Greece should take urgent steps and adopt long-term policies to improve the reception and integration of migrants and to reverse the adverse effects of austerity measures on access to health care and education. More...
Statement on the detention of prominent academics in Turkey including Hakan Altinay
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland said: "I am very concerned by the detention of a group of academics including Hakan Altinay and will raise this alarming development with the Turkish government as a matter of urgency." More...
Romania should improve the protection of persons with disabilities, combat violence against women, safeguard press freedom
Romania needs to strengthen its institutional framework to better protect the rights of persons with disabilities, and should step up the efforts to combat violence against women. More...
Making sport safe for children: Stop Child Sexual Abuse Day
Governments and sports organisations must redouble their efforts to break the silence surrounding sexual abuse of children in sports, prevent it and fight impunity, stressed the Secretary General of the Council of Europe ahead of the European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse marked on 18 November. More...
Tackling hate speech in the media: Zagreb conference
Hate speech and offensive language targeting ethnic, religious, sexual minorities, immigrants and other groups have become a widespread phenomenon in Europe. Over the years the Council of Europe and its member States have developed a comprehensive range of standards and measures to curb hate speech, while guaranteeing the fundamental right to freedom of expression and information. More...
World Forum for Democracy - “Gender Equality: Whose Battle?”
A year after the #MeToo movement first started, the World Forum for Democracy 2018, from 19 to 21 November, will focus on gender equality and women’s rights, in particular, women’s public, political and economic participation, and on combating violence against women. More...
World Day of Romani Language
On the occasion of the World Day of Romani Language, I call on member states to step up efforts to recognize, protect, promote, and develop the Romani language in Europe.
The Romani language and its many variants are an integral part of our common European cultural and linguistic heritage and wealth. Romani is key to the Roma identity and its preservation and serves as a means of communication for many of the 10-12 million Roma estimated to be living in Europe. More...
Brain drain or brain gain? Seminar in Zagreb
A two-day seminar with this title is taking place in Zagreb, Croatia, to look at the phenomena of “brain drain” (the emigration of educated young people) and “brain gain” (the influx of qualified people who are either immigrating or returning home). It will also examine the possible role of the European Youth Card, which is aimed at boosting mobility. More...
Tirana: international conference on transparency of beneficial ownership
The Council of Europe is organising an international conference under the theme “Transparency of beneficial ownership” on 30 and 31 October in Tirana, Albania, in the framework of its work to strengthen capacities in member states to fight money laundering and the financing of terrorism. More...
Russia: Excessive fine for ‘New Times’ endangers media pluralism and press freedom
A judgment this past Friday by the Tverskoy Court in Moscow condemning The New Times to an unprecedented fine of 22.5m rubles (about 300,000€) threatens the very existence of this well-known weekly news outlet. More...