Human Rights

Electronic Frontier Foundation: Second Additional Protocol to Budapest Convention Poses Privacy Concerns

November 25, 2019

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has expressed concern about a proposed Second Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe's Budapest Convention, a major international treaty on cybercrime, that seeks to make it much easier for police in one country to get users' data from companies in another country, typically foreign Internet companies and Internet Service Providers.
European NHRIs Meet to Promote Human Rights-Based Approach to Economic and Social Policies

November 20, 2019

At the Annual Conference of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions, European National Human Rights Institutions ("NHRIs"), regional and international organizations, and civil society organizations met to discuss the role and relevance of NHRIs in the realization of social and economic rights in Europe and to encourage a human rights-based approach to economic and social policies and reforms at the national and European level.
HRW Urges EU to Deny Croatia Entrance into Schengen Area

November 12, 2019

In reaction to a European Commission announcement that Croatia is ready to join the Schengen Area, Human Rights Watch ("HRW") is urging the European Union not to admit to Croatia to its border-free travel zone over its treatment of migrants crossing into the Balkan country.
Germany Interior Minister Recommends External-Border Review of Asylum Applications

November 01, 2019

At a meeting of the G6 group consisting of Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and Spain, and the UK, Germany's Interior Minister, Horst Seehofer, called on the European Union to change its approach to asylum applications, urging that applicants should undergo initial assessment at Europe's external borders and be sent home from there as well.
CoE delegation to raise awareness on the Istanbul Convention

October 30, 2019

As a follow-up to the Venice Commission’s conclusion that ratification of the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women (the “Istanbul Convention”) as originally drafted would not violate any provisions of the Constitution of Armenia, a Council of Europe delegation will visit Armenia to raise awareness of the Convention and to clarify its provisions.
U.N. Warns of Drastically Decreasing Population in Southeast Europe

October 23, 2019

The United Nations has warned that dramatic falls in population in Southeast Europe are threatening the ability of countries in the region to maintain vital social services, for which, in the opinion of Allana Armitage, Director of the U.N. Population Fund for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, governments should develop comprehensive and human-rights based population policies aligned with better childcare.
OSCE Publishes Report on Freedom of Religion

October 16, 2019

In September 2019, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (the OSCE/ODIHR) published a new report “Freedom of Religion or Belief and Security: Policy Guidance."
EU Commission and WHO Convene Global Vaccination Summit

September 13, 2019

To accelerate global action to stop the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases and advocate against the spread of vaccine misinformation worldwide, the European Commission and the World Health Organization have co-hosted the world's first Global Vaccination Summit in Brussels, Belgium.
COE: Venice Principles Protect and Promote Ombudsman Institutions

September 10, 2019

In an euobserver.com op-ed, Council of Europe spokesmen, Andrew Cutting, explained how the Venice Commission's new "Venice Principles" will help protect and promote national human rights ombudsman institutions.
ECtHR Sanctions Russia for Abusive Detention of Sergei Magnitzsky

August 28, 2019

Europe’s top human rights court rebuked Russia on Tuesday for multiple violations of the basic rights of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky who died in a Moscow prison in 2009 after complaining of mistreatment.