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Safe digital environments: Pompidou Group’s advancing action on the mental health and wellbeing of children and youth online
Policymakers, researchers and practitioners from the Pompidou Group member States and internationally gathered in Vienna and online on 2–3 June 2026 for a thematic seminar dedicated to the topic of online and digital addictions....
Europe strengthens co-operation on drug policy and addictions at Pompidou Group meeting in Vienna
How can Europe respond more effectively to organised crime linked to drug trafficking, protect human rights, and tackle emerging forms of addiction in an increasingly digital world? These questions were at the centre of the 98th meeting of the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe, held in...
Pompidou Group adopts new Guidelines to strengthen member States' response to drug-related organised crime (OC-DT)
The Permanent Correspondents of the Pompidou Group have adopted new Guidelines designed to strengthen member States’ response to Organised Crime linked to Drug Trafficking, while ensuring full respect for human rights.
Romania: Reforming long-term care to safeguard rights and dignity of older persons
Country visit - The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, conducted a visit to Romania from 26 to 29 May 2026, focusing on the human rights situation of older persons living in long-term care facilities.
Kyiv citizens’ assembly delivers 24 recommendations to support war veterans and their families
The citizens’ assembly was organised with the support of the Council of Europe’s Congress
PACE calls for stronger action against social dumping and labour exploitation
Social dumping and labour exploitation, which at its worst includes forced labour and trafficking in human beings, “represents a grave violation of human dignity and fundamental rights,” warns a resolution adopted PACE. In the adopted resolution based on a report by Valérie Piller Carrard...
Social rights: Bridging the gap from policy to people
Institutional statement to the High-Level Conference on the European Social Charter, Chișinău, Republic of Moldova Madam President, Secretary General, Excellencies,...
Petra Bayr: ‘Protecting social rights is not a secondary political agenda, but the very foundation of democratic stability’
“Protecting social rights is not a secondary political agenda. It is the very foundation of democratic stability,” said PACE President Petra Bayr today, addressing the High-Level Conference on Social Rights and the European Social Charter, organised in Chisinau by the Council of Europe and the...
European countries reaffirm importance of European Social Charter at conference in Chișinău
France extends charter to overseas departements and territories
Local authorities at the heart of ensuring access to social rights
Congress President Marc Cools at the Council of Europe Conference on Social Rights “Social rights only become truly effective when they are implemented at the grassroots level. It is at that...
President Sandu and Secretary General Berset open Conference on social rights in Chișinău
Reaffirmation of support for European Social Charter on ministers’ agenda
Social Rights: An Essential Component of the Fight Against Poverty
Joint Statement of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights on the occasion of the Council of Europe High-Level Conference on Social Rights...
European countries gather in Moldova with social rights on the agenda
Conference in Chișinău to discuss social rights and democratic stability, and support the European Social Charter
Council of Europe calls for stronger co-operation and balanced drug policies at the 69th CND Session
Today, 10 March 2026, in Vienna, Ambassador Gerhard DOUJAK, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Vienna, delivered a statement on behalf of the Council of Europe International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions (Pompidou Group)....
The Council of Europe International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions at the 69th UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs: advancing human rights-based drug policies
From 9 to 13 March 2026, the international drug policy community will gather in Vienna for the 69th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND). As the capital city for the Presidency of the Council of Europe’s International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions (2026–2027), Vienna...
United Kingdom: Council of Europe Commissioner welcomes recent policies to address child poverty, urges their full implementation
Memorandum - "The UK government’s new strategy has the potential to deliver a sea change in addressing child poverty," says the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael...
European Committee of social rights highlights key gaps in labour rights protection across Europe
Excessive hours and gender pay gaps among issues
Invest in social rights to beat cost-of-living crisis and safeguard democracy
The parliamentary conference on the cost-of-living crisis and the role of the European Social Charter took place on Friday, 5 December 2025 at the Assemblée Nationale in Paris. The event was organised by the PACE Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development in cooperation with...
Award for social cohesion 2026 – deadline for nominations
Are you advancing inclusion, solidarity and meaningful social impact within your community? You deserve recognition
Congress contributes to UN Social Summit
Congress Recommendation 528 (2025) on the role of local and regional authorities in protecting and promoting social rights and fostering social development, adopted in March 2025 as a Congress...
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