Secretary General 26/09/2013 Jagland: disappointed and alarmed by discriminatory actions and stigmatising words against Roma Thorbjørn Jagland Strasbourg, 26 September 2013 - Responding to the current discussion about Roma in France, Sweden and other European countries, the Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland , issued the following statement:   "I am disappointed and alarmed to see that discriminatory actions and stigmatising words are again being used against Roma people. This will only lead to further discrimination and exclusion, without solving any problems. We need a constructive approach to the integration of Roma in Europe. The Council of Europe is working...

Council of Europe 24/09/2013 Transparency to protect internet freedom: a shared commitment . Strasbourg, 24 September 2013 - Representatives of governments, business and civil society are meeting on 24 and 25 September in Strasbourg to discuss Council of Europe internet governance standards, and to analyse how states and other stakeholders can, in their respective roles, commit to them. The event, held under the theme “Transparency to protect internet freedom: a shared commitment”, will also review existing reporting mechanisms and transparency reports by Internet actors, exploring their strengths and weaknesses. The event may be followed via webcast on the event website ....

Committee of Ministers 20/09/2013 Committee of Ministers to examine implementation of human rights judgments Comittee of Ministers Strasbourg, 20 September 2013 – The representatives of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe will examine implementation of the judgments and decisions of the European Court of Human Rights on 24-26 September 2013.   This supervisory role of the Committee of Ministers is provided for under Article 46 of the European Convention on Human Rights.   The cases proposed for more detailed examination concern Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, the Russian Federation,...

Secretary General 19/09/2013 Secretary General Jagland condemns murder of Pavlos Fyssas, supports rapid investigation of Golden Dawn Thorbjørn Jagland Strasbourg, 19 September 2013 - The Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland condemned the murder of rapper Pavlos Fyssas and expressed his support to the Greek government rapid investigation of “Golden Dawn’s’’ involvement: ‘’This murder stems from an extremely dangerous development we are seeing in Greece and also other parts of Europe. Sections of society are becoming more radicalised and there is a real risk that hate speech turns into violence and cold-blooded murder. I support the Greek...

Parliamentary Assembly 19/09/2013 Armenian and Serbian Presidents, Russian State Duma Speaker to address Parliamentary Assembly Session Strasbourg, 19.09.2013 - Addresses by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić and the Speaker of the Russian State Duma Sergey Naryshkin will be among highlights of PACE’s forthcoming autumn plenary session (30 September-4 October 2013). Also on the agenda are debates on national security and access to information, on the functioning of democratic institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and on children’s right to physical integrity. There has been a request for an urgent debate on the situation in Syria. ...

Commissioner for Human Rights 19/09/2013 Decisions concerning migrant children must always be based on their best interests Strasbourg, 19/9/2013 – Migrant children are particularly vulnerable – especially if they are unaccompanied, travelling without parents or relatives. Many have been traumatised and abused before arriving in Europe. They must be met with care and with respect for their rights. Yet, there are many accounts of harsh treatment, says Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights , in his latest Human Rights Comment published today. State authorities must never forget that migrant children, including those who are asylum seekers, are...

Council of Europe 19/09/2013 Secretary General visits Poland, speaks at conference on hate speech in political discourse 18-19 September, Warsaw – The Secretary General of the Council of Europe is in Warsaw for meetings with Polish President Bronisław Komorowski, Marshal of the Sejm, Ewa Kopacz, and Piotr Wach, Vice-President of the Polish Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Together with Minister Michał Boni, Polish Minister of Administration and Digitization, Thorbjørn Jagland opened a conference organised by the Polish Ministry of Administration and Digitisation and the Council of Europe addressing the issue of increasing hate speech...

Committee of Ministers 18/09/2013 Committee of Ministers declaration on recent executions in Japan and in United States of America Strasbourg, 18 September 2013 - The Committee of Ministers deplores the executions which have recently taken place in Japan and in the United States of America, observer States to the Council of Europe.   These executions run counter to the growing trend against the death penalty at the international level as shown by the latest resolution on the moratorium on the use of the death penalty adopted at the United Nations.   When granted observer status with the Council of Europe, States have committed themselves to share Council of Europe...

Council of Europe 13/09/2013 Warsaw conference to address hate speech in political discourse 18-19 September, Warsaw – A conference organised by the Polish Ministry of Administration and Digitisation and the Council of Europe will address the issue of increasing hate speech in public and political debates in Europe, the implications it has for society and possible ways to tackle it. Held under the theme "The hate factor in political speech, Where do responsibilities lie?", the conference aims to shed light on the grey areas of political speech by focusing on speech that contains hatred and requires a political and social response, rather than on qualified hate speech...

Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) 12/09/2013 Bosnia and Herzegovina urged to tackle ill-treatment by police in Republika Srpska Strasbourg, 12.09.2013 – In a report published today, the Council of Europe’s Anti–torture Committee (CPT) urged the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to address the problem of ill-treatment by the police in the Republika Srpska and to improve the situation of pre-trial detention departments of prisons. The report contains the findings of a visit to the country in December 2012 mainly to examine the steps taken since the 2011 visit to combat ill-treatment by the...

Roma rights 12/09/2013 Roma women meet in Helsinki for international conference Cesmin Lug camp, Mitrovica, Kosovo Strasbourg, 11.09.2013 - More than 150 Roma women from across Europe are meeting in Helsinki from 16-17 September to discuss ways of improving the situation for themselves, their families and their communities. Among the main aims of the 4th International Roma Women’s Conference are drawing up a strategy, underlining the importance of involving women in policy implementation, and improving networking between Roma women and other groups working for gender equality. The meeting’s agenda has been set by the women who are taking part. The conference will be...

Commissioner for Human Rights 11/09/2013 Time for accountability in CIA torture cases Nils Muižnieks Strasbourg, 11/9/2013 – Twelve years ago, almost three thousand people were killed by the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Commemorative events provide an occasion to pay respects to the innocent victims, but also to reflect on the anti-terrorist response adopted by the USA and Europe. By allowing unlawful detentions and interrogation techniques amounting to torture, this response caused further suffering and violated human rights law, says Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, in his latest Human Rights Comment published today. To...

European Court of Human Rights 10/09/2013 European Court of Human Rights launches collection of leading cases European Court of Human Rights Strasbourg, 10 September 2013 - The European Court of Human Rights launched new print and online collections of its leading case-law in order to heighten awareness of the most important cases and encourage their application at domestic level. The Court’s Reports of Judgments and Decisions contain the judgments and decisions which have been identified as being of the highest jurisprudential interest. President Dean Spielmann said on the occassion: “Whether the standards under the European Convention on Human Rights are respected at...

President of the Parliamentary Assembly 09/09/2013 Parliamentary Assembly President to make official visit to Switzerland Jean-Claude Mignon Strasbourg, 09.09.2013 – Jean-Claude Mignon, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), will make an official visit to Switzerland from 10 to 12 September 2013, during which he will meet in Berne the Presidents of both houses of parliament (National Council and Council of States), the Vice-President of the Federal Council and Head of the Federal Foreign Affairs Department, as well as the Swiss delegation to the PACE.   In Geneva, working meetings are scheduled with the United Nations High Commissioner...

Parlimentary Assembly 06/09/2013 Stop homophobic legislation in the Russian Federation . Strasbourg, 06.09.2013 – Håkon Haugli (Norway, SOC), General rapporteur on the rights of LGBT people of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), today made the following statement: “A wave of homophobic propaganda is hitting the Russian Federation, forming the basis of new laws and law proposals. The most recent manifestation of this trend is the draft bill that would deny LGBT parents custody over their own children. After the blatant violations of freedom of expression and assembly represented by the legislation on so-called homosexual propaganda,...

Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) 05/09/2013 Anti-torture Committee: Ukraine needs to combat ill-treatment in prisons . Strasbourg, 05.09.2013 – In a report published today the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has recommended further action to combat ill-treatment of inmates in correctional colonies in Ukraine. The CPT recommends: i) driving change from the highest level and developing an ethical culture among prison staff, ii) improving staff-inmate relations (including combating corrupt practices), iii) strengthening the role of...

Parliamentary Assembly 04/09/2013 Parliamentary Assembly committee urges full investigation of Sergei Magnitsky’s death Andreas Gross Strasbourg, 04.09.2013 – A committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has urged the competent Russian authorities to fully investigate the circumstances and background of the death of Russian tax and accountancy expert Sergei Magnitsky, and the possible criminal responsibility of all officials involved in his death. PACE’s Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, approving a report today in Paris on “Refusing impunity for the killers of Sergei Magnitsky” prepared by Andreas Gross (Switzerland,...

Committee of Ministers 03/09/2013 60th anniversary of entry into force of European Convention on Human Rights Edward Nalbandian Strasbourg 3 September 2013 - Sixty years ago, on the 3 September 1953, the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, better known as the “ European Convention on Human Rights ”, entered into force. This treaty is undoubtedly the cornerstone of the human rights protection in Europe. Over sixty years, persons within the jurisdiction of the member States of the Council of Europe have benefited from this unique legal instrument. Several landmark judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, guardian of the Convention,...

European Court of Human Rights 02/09/2013 Court celebrates 60th anniversary of entry into force of European Convention on Human Rights European Court of Human Rights Strasbourg, 2 September 2013 - The European Convention on Human Rights , which was signed in Rome on 1 November 1950, entered into force on 3 September 1953. Under Article 66 of the Convention, the Convention’s entry into force was triggered by the deposit in Strasbourg of the tenth instrument of ratification, which was deposited by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.   President Dean Spielmann expressed satisfaction at the anniversary, saying: “Those who deposited the instrument of ratification believed...