Reform of the Court of Human rights is one of the overarching themes of promotion and protection of human rights, and a priority for the UK chairmanship of the Council of Europe, UK Europe Minister David Lidington told the organisation’s Parliamentary Assembly today.

Speaking as the UK moves into the third month of its six month presidency, he set out a blueprint for action, including strengthening rule of law across Europe, working on values-based Internet governance and freedom of expression, and acting against discrimination to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people, which had been “too long marginalised in the Council of Europe’s work”.

He outlined Committee of Minister’s work with Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Kosovo, Ukraine, Belarus and neighbourhood countries.

Mr Lidington called on politicians to bring the role of the Council of Europe to the public: “This impressive story of the Council of Europe’s beginnings, as an organisation for reconciliation and a beacon for fundamental rights is a good story to tell and one that we need to take to all the citizens that we serve,” he said.

- The United Kingdom and the Council of Europe

- Video of the speech

- Speech