Human Rights News
Congress Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights calls on Oradea authorities to ensure Pride March can proceed safely
“The Congress is concerned by reports coming from Oradea, Romania, that local authorities may once again refuse permission to the Oradea Pride March, scheduled for 25 July 2026, marking the fourth consecutive year in which the event faces significant obstacles”, stated Congress Standing...
Empowering the next generation of local leaders for a democratic Belarus
From 7 to 9 July 2026, 28 representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces and civil society, as well as experts and the Congress Rapporteur for a democratic Belarus, Belinda Gottardi (Italy, SOC/G/PD), met in Strasbourg for the third edition of the workshop “Leaders for change: Promoting...
Congress Rapporteur: Local and regional authorities bear key responsibility for fighting intolerance
“The Congress is active on a wide range of anti-discrimination issues, fighting intolerance and strengthening human rights delivery in municipalities and regions,” underlined Martine Dieschburg-Nickels (Luxembourg, ILDG), Deputy Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights of the Congress, addressing the...
Putting human rights at the heart of Ukraine’s local governance and recovery
Rebuilding Ukraine is about far more than restoring physical infrastructure; it is about embedding fundamental human dignity and rights into everyday local governance. This was the driving message in Kyiv on 2 July 2026, during the round table “Human Rights in Local Governance: Challenges and...
Congress steps up support for human rights at local level in Bosnia and Herzegovina
“Democracy and human rights at local level are fundamentally intertwined: democracy is most meaningful when it delivers rights and protections to all in our communities. Building trust and social cohesion depends on the realisation of human rights in everyday life” stated Claudia Luciani,...
Congress urges partnerships with civil society to counter hate speech
“Hate speech does not occur in a vacuum. It is generally a symptom of underlying causes such as social exclusion, feelings of injustice or discrimination,” stressed Kristoffer Tamsons (Sweden, EPP/CCE), Chair of the Congress Monitoring Committee and co-rapporteur of the reports “Hate speech and...
International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia
Ahead of International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (17 May), held this year under the theme “At the heart of democracy”, Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC/G/PD) and Helen Belcher (United Kingdom, ILDG), rapporteurs of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the...
Congress Secretary General in the European Capital of Democracy: “Local democracy protects democratic culture in Europe”
“Democratic security is never defended only through constitutions, courts, or national institutions. It is defended where citizens encounter democracy in practice, when democracy is not distant, but lived: in our towns and villages,” underlined Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori at the...
Peace through historical memories: Congress supports the European cities’ pledge
“The Brussels Pledge to foster peace by preserving historical memories reinforces co-operation among European cities in mobilising local leaders around shared commitments to defend European values, strengthen unity and engage citizens, particularly younger generations,” underlined Congress Deputy...
Rapporteurs of European institutions address an open letter on the situation of local democracy in Türkiye
“Dear Minister, “We, the Rapporteurs on Türkiye of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, of the European Parliament and the President of the Working Group on Türkiye of the European Committee of the Regions...
Council of Europe Congress Rapporteur: “Discrimination against Roma and Travellers is an affront to our democratic values”
On this year’s International Roma Day (8 April), Peter Drenth (Netherlands, EPP/CCE), Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, has made the following statement: “Local and regional authorities remain at the forefront of...
Artificial intelligence: innovations come with privacy and human-rights risks
The increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) is profoundly changing the way in which cities and regions deliver services, engage with citizens and manage infrastructure. Innovations often improve efficiency, responsiveness, and transparency of public governance but also come with complex...
Building back better in Ukraine: a human rights-centred path to reconstruction and recovery
Speech by Michael O'Flaherty, delivered at the 50th Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities: "Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine: A Strategic Approach to Supporting the Recovery and Reconstruction of Ukraine at Local and Regional Levels" President Members of...
Congress Highlights – New edition published
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities has issued its latest biannual publication Congress Highlights covering key activities from May to December 2025. The publication presents the Congress’s contribution to the New Democratic Pact for Europe – the Council of Europe’s initiative aimed at...
Congress Highlights – New edition published
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities has issued its latest biannual publication Congress Highlights covering key activities from May to December 2025. The publication presents the Congress’s contribution to the New Democratic Pact for Europe – the Council of Europe’s initiative aimed at...
One year since the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu: Statement by Council of Europe Congress President
Marc Cools, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, made today the following statement: “Today marks one year since the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu; I recall with deep concern the circumstances that led to the dismissal of the democratically elected...
Local authorities at the heart of ensuring access to social rights
“Social rights only become truly effective when they are implemented at the grassroots level. It is at that level that they cease to be merely formal commitments and become tangible guarantees. Subsidiarity is not just an institutional principle – it is a driver of both effectiveness and...
Council of Europe Congress delegation on high-level visit to Türkiye
A delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, led by Congress President Marc Cools, will conduct a high-level visit to Türkiye (Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara) from 9 to 11 February 2026. This visit is a follow-up to the Declaration on dismissals of mayors...
Congress Director: Protecting human rights requires political courage
“Local budgets should be regarded not as mere technical instruments but as key vehicles for implementing human rights,” underlined Congress Director Claudia Luciani addressing the High-level Conference on “Local Governments and Human Rights-Based Budgeting: Pathways to Accountability”, held...
Congress Rapporteur: No human rights strategy can succeed without the involvement of local and regional authorities
“Democracy and good governance cannot be guaranteed without the effective protection and implementation of human rights, and the actions of local and regional politicians often determine the extent to which citizens in Europe enjoy their human rights,” stated Congress Deputy Standing Rapporteur...