
“The virus is destroying many lives and much else of what is very dear to us. We should not let it destroy our core values and free societies,”
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić
At the end of March Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić warned that Covid-19 restrictions had to be balanced with human rights. We’ve put together a coronavirus toolkit to guide governments as they make difficult decisions, and opened up our human rights training programme for free with the launch of a five hour course.
As governments scramble to protect their populations many of the rights we take for granted are being taken away. In many countries, we’re not allowed to meet - even to visit relatives - our children are not allowed in school and our privacy is open to challenge by authorities trying to control the virus. Yet throughout Europe communities gain strength by coming together.


Learn more on how we protect democracy

Learn more on how we protect people

Adverse impact of Covid-19 on vulnerable groups, racism in policing, intimidation of LGBTI people: main trends in ECRI's annual report
The continuing Covid-19 pandemic that has further marginalised vulnerable groups, the ongoing problem of racism in police forces and the rise of anti-LGBTI public discourse were the main trends in 2021, said the Council of Europe’s Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) in its annual...
Children’s rights in crisis and emergency situations: a new Council of Europe priority for 2022-2027
With climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, securing and protecting children’s rights in crisis and emergency situations has been designated a new priority in the Council of Europe’s Strategy for the Rights of the Child for 2022-2027...
Council of Europe’s annual penal statistics: Covid-19 pandemic helped reduce Europe’s prison population
The Covid-19 pandemic contributed to reducing the prison population in Europe between January 2020 and January 2021, consolidating a ten-year-long trend in most European states, according to the Council of Europe’s Annual Penal Statistics on Prison Populations for 2021, (see also Key findings)....

- Anti-discrimination, diversity and inclusion
- Artificial Intelligence
- Bioethics
- Children
- Cities & Regions
- Civil participation
- Contact tracing apps
- Culture, heritage & art
- Cybercrime
- Data protection
- Democracy
- Democratic governance
- Drugs
- Education
- Elections
- Human rights and the rule of law
- Human trafficking
- Intercultural Cities
- Judiciary
- LGBTI Refugees
- Major hazards & disasters
- Media
- Money laundering and terrorism financing
- National Minorities
- Precautionary measures for visitors to the Council of Europe
- Roma and Travellers
- Regional and Minority Languages
- Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
- Social rights
- Support to the Audiovisual Sector
- Terrorism
- Women’s rights
- Youth

How is your health protected under the European Convention on Human Rights?
See some examples how the ECHR promotes access to proper health care, the safeguarding of people with mental health issues, and lots more.

More inter-governmental cooperation is needed using Artificial Intelligence to fight Covid-19 Coronavirus
Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers should not be held in detention centres. Alternatives to detention are needed.
One in five children suffers one or another form of sexual abuse or victimisation during their childhood
The Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence applies in “sickness and in health” - like in a marriage.
Youth organisations are crucial for society at this time : Grants available now!
