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HUMAN RIGHTS,

DEMOCRACY

AND THE RULE OF LAW

DROITS HUMAINS,

DÉMOCRATIE

ET ÉTAT DE DROIT

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INTRODUCTION

Established on 5 May 1949 (Treaty of London) by 10 states

Comprises 46 member states today

Based in Strasbourg (France)

Intergovernmental political Organisation,�founded on three main values:

human rights, democracy and the rule of law

46 MEMBER STATES�700 MILLION EUROPEANS

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MAIN AREAS

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INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

Secretary General

Committee of Ministers

Parliamentary Assembly

Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

European Court of Human Rights

Commissioner for Human Rights

Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGO)

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THE SECRETARY�GENERAL

responsible for the strategic planning of the Organisation
co-ordinates its activities and budget
manages the Secretariat (2500 staff members)
Alain Berset (Switzerland) took office on 18 September 2024 for a

five-year term

has established the New Democratic Pact for Europe

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THE COMMITTEE

OF MINISTERS

Decision-making body

comprises the foreign ministers of all the member states, or their ambassadors
adopts legal instruments (recommendations, conventions) and approves the

Organisation’s budget

supervises the execution of the judgements delivered by the European Court of

Human Rights

meets annually at ministerial level and several times a month (ambassadors)

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THE PARLIAMENTARY

ASSEMBLY

Forum for debates and proposals

represents the 46 national parliaments: �306 members and their substitutes (2 to 18 per delegation)
is responsible for many conventions
elects the judges of the European Court of Human Rights, the Commissioner for

Human Rights and the Secretary General

meets in four public plenary sessions per year

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THE CONGRESS

Voice of local �and regional democracy

comprises 612 local and regional representatives reflecting over 130 000 municipalities and regions in Europe
supervises the implementation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government

and observes elections

holds two public plenary sessions a year

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THE EUROPEAN COURT

OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Judiciary body

is composed of 46 judges based permanently in Strasbourg
supervises the implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights
is accessible to individuals and governments
has so far delivered 28 600 judgements (December 2025)

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THE COMMISSIONER

FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

An independent voice

promotes awareness and respect for human rights
issues state and thematic reports after on-site visits
Michael O’Flaherty (Ireland) elected for a six-year non-renewable term

in 2024

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THE CONFERENCE OF INTERNATIONAL

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS

comprises some 250 INGOs with participatory status
is the voice of civil society in the Council of Europe
provides a vital and dynamic link between politicians and citizens
meets twice a year during plenary sessions

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MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

More than 220 treaties, including on the following topics…

Abolition of death penalty

Prevention of torture

Cultural convention

European Social Charter

Protection of national minorities

Anti-doping

Cybercrime

Human trafficking

Sexual exploitation of children

Violence against women and domestic violence

Medicrime

European pharmacopoeia

Artificial intelligence

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Observer states

Neighbourhood Partners

Parliamentary Partners for democracy

Partial agreements

External & Liaison offices

Union européenne, ONU, OSCE

MULTI-FACETED CO-OPERATION

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THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE AND THE EUROPEAN UNION�Two separate organisations with complementary roles�

A strategic partnership

Joint programmes

Ratification of 15 conventions

by the European Union

Accession of the Union to the

European Convention on Human Rights

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THE EUROPEAN ANTHEM

Prelude to the « Ode to Joy », Beethoven’s 9th Symphony

chosen by the Council of Europe in 1972 �and adopted by the EU in 1985

THE EUROPEAN FLAG

Created by the Council of Europe in 1955 �and adopted by the European Union in 1985

EUROPEAN SYMBOLS

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FREE RESOURCES edoc.coe.int

BOOKSHOP book.coe.int

MORE INFORMATION

SOME VIDEOS

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BUILDINGS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

Palais de l’Europe

STRASBOURG

Human Rights Building

European Youth Center

European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & Healthcare (EDQM)

Agora

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IT GUARANTEES

Freedom of thought,

conscience and religion

Freedom of expression

The right of education

Free elections

The right to a fair trial

IT PROHIBITS

Torture

Slavery and hard labour

Discrimination

The death penalty

THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Signed in 1950

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THE EUROPEAN

YOUTH CENTRES � in Strasbourg and Budapest

run training activities for 5000 youth association leaders and support projects of

of 15000 young people thanks to the European Youth Foundation

organise « youth peace camps » gathering young people coming from conflict-stricken regions
launch campaigns such as the�« No Hate Speech Movement »
decide on priorities and programmes through a unique « co-management » system including youth organisations and government representatives

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OBSERVER STATES with the Council of Europe�Canada, Holy See, Japan, Mexico and USA

NEIGHBOURHOOD PARTNERS

Morocco and Tunisia

PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

Parliaments with Observer status: Canada, Israel and Mexico�Parliaments with Partner for Democracy status:

Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco and Palestine*

EXTERNAL OFFICES�Ankara, Baku, Belgrade, Bucharest, Chisinau, Kyiv, Paris, Podgorica, Pristina, Rabat, Sarajevo, Skopje, Tbilisi, Tirana, Tunis, Venice and Yerevan

LIAISON OFFICES�Brussels (EU), Geneva (UN), Vienna (OSCE, UN) and

Warsaw (ODIHR)

*This designation should not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the Council of Europe member States on this issue

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