“The challenges that you have faced in the past few months go far beyond the current pandemic. Despite all the uncertainty, you continue to work with your colleagues throughout the Organisation to pursue our shared objectives and deliver results on the ground “stated Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe addressing the Heads of CoE External Offices at their biannual meeting on 17 November 2020.

“As we celebrate seventy years of the European Convention on Human Rights, the protection provided by the Organisation of our fundamental rights on this continent has never been stronger. 47 members states, more than 830 million people, and over 220 legally-binding conventions and other instruments that apply human rights to the evolving and emerging issues in our societies. This is an astonishing and ongoing achievement. And our field offices play an instrumental role in giving practical form to our goals”, she added.

Wojciech Sawicki, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly, sent a thankful greeting to all staff of the Offices “… that do so much for the Council of Europe.”

Over three days, the Heads of the 17 cooperation activity offices hold exchanges with colleagues and leaders, including also Marialena Tsirli, Registrar of the Court of Human Rights and Andreas Kiefer, Secretary General of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (Online event, 17-19 November).