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.
Remembering those unjustly deprived of their freedom
On the occasion of the International Day of Political Prisoners (30 October), PACE’s General Rapporteur on Political Prisoners, Azadeh Rojhan (Sweden, SOC), and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on Political Prisoners, Steve Cohen (United States of America), made the...
‘In the face of hybrid threats, resilience is not only a matter of security and technology, but one of political will, media literacy and unity’
“The line between hybrid threats and open aggression grows thinner every day. These threats do not stop at borders, and they aim at the heart of democracy: the trust of citizens in the institutions that represent them,” PACE President Petra Bayr said today at the opening of a session of the...
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...
‘Victory for Viktoria’ – remembering Viktoria Roshchyna and supporting journalists in war-zones
The courage and dedication of war-reporters was honoured today at a PACE hearing to mark the second ever “Victory for Viktoria” Day, an annual commemoration of journalists who risk their lives to tell the truth. The day was created by the Assembly in 2025 and named after pioneering Ukrainian...
Countering growing threats to media pluralism and independence
Parliamentary Assembly calls for pan-European database of media ownership across continent
Parliamentary Assembly President, opening the session, calls for work to begin on a binding right to a healthy environment
PACE President Petra Bayr, opening the Assembly’s autumn session in Strasbourg, has called for preparatory work to begin this autumn on a binding Council of Europe convention to create a right to a safe, healthy and sustainable environment. “There is no human right that survives an uninhabitable...
Between erosion and hope, aspects of human rights in Serbia today
Transcript of remarks by Michael O’Flaherty, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, at the side event “Fundamental Freedoms Under Pressure: Human Rights and Accountability in...
PACE rapporteur condemns the arbitrary conviction of Anar Mammadli
The General Rapporteur for political prisoners of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Azadeh Rojhan (Sweden, SOC), made the following statement today: “Yesterday, a court in Baku sentenced Anar Mammadli, a prominent human rights defender, election expert and laureate of...
Strengthening Professional Media Coverage of Elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Strengthening professional, accurate and balanced media elections reporting was the focus of a training for journalists and media professionals in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Participants had the...
Strengthening the role of civil society and media in electoral processes in Albania
The European Union - Council of Europe action “Support to the Electoral Cycle in Albania” (SECA) will contribute to strengthening the role of civil society and media as important actors in...
Cyberviolence Resource tool on domestic legislation on cyberviolence worldwide was launched
Under the Cyberviolence Resource a new web page on domestic legislation on cyberviolence was launched. This webpage gathers over 1600 entries reflecting responses to a questionnaire adopted by...
Parliamentary Assembly denounces growing control of content in sport
Resolution calls for European countries to support media access to sport
Parliamentary Assembly committee condemns ‘transnational repression’ and urges new laws to stop it
PACE has condemned all forms of “transnational repression” – a form of foreign interference used by authoritarian regimes to repress political dissidents, journalists, human rights defenders and members of diaspora communities beyond their borders – and has urged new laws to prevent it. In a...
Youth Innovating Democracy: Congress leads a workshop on an eco-system for youth participation
“Deliberative democracy, involving citizens’ assemblies, is an innovative approach that goes beyond mere citizen consultations, and provides space where citizens’ voices – including those of...
Parliamentary Assembly denounces silencing of critical voices in Azerbaijan
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg, today expressed its concern at a broad climate of “silencing critical voices in Azerbaijan”, including through restrictive legislative measures, which effect has been to “suppress independent...
Parliamentarians adopt resolution on eliminating gender stereotypes in the media
Media stereotypes damage women and men
Parliamentary Assembly committee expresses ‘grave concern’ at growing threats to media pluralism and independence
A PACE committee has expressed grave concern over growing threats to media pluralism and independence – citing “media capture” by political and economic actors, mounting pressure on public service media, the development of “news deserts” and the dominance of online platforms. The Assembly’s...
Council of Europe honours excellence in reporting on Roma and Travellers
Five awards given for work that promotes dignity and inclusion
Parliamentary Assembly Rapporteur hails the power of partnerships in countering hate speech
On the occasion of the International Day for Countering Hate Speech (18 June), Francesco Verducci (Italy, SOC), PACE General Rapporteur on Combating Racism and Intolerance, made the following statement: “Hate speech remains a serious threat to equality, inclusion and, ultimately, to democracy...
Venice hosts Council of Europe Visibility Days Seminar for regional journalists
On 9 June 2026, as part of the Council of Europe’s Visibility Days Initiative, the Council of Europe Venice Office, in collaboration with the Order of Journalists of Veneto, organised a specialised training course titled “Communicating Europe Today.” The course, held in the historic Sala San...
*All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nation's Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.