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Justice ministers to discuss digital challenges for justice in Europe
Council of Europe ministers of justice will gather in Strasbourg on 14 and 15 October for a conference being held under the French Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, with representatives from 47 countries. The ministers will discuss access to the law and justice in the digital era and the...
Why Istanbul Convention matters: Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić explains
Speaking at the October plenary session of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić called on all countries that have not yet done so to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence,...
From presidential overreach in Albania to the Istanbul Convention in Armenia: Venice Commission plenary session opinions
Opinion highlights from the plenary session of the Council of Europe constitutional experts of the Venice Commission included an opinion on Albania that determined that even if the President may have overstepped his bounds in postponing local elections, impeachment may not be justified. Addressed...
Council of Europe Secretary General addresses Venice Commission
In her address to the Council of Europe advisory body on constitutional matters, also known as the Venice Commission, Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić appreciated its work as “an important pillar of Europe’s legal architecture”. Speaking to its 62 members and others participating in one...
Secretary General condemns anti-Semitic attack in Halle, Germany
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has condemned the anti-Semitic attack in which two people were killed in Halle. “I am deeply saddened and concerned by this cold-blooded attack aimed against the Jewish community on Yom Kippur. I extend my condolences to the families of...
Shootings in Halle, Germany
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has expressed her great sadness and concern over the killings in Halle, Germany, as well as her solidarity with the victims and the authorities dealing with the unfolding situation.
Death Penalty Day: EU/Council of Europe joint statement
The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Federica Mogherini, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, have published a joint statement to mark the European and World Day against the Death Penalty on 10 October. The statement underlines both...
Switzerland urged to improve the identification and protection of victims of trafficking
In a report published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) welcomes the progress made by Switzerland, but also asks the Swiss authorities to take further action to improve the identification and protection of victims of trafficking. GRETA notes...
Turkey urged to improve identification and protection of victims
The Council of Europe’s group of experts on human trafficking has urged the Turkish authorities to improve the identification of victims of trafficking and the protection which is given to them. In its first report on Turkey, published today, the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in...
Deputy Secretary General opens joint workshop on family
The Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni will open together with the Italian Minister for Equal Opportunities and Family, Elena Bonetti the Joint Workshop on family as a hub for social policies. The event is organised by the Department for Family Policies of the Italian Presidency...
Cultural Routes: 9th Advisory Forum opens in Sibiu, Romania
Around 200 representatives from International Organisations, Representatives of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, Member States, national and local authorities are meeting for three days in Sibiu, Romania. The event is jointly organised by the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural...
Mechanisms to protect social rights: seminar In Madrid
The European Committee of Social Rights of the Council of Europe and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights are organising a seminar in Madrid on 3 and 4 October to discuss how to protect social rights effectively, at a time when these rights are exposed to growing risks. Organised in...
Commemorative ceremony to mark 70th anniversary
The Council of Europe has marked its 70th anniversary with a commemorative ceremony, held on Tuesday 1 October at the Opera House in Strasbourg city centre. The ceremony was opened by the Mayor of Strasbourg, Roland Ries, and featured interventions from former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe...
Secretary General to use full powers to ensure human rights protection
Extract of the speech (0'37") : Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić today pledged to use her full powers to ensure human rights standards were respected throughout the Council of Europe region. In her first address to Parliamentary Assembly, the Secretary General said respect for human...
Montenegro: good progress on national minorities, but situation of Roma and Egyptians must be improved
Montenegrin society is characterised by a general climate of tolerance, a good legal anti-discrimination framework has been set up and very welcome progress has been made on resolving the issue of displaced persons who arrived in Montenegro from Kosovo* in the late 90s. However, urgent efforts...
Emmanuel Macron: "The Council of Europe is where the divisions in our continent can be healed"
In his address to the Assembly today, the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to the “70 years of battles and conquests that are all part of the Council of Europe’s wealth of experience”. “The Council of Europe has advanced respect for fundamental rights, democracy and...
Amélie de Montchalin: 'Uniting our European family around common values'
Amélie de Montchalin, France’s Secretary of State in charge of European Affairs, addressed the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe today on behalf of the French Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers. After paying a heartfelt tribute to the former President of France Jacques...
2019 Václav Havel Prize shared by Ilham Tohti and the Youth Initiative for Human Rights
The seventh Václav Havel Human Rights Prize – which honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights – has been awarded jointly to imprisoned Uyghur intellectual Ilham Tohti from China and the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR), which brings together young people from...
President makes plea for constructive dialogue and maintaining order in ‘'our common home’'
In her opening address at her last plenary session, the PACE President made a fervent plea for maintaining order in what she described as “our common home” and for “constructive dialogue, even in the gravest crisis situations”. “Whenever the values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law...
Parliamentary Assembly Autumn Session
On the occasion of the Autumn Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg (30 September-4 October), the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, will address PACE and answer questions from parliamentarians on Tuesday 1 October. French Secretary of...
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