News
Building bridges between past and present, to enable a better future
In a statement to mark European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day, on 2 August 2021, Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Buric has highlighted the importance of remembering Roma Holocaust victims. She stressed that learning from the past would allow for a better future for Europe’s...
Thorbjørn Jagland farewell speech at ECHR
After ten years as Secretary General, Thorbjørn Jagland delivered his farewell Speech at the European Court of Human Rights. Speech by Thorbjørn Jagland Video of the speech:
Secretary General welcomes release of prisoners by Russia and Ukraine
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland made the following statement today: “The Council of Europe welcomes the release of prisoners by Russia and Ukraine today. This is an encouraging step towards the reconciliation of the two member states of the Council of Europe and an important element of the...
Statement by Thorbjørn Jagland on the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief
Following Resolution A/RES/73/296, proposed by Poland and adopted at the 73rd UN General Assembly on 28 May 2019, 22 August of this year will be the first annual International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. In support of this important initiative,...
Revised Private Office procedure on human rights defenders interacting with the Council of Europe
The Secretary General has announced changes to the procedure for investigating alleged reprisals against human rights defenders as a consequence of their interaction with the Council of Europe. From now on, the procedure will: Allow external direct reporting (e.g. by human rights defenders and...
Council of Europe honours Roma Holocaust victims
Seventy-five years ago, the remaining Roma of the so-called “Zigeunerlager” (Gypsy camp) – 2,897 men, women and children – were exterminated in the gas chambers of Auschwitz-Birkenau. The liquidation of the camp on 2 August 1944 was a particularly dark chapter of the Roma Holocaust: an attempt by...
Moscow elections: Secretary General urges all sides to cooperate amid violence fears
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland has held a phone conversation today with Ms Ella Pamfilova, Chairperson of the Central Electoral Commission of the Russian Federation. Secretary General Jagland had previously expressed his concern over the organisation of the elections to the...
Statement by Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, on the pre-electoral situation in Moscow
“I have been following recent events in the run up to elections in Moscow with concern. Opposition candidates have reportedly been not able to stand for election. I intend to raise this with the Head of the Russian Central Electoral Commission, Ella Pamfilova. All legitimate candidates should be...
Secretary General welcomes French law banning parental violence against children
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland welcomed today the adoption of a law in France banning the use of violence against their children by their parents. The law prohibiting educational violence, unanimously adopted yesterday by the Senate, bans cruel and degrading treatment, including all recourse...
Local elections in Albania: Statement by the Spokesperson
We closely follow the situation ahead of the 30 June local elections in Albania, which should be conducted in line with all the relevant international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. In this context, we recall the Council of Europe’s...
Statement of the Secretary General on the situation in the Republic of Moldova and the Venice Commission
I am extremely concerned by the latest developments in the Republic of Moldova. I call on the democratically elected Parliament, the legitimate Government and all political forces to act with restraint and responsibility. Recent decisions of the Constitutional Court are difficult to understand...
Statement concerning Russian investigative journalist Ivan Golunov
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, has made the following statement with regard to the situation of investigative journalist Ivan Golunov in Russia: “I am very much concerned and saddened by reports coming from Moscow alleging that investigative journalist Ivan...
Council of Europe to send experts to Yerevan
Telephone conversation between Secretary General Jagland and Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan
Ground-breaking international treaty on match-fixing to enter into force in September
The Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, also known as the Macolin Convention, will enter into force on 1 September. Switzerland today became the fifth Council of Europe member state to ratify the convention – following Norway, Portugal, the Republic of Moldova...
All lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex persons must be protected from discrimination in law and practice
Ahead of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia marked on the 17th of May, Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland urged for justice and full protection against discrimination for all persons, irrespective of their sexual orientation, gender identity and...
Secretary General Jagland meets President Emmanuel Macron
Secretary General Jagland today met with President Emmanuel Macron for an exchange on the current challenges facing the organisation ahead of the French presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which begins on 17 May. Addressing the press alongside President Macron,...
70th Anniversary of the Council of Europe
Joint statement by Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly Liliane Maury Pasquier and the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers Timo Soini
The Council of Europe at 70: Milestones and achievements
On the occasion of the Council of Europe’s 70th anniversary on 5 May 2019
Secretary General Jagland’s meeting with Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Secretary General Jagland today met with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. They discussed the increasing cooperation between the Council of Europe...