European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) 09/07/2013 Racism and intolerance: Council of Europe reports on Finland, Portugal and San Marino Roma camp Strasbourg, 09.07.2013 – The Council of Europe’s anti-racism body, ECRI , has expressed concerns about the situation of several vulnerable groups in Finland , legislation on citizenship and the absence of comprehensive laws to fight discrimination in San Marino , and about the length of racial discrimination complaints procedures in Portugal .   In reports published today, ECRI makes a number of recommendations to the authorities with a view to enhancing efforts to combat discrimination, and to...

Commissioner for Human Rights 08/07/2013 Turkey: police violence must not go unpunished Nils Muižnieks Strasbourg, 8/7/2013 - “All instances of excessive use of force by the police must be fully investigated and adequately punished” said Nils Muižnieks, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights at the end of a five day visit to Istanbul and Ankara, during which he discussed the Gezi Park events and other human rights issues.   The Commissioner recalled that, according to the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights, the failure to effectively investigate the misconduct of security forces was a human rights violation in itself, and that Turkey had...

Council of Europe 04/07/2013 2013 World Forum for Democracy . Strasbourg, 04.07.2013 – Is democracy in crisis? Judging by the sometimes record levels of voter abstention, public distrust of leaders – fed by increasing numbers of corruption scandals – and the rise in anti-system parties, the gap between institutions and the public is widening. Traditional modes of public participation are giving way to social media which make the public directly accessible to politicians and activists at all times. They foster interest-based communities, but struggle to provide a platform for a coherent democratic debate. While the social media have fuelled citizen protest movements...

Parliamentary Assembly 27/06/2013 Parliamentary Assembly deplores ‘recent cases of excessive use of force’ against demonstrators . Strasbourg, 27.06.2013 – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has deplored “recent cases of excessive use of force to disperse demonstrators” and reiterated its call on authorities to ensure that police action, where necessary, remains proportionate.   Following an urgent debate on “Popular protest and challenges to freedom of assembly, media and speech”, based on a report by Arcadio Díaz Tejera (Spain, SOC), the Assembly also called on governments to draw up clear instructions on the use of...

Parliamentary Assembly 26/06/2013 Karim Ghellab: Morocco is “committed to promote and defend human rights” Karim Ghellab Strasbourg, 26 June 2013 - Karim Ghellab, President of Morocco’s Assembly of Representatives, told members of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly that Morocco is ‘committed to human rights’, including ‘the principle of equality between men and women’ and the balance of power in government. In his address late Tuesday evening – in a session that marked two years since the Moroccan Parliament was granted partner for democracy status* with the Parliamentary Assembly – he stressed the independence of the...

MONEYVAL 26/06/2013 MONEYVAL Committee urges European governments to improve the implementation of anti-money laundering measures Strasbourg, 26.06.2013 – The Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering body ( MONEYVAL ) today called on European governments to improve the implementation of measures for fighting money laundering and terrorist financing in the legal, financial and law enforcement fields. In its annual report , published today, MONEYVAL reports that the countries it evaluates have broadly improved their technical compliance with international standards by enacting and reforming laws and regulations, in particular in the prevention of money laundering...

Parliamentary Assembly 25/06/2013 Hungary: PACE decides not to open a monitoring procedure [25/06/2013]  While raising in a resolution adopted today “serious and sustained concerns” about the extent to which Hungary is still complying with the obligations it took on when it joined the Council of Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) decided however not to open a monitoring procedure in respect of the country but resolved “to closely follow the situation” and “to take stock of the progress achieved” in the implementation of the adopted text.  (more..)   Voting result Adopted text Report ...

Secretary General 25/06/2013 Secretary General's visit to Turkey Thorbjørn Jagland and Recep Tayyip Erdogan On 25 June Secretary General Jagland met in Ankara with Prime Minister Erdogan, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu, Justice Minister Ergin, Interior Minister Güler and the Minister for Family and Social Affairs, Ms. Şahin, as well as with the Turkish Ombudsman, Mr. Ömeroğlu. The main topics of discussion were Turkey's reform process, its cooperation with the Council of Europe, European integration, neighbourhood policy and recent demonstrations and the response to them in Turkey and internationally.   In a cordial and cooperative atmosphere, Prime Minister Erdogan...

Parliamentary Assembly 25/06/2013 Israeli-Palestinian conflict: PACE in favour of a solution establishing two ''democratic and pluralist'' states [25/06/2013]  At the end of a debate on the situation in the Middle East and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, PACE today expressed its support for a solution involving two “democratic and pluralist” states. Alongside status issues, the Assembly believes that “those of standards should also be addressed so that, ultimately all people, Arabs and Jews, Israeli and Palestinian citizens, can equally enjoy respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law”.   (more...)   ...

Parliamentary Assembly 24/06/2013 Albania’s elections active and competitive, but mistrust between political forces tainted environment . Strasbourg, 24.06.2013 – Albania’s parliamentary elections on 23 June were competitive, with active citizen participation throughout the campaign and genuine respect for fundamental freedoms. However, the atmosphere of mistrust between the two main political forces tainted the electoral environment and challenged the administration of the entire electoral process, international observers said in a statement today. Persistent, long-standing differences and continued mutual mistrust between the main political parties undercut the work of...

Committee of Ministers 24/06/2013 Nalbandian outlines to PACE priorities of Committee of Ministers’ Chairmanship Edward Nalbandian Strasbourg, 24/06/2013 - Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian presented a communication from the Committee of Ministers to the Parliamentary Assembly and answered questions from delegates. Mr. Nalbandian detailed priority areas for the Organisation’s work during the Armenian Chairmanship, emphasizing the particular importance of efforts to tackle hatred, racism, xenophobia and intolerance by fostering dialogue and exchange.   Speech by Edward Nalbandian Armenia and the Council of Europe

Parliamentary Assembly 24/06/2013 Call for protection of ‘whistleblowers’ who reveal state wrongdoing Strasbourg, 24.06.2013 – ‘Whistleblowers’ who disclose state wrongdoing in the public interest should be protected from retaliation, provided they acted in good faith and followed procedures, a committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) said in a draft resolution made public today. PACE’s Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, adopting a report on “National security and access to information” today in Strasbourg on the fringe of the PACE plenary session, urged governments in the Council of Europe’s 47...

European Court of Human Rights 24/06/2013 Court of Human Rights reform: opening for signature of Protocol No. 15 Strasbourg, 24.06.2013 – Protocol No. 15 amending the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms was opened for signature by member states at a ceremony held today at the Council of Europe headquarters in Strasbourg. According to the case-law of the Court, states have a margin of appreciation in the way they apply the Convention, depending on the circumstances of the case and the rights at issue. This reflects the fact that the Convention system is subsidiary to the safeguarding of human rights at national level. Accordingly, Protocol...

PACE President 24/06/2013 PACE President opens summer part-session in Strasbourg Strasbourg, 24.06.2013 - Referring, at the opening of the PACE part-session in Strasbourg, to the importance of the debate on the request for the opening of a monitoring procedure for Hungary, President Jean-Claude Mignon said that the Assembly was obliged “to react to this situation in the most appropriate manner, conducting a constructive dialogue with the authorities so that they bring their legislation and practice into line with our standards.”   “More generally, I am convinced that our Assembly's monitoring procedure is a proven means of action. The quality of the Monitoring...