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Sign on Council of Europe building in Strasbourg
Image: uncil Daniel Kalker/picture alliance

Council of Europe

The Council of Europe is an international organization aimed at upholding human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe. It has 47 member states and is based in Strasbourg, France.

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Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado displays vote tally sheets during a protest against the reelection of President Nicolás Maduro one month after the disputed presidential vote which she says the opposition won by a landslide, in Caracas, Venezuela

Venezuela opposition figure wins top European rights prize

This year, the Council of Europe's Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize goes to Venezuela's Maria Corina Machado.
Human RightsSeptember 30, 2024
View of digital image of brain surrounded by code

US, UK, EU sign international AI treaty

The Council of Europe hailed the agreement as the "first international legally binding treaty" on the use of AI systems.
PoliticsSeptember 5, 2024
IOC President Thomas Bach at the Paris Olympics

Olympics committee boss Bach to step down, Coe considers bid

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach will not seek a third term. Who are the candidates to succeed him?
SportsAugust 11, 2024
A police officer patrols a market in Azerbaijan's capital Baku

Azerbaijan: Repressive climate ahead of climate conference

Human rights advocates are worried that Baku is locking up activists and journalists ahead of the climate summit.
Human RightsJune 15, 2024
Prisoners sitting on the ledges of their cells

Turkey tops renewed spike in European incarceration rate

Europe's prison population rate is up for the second year in a row, marking what may be the end of a decade of decline.
SocietyJune 6, 2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking into a microphone

What happens if the EU does not recognize Vladimir Putin?

Calls are rising for the EU to not recognize Vladimir Putin as Russia's president, but experts warn of cutting off ties.
PoliticsMay 7, 2024
The memorial to commemorate the victims of the Holodomor in Kyiv

Council of Europe votes to recognize Holodomor as 'genocide'

Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the move, which he said paid tribute to victims of the Soviet-era famine.
PoliticsOctober 13, 2023
DW Still Beitrag REV Second Car

The world’s highest car prices

Why Singapore's Certificate of Entitlement is needed, but makes owning a car unaffordable.
Cars and TransportationSeptember 26, 202307:28 min
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, speaks during the Council of Europe summit in Reykjavik,

Council of Europe approves Register of Damage against Russia

After a rare summit of the Council of Europe, leaders vowed to hold Russia to account for its war against Ukraine.
PoliticsMay 17, 2023
A flash lights up skies over Kyiv in the early dark hours of the morning

Ukraine updates: Heavy Russian air raid repelled, Kyiv says

Ukrainian air defenses largely repelled a heavy Russian missile attack overnight, Kyiv says. DW has the latest.
ConflictsMay 17, 2023
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz meets with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin

Council of Europe leaders seek to hold Russia accountable

The Council of Europe will set up a way of logging damage in Ukraine caused by Russian forces for compensation claims.
ConflictsMay 16, 2023
A boat carrying refugees and migrant arrives at Skala Sikaminias, on the Greek island of Lesbos, Greece, Feb. 29, 2020.

Migrants to Europe face 'inhuman' pushbacks — report

The CPT has slammed its European member states for their "degrading treatment" of migrants at the borders.
MigrationMarch 30, 2023
Swiss seniors are protesting outside the European Court of Human Rights Wednesday, March 29, 2023 in Strasbourg, eastern France.

Swiss seniors sue government in rights court over climate

The ECHR will listen to cases against Switzerland and France for alleged failure to protect the environment.
ClimateMarch 29, 2023
Stephen King and Margaret Atwood

Stephen King and Margaret Atwood console debut novelist

Chelsea Banning tweeted about her "sad book signing." It went viral as literary stars shared their humiliating moments.
LiteratureDecember 8, 2022
Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza (C) is escorted by police officers ahead of a hearing at Moscow's Basmanny District Court, October 10, 2022.

Russian dissident wins Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize

Vladimir Kara-Murza was arrested in April after voicing his opposition to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Human RightsOctober 10, 2022
Hundreds of people sleeping outside the Ter Apel registration center before they were moved away

Council of Europe slams Netherlands over migrant reception

Europe's top human rights body, not connected to the EU, has criticized the Netherlands over the Ter Apel scandal.
MigrationSeptember 2, 2022
Protesters in Turkey with raised arms

Why a European treaty protecting women became politicized

The Istanbul Convention seeks to end violence against women — but some governments are resisting it. DW explains why.
PoliticsJuly 20, 2022
A photo of Osman Kavala from 2015

Osman Kavala: ECHR rules Turkey violated ruling

Osman Kavala has been in prison for almost five years despite the court demanding his release three years ago.
Rule of LawJuly 11, 2022
Council of Europe foreign ministers convene in Turin

Ukraine: Council of Europe foreign ministers meet in Italy

Top diplomats from the 46-member Council of Europe have met "against the background of aggression against Ukraine."
ConflictsMay 20, 2022
The Russian flag is removed outside the Counil of Europe building.

What does Russia leaving the Council of Europe mean?

Human Rights groups warn that victims of the Kremlin will now find it hard to hold Moscow accountable.
PoliticsMarch 17, 2022
General view of the plenary room of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in Strasbourg, France

Russia leaves the Council of Europe

Russia said it had begun the procedure to formally leave the Council of Europe.
ConflictsMarch 15, 2022
Osman Kavala

Turkey: Activist Osman Kavala to stay in prison

A Turkish court has said activist Osman Kavala must stay in jail despite renewed international calls for his release.
Human RightsFebruary 21, 2022
Philanthropist and human rights activist Osman Kavala

Kavala: Infringement proceedings launched against Turkey

The Council of Europe has launched infringement proceedings against Turkey for not releasing Osman Kavala.
Law and JusticeFebruary 3, 2022
A file photo of Osman Kavala in Istanbul

Council of Europe warns Turkey over jailed activist

The European rights body says it will take action over Turkey's refusal to comply with a ruling to release Osman Kavala.
Human RightsDecember 3, 2021
Poster in German with photo of Osman Kavala

Kavala case: A break with Europe?

Turkey is under pressure from the EU and a number of countries to release philanthropist Osman Kavala.
Human RightsOctober 22, 2021
Osman Kavala, civil society leader in Istanbul

Turkey summons 10 envoys over calls for Kavala's release

The ambassadors, including Germany's, urged a "just and speedy" resolution to the jailed civil rights leader's case.
Human RightsOctober 19, 2021
Osman Kavala, gives evidence to a court in Istanbul on charges of espionage and trying to overthrow the state

Turkey court keeps civil rights activist in jail

Osman Kavala told an Istanbul court the charges against him "are not based on any evidence."
Human RightsOctober 8, 2021
Maria Kolesnikova as seen through the bars of a cage during her trial in Belarus

Havel Prize awarded to Maria Kolesnikova of Belarus

The annual human rights prize was awarded to Belarusian Maria Kolesnikova at a ceremony in Strasbourg.
PoliticsSeptember 27, 2021
Mosque building under construction with swastikas and threats spray painted on the walls

Muslims face increase in online attacks in Europe

Council of Europe probes reports of an increase in hate speech, threats and physical attacks.
SocietyJuly 8, 2021
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic

European human rights chief 'hopeful' Navalny will be freed

A recent Council of Europe report issued a stark warning on the state of European democracy.
PoliticsJune 10, 2021
Veronika Munk I Szabolcs Dull I Telex

'Dear journalist! Your request has not been approved!'

Press freedom in Hungary is in bad shape. Independent journalists are prevented from doing their job.
PoliticsJune 9, 2021
Alexei Navalny sitting on a bench

Rapporteur on Navalny: We bet on Russia's cooperation

DW spoke to the Council of Europe’s rapporteur on Alexei Navalny’s poisoning, the French MP Jacques Maire.
CrimeOctober 29, 2020
Germ responsible for the plague viewed under digital microscope.

Greater risk of bioterrorism post-corona

Terrorists would not forget "lessons learned" during the pandemic, the Council of Europe has warned.
HealthMay 25, 2020

CoE: 'Free journalism is a threat to authoritarian leaders'

'I join my voice in calling for the release of all journalists who have been arrested for the views they expressed.'
Human RightsMay 7, 2020
Kommentarbild PROVISORISCH Dunja Mijatovic

Opinion: Coronavirus concerns are not carte blanche to snoop

Dunja Mijatovic
Surveillance measures to combat the coronavirus must comply with privacy laws, writes Dunja Mijatovic.
PoliticsMay 1, 2020
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe

Dopers during pandemic 'will get caught'

In an interview with DW, athletics head Sebastian Coe warned dopers who may try to profit from the coronavirus crisis.
SportsApril 24, 2020
A girl with a headscarf at school

Germany 'must do more' to fight racism

A European anti-racism commission has detected "high levels of Islamophobia" in the country.
SocietyMarch 17, 2020
Yelena Grigorieva with police

Russia arrests suspect in LGBT+ activist killing

Russian police claim "personal" reasons, rather than hate, were behind the murder of LGBT+ activist Yelena Grigorieva.
CrimeJuly 25, 2019
Council of Europe building in Strasbourg, France

Germany faces backlash over Russia's return to rights body

Rights advocates, a former spy and a chess champ were among those who slammed Russia's return to the Council of Europe.
PoliticsJune 27, 2019
Ukrainians protesting in front of the German embassy in Kyiv over Russia's restored voting rights in the Council of Europe

Russia in the Council of Europe: Good for human rights?

Moscow's restored voting rights has been called a safeguard for human rights, but how much influence does the body have?
PoliticsJune 26, 2019
General view of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Council of Europe backs Russia's return

Moscow had its voting rights suspended five years ago over the illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.
PoliticsJune 25, 2019
Deutschland Moderne Sklaverei Menschenhandel

Germany slow to tackle human trafficking

Officials need training to spot exploiters such as internet "loverboys" who lure girls into prostitution, a report says.
CrimeJune 20, 2019
Russia's Sergey Lavrov meets with Germany's Heiko Maas in Helsinki

Russia and Council of Europe reach compromise

Russia said it had no desire to leave the Council of Europe in an apparent breakthrough on the Crimea annexation row.
ConflictsMay 17, 2019
Russian Duma meeting in 2017

Russian Duma votes against returning to CoE

The European body has imposed sanctions on Russia, prompting the Kremlin boycott.
PoliticsJanuary 17, 2019
Navalny speaks to journalists at the European Court of Human Rights

Navalny was imprisoned for political reasons

Moscow was also ordered to pay over €50,000 in damages to the 42-year-old opposition leader.
PoliticsNovember 15, 2018
Imran Khan

Sports stars who moved into politics

It's not just George Weah in Liberia. There's a long tradition of sports stars going into politics.
SportsJuly 26, 201813 images
The Hungarian parliament

Hungary legislature passes 'Stop Soros' bill

The legislation criminalizes aid to illegal immigrants and is punishable with up to one year in jail.
PoliticsJune 20, 2018
Thousands of people attend a memorial mass in Austria

Neo-fascism on the rise in Croatia, Council of Europe finds

It comes after an annual memorial to remember Ustasha militia killed by Communist forces at the end of World War II.
SocietyMay 15, 2018
Pedro Agramunt

Ex-Council of Europe head under fire for corruption

A report concluded that Pedro Agramunt likely accepted luxury gifts, money and prostitutes from Azerbaijan.
PoliticsApril 26, 2018
Hofmann Max Kommentarbild

Council of Europe on the brink of irrelevance

Max Hofmann
If individual council members are corrupt — instead of fighting corruption — there's no need for the Council of Europe.
PoliticsApril 23, 2018