Internet Governance 20/09/2011 Maximising rights, minimising restrictions in cyberspace Maximising rights, minimising restrictions in cyberspace Rights should be maximised and restrictions minimised while protecting the Internet from disruptions, protecting human rights online and fighting cybercrime. This will be the key message of the Council of Europe at the 6th Internet Governance Forum (IGF), which the UN is organising in Nairobi from 27 to 30 September. Access to the Internet has become a pre-condition for people’s freedom of expression and ability to assemble and participate in public life. However, the Internet is exposed to threats; international cooperation is needed...

ECRI 19/09/2011 Guidelines for governments to combat anti-Gypsyism Guidelines for governments to combat anti-Gypsyism The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) today issued guidelines to the Council of Europe’s 47 member countries to fight a rising tide of anti-Gypsyism and discrimination against Roma. The guidelines call for action to stop the segregation of Roma children at schools and integrate them with pupils from the majority population, to provide access to decent housing that is not segregated, to ensure that Roma are not evicted without notice or opportunity for rehousing, and for steps to be taken to legalise long-standing Roma sites built in...

Committee of Ministers 16/09/2011 Committee of Ministers: decisions on execution of European Court of Human Rights judgments Committee of Ministers   The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe published today the decisions and resolutions adopted at its third special human rights meeting for 2011.   More information on the execution process and on the state of execution in cases pending for supervision as well as important reference texts (including the new working methods) can be found on the website of the Committee of Ministers , on the special website of the Department for the execution of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights , and...

Parliamentary Assembly 16/09/2011 Committee gives go-ahead for granting Partner for Democracy status to Palestinian National Council © Daniel Loncarevic On the basis of a report by Tiny Kox (Netherlands, UEL), the PACE Political Affairs Committee today gave the go-ahead for granting Partner for Democracy status to the Palestinian National Council. The Assembly is to take a decision on this matter at its October plenary session in Strasbourg.   “Acquiring this status is considered to be an important incentive to further develop democracy, the rule of law and protection of human rights in the Palestinian Territories,” said Mr Kox. At a time when the people in a number...

Parliamentary Assembly 15/09/2011 Assembly observers visit Tunisia to assess election preparations Photo Gamma A delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has made a pre-electoral visit to Tunis to evaluate the electoral campaign prior to elections to Tunisia's National Constituent Assembly on 23 October 2011. The delegation met Mouldi Kefi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ridha Bellhadj, Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister, Yadh Ben Achour, President of the Higher Political Reform Commission, the leaders of the main political parties taking part in the elections, the Secretary General of the Higher Independent Body for Elections, as well as...

Human Rights Commissioner 15/09/2011 Ireland: “Budget cuts put human rights at risk” Thomas Hammarberg “Budget cuts planned in Ireland may be detrimental for the protection of human rights. It is crucial to avoid this risk, in particular regarding vulnerable groups of people” said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, in his report following his visit to Ireland in June 2011. The Commissioner calls on the authorities to protect the independence and effectiveness of national human rights structures, and to refrain from adopting budget cuts and staff reductions which would limit the capacity and effectiveness of these institutions. ( more... )...

Secretary General 14/09/2011 Thorbjørn Jagland meets Jean Leonetti Thorbjørn Jagland meets Jean Leonetti Yesterday the Secretary General received the French Minister responsible for European Affairs, Jean Leonetti. On that occasion the Minister confirmed France’s undertaking to support the organisation in Strasbourg of an International Forum for Democracy to be held in October 2012. France will contribute to the event at the rate of 50 000 euros. During the interview, particular topics were the role and action of the Council of Europe in the field of human rights, democracy and rule of law, in member countries and those on the southern shore of the Mediterranean. The...

ECRI 13/09/2011 Anti-Racism Commission publishes new report on Lithuania Anti-Racism Commission publishes new report on Lithuania The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) today published its fourth report on Lithuania. ECRI’s Chair, Nils Muiznieks, said that, while there are positive developments, some issues of concern remain, such as the continuing absence of a law on national minorities and the situation of the Roma. The Criminal Code was amended in 2009 to help combat racism more effectively. The Law on Equal Treatment now protects against discrimination also on grounds of national origin and language; the burden of proof is shared. Pedagogues have been...

European Court of Human Rights 12/09/2011 Court delivers its judgment in case of Palomo Sanchez and Others v. Spain European Court of Human Rights The European Court of Human Rights delivered its Grand Chamber judgment in the case of Palomo Sanchez and Others v. Spain on 12 September. The Court held, by a majority, that there had been no violation of Article 10 (freedom of expression) of the European Convention on Human Rights read in the light of Article 11 (freedom of assembly and association). The case concerns the dismissal of a group of trade unionists after the union's newsletter had published a cartoon and articles considered to be insulting to two other employees and a manager. ...

Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) 12/09/2011 Council of Europe releases expert reports on human trafficking Council of Europe releases expert reports on human trafficking The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) today published its evaluation report on Austria. Earlier this week GRETA published the evaluation report on Cyprus,   while the report on Slovakia is to follow on 19 September. These three reports constitute the first concrete results of the work of GRETA, which is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on...

Ukraine 12/09/2011 Council of Europe launches Action Plan for Ukraine 2011-2014 Ukrainian flag The Council of Europe launched a three-year action plan on 16 September in Kyiv to support Ukraine’s European agenda for reform in the areas of human rights, the rule of law and democracy. The Council of Europe Secretary General, Thorbjørn Jagland, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, opened the launch conference. “The positive results of ambitious reforms will ultimately benefit the citizens of Ukraine, the country’s institutions, and the society as a whole,” they said ahead of the launch. Speech by Thorbjørn Jagland...

Secretary General 09/09/2011 New strategies for Europe: Secretary General attends Bled Strategic Forum Thorbjørn Jagland During his visit to Slovenia on 9-10 September, Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland will participate in a panel discussion on the "search for the New World in the Mediterranean" during the Bled Strategic Forum. The Forum is a high-level strategic dialogue between leaders from the private and public sectors on the key issues facing Europe and the 21st century world. It aims to generate new strategies for Europe and attract the necessary political commitment.   The President of Slovenia, Mr Danilo Türk will host a roundtable discussion of...

Parliamentary Assembly 07/09/2011 Secret services must be held accountable for torture, abduction or renditions Photo Gamma Secret services and intelligence agencies must be held accountable for human rights violations such as torture, abduction or renditions and not shielded from scrutiny by unjustified resort to the doctrine of “state secrets”, according to the Legal Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). In a draft resolution adopted today in Paris, based on a report by Dick Marty (Switzerland, ALDE), the committee also gave its verdict on judicial or parliamentary inquiries launched after two major reports by Mr Marty five years...

Human Rights Commissioner 07/09/2011 Roma: Hammarberg urges Italy towards shift in focus Thomas Hammarberg “The situation of Roma and Sinti in Italy remains a matter of serious concern - a shift in focus is needed from coercive measures such as forcible evictions and expulsions to social inclusion, anti-discrimination and combating anti-Gypsyism” said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, in his report on the visit to Italy in May 2011 during which he discussed the situation of the Roma minority as well as of migrants from Northern Africa. The Commissioner is concerned about racist and xenophobic political discourse against Roma and Sinti....

Council of Europe 07/09/2011 Council of Europe pays tribute to victims of September 11 terrorist attacks Council of Europe/Conseil de l'Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers Kostyantyn Gryshchenko and President of the Parliamentary Assembly Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu published today a joint statement in memory of the victims of the September 11 attack. "This tragic date of mourning should serve as a reminder that terrorism has no ideology, no nationality and no religion. Terrorism in all its forms is a violation of the most fundamental human right: the right to life. Regardless of where, by whom and against whom terrorist...

Commissioner for Human Rights 06/09/2011 “Impunity and insecurity undermine human rights protection in the North Caucasus” Thomas Hammarberg “The situation in the North Caucasus continues to present a major challenge for the protection of human rights. The efforts made to improve the quality of life of the people living in the region should continue, but greater determination is needed to put an end to serious human rights violations, such as abductions, disappearances and ill-treatment of detained persons”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, releasing today the report on his visit to the Russian Federation from 12 to 21 May 2011....

Commissioner for Human Rights 05/09/2011 Hammarberg: Europe must come clean on secret detention and torture of terrorist suspects Thomas Hammarberg In a comment article published on 5 September, the Commissioner for Human Rights urged Europe’s governments to explain their involvement in the CIA’s secret detention and torture of terrorist suspects. Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg writes of unanswered questions which relate to Europe’s support for America after the 11 September terrorist attack on the country. The Commissioner states: “The CIA’s partner agencies in various foreign countries – including across Europe – lent their close...

Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings 01/09/2011 GRETA publishes its first general report Campaign poster In its first general report, published today, the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) takes stock of the first two and a half years of its existence and reflects on the challenges that lie ahead.   GRETA is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, in force in 34 countries in Europe. Between September 2010 and June 2011, GRETA evaluated the first ten countries which became Parties to the Convention (Albania, Austria, Bulgaria,...

Congress 01/09/2011 Summit of Mayors on Roma : Press conference Summit of Mayors on Roma The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe is holding a Summit of Mayors under the theme “Building mutual trust at the grassroots” in Strasbourg (France) on 22 September 2011 to mobilise local and regional action to promote the inclusion of Roma and Travellers. A press conference will be held in Paris at 3pm on 6 September 2011 with the participation of Keith Whitmore, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Roland Ries, Mayor of Strasbourg, and Jeroen Schokkenbroek, Special Representative of the Council of Europe Secretary General for...

Commissioner for Human Rights 01/09/2011 Ten years of “global war on terror” undermined human rights – also in Europe Ten years of “global war on terror” undermined human rights – also in Europe The ten-year anniversary of the atrocious September 11 attacks is an occasion for serious reflection. This was a crime against humanity, the gravity of which must not be forgotten, says Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights in his latest Human Rights Comment published today. The anniversary is also an occasion to analyse whether the official responses to the attacks have been proper and effective. ( more...) ...