Opinion articles 2010
Only in Europe have we taken seriously the Universal declaration of Human rights
Toute l'Europe: As you know, yesterday was the sixtieth anniversary of the signing of the European Convention of Human Rights. What happened during these 60 years, what results did it manage to achieve? What remains to be done? Thorbjørn Jagland: The implementation of the Convention is ensured by...
Finally One Europe without dividing lines?
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe outlines the progressive accession of the European Union to the European Convention of Human Rights, it may still take a while 1950-2010: sixty years of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in Europe. This year we celebrate the 60th birthday of the...
Banning the burqa compromises the very principles that we value
No woman should be forced to wear religious apparel by her community or family. Nobody should be forced to go to any kind of house of prayer. We say no to oppressive doctrines or laws which limit the freedom of individuals. The European Convention on Human Rights is the basis for our rights and...
We must look deeper for Europe's future
Europe's human rights landscape is about to change. The accession of the European Union to the European Convention of Human Rights, made possible by the Lisbon Treaty, will complete a cycle begun at the end of the second world war when human rights visionaries, such as French lawyer and Nobel...
Spectres of inhumanity
New hatreds are surfacing in Europe. The economic crisis cannot be an excuse to walk over human rights Europe's human rights landscape is about to change. The accession of the EU to the European convention on human rights, made possible by the Lisbon treaty, will complete a cycle begun at the end...
Discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity should be consigned to the pages of history!
17 May marks the International Day against Homophobia. Europe has seen important progress in addressing the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. But there is more to be done. In March, the representatives of the 47 member countries of the oldest European organisation,...
65 years of humanity and a new Europe
By Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe I would like to use the opportunity of the 65th anniversary of the Victory in Europe day to express the deepest gratitude to the soldiers and people of the then Soviet Union for their sacrifice and heroism. They made a decisive...
Europe must defend free expression
The fate of imprisoned editor Eynulla Fatullayev is a matter of grave concern. He has been jailed for three years on dubious charges by the Azerbaijani authorities. He is an award-winning journalist who was just doing his job. The European Court of Human Rights decided last month that he should...
Europe speaks back
Europe is hardly shrinking. The European project is far from perfect and the E.U. currently faces many challenges, from bolstering the euro, to creating a stronger presence in the international political arena. But I take issue with the article's premise that Europe is absent from the world stage...
