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International Youth Day
“Creating stronger links between youth and other generations can help us find solutions to today’s challenges” says Congress Spokesperson
The right to a healthy environment, a universal human right and an emergency for all levels of governance
Following the resolution just adopted by the United Nations General Assembly declaring access to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a universal human right, Congress spokesperson on human rights Harald Bergmann (Netherlands, ILDG), welcomed this historic decision. "This recognition...
European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić
GRETA calls on states, civil society and tech companies to counter the use of technology to recruit and control victims of human trafficking
On the occasion of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, held every year on 30 July, the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) joins the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) in calling on State Parties to...
Anti-torture Committee announces regular visits to eight countries in 2023
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has announced its 2023 programme of regular visits. The Committee intends to examine the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in the following countries: Albania Armenia Cyprus...
“Sport is a great leveller that can bring people together in a way that nothing else can”, Bjørn Berge tells Commonwealth Sports Ministers
“Sport is a great leveller that can bring people together in a way that nothing else can”, highlighted Deputy Secretary General while addressing the 10th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting in Birmingham. Bjørn Berge underlined how the Council of Europe’s four-year strategic priorities for...
Council of Europe at the Ministerial Ukraine Accountability Conference
The Council of Europe was represented at the Ministerial Ukraine Accountability Conference in The Hague on 14 July by the Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law, Christos Giakoumopoulos. The Conference was hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, the Prosecutor of...
SRSG on Migration and Refugees publishes reports of visit to Czech and Slovak Republics
The Special Representative on Migration and Refugees (SRSG), Leyla Kayacik, has emphasised in her report the efficient response of the Czech Republic to an unprecedented situation, resulting in a swift setting-up of well-run registration centres where national, local and non-governmental actors...
Trafficking in human beings: expert group GRETA releases its annual report
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has published its annual report for 2021. During 2021 GRETA was able to achieve a number of milestones in spite of the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and continued to develop its cooperation...
For a quality education free of fraud and corruption – a new Recommendation adopted by the Committee of Ministers
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has adopted a Recommendation addressed to its 46 member states aimed at assisting them in combating fraud in the field of education. The recommendation follows four years of work in the framework of the ETINED platform of the Council of Europe...
ECHR judgment in the case Kavala v. Türkiye: joint statement by the Council of Europe leaders
Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, Simon Coveney, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Tiny Kox, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, have made the following...
Secretary General attends Srebrenica Commemoration: Remembrance and reconciliation are hard, but essential
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has attended the Commemoration ceremony for the victims of the Srebrenica genocide. In her speech, she stressed the importance of remembrance and reconciliation. “We have gathered here today to pay tribute to the immense suffering of the victims, their...
Srebrenica: the mothers’ fight for justice should inspire us all
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović has taken part in the inauguration of the ‘Mother’s Scarf’ art installation initiated by the Mothers of Srebrenica, as part of the Srebrenica Heroines Initiative, and issued the following statement: “As we honour the memory of...
CEB approves €465 million in new loans, appoints new vice-governors and agrees on Ukraine’s accession to the Bank at zero cost
The governing bodies of the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) have discussed its strategic and policy priorities, with a focus on Ukraine’s membership. Noting that the process is well advanced, CEB members states agreed, as a tangible sign of support, to relieve the country from any...
Congress delegation meets women and child refugees in Polish cities
A delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe visited Poland from 4-5 July to gather experiences from Polish cities hosting Ukrainian refugees. Poland has received more Ukrainian refugees than any other member state, more than 90% of whom are women and...
Progress in legal gender recognition in Europe is slow, further steps needed on civil and human rights aspects
A new Council of Europe report reviews the progress achieved in European countries in guaranteeing full legal gender recognition (LGR) in all areas of life. The report acknowledges advances in legislation, practices and public attitudes, but progress is slow and additional steps are needed, inter...
CPT report on UK: persistent overcrowding and violence in prisons and insufficient legal safeguards for psychiatric patients
In a new report on the United Kingdom the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) again raises concerns over the numerous cases of serious inter-prisoner violence and violence by prisoners on staff and the lack of a coherent strategy to tackle chronic overcrowding. It...
Serbia: GRECO calls for further measures to prevent corruption among top public executives and in the police
In a new report on Serbia, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) calls for further measures to prevent corruption respect of persons with top executive functions, including the President of the Republic, ministers, assistant ministers, state secretaries, chiefs of...
Youth Action Week: young people call on European governments to step up action to revitalise democracy
The Council of Europe’s Youth Action Week concluded on Friday 1 July 2022 with a presentation by the participants of a call for action directed to national governments to step up the actions and policies to revitalise democracy with the participation of young people. The 450 young people who took...
Ukraine’s full recovery must be underpinned by good governance and European values, says Secretary General
“Ukraine’s recovery, in its fullest sense, requires good governance, European values to underpin it, and democratic security as the basis of lasting peace, so that stability, prosperity and progress can take root”, said Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić at the Ukraine...


Secretary General to address the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano



