Description
The Council of Europe is the main human rights organization on the continent. It includes 46 member states, including all members of the European Union. All member states of the Council of Europe have signed the European Convention on Human Rights, a treaty designed to protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
The Council of Europe protects freedom of expression and the media, freedom of assembly, equality and the protection of minorities. She has launched campaigns on issues such as child protection, online hate speech and the rights of the Roma, Europe's largest minority. The Council of Europe helps member countries fight corruption and terrorism and undertake the necessary judicial reforms. Its group of constitutional experts, known as the Venice Commission, provides legal advice to countries around the world.
The Council of Europe works in close partnership with the European Union and cooperates with the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and partner countries in its neighborhood and around the world. For example, the Council's European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and Healthcare, which plays a key role in the fight against counterfeit drugs and doping, has agreements with Brazil, China, South Africa and the United States.
The Council of Europe is headquartered in Strasbourg, France. It employs 2,200 people and maintains external and liaison offices with other international organizations. The European Youth Centers in Strasbourg and Budapest offer training for young people in issues of democracy and human rights.
The Structure In addition to the European Court of Human Rights, the Council of Europe consists of several working institutions.
- General Secretary leads and represents the Council of Europe.
- Committee of Ministers, composed of the foreign ministers of the member countries and their representatives, acts as the main decision-making body.
- Parliamentary Assembly provides a democratic forum for debate and monitors elections; its commissions play an important role in considering current issues.
- Commissioner for Human Rights independently addresses and draws attention to human rights violations.
- Congress of Local and Regional Authorities promotes democratic self-government and monitors local elections.
- Conference of International Non-Governmental Organizations represents civil society and promotes participatory democracy.
What is Council of Europe
