The Committee on the Monitoring of the implementation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government and on the respect of Human Rights and the Rule of Law at local and regional levels (Monitoring Committee) is responsible for monitoring the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government (ETS No. 122) and its Additional Protocol on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority (CETS No. 207) by Council of Europe member states that have ratified these legal instruments.

The Committee organises monitoring and election observation visits, drafts relevant reports and recommendations and examines specific issues related to local and regional democracy. It also helps local and regional authorities to protect and promote human rights contributes to the execution of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights at local and regional levels. In addition, it supports those authorities in upholding the rule of law.

Through post-monitoring and post-electoral observation political dialogue, the Committee ensures that its recommendations to member states are followed up.

The Monitoring Committee undertakes, in particular:

• regular country-by-country monitoring missions to each member state;
• observation of local and regional elections on the basis of invitations;
• fact-finding missions to examine a particular aspect of the Charter or address specific concerns related to democracy and the rule of law at local and regional levels;
• post-monitoring/post-electoral observation activities to follow-up on the implementation of Congress recommendations;
• political dialogue and awareness raising activities to provide support for local and regional authorities in implementing human rights, ensuring compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights and the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights at local and regional levels.

The Monitoring Committee follows the activities of and maintains working relations with relevant Council of Europe structures and bodies, notably the European Court of Human Rights, the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, the Commissioner for Human Rights, relevant subsidiary bodies of the Committee of Ministers, the Venice Commission and pertinent committees of the Parliamentary Assembly.