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Counterfeiting of medical products: entry into force of the Medicrime Convention

Council of Europe 29 December 2015 Strasbourg

The Council of Europe’s Medicrime Convention, which aims to combat the counterfeiting of medical products and protect public health, will enter into force on 1st January 2016. This Convention is the first legally binding international instrument making criminal offences of the counterfeiting,...

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Helping refugees in the Mediterranean

Council of Europe 22 December 2015 Strasbourg

Greek association “Agkalia” awarded Raul Wallenberg Prize on 13 January at Council of Europe Headquarters

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Elections at the Venice Commission

Venice Commission 22 December 2015 Venice

During its December plenary session (18-19 December 2015), the Venice Commission held biennial elections of its governing structures: Presidency, Bureau and Chairs of Sub-Commissions and Councils. The incumbent President of the Commission Mr Gianni Buquicchio of Italy was re-elected to lead the...

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Council of Europe and UNHCR urge Hungary to change tone over refugees

Council of Europe 21 December 2015 Strasbourg

UNHCR - the UN Refugee Agency, the Council of Europe and ODHIR (Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights) have urged Hungary to refrain from policies and practices that promote intolerance, fear and fuel xenophobia against refugees and migrants.

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Communist and Nazi propaganda in Ukraine

Venice Commission 18 December 2015 Venice

Ukraine law banning Communist and Nazi propaganda has a legitimate aim, but does not comply with European standards

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Turkey: Freedom of expression working group agrees 2016 actions

Council of Europe 17 December 2015 Ankara

Jagland looking forward to “real change”

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Azerbaijan human rights inquiry

Secretary General 16 December 2015 Strasbourg

The Secretary General of the 47-nation Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, has launched an official inquiry into Azerbaijan's implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights. "Judgments from the European Court of Human Rights have highlighted an arbitrary application of the law in...

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Migration and Refugees: Secretary General appoints Special Representative

Secretary General 16 December 2015 Strasbourg

Council of Europe to examine reported human rights violations against migrants and refugees

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Russia’s new law on the Constitutional Court. Jagland: “a solution should be possible.”

Secretary General 15 December 2015 Strasbourg

Constitutional Court will need to ensure respect for European Convention.

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Holy See should step up money laundering prosecutions

MONEYVAL 15 December 2015 Strasbourg

The Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing body MONEYVAL today published the second progress report of the Holy See/Vatican City State. The report evaluates its compliance with the recommendations made by MONEYVAL in its Mutual Evaluation Report in July 2012 and...

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LGBT sports coaches still taboo

Council of Europe 11 December 2015 Strasbourg

“Sports teams should make all kinds of minorities visible, including LGBT people,” asserts former Finnish president Tarja Halonen. “I have been working for LGBT people in sports. It is still very much a taboo whether there can be gay or lesbian coaches, when we, the heterosexuals are expected to...

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Cyprus: More efforts needed to protect migrants and victims of economic crisis

Commissioner for Human Rights 11 December 2015 Nicosia

Declaration by Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks, at the end of his five-day visit to Cyprus

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Decisions on the execution of European Court of Human Rights judgments

Committee of Ministers 12 December 2015 Strasbourg

The Committee of Ministers today published the decisions and resolutions adopted at its 1243rd special “human rights” meeting

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European Social Charter: launching of the new website

Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law 10 December 2015 Strasbourg

10 December, International Human Rights Day

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“Islamic State” are not a state, nor are they Islamic - Terror has no religion

Secreatry General 9 December 2015 Strasbourg

Secretary General warns against maligning or marginalising any religious group

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Leyla Yunus release overdue

Secretary General 9 December 2015 Strasbourg

"I am relieved about Leyla Yunus’ long overdue release. I hope she can now begin a full recovery and put this ordeal behind her. Today our thoughts are also with the other human rights defenders currently deprived of their liberty in Azerbaijan", said Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland. Read...

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Protect refugees and migrants, respect their human rights

Council of Europe 9 December 2015 Strasbourg

Refugees and migrants in Europe need protection and respect for their human rights. Joint UNHCR/Council of Europe statement to mark Human Rights Day on 10 December

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Child sexual abuse in the circle of trust

Council of Europe 7 December 2015 Strasbourg

New report recommends covering all perpetrators by law, improving data collection, reducing child’s trauma

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Poland Constitutional Tribunal decision "welcome": Secretary General

Secretary General 4 December 2015 Strasbourg

Further to the decision of the Constitutional Tribunal of Poland regarding appointment of constitutional judges, Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland issued the following statement: "There has been a controversy about the appointment of constitutional judges in Poland recently. I welcome...

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Fighting radicalisation and promoting dialogue at Lisbon Forum

Council of Europe 3 December 2015 Strasbourg / Lisbon

In the wake of recent terror attacks that struck Paris, Bamako and Tunis, this year’s Lisbon Forum – How to combat radicalisation and terrorism – is of greater relevance than ever. From 3-4 December at Lisbon’s Ismaili Centre, some 300 government and NGO representatives, educators and legal...

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