Discover the latest news from the Council of Europe on human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Browse news and updates by country, theme and institution.
Nilüfer municipality project wins the Council of Europe Congress’ first-ever ELDA Award on Citizen Participation
The winner of the first Local Citizen Engagement- ELDA (European Local Democracy Action) Award is the project “Our Compass is Digital Participation!” submitted by the municipality of Nilüfer...
Case of İmamoğlu against Türkiye: Congress to submit observations to the Human Rights Court by way of third-party intervention
Following a debate on a report by Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC/G/PD), the Congress voted on 29 October 2026 to submit written observations by way of third-party intervention in the...
Türkiye: Release of Sinem Dedetaş from prison to house arrest is a first step towards her full reinstatement, says Council of Europe Congress President
Gunn Marit Helgesen (Norway, EPP/CCE), President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, has issued the following statement on the decision to release...
PACE monitors: ‘A truly dark day for media freedom in Türkiye’
“This is a truly dark day for media freedom in Türkiye,” said the co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Türkiye of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Lord David Blencathra (United Kingdom, ECPA) and Yves Cruchten (Luxembourg, SOC), reacting to yesterday’s police raid on...
PACE President Petra Bayr, ending official visit to Türkiye: ‘Dialogue is not a favour, it is a duty’
Petra Bayr, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), ending a two-day official visit to Türkiye, has said talks with Turkish counterparts were intensive and focused on practical steps: how to further consolidate the institutions that uphold democracy, human...
Anti-torture committee calls for comprehensive mental-health law and protections for foreign-national children in Türkiye
Council of Europe’s Committee for the prevention of torture publishes reports on 2018 and 2022 visits to institutions in the state
PACE President makes official visit to Türkiye
Petra Bayr, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), will make an official visit to Türkiye on 12-13 October. During her visit, she will meet the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Chairpersons or representatives of the...
Ten years of working together for people and communities in a crucial region
EU–Council of Europe Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye takes stock, looks at challenges ahead
Türkiye: Anti-torture committee highlights worsening prison overcrowding
The large fall in Türkiye’s prison population was reversed between 2021 and 2024
Türkiye must end its repression of LGBTI people and defenders, says PACE
PACE has called on Türkiye to end, without delay, “repression, intimidation, harassment and violence against LGBTI persons and defenders” in the country. Approving a resolution based on a report by Sam Rushworth (United Kingdom, SOC), the Assembly said the recent wave of repression in 15 Turkish...
Türkiye must end its repression of LGBTI people and defenders, says PACE
PACE has called on Türkiye to end, without delay, “repression, intimidation, harassment and violence against LGBTI persons and defenders” in the country. Approving a resolution based on a report by Sam Rushworth (United Kingdom, SOC), the Assembly said the recent wave of repression in 15 Turkish...
Osman Kavala’s wife and lawyer speak at Parliamentary Assembly hearing on recent developments in his case
The wife and lawyer of jailed Turkish businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala were among those to address a public hearing at PACE on recent developments in his case, which took place this afternoon on the margins of the Assembly's autumn session in Strasbourg. Mr Kavala has been in prison in...
President of the Conference of INGOs condemns recent actions targeting LGBTI persons in Türkiye
The Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) of the Council of Europe is deeply concerned by reports of coordinated raids, detentions and restrictions targeting LGBTI...
Latest decisions from the Committee of Ministers concerning ECHR rulings for 20 countries
The Committee of Ministers is responsible for monitoring implementation of European Court of Human Rights judgments by European states
Council of Europe Congress Rapporteur on LGBTI rights calls for respect for fundamental rights following operations targeting LGBTI civil society in Türkiye
“The Congress is deeply concerned by reports of coordinated raids, detentions and restrictions targeting LGBTI organisations, activists and human rights defenders in Türkiye,” stated Congress...
PACE General Rapporteur condemns raids and arrests against LGBTI activists in Türkiye
Kate Osborne (United Kingdom, SOC), the General Rapporteur for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons, made the following statement today: “I unequivocally condemn the wave of harassment...
Türkiye: Authorities should refrain from restricting the human rights of LGBTI civil society
“I am concerned by reports of a series arrests, raids and the blocking of websites and social media accounts targeting LGBTI civil society and human rights defenders across Türkiye”,...
Parliamentary Assembly rapporteur welcomes new judgment in the case of Osman Kavala as 'a wake-up call'
Sergiy Vlasenko (Ukraine, EPP/CD), PACE rapporteur for the implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, made the following statement today: “Turkish human rights defender and philanthropist Osman Kavala has been detained in Türkiye since 18 October 2017. In December 2019...
Türkiye: Council of Europe Congress deeply deplores the arrest of Congress Vice-President and Üsküdar Mayor, Sinem Dedetas
“We deeply deplore the detention of Sinem Dedetas, Mayor of Üsküdar and Vice-President of the Congress, on corruption charges...
Current affairs debate on the functioning of the judicial system and the crackdown on the opposition in Türkiye
“The annulment of an internal party Congress and the forced replacement of elected party leaders that has the effect of changing the political landscape cannot be allowed to stand,” today said Lord David Blencathra (United Kingdom, ECPA), speaking at the opening of a current affairs debate on...
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