News 2016
Congress rapporteurs complete fact-finding mission to Turkey
From 18 to 20 December 2016, the rapporteurs on Turkey of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe Anders KNAPE (Sweden, EPP/CCE) and Leen VERBEEK (Netherlands, SOC) carried out the second part of their fact-finding mission to Turkey, to investigate the recent...
Recent terrorist attacks in Europe
Statement by the Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Ioannis Kasoulides, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cyprus
Suspected terrorist attack in Berlin: Secretary General statement
'The Council of Europe mourns with Germany today for the victims of the suspected terror attack on a Christmas market in Berlin which killed and injured so many innocent people. The responsible way in which the German authorities are handling and communicating this crisis is exemplary. I express...
Statement by Secretary General Jagland on murder of Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov
"I am shocked and deeply saddened by the assassination of the Russian Federation's Ambassador to Turkey in Ankara today. I present my sincere condolences to the Russian authorities and to the family and colleagues of Ambassador Karlov. All of us at the Council of Europe express our solidarity...
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland condemns terrorist attack in Turkey
Statement on bomb attack in Turkish city of Kayseri
North-South Prize 2016 recognises efforts towards migrants, refugees and democracy
The North-South Center of the Council of Europe is pleased to announce that Ms Guisepina Nicolini, Mayor of the City of Lampedusa, and Ms Mbarka Brahmi, member of the Tunisian parliament have accepted the nomination of the jury of the North South Prize to be the recipients of the 2016 North South...
Anti-torture committee criticises inadequate safeguards for foreign nationals returned by air from Italy and Spain
In two reports published today on Italy and Spain, the Council of Europe’s anti-torture committee (CPT) criticises the lack of adequate safeguards for foreign national returned by air from these countries, in particular concerning the way the individuals concerned are informed of their imminent...
Cooperation with national human rights bodies to protect freedom of expression and journalists
The Council of Europe and the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) are jointly organising on 15 December in Strasbourg a high level seminar to discuss the potential for co-operation to promote and protect freedom of expression and the safety of journalists in member...
Key to Europe becoming a death penalty free area lies in Belarus, say participants at Minsk conference
A conference on the abolition of the death penalty and public opinion, organised by the Council of Europe in co-operation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus was held in Minsk today. Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus Yevgeny Shestakov and the UK Ambassador to Belarus Fionna Gibb...
Latvia urged to ensure gender equality and foster an inclusive society
Human Rights Commissioner Nils Muižnieks releases report on his visit to the country in September
GRECO report: Greece should step up its fight against corruption in politics
A new report by the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) on Greece finds that transparency in party financing and the incriminations of bribery and trading in influence have not improved further since it last issued a report in June 2015. Despite recommendations by GRECO...
Committee of Ministers reviews the implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights
On 7-9 December, representatives of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe held their fourth “Human Rights” meeting of 2016, during which they examined the implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in keeping with the supervisory role of the Committee of Ministers,...
Secretary General condemns terrorist attacks in Turkey, conveys condolences
Statement on the Istanbul bomb attacks
Turkey : state of emergency justified but measures taken excessive - Venice Commission
An opinion adopted today by the Council of Europe’s constitutional law experts – the Venice Commission – concludes that Turkish authorities had been confronted “with a dangerous armed conspiracy” and had “good reasons” to declare the state of emergency, but that measures taken by the Government...
Lithuania: ensure better protection for persons with disabilities, children and victims of domestic violence
“I welcome the commitment expressed by the authorities to move away from the practice of placing children without parental care and people with disabilities in institutions. However, many persons continue to live in an institutional environment. The authorities should intensify their efforts to...
International Anti-Corruption Day, 9 December
To mark the International Anti-Corruption Day, the president of the Group of States against Corruption of the Council of Europe (GRECO), Marin Mrčela, today made the following statement: “Combating corruption is not only a matter of new laws, but also a matter of ethics and individual behaviour,...
Hate speech is not free speech, says Secretary General ahead of Human Rights Day
Speaking ahead of Human Rights Day on 10 December, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, has warned that hate speech and free speech should not be confused. “We look back at what has been achieved and we think of the many people who have endured hardship and given...
Abolition of death penalty and public opinion
The death penalty is a violation of fundamental human rights: the right to life and the right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. It does not deter crime more effectively that other punishments, and it is impossible to ensure that innocent people are not executed. The...
National human rights structures: protecting human rights while countering terrorism
Human Rights Commissioner Nils Muižnieks publishes his latest Human Rights Comment
Secretary General Jagland on official visit to Moscow for talks with President Putin, Foreign Minister Lavrov
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland is visiting Moscow on 6-7 December 2016 with an official visit to meet with the President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Speaker of the Duma Vyacheslav Volodin, Speaker of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation...