1940s - Winston Churchill

During the 1940s Winston Churchill was one of the main protagonists in a new regional organisation that was to become the Council of Europe. His speech to a crowd in Place Kléber, Strasbourg, on the occasion of the First Session of the Consultative Assembly, was a big media event.

More information about Winston Churchill and the Council of Europe ...

  5 May 1949

The United Kingdom signs the Statute of the Council of Europe (opens new window)

12 May 1992

  HM Queen Elizabeth II visits the worksite of the new human rights building; examines the model of the new building; presents a copy of the Magna Carta to the President of the Court of Human Rights and the President of the Commission of Human Rights; and plants a tree on the site of the new human rights building