Trans people at risk of exclusion from many UK public spaces, rights expert says Council of Europe commissioner voices concerns after April’s supreme court ruling on legal definition of a woman The Guardian - UK · Oct 14, 2025
State support key for Ukraine War Tribunal to move forward, says Council of Europe chief The Council of Europe is ready to create a special tribunal for Ukraine, but member states need to make the final move to make it becoming a reality, the body's secretary-general tells Euronews in an interview. Euronews · Sep 29, 2025
Are 16-year-old voters the key to future-proofing democracy? In the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer's Labour government has announced plans to lower the voting age from 18 to 16 for all future elections, in a bid to "modernise democracy". But for the handful of other countries who have made the move, results have been mixed. Radio France Internationale · Jul 27, 2025
Fact-checking Antonio Tajani's interpretation of the European flag Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has described the European flag as symbolising Europe’s 'Judeo-Christian roots', triggering controversy. Euronews · Jul 14, 2025
New special tribunal for Ukraine will pave the way for holding Russian leaders to account for the invasion A special tribunal has been established by the international human rights organisation the Council of Europe (CoE) and the Ukrainian government to try crimes of aggression against Ukraine which could be used to hold Vladimir Putin and others to account for the February 2022 invasion and war crimes committed since. The Conversation · Jun 30, 2025
Transgender campaigners call for European rights body to report on UK Alliance of groups wants Council of Europe to investigate implementation of supreme court ruling on biological sex The Guardian - UK · Jun 28, 2025
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy urges trial for ‘war criminal’ Putin Ukrainian leader signs an accord with the Council of Europe to set up a special tribunal to try top Russian officials. Al Jazeera · Jun 26, 2025
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,218 Here are the key events on day 1,218 of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Al Jazeera · Jun 26, 2025
Austerity has hit the UK’s ability to tackle violence against women, European watchdog warns The Council of Europe has said there is an ‘urgent need’ for more places in women’s shelters and warned cost-cutting measures have left vital services ‘underfunded and understaffed’ The Independent UK · Jun 17, 2025
Racial profiling still rife across the EU, Council of Europe says New technologies such as facial recognition could worsen the problem, experts have suggested. Euronews · May 28, 2025
Council of Europe chief warns against politicising court of human rights Alain Berset says no judiciary should face political pressure after nine countries make intervention over migration The Guardian - UK · May 25, 2025
Council of Europe rejects political pressure on ECHR in Meloni response Council of Europe Secretary Alain Berset defends the independence of the European Court of Human Rights, emphasizing the importance of preserving its impartiality amid ongoing debates on migration. Euronews · May 24, 2025
Europe ‘lagging’ behind on human rights by not recognising right to healthy environment, experts say There is now a robust legal framework to tackle serious environmental crimes, but experts say the Council of Europe missed a chance to protect human rights. Euronews · May 14, 2025
Europe’s human rights watchdog urges Greece to end summary deportation of migrants Greece is facing renewed international criticism over alleged migrant pushbacks, with Europe’s top human rights official urging stronger border safeguards The Independent UK · May 6, 2025
The Guardian - UK · Mar 7, 2025 Switzerland told it must do better on climate after older women’s ECHR win Council of Europe says Swiss government failing to respect human rights court’s ruling on emissions
The Independent UK · Feb 25, 2025 Trespass laws are preventing Travellers from practising lifestyle, report says The commissioner said these policies and the continued lack of provision of culturally appropriate accommodation prevents many Travellers from practising nomadism
The Independent UK · Feb 5, 2025 A special tribunal to prosecute Russian leaders over Ukraine wins backing from European institutions A project to establish a court to prosecute the Russian leaders who orchestrated the invasion of Ukraine has taken a major step forward, with an announcement from a group of international organizations, including the European Union and the Council of Europe, working together with Ukraine
International Business Times · Jan 28, 2025 European Watchdog Takes Aim At Online Gambling, Gaming Among Youths Online gambling and gaming can cause depression and other mental health issues in young people, which the Council of Europe rights watchdog is trying to counter with a new project encouraging good policy and awareness raising.
Radio France Internationale · Oct 2, 2024 European rights body finds prosecution of WikiLeaks' Assange 'politically motivated' The parliamentary arm of the Council of Europe rights body has said the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was "politically motivated" and had a "chilling" effect on the whole media landscape.
The Guardian - UK · Sep 18, 2024 UK urged to promote speaking of Irish and Ulster Scots in Northern Ireland Council of Europe also calls for more support for Cornish, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh and Manx Gaelic
The Independent UK · Jul 12, 2024 Finnish lawmakers approve controversial law to turn away migrants at border with Russia Finnish lawmakers have narrowly approved a controversial bill that will allow border guards to turn away third-country migrants attempting to enter from neighboring Russia and reject their asylum applications
The Guardian - UK · Jul 9, 2024 Rage as Putin bombs a children’s hospital in Kyiv, but know there is a way to try him for his crimes I support the Council of Europe plan to hold the Kremlin to account, says Gordon Brown, UN global ambassador for education
The Independent UK · May 17, 2024 Kosovo criticizes Council of Europe for not holding a vote on its membership, blames Serbia lobbying Kosovo has criticized the Council of Europe’s decision against holding a vote on its membership, saying it deprived its people and especially its ethnic minorities of democratic tools offered by the continent’s top human rights body
International Business Times · Apr 23, 2024 Council Of Europe Calls On UK To Scrap Rwanda Migrant Plan Britain's parliament on Monday passed a bill under which asylum seekers would be deported to Rwanda to await a decision on their applications, in a bid by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to stop people making the dangerous sea crossing to the UK across the Channel.
The Guardian - UK · Apr 23, 2024 Defence spending in UK to be put ‘on war footing’, Rishi Sunak says – as it happened Prime minister announces increase to UK defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030 in speech about security