languages that arrived on the continent through migration. “The European Day of Languages reminds us that...
Implementing ECHR judgments: Latest decisions from the Committee of Ministers
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has published the case-by-case decisions taken during the Committee’s meeting from 19 to 21 September to supervise the implementation of judgments and decisions from the European Court of Human Rights. The Committee of Ministers adopted 45 decisions...
International Day of Peace : Statement by the President of the Congress, Leendert Verbeek
On the occasion of the International Day of Peace, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Leendert Verbeek, issued the following statement: "For more than seventy years, since WWII, our continent has worked to build a democratic Europe, respectful of human rights and...
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Republika Srpska authorities should refrain from further restricting the rights of NGOs
In a letter addressed to the President of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, Nenad Stevandić, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, raises concerns about the Draft Law on Special Registry and Transparency of the Work of Non-Profit Organisations, which is...
Violence against women: GREVIO publishes annual report
The Council of Europe´s Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) has published its annual report of activities, highlighting the key milestones and accomplishments of the Group of Experts in 2022. These include: the publication of nine baseline...
Cultural Routes Forum in Łódź honours post-industrial heritage
The 12th Annual Advisory Forum on the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (20-22 September) opened today in Łódź, Poland, focusing on “Cultural Routes: the social and creative dimensions of cultural heritage in a post-industrial context”. The 2023 Advisory Forum is organised by the Enlarged...
Military escalation around the Karabakh region
Statement by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić
Military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh: PACE President calls on Azerbaijan to cease fire immediately
The President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), Tiny Kox, today made the following statement: "I am deeply shocked by the decision of the government of Azerbaijan to launch a new and aggressive military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh earlier today. In the space of hours this...
Congress President expresses grave concern over the Nagorno-Karabakh situation
Leendert Verbeek, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, has made the following statement today: “I am deeply concerned by the recent developments over Nagorno-Karabakh which can have serious humanitarian consequences for the region. They could lead,...
Ukraine: first CEB operation to support housing repairs for households affected by war
The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) have signed a €2 million grant agreement to finance housing repairs for over 500 vulnerable households in conflict-affected areas of Ukraine. This will be the CEB’s first operation in the country since Ukraine joined...
Strengthening the protection of integrity in sport through judicial action
On 18 and 19 September in Paris, the Network of Magistrates/Prosecutors Responsible for Sports (MARS), set up under the Council of Europe's Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS), is gathering for its second meeting to discuss the latest trends in threats and challenges to sport integrity...
