The News (Site updated Tuesday, October 7, 2008 | 18:30)
Carl Bildt condemns the attacks in south-eastern Turkey on Friday
[07/10/2008 08:30:00] ''I strongly condemn the PKK terrorist attack that was carried out on Friday, killing 15 Turkish soldiers. I extend my deep condolences to Turkey, a member of the Council of Europe, and to the families of the victims. Such terrorist attacks threaten the ongoing reform process in Turkey, vital not least for further promoting development, respect for human rights, and the rule of law in the south-east of Turkey,'' declared Carl Bildt, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and Swedish Foreign Minister, on 6 October.
Terry Davis: ''Peace through diplomacy and justice''
[06/10/2008 10:30:00] ''Supporting international justice means ensuring that international courts and tribunals are enabled to achieve their missions,'' the Secretary General declared on 6 October at a London conference attended by judges, lawyers and legal experts.
He said international justice had succeeded in ''transforming the face of the civilised world'' and must retain support.
Speech
Assembly calls for independent international investigation into the war between Georgia and Russia
[02/10/2008 18:30:00] Since the facts surrounding the outbreak of war between Georgia and Russia are disputed, there should be in independent international investigation into what happened, the Parliamentary Assembly declared on 2 October after debating the consequences of the war.
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Luís Maria de Puig: ''The dissolution of political parties should be regarded as an exceptional measure''
[03/10/2008 12:30:00] While recalling that independence of the judiciary is fundamental and that no influence should be exerted on the Constitutional Court of Turkey, the President of the Assembly expressed concern about the judicial proceedings that could bring to the closing down the Democratic Society Party.
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Stockholm seminar: implementation of human rights by local and regional authorities
[01/10/2008 16:30:00] A seminar on ''Systematic Work for Human Rights – a challenge to local/regional politics,'' took place in Stockholm, Sweden, on 6 October.
The aim of this seminar was to provide a platform for discussions on the place of the local and regional level in the human rights protection system.
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Ian Micallef: ''As competences of local authorities enlarge, so do their human rights responsibilities''(more ...) Speech
Yavuz Mildon: ''It is the role of the Congress to bring a local and regional dimension to human rights protection by involving the grassroots levels''(more ...) Speech [fr]
European Day against the Death Penalty
[02/10/2008 11:00:00] The Council of Europe and European Union will mark the European Day against the Death Penalty, 10 October, with a panel discussion at 11.00 am, at the Agora Building, featuring French former Minister of Justice and anti-death penalty pioneer Senator Robert Badinter, Secretary General Terry Davis and Swedish Human Rights Ambassador Jan Nordlander and Council of Europe Goodwill Ambassador Bianca Jagger.
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Kyiv: conference on future of youth policy
[01/10/2008 11:00:00] European youth policy for the next decade will be decided at the 8th European Conference of Youth Ministers in Kyiv on 10-11 October.
The event brings together ministers responsible for youth from the 49 signatory countries of the European Cultural Convention as well as representatives of international non-governmental youth organisations.
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Internet Governance Forum 2008: Council of Europe publishes its contribution
[06/10/2008 12:00:00] The Council of Europe has published its contribution to the Internet Governance Forum, which takes place in Hyderabad (India) from 3 to 6 December.
The Organisation plays a leading role in the fight against Internet-based crimes, drawing from key conventions and tools on cybercrime, terrorism, child protection and counterfeit medicines.
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Forum on Citizenship and Human Rights Education
[06/10/2008 15:30:00] The Council of Europe will organise on 9-10 October in Strasbourg, a Forum on ''Civic Partnership for Citizenship and Human Rights Education''. It is part of the Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights project that aims to promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law through education.
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International Conference for Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners
[07/10/2008 11:30:00] The 30th International Conference for Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners will be held on 15-17 October at the Council of Europe under the theme ''Protecting privacy in a borderless world''.
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''Building a Europe for and with Children'' Website
Committee of Ministers
Meeting with Human Rights Commissioner and Presidents of monitoring bodies
[07/10/2008 18:00:00] The Chairman of the Committee of Ministers’ Deputies, Ambassador Per Sjögren from Sweden, accompanied by the Vice-Chair Ambassador Marta Vilardell Coma from Spain, convened the Commissioner and the Presidents of the various monitoring bodies of the Council of Europe to an informal meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss ways of enhancing their respective activities, in good synergy and in full respect of the independence of the Commissioner and of the monitoring bodies.
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Deputy Secretary General
Reaction to the clashes in south-eastern Turkey
[06/10/2008 16:00:00] ''I am very concerned about the security situation in south-eastern Turkey and the reports of the recent clashes in which at least 15 Turkish soldiers have been killed. I deeply regret the loss of human lives,'' the Deputy Secretary General said on 6 October.
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Maud de Boer-Buquicchio condemns car bomb in Tskhinvali
[06/10/2008 16:00:00] ''I strongly condemn the recent car bomb attack in Tskhinvali, in which several Russian soldiers have been killed,'' the Deputy Secretary General declared on 6 October. She said ''all sides should refrain from overreacting to this provocation,'' which was aimed at ''escalating tensions'' and blocking ''a peaceful, political solution.''
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Thomas Hammarberg: ''Human Rights education is a priority – more concrete action is needed''
[06/10/2008 10:00:00] ''Education about human rights is central to the effective implementation of the agreed standards'' writes the Commissioner for Human Rights, in his latest Viewpoint. The Commissioner underlines that governments have not given sufficient priority to human rights education in schools and call for further efforts in promoting inter-cultural understanding and respect.
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Yavuz Mildon: Clashes in Turkey gravely affect local and regional democracy
[07/10/2008 10:30:00] ''The recent military clashes in south-east Turkey is a cause for serious concern. Beyond the human toll, they gravely affect the situation of local and regional democracy and hinder regional development. I condemn the terrorist attacks which triggered the clashes, much as any terrorist act,'' the President of the Congress stated on 7 October.
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Local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina: good democratic effort but marred by low voter turnout(more ...)
Congress sends a fact-finding mission to Portugal
[06/10/2008 18:00:00] A delegation of the Congress, headed by Rapporteur on Portugal Davor Zmegac (Croatia, ILDG) will carry out a fact-finding mission to Lisbon from 8 to 10 October.
The mission is in response to the new law on local finance in Portugal, which entered into force on 1 January 2007 and which may be in contravention with the European Charter of Local Self-Government.
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Open Days 2008: the Black Sea between co-operation and conflict
[02/10/2008 14:00:00] The Round Table organised by the Congress as part of the Open Days organised by the EU Committee of the Regions will be considering the prospects for economic and cultural co-operation among the towns and regions of the Black Sea Basin, and will provide an opportunity for gauging the potential of such co-operation for blocking the dangerous mechanism of inter-State conflict.
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Ulrich Bohner: ''Local self-government has become an integral part of national good governance''(more ...) Speech
Presentation of the 2nd report on the evaluation of European judicial systems
[01/10/2008 11:30:00] On 8 october, the Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) will publish its 2nd report on the evaluation of European judicial systems.
The report, comprising data for 45 European states, offers a snapshot of justice in Europe and provides comparative tables and analysis of key indicators.
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International conference on protecting the rights of national minorities
[07/10/2008 16:00:00] The conference takes place on 9-10 October to assess the progress achieved in protecting the rights of national minorities ten years after the entry into force of the first binding international treaty on this subject: the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.
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Extending the activities of the anti-torture Committee to Abkhazia and South Ossetia
[03/10/2008 15:30:00] From 29 September to 1 October, representatives of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) had a series of contacts in Tbilisi and Sukhumi aimed at enabling the Committee to exercise its mandate throughout the territory of Georgia.
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Anti-torture Committee visits Greece
[07/10/2008 09:30:00] A delegation of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) carried out an ad hoc visit to Greece from 23 to 29 September 2008.
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Council of Europe - Activity report 2007 (2008) 
Search the news 
International court representatives’ conference to examine current legal challenges
Assembly calls for independent international investigation into the war between Georgia and Russia
Luís Maria de Puig: ''The dissolution of political parties should be regarded as an exceptional measure''
European Day against the Death Penalty
Kyiv: conference on future of youth policy
Internet Governance Forum 2008: Council of Europe publishes its contribution
Dosta! ''Fight prejudices towards Roma''
''All Different, All Equal''
''Building a Europe for and with Children''
Maud de Boer-Buquicchio condemns car bomb in Tskhinvali
Thomas Hammarberg: ''Human Rights education is a priority – more concrete action is needed''
Yavuz Mildon: Clashes in Turkey gravely affect local and regional democracy
Presentation of the 2nd report on the evaluation of European judicial systems
Extending the activities of the anti-torture Committee to Abkhazia and South Ossetia
