Commissioner for Human Rights 20/12/2011 Slovakia: ''Segregation and anti-Gypsyism at core of Roma exclusion'' Commissioner for Human Rights Commissioner for Human Rights Racist and anti-Roma discourse is still common among mainstream politicians in Slovakia, as well as in broadcast and print media. "The Slovak authorities should increase their efforts to prevent the spreading of such prejudices, including by promoting self-regulation within political parties and the media and implementing more thoroughly the relevant criminal provisions." said Thomas Hammarberg in his report  released on 28 December. The report follows a visit to Slovakia on 26-27...

Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities 20/12/2011 Council of Europe calls for greater action by Austrian authorities on national minorities   Releasing its third report today on Austria – with Austrian government comments – the Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities praised efforts in the area of bilingual primary education in Burgenland and Carinthia, but pointed out gaps in other areas.   Gaps include scarce opportunities for bilingual education beyond primary level, lack of minority languages in the media, and no moves to...

GRETA 20/12/2011 Council of Europe calls on Denmark to step up efforts against human trafficking In its first evaluation report ever on Denmark , the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings ( GRETA ) notes positive steps taken by the Danish authorities to combat trafficking in human beings, but also calls on the Danish authorities to develop greater preventive measures and to raise awareness about trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation – in particular in the agriculture, construction and cleaning sectors.   In the the 50-page report, GRETA expressed concern about a government focus on illegal...

Commissioner for Human Rights 19/12/2011 The increasing repression in Belarus is worrying, Thomas Hammarberg says Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg One year has passed since the fraudulent presidential election in Belarus declared Lukashenka the winner. What came after was an increasing and unacceptable repression, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights said today in an article published in the weekly New Europe.   Thousands of people took part in protest demonstrations in Minsk the evening of election day on 19 December 2010. They were met with indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force by the police, and no less than 700 demonstrators were...

Secretary General - Death of Vaclav Havel 18/12/2011 Secretary General reacts to the death of Vaclav Havel Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland "Without people like Vaclav Havel, Europe today would be a very different place. As an author, dissident and statesman he always remained faithful to the values of a free and tolerant society. He did not only believe in these principles, he fought for them and made them happen. On this very sad day I should like to express my deepest respect for his artistic and political legacy. My thoughts are with his wife and family, and I should like to express my deepest condolence to the people of the Czech Republic. Today Europe mourns one of its...

European Court of Human Rights 15/12/2011 Court delivers judgment in the case Al-Khawaja and Tahery v. the United Kingdom European Court of Human Rights The European Court of Human Rights – the Council of Europe’s judicial body that guarantees human rights for all Europeans – has agreed with UK courts that the use of hearsay evidence does not automatically prevent fair trials.     Today’s grand chamber judgment in the case Al-Khawaja and Tahery v. the United Kingdom, which is final, helps to better define the relationship between the UK courts and the European Court of Human Rights, a relationship that has been somewhat fraught in recent years....

Parliamentary Assembly 15/12/2011 Belarus authorities "deliberately turning their back on Europe," says Assembly committee The authorities in Belarus are “deliberately turning their back on Europe and the values it upholds”, the Political Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) said on 15 December, giving its full backing to the EU’s targeted sanctions. Approving a draft resolution and a draft recommendation, based on a report by Andres Herkel (Estonia, EPP/CD), the committee expressed its “deep concern” at the deteriorating situation of human rights and civil and political liberties in the...

GRETA 14/12/2011 Bulgaria should strengthen prevention of trafficking In its first evaluation report on Bulgaria, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings has said that Bulgaria needs to strengthen prevention through social and economic empowerment measures for groups vulnerable to human trafficking. The authorities should also provide adequate support to all victims of trafficking, including men, and ensure that victims are adequately protected and assisted during pre-trial and court proceedings.   The report is published together with the final comments of the Bulgarian authorities, as provided for by the Council of Europe...

Secretary General - International Human Rights Day 09/12/2011 International Human Rights Day – 10 December Copyright David Yu Ahead of International Human Rights Day, Thorbjørn Jagland warned that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Europeans continue to face discrimination in many parts of the continent. “Homosexuality has been decriminalised all over Europe, but prejudice and hypocrisy still exist towards LGBT persons in Europe. Recently, discriminatory laws have been proposed or even adopted, in member states such as in Lithuania, Ukraine and in some regions of the Russian Federation. This is a violation of basic human rights and a set back to the progress...

Committee of Ministers - Freedom of expression 08/12/2011 Council of Europe alerts against pressure and attacks on Internet Committee of Ministers The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers alerted, on 8 December 2011, its member states about the risks to the rights to freedom of expression and association that may be created by politically motivated pressure on Internet platforms and online service providers. It also expressed concern about the threat to these rights caused by cyber attacks against websites of independent media, whistleblowers, human right defenders and dissidents.   In a Declaration the Committee of Ministers stressed the need to affirm the roles of these...

Commissioner for Human Rights 08/12/2011 Media freedom under threat in Europe, says Thomas Hammarberg Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg Ahead of human rights day (10 December 2011), Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, launched the publication Human rights and a changing media landscape at a press conference in London, hosted by ARTICLE 19, on Thursday 8 December 2011.   “The defence of all human rights depends on media freedom and pluralism. This makes it urgent to counter government restrictions and monopoly tendencies,” said Thomas Hammarberg at the launch.   The Commissioner invited eight experts to...

Statement by the Committee of Ministers on death sentences in Belarus 08/12/2011 Statement by the Committee of Ministers on death sentences in Belarus Palais de l'Europe Strasbourg, 8 December 2011 - “While firmly condemning the bombing of the Minsk Metro on 11 April and deploring the numerous deaths and injuries caused by this terrorist attack, the Committee of Ministers deeply regrets the sentencing to death of Dzmitry Kanavalaw and Uladzislaw Kavalyow on 30 November. Justice will not be achieved through the death of further human beings. The Committee of Ministers calls on the authorities of Belarus to commute these sentences and reiterates its appeal to establish a...

Parliamentary Assembly 08/12/2011 Assembly rapporteurs express concern at post-election events in Russia Parliamentary Assembly Strasbourg, 08.12.2011 – The co-rapporteurs for Russia of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Andi Gross (Switzerland, SOC) and György Frunda (Romania, EPP/CD), today expressed their concern at the events which followed the announcement of the result of the parliamentary elections in the Russian Federation.   “The right to peacefully demonstrate is one of the basic rights of people in any democratic state, and is part of freedom of expression and assembly. There is no justification...

European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 07/12/2011 Anti-torture Committee announces visits to ten states in 2012 Shutterstock   In 2012, as part of its programme of periodic visits, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) intends to examine the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in the following ten countries: Croatia , Estonia , Iceland , Italy , Lithuania , Monaco , Portugal , Russian Federation , Slovenia and United Kingdom . Persons in possession of information concerning deprivation of liberty in any of these countries which...

Commissioner for Human Rights 06/12/2011 Public service media needed to strengthen pluralism Thomas Hammarberg   Two major threats to media freedom exist across Europe today. One is the attempt by state authorities to dominate the media market. The other is the trend towards commercialisation and monopoly. Both these tendencies undermine freedom of expression ­– and are good reasons for strengthening public service media, says Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, in his latest Human Rights Comment published today.     Media pluralism is necessary for the development of informed societies in which different voices can be...

Member states - voluntary contributions 05/12/2011 German voluntary contributions for CoE priority programmes exceed 1,7 million € in 2011 Ambassador Julius Georg Luy et Gabriella Battaini, Director General of Programmes Throughout 2011, Germany has consistently shown its support for the Council of Europe by concluding voluntary contribution agreements for individual projects. In 2011 contributions amount to € 1,770,000. Projects supported include strengthening the European Court of Human Rights, the Commissioner for Human Rights and Council of Europe monitoring mechanisms, as well as enhancing national preventive mechanisms against torture, the training programme for Roma...

Parliamentary Assembly 05/12/2011 Despite lack of level playing field, voters took advantage of right to express choice, observers say Press conference, Moscow Strasbourg, 05.12.2011 - Despite the lack of a level playing field during the Russian State Duma elections, voters took advantage of their right to express their choice, the international observers concluded in a statement issued today. The observers noted that the preparations for the elections were technically well-administered across a vast territory, but were marked by a convergence of the state and the governing party, limited political competition and a lack of fairness. Although seven political parties ran, the prior...

European Audiovisual Observatory 05/12/2011 Television and on-demand services in the Russian Federation European Audiovisual Observatory logo The Russian Federation is currently implementing digital terrestrial television in the framework of two important Federal programmes. 4 phases of transition by region are planned. The Implementation of the first phase, which began with the Far East regions and southern Siberia, started in 2010, and has now been completed successfully. The deadline for the analogue switch off is set for 2015. In the report edited by J'Son & Partners and published today, the Euroepan Audiovisual Observatory stresses that the digitisation of television...

Trafficking in Human Beings 02/12/2011 Council of Europe Anti Trafficking Body releases two reports on Albania and Croatia GRETA The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) published today two first evaluation reports on Albania and Croatia. The group urged the Albanian authorities to combat gender stereotypes and prejudices which make marginalised groups vulnerable to traffickers and prevent victims reintegrating with more emphasis needed on creating education and job opportunities. In its report concerning Croatia, GRETA has urged the Croatian authorities to raise public awareness and provide training to overcome prejudices against the victims of...

Group of States against Corruption 02/12/2011 GRECO calls for increased effectiveness of certain anti-corruption provisions in Switzerland GRECO The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) today called for Switzerland to increase the effectiveness of criminal law particularly concerning bribery of foreign public officials and in the private sector, and to adopt legislation on political funding.   In its report (theme I / theme II), GRECO commends Switzerland’s solid body of criminal legislation on corruption. It notes, however, that the number of convictions is low in relation to the number of investigations opened, particularly as regards...