Denmark has consistently supported members of the German national minority in South Jutland, the country’s only recognised national minority. However, the authorities should take further local measures to promote intercultural understanding and dialogue with the German minority, including displaying bilingual signs at the entrance of the South Jutland municipalities. More...02 février 2020
Denmark: ensures protection of German minority but needs to address rising intolerance
Denmark has consistently supported members of the German national minority in South Jutland, the country’s only recognised national minority. However, the authorities should take further local measures to promote intercultural understanding and dialogue with the German minority, including displaying bilingual signs at the entrance of the South Jutland municipalities. More...Call on member States to remedy quickly and effectively any threats to media freedom
Threats to media freedom and the safety of journalists have become so numerous, repeated and serious that they are jeopardising not only citizens’ right to be properly informed but also “the stability and smooth functioning of our democratic societies”, the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly said today. More...Parliamentary Assembly opens monitoring of Poland over rule of law
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has voted to open a monitoring procedure for Poland over the functioning of its democratic institutions and the rule of law, declaring in a resolution that recent reforms “severely damage the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law”. More...Data Protection Day
Today, 28 January, Data Protection Day is celebrated around the world to mark the opening for signature in 1981 of the first international treaty aimed at protecting personal data: the Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data, also known as “Convention 108”. More...Iceland: Good detention conditions, but lack of systematic health checks for newly-arrived inmates
In a report published today, the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), found that no ill-treatment was reported in the prisons, police or psychiatric establishments visited, and that the material conditions were good or even very good. But the Committee is concerned that little or no action has been taken on a significant number of long-standing recommendations made by the CPT, some of them dating back to the very first visit to Iceland 26 years ago. More...Combating human trafficking and disappearances of refugee children
The Council of Europe should “do more to combat human trafficking and to ensure that its legal standards are adequate and implemented by all member States”, the Parliamentary Assembly declared today during a joint debate. More...Protection of national minorities: Portugal makes progress combatting anti-Roma discrimination
Portugal has adopted measures to improve the living conditions and to counter the discrimination of the Roma population, but should ensure that they have an effective and long-term impact throughout the country, says the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of the Council of Europe (FCNM) in an Opinion published today. More...Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić expresses condolences to Turkey after deadly earthquake
I am deeply saddened by the news of so many people killed and injured in the severe earthquake in Eastern Turkey last night. More...MONEYVAL: new follow-up reports assess measures against money laundering and terrorist financing in six countries
Belgium must strengthen rules on integrity of government members and outside activities by police officers
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against corruption (GRECO) today published its 5th round evaluation report on Belgium. This cycle focuses on preventing corruption and promoting integrity in central governments (top executive functions) and law enforcement authorities. More...
