Council of Europe poster illustrating the organisation’s main area of activity: the defence of democracy and human rights.

On 3 October 1984, in an address delivered to the Parliamentary Assembly to mark his investiture as Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, Marcelino Oreja outlines the organisation’s main spheres of activities and sets out the priorities for his term of office: to concentrate efforts on a number of priority measures and, in so doing, strengthen the identity of the organisation.

Statutory Resolution (93) 28 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, of 14 May 1993, on Partial and Enlarged Agreements.

List of the Conventions and Agreements, which are part of the European Treaty Series (ETS), opened to the member States of the Council of Europe and, where appropriate, to European non-member States, to non-European non-member States and to the European Community.

In his address, Daniel Tarschys, a former Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Secretary-General thereof from 1994 to 1999, outlines the major strengths of the Council of Europe which confer on the organisation a key role in the establishment of ‘democratic certainty’ in Europe.

In an article published in the French daily newspaper Le Monde on 27 November 2001, Francis Kessler, senior lecturer at the University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne, sheds light on the little-known role of the Council of Europe in the area of social policy.

In an interview granted to the daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort in June 2004, Terry Davis, newly elected Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, analyses the role of the organisation and compares its field of activity with that of the European Union.

Reporting on the Third Council of Europe Summit, held in Warsaw on 16 and 17 May 2005, the French daily newspaper Le Figaro recalls the organisation’s main activities since it was established in 1949 and explains the reasons for its frequent lack of credibility, in particular since the rise in power of the European Union.

In an interview published on 26 November 2005 in the Spanish daily newspaper El País, Álvaro Gil-Robles, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, outlines his role in the opening of the investigation, led by the Secretary General as well as by the organisation’s Parliamentary Assembly, into the activities of foreign security services and, in particular, the allegations of illegal detentions and rendition flights on the territory of member States of the Council of Europe.

On the invitation of the Spanish Government, the Second European Conference of Ministers responsible for Integration Policies for People with Disabilities in the Member States of the Council of Europe is held in Málaga on 7 and 8 May 2003.

From 2005 onwards, the Council of Europe denounces the illegal practices, in its Member States, of secret detentions and flights chartered by the CIA transporting terrorism suspects. The photo shows Dick Marty, Rapporteur for the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, who is responsible for studying the issue (seated, on the right), in Strasbourg on 24 January 2006, the day on which he submits an information note concerning these practices. He is accompanied by Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and Mateo Sorinas, Secretary General of the Assembly.

On 25 and 26 April 2007, in Strasbourg, on the initiative of the Committee of Experts on Terrorism, the Council of Europe holds an international conference entitled ‘Why terrorism? Addressing the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism’. The photo shows Philippe Boillat, the Council of Europe’s Director General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs, and Peter Lizák, Chairman of the Security Committee of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

From November 2006 to June 2008, the Council of Europe carries out a ‘Campaign to Combat Violence against Women, including Domestic Violence’ to raise public awareness of one of the most serious forms of gender-based violations of human rights and to promote the implementation of effective measures by public authorities to prevent and combat violence against women. The photo shows a campaign poster displayed in a street in Strasbourg.

Signing in Rome, on 4 November 1950, of the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the first international legal instrument to guarantee the protection of human rights.

On 4 November 1950, in Rome, Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister, signs the European Convention on Human Rights.

Pages bearing the signatures to the European Convention on Human Rights.

Reproduction of the first, middle and last pages of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Opened for signature by the member States of the Council of Europe in Rome on 4 November 1950, the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms enters into force on 3 September 1953.

Open for signature in Paris on 20 March 1952 by the members of the Council of Europe that are signatories of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the Protocol enters into force on 18 May 1954.

Press release published on 3 September 1953 at the conclusion of the ceremony of the entry into force of the European Convention on Human Rights. Annexed thereto are the speeches delivered by Jean-Pierre Kremer, Permanent Representative of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to the Council of Europe, and Anthony Lincoln, Secretary-General of the organisation.

Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of 4 November 1950, as last amended by Protocol No 11 of 11 May 1994, which enters into force on 1 November 1998.

Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of 20 March 1952, as amended by Protocol No. 11 of 11 May 1994 which enters into force on 1 November 1998.

Protocol No. 4 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, securing certain rights and freedoms other than those already included in the Convention and in the first Protocol thereto, as amended by Protocol No. 11 of 11 May 1994. Open for signature in Strasbourg on 16 September 1963 by the members of the Council of Europe that are signatories of the Convention, it entered into force on 2 May 1968.

Protocol No. 6 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning the Abolition of the Death Penalty, as amended by Protocol No. 11 of 11 May 1994. Open for signature in Strasbourg on 28 April 1983 by the members of the Council of Europe that are signatories of the Convention, it entered into force on 1 March 1985.

Protocol No. 7 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as amended by Protocol No. 11 of 11 May 1994. Open for signature in Strasbourg on 22 November 1984 by the members of the Council of Europe that are signatories of the Convention, it entered into force on 1 November 1988.

Protocol No. 12 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Open for signature in Rome on 4 November 2000 by the members of the Council of Europe that are signatories of the Convention, it entered into force on 1 April 2005.

Protocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, concerning the Abolition of the Death Penalty in all circumstances. Open for signature in Vilnius on 3 May 2002 by the members of the Council of Europe that are signatories of the Convention, it entered into force on 1 July 2003.

First judgment given by the European Court of Human Rights. The Court rules that there has been no violation of Article 7 of the European Convention on Human Rights (no punishment without law).

First judgment given by the European Court of Human Rights concerning an inter-state case. The Court rules that there has been violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment).

En 1956, se conformant à l'article 9 de la Convention européenne des droits de l'homme sur le droit à la liberté de pensée, de conscience et de religion, la Norvège abroge l'article 2 de sa constitution du 17 mai 1914 selon lequel "les Jésuites ne sont pas tolérés". La Norvège est le premier pays à modifier sa constitution pour la rendre compatible avec les dispositions de la Convention.

Paru dans l'hebdomadaire belge La Relève, l'article témoigne de la ratification par l'Autriche et l'Islande, le 3 septembre 1958 lors de l'Exposition universelle de Bruxelles, de la Convention européenne des droits de l'homme et de ses protocoles additionnels. Cet événement détermine l'entrée en vigueur du protocole qui rend obligatoire, pour les États signataires de la Convention, la juridiction d'une Cour européenne des droits de l'homme.

En août 1963, dix ans après la l’entrée en vigueur de la Convention européenne des Droits de l’Homme, le mensuel Nouvelles du Conseil de l’Europe publie un supplément consacré aux répercussions de la Convention sur les ordres juridiques nationaux.

Allocution de Gérard Wiarda, président de la Cour européenne des Droits de l'Homme, le 12 décembre 1983 à Rome, à l'occasion du 30ème anniversaire de l'entrée en vigueur de la Convention européenne des Droits de l'Homme.

According to Catherine Lalumière, Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from 1986 to 1988 and Secretary-General thereof from 1989 to 1994, the real institutional innovation introduced by the Council of Europe consists in the sanctions mechanism established by the European Convention on Human Rights.

Ministers from the 41 member States of the Council of Europe and 9 non-member States meet in Rome from 3 to 4 November 2000 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights.

On 22 November 2000, on the 50th anniversary of the European Convention of Human Rights, the daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort outlines the views of Marc Fischbach, Judge at the European Court of Human Rights, and Gérard Philipps, Luxembourg Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe, on the importance of the Convention and of its judicial control mechanism and on the organisation’s role in the new European architecture.

Article published in December 2000 in a special edition of the Human Rights Information Bulletin of the Council of Europe to mark the 50th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights. With the help of examples, the article illustrates the influence of case-law concerning the Convention in the different member States of the Council of Europe.

With regard to the insertion of a clause in the Draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe of July 2003 whereby the European ‘Union shall seek accession to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights’, the German daily newspaper the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung speculates, in October of the same year, on the scope of the tasks assigned to the European Court of Human Rights and on the means necessary to perform them.

On 12 November 2003, in Strasbourg, Numan Hazar (on the left), Permanent Representative of Turkey to the Council of Europe, ratifies Protocol No 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights concerning the abolition of the death penalty, in the presence of Walter Schwimmer, Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

On 10 November 2004, in Strasbourg, several of the Member States of the Council of Europe sign or ratify Protocol No 14 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, amending the control system of the Convention. The photo shows Ambassador Neris Germanas, Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the organisation, signing the Protocol (on the left), and Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

The European Social Charter, signed in Turin on 18 October 1961, enters into force on 26 February 1966.

Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter, opened for signature by the member States of the Council of Europe on 5 May 1988 and coming into force on 4 September 1992. This Protocol extends the protection of the Charter to new social rights.

Protocol amending the European Social Charter, opened for signature by the Member States of the Council of Europe on 21 October 1991, the 30th anniversary of the Turin Charter. This Protocol seeks to improve the effectiveness of the Charter and, in particular, the functioning of its supervisory machinery.

Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter Providing for a System of Collective Complaints, open for signature by the member States signatories to the Charter on 9 November 1995 and entered into force on 1 July 1998.

The Revised European Social Charter opens for signature by the member States of the Council of Europe on 3 May 1996 and enters into force on 1 July 1999. Designed progressively to take the place of the European Social Charter, the Revised Charter includes the rights guaranteed by the Charter as amended, the rights guaranteed by the Additional Protocol of 1988 as well as new rights.

Rules of Procedure of the European Committee of Social Rights, the monitoring body established under the European Social Charter and responsible for monitoring observance of the rights guaranteed under the Charter by the States party to it. Adopted on 9 September 1999, these rules replace those adopted on 4 July 1983 and the Rules of Procedure for collective complaints adopted on 21 March 1997.

Address by Hans Christian Krüger, Deputy Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, at the ceremony to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the European Social Charter held on 18 October 2001 in Strasbourg.

In this interview, published on the 40th anniversary of the European Social Charter on 18 October 2001, Stein Evju, President of the European Committee of Social Rights from 2000 to 2002, stresses the importance of the Charter as a binding international instrument for the protection of rights.

The European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, signed in Strasbourg on 26 November 1987, enters into force on 1 February 1989.

Rules of Procedure of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted on 16 November 1989 and last amended on 12 March 1997.

The criminologist Silvia Casale, President of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) since March 2000, briefly describes the role and main activities of the Committee in this interview given on 18 March 2002.

In its first public statement, made on 15 December 1992 pursuant to Article 10(2) of the European Convention for Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) denounces the widespread practice of torture and ill-treatment of persons held by the police, following two ad hoc visits and one regular visit to Turkey.

In October 2006, Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe, visits the Köpenick Detention Centre in Berlin with Ulrich Freise, German State Secretary for the Interior, as part of his evaluation mission for the effective respect for human rights in the organisation’s Member States.

On 18 April 2007, Mauro Palma, President of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), gives an address during the first debate on the state of human rights and democracy in Europe, held at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, signed in Strasbourg on 1 February 1995, enters into force on 1 February 1998.

Rules adopted on 17 September 1997 by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe relating to the monitoring arrangements laid down in Articles 24 to 26 of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. These rules establish the procedure for election and appointment of the members of the Advisory Committee as well as the procedure to be followed in the exercise of supervisory duties.

Rules of Procedure of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, adopted by the Advisory Committee on 29 October 1998.

The European Charter of Local Self-Government opened for signature by the member States of the Council of Europe on 15 October 1985 and entered into force on 9 September 1988.

The Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE) draws up in 1997 a draft ‘European Charter of Regional Self-Government' along the lines of the ‘European Charter of Local Self-Government'. Given that these two Charters are complementary in the application of the principle of subsidiarity for the benefit of regional and local authorities, the CLRAE directs its efforts towards this Charter eventually securing the status of European treaty as does the European Charter of Local Self-Government. However, points of contention between the member States of the Council of Europe stand in the way of its being signed.

The European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities opens for signature by the member States of the Council of Europe and for accession by European States which are not member States on 21 May 1980 and enters into force on 22 December 1981.

On 10 May 1990, against a background of constitutional change in Eastern Europe, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe resolves to establish, as a Partial Agreement of the organisation, the European Commission for Democracy through Law. The Statute of this consultative body, which is primarily responsible for constitutional assistance, is annexed to the resolution.

By this Resolution, adopted on 21 February 2002, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe decides that the European Commission for Democracy through Law shall henceforth be an Enlarged Agreement governed by the provisions of the appended revised Statute.

Rules of Procedure of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission), adopted by the Commission on 8-9 March 2002 as amended on 13-14 December 2002.