News 2014
Statement of Secretary General Jagland regarding the decree of pardon signed on 29 December by President Aliyev
"The decree signed by the President of Azerbaijan includes 10 names from the 'prisoners list' submitted by human rights defenders. This is a step in the right direction. However, there are still many names on the list that need to be urgently considered. Some well-known human rights defenders...
Raid and closure of Radio Free Europe in Azerbaijan raises concerns over freedom of expression
The reported closure of Radio Free Europe again raises concerns over freedom of expression in Azerbaijan. The Council of Europe will request the reason and legal justification for this action from the Azerbaijani authorities.
EU accession to Human Rights Convention
Let's overcome hurdles to ensure EU accedes to the Human Rights Convention, says President of the Parliamentary Assembly
Eastern Partnership
Council of Europe and European Commission boost cooperation in Eastern Europe
Statement of Secretary Thorbjørn Jagland on the deadly terrorist attack on a school in Pakistan
The world looks in horror and disbelief at this outrageous act of terrorism. My thoughts go out to the victims' families and friends and to all the millions of Pakistanis aspiring to a peaceful and democratic future. Even in these dark times, I encourage the people of Pakistan not to give up on...
Council of Europe concerned about actions against media outlets. Secretary General Jagland will make official visit to Turkey on 6-7 January
We are closely following the actions taken by the authorities in Turkey with regard to several media outlets over the last 24 hours. The Council of Europe is always concerned when freedom of media is at risk and journalists are hindered in their work. Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland will...
Anti-Semitism is a threat not only in France but all over Europe
“France, its President, its Prime Minister and its Interior Minister have made the fight against anti-Semitism a national cause. The Council of Europe fully supports this initiative because anti-Semitism is a threat not only in France but all over Europe. For a few years now, our experts, in...
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland welcomes transparency of US Senate CIA report in a statement to AFP
(AFP) The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland on Wednesday welcomed the publication of the US Senate’s report on the CIA, which he regarded as confirming the findings of the pan-European organisation and the European Court of Human Rights. The US Senate’s report on CIA...
Secretary General Jagland calls for immediate release of Azerbaijani journalist Khadija Ismayilova
I am concerned that a Baku court ordered the two-month pre-trial detention of prominent Azerbaijani investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova. Her arrest was unnecessary. It sends a very negative message to the civil society in Azerbaijan and to the international community. It once again puts...
Secretary General Jagland addresses OSCE in Basel
The need for a concerted effort of the main international organisations addressing the crisis in Ukraine and the urgency of humanitarian relief were key messages of the speech by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland at the meeting of the Ministerial Council of the...
Secretary General meets Prime Minister of Luxembourg
Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland met today Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The exchange of views focused on the crisis in Ukraine, on the Secretary General’s proposal for a future Council of Europe summit and on the reform of the Organisation. Thorbjørn Jagland...
Council of Europe Secretary General Jagland in Moscow for talks with Foreign Minister Lavrov and meetings with civil society representatives
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland will be in Moscow on 27-28 November for a working visit. He will meet with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Justice Minister Alexander Konovalov and Ella Pamfilova, Commissioner for Human Rights. The Secretary General will hold talks with...
Statement by Belgian Foreign Minister and Committee of Ministers Chairman Didier Reynders and Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland
Turning vision into reality: the Council of Europe Istanbul Convention - response to women victims of violence across the world On the International Day on Ending Violence against Women, the Council of Europe remembers the hundreds and thousands of women who suffer unspeakable violence, at the...
Secretary General Jagland: Europe must do more to investigate cases of violence against women
In this comment, Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, explains why more governments need to sign and ratify the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention on violence against women. “Daily headlines tell us that violence against women sadly continues around the world. The...
Decision to postpone court hearing on liquidation of Russian Memorial Society welcome development, says Secretary General
Following today’s decision by the Russian Supreme Court to postpone the hearing of a lawsuit brought by the Russian Justice Ministry against the Russian Memorial Society, the Council of Europe’s Secretary General TJ gave a comment to TASS news agency. “Today’s decision by the Russian Supreme...
EU-Council of Europe cooperation
Joint Statement by European Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans and Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland
Joint Statement by European Commission First Vice President and Secretary General
Secretary General Jagland and European Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans met today in Brussels. They made the following statement: “On the occasion of our meeting today, we have confirmed our shared commitment to the protection of fundamental rights and the rule of law in Europe....
Thorbjørn Jagland in Brussels
The Secretary General was in Brussels for meetings with high-level representatives of the European Union and the Belgian authorities. Topics for discussion with the First Vice President of the EU Commission, Frans Timmermans, include the state of human rights and democracy in Europe, the EU’s...
Thorbjørn Jagland in Brussels
The Secretary General was in Brussels for meetings with high-level representatives of the European Union and the Belgian authorities. Topics for discussion with the First Vice President of the EU Commission, Frans Timmermans, include the state of human rights and democracy in Europe, the EU’s...
Secretary General deeply concerned by reports of third execution in Belarus this year
Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland said he was deeply concerned by the reports of the third execution in Belarus this year. "Capital punishment is not justice. It directly contradicts European values. I reiterate the Council of Europe appeal to the authorities of Belarus to establish without...
