Women’s rights are human rights and gender equality is a fundamental value of our societies, enshrined in human rights treaties. Nevertheless, progress in advancing women’s rights has not been straightforward. We need to stand up for gender equality and reverse any stagnation in its implementation. More...

The film “Les Chatouilles” (co-directed by Andréa Bescon and Eric Métayer) won César awards at the ceremony held on 22 February 2019 in two categories: best supporting actress for Karin Viard, and best adaptation of a theatre play for the two co-directors. More...

In today’s ultra-connected world, criminal justice is a crucial response to cybercrime. While cybercriminals are increasingly using cyberspace to conduct their offences against the law, criminal justice authorities are faced with complex challenges worldwide. Since cyber threats are touching upon core values of our societies, the Ministry of Justice of Romania is organising, in co-operation with the Council of Europe, the international conference on Criminal Justice in Cyberspace (26th -27th February, Athénée Palace Hilton Hotel), in the framework of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. More...

In an evaluation report published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) called for measures to prevent corruption in the Netherlands in respect of persons entrusted with top executive functions, including ministers, state secretaries, political advisors; and in respect of members of law enforcement agencies: the National Police and the Royal Marechaussee. More...

“There are systemic obstacles which seriously hinder the effective protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in Romania”, said today Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, publishing the report on her visit to the country in November 2018. More...

On UN International Women’s Day on 8 March, the Council of Europe welcomes the 34th ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (also known as the Istanbul Convention) to stop all forms of violence against women. More...

In this new CPT report, published along with a Greek government response, the allegations related primarily to detention places in the Evros region (the Fylakio Pre-removal Centre, Fylakio Reception and Identification Centre (RIC) and Tychero Police and Border Guard Station) and on Lesvos (Moria Pre-removal Centre). The CPT recommends that Greece take “vigorous steps” to stamp out ill-treatment of foreign nationals deprived of their liberty by the police. More...

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (the Congress) will discuss the voting rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at local level in Ukraine and the measures needed to ensure their electoral participation, at a conference on 27 February in Kyiv. The conference will be followed, on 28 February, by a workshop for local authorities on better inclusion and protection of IDPs, organised jointly with the Association of Ukrainian Cities. More...