46 Member States -700 million citizens

 

 Mission

To protect and promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law across Europe and beyond.

 Priorities

  • Supporting Ukraine and helping to achieve accountability and justice for Russia’s war
  • Developing new international standards on artificial intelligence and the environment
  • Further enhancing co-operation with international partners, above all the European Union, and strengthening relations with civil society across the continent

 Main entities

Secretary General

  • Leads the organisation and provides strategic leadership and management

Committee of Ministers

  • The main decision-making body, made up of representatives of the 46 member states

Parliamentary Assembly

  • A democratic forum for monitoring and debate, consisting of 306 national parliamentarians

Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

  • Brings together 612 elected representatives to strengthen local and regional democracy

European Court of Human Rights

  • Decides on individual applications based on the European Convention on Human Rights

Commissioner for Human Rights

  • Addresses key and emerging trends working together with governments and civil society

Monitoring and advisory bodies

  • Review compliance with European standards and give advice to member states

 Key achievements

  • Creating a unique common legal space built on the European Convention on Human Rights
  • Implementation of some 25,000 rulings from the European Court of Human Rights
  • Protection of everyday economic and social rights though the European Social Charter
  • Development of over 200 international treaties, setting standards on issues including violence against women, child sex abuse, human trafficking, cybercrime and data protection
  • Implementation of countless recommendations from expert bodies on torture (CPT), corruption (GRECO), democracy through law (Venice Commission) and other issues
  • Protection of Europe’s cultural and natural heritage through the European Cultural Convention and specific agreements in areas including sport and nature
  • Establishment of a death penalty-free zone covering more than 700 million Europeans

 

 Telling the story