News 2022
Condemnation of Russia, Council of Europe’s priorities, assistance for Ukraine - Foreign Affairs Ministers’ meeting concludes in Turin
At the end of a meeting where the consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine figured high on the agenda, the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Council of Europe’s 46 member States decided today that the organisation should not emerge weakened from the crisis but, on the contrary,...
Ireland takes over the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers
Ireland has taken over the rotating Chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers from Italy at the annual meeting of foreign ministers from the organisation’s 46 member states. At the handover, the outgoing Chair of the Committee of Ministers – Italy’s Minister for Foreign...
PACE President calls for a summit to renew, improve and reinforce the Council of Europe
In his speech at today’s Committee of Ministers session in Turin, PACE President Tiny Kox called for a Summit of Heads of State and Government to renew, improve and reinforce the Council of Europe. "This summit should lead to a Council of Europe with new competencies and better equipped to...
Protecting rights of migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls: Council of Europe recommendation adopted
The Committee of Ministers, meeting in Turin, has adopted a new recommendation to protect the rights of migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls providing measures to better respond to needs and challenges that they face. Drawing on Council of Europe treaties including the Istanbul...
Council of Europe proposes a comprehensive legal and policy framework to combat hate speech
The Council of Europe has issued a set of guidelines to its 46 member states aimed at preventing and combating hate speech, both online and offline. In a Recommendation adopted during its annual session held in Turin, the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers calls on governments to develop...
Commissioner calls on UK government not to extradite Julian Assange
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović has called on UK Home Secretary Priti Patel not to extradite Julian Assange. Writing in view of the impending decision on Mr Assange’s extradition, the Commissioner noted that the wider human rights implications of doing so had...
Financial support for national minorities in Norway ensured, but need to address rising intolerance
In its latest Opinion on Norway, the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM), whilst acknowledging the positive legislative developments and the increasing financial support for the protection of its minority groups, calls on the authorities...
Finland makes €2 million voluntary contribution to support Ukraine
The Government of Finland has made a new voluntary contribution of €2 000 000 to support the implementation of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine 2018-2022 and its successor Action Plan, bringing their total support to the Action Plan to €3.57 million. Finland has also contributed €750...
Helga Pedersen Human Rights Moot Court Competition – 10th anniversary
Students from the University of Oxford (United Kingdom) were declared the winners of the tenth edition of the Helga Pedersen Moot Court Competition after beating a team from the University of Passau (Germany) in the final round. The prize for Best Orator of the Finals was awarded to Lorenz von...
Foreign ministers meet in Turin to discuss their response to Russian Federation aggression against Ukraine
Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Council of Europe’s 46 member states are holding their annual session today, Friday 20 May 2022 in Turin (Italy). The meeting takes place against the background of the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, which resulted in the exclusion of the...
IDAHOT: LGBTI persons fleeing war face specific risks and need protection
European states should pay attention to the specific challenges faced by LGBTI asylum seekers fleeing war, declared Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, the current President of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and...
LGBTI rights in Ukraine conflict in focus at Cyprus conference
The IDAHOT + Forum 2022 is taking place in Limassol, Cyprus, on 12-13 May, ahead of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on Tuesday 17 May. Speaking during the discussion War in Ukraine: Challenges to our Common European Values Through the Experiences of LGBTI+...
Advancing gender equality and fighting stereotypes
A meeting of the Council of Europe’s main body for supporting gender equality has examined a wide range of issues affecting women. The plenary meeting of the Gender Equality Commission, held from 11-13 May in Strasbourg, discussed progress in advancing gender equality in Europe. The participants...
Enhanced co-operation and disclosure of electronic evidence: 22 countries sign new Protocol to Cybercrime Convention
The Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention), aimed at enhancing co-operation and disclosure of electronic evidence has been opened for signature at a conference organised under the Italian Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. The...
First Barnahus for child victims of sexual abuse launched in Slovenia
The first Barnahus (Children’s House) of Slovenia for child victims of sexual abuse has been launched in Ljubljana with the active support of the EU Reform – Council of Europe joint project “Support the implementation of Barnahus in Slovenia - phase II”. Barnahus is a Council of Europe-promoted...
Secretary General in Ukraine
Statement by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić on her visit to Ukraine
Visit to Ukraine: Commissioner Mijatović calls for continuous support and justice for victims of the war
“The extent and gravity of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law that have taken place as a result of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine are staggering. Providing redress and support for victims and their families and delivering justice will be an...
Reassembling the building blocks of democracy to respond to violent nationalism
European Conference on Democracy and Human Rights
Launch of website in Spanish
Today, coinciding with Europe Day of the Council of Europe, the Council of Europe has launched a Spanish-language website. The website will make available relevant content on the Council of Europe´s work to promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law among Spanish speaking audiences. It...
Council of Europe experts release guidance to protect Ukrainian refugees from traffickers
New guidance from the Council of Europe’s anti-trafficking body GRETA will give European countries the advice they need to protect Ukrainians refugees from traffickers and to detect potential victims. The move comes following reports of suspected trafficking cases as the war causes an...