A new initiative by @pace.coe.int to strengthen implementation of European Court of Human Rights judgments, a key factor in the effectiveness of human rights oversight in Europe

Ahead of Chișinău declaration, PACE committee calls on states to preserve the integrity of the ECHR system Statement on the forthcoming Chișinău political declaration on the European Convention on Human Rights, adopted on 21 April 2026 by PACE’s Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights: “Strengthened by...

Ahead of Chișinău declaration, @pace.coe.int committee calls on states to preserve the integrity of the ECHR system

pace.coe.int/en/news/1026...

Report by eight human rights NGOs on deportation of journalist by #Georgia to #Azerbaijan in defiance of @echr.coe.int order. Four steps demanded from @coe.int's Secretary General @alain-berset.coe.int.

Side event on April 23 at @pace.coe.int on how to maintain the integrity of the ECHR system and the independence of @echr.coe.int decision-making in drawing up the @coe.int's Chisinau Declaration.
Come at 13h00 to room 2!

Announcement of workshop 'Absolute Rights under the ECHR at State Borders'. States appear to want to erode these rights (further); discussion of "in particular the prohibition of torture under Art3 ECHR, in the context of migration, pushbacks and violence at borders"
www.echrblog.com/2026/03/work...

Link on workshop 'Absolute Rights under the ECHR at State Borders' no longer valid, new link here. Workshop will be in November, paper submission by 10 May.
voelkerrechtsblog.org/calls-for-pa...

We must resist the narrative that #HumanRights are an obstacle to efficiency, to progress or to innovation. Human rights are the only universally agreed roadmap to honour human dignity.

Read my newsletter for March 2026 👇
nl.commissioner.coe.int/nl3/SWg2G0gt...

Head of Human Rights Institute of #Ireland on the #Chisinau process of @coe.int: be "wary of attempts to alter foundational rights because of temporary political pressures" when assessing claims that @echr.coe.int judgments thwart migration policies. Full text www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...

📻 Media Spotlight
🎙️ Interview with the Registrar of the Court on ORF Ö1.

📻 Dans les médias
🎙️ Interview de la greffière de la Cour sur ORF Ö1.

📻 Medien Spotlight
🎙️ Interview mit der Kanzlerin des Gerichtshofs auf ORF Ö1.

oe1.orf.at/programm/202...

🚨 CRISIS UPDATE

Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Sadigov was arrested in Tbilisi, forcibly expelled, and has arrived in Baku today.

It all took place despite binding @echr.coe.int interim measures.

This is transnational repression. Georgia must account for it.

🔗 free-anar.site/afgan-sadigo...

Symposium on the Challenges of Chișinău - ECHR Blog Since the adoption of the European Convention on Human Rights, the system has been recognized for its continuous and progressive evolution. Through slow but incremental change, over the past decades w...

... and also on #ECHR Blog a series of articles on the @coe.int's Chisinau process, in which @echr.coe.int authority on prohibition of torture and ill-treatment is at stake. Intro by Kushtrim Istrefi, first article by @edbatesechr.bsky.social
echrblog.com/symposium-on...

Symposium Introduction: Article 3 ECHR and the forthcoming Chișinău Declaration - Strasbourg Observers By Dr. Natasa Mavronicola *** Over the next 10 days, Strasbourg Observers will be hosting a blog symposium on Article 3 ECHR and the forthcoming Chișinău Declaration on the ECtHR’s approach in migrati...

Blog symposium started by Strasbourg Observers on whether and how the @coe.int's planned #ChisinauDeclaration can undermine @echr.coe.int authority on #ECHR prohibition of torture and inhuman, degrading treatment. Intro article by @natasamav.bsky.social
strasbourgobservers.com/2026/03/30/s...

Announcement of workshop 'Absolute Rights under the ECHR at State Borders'. States appear to want to erode these rights (further); discussion of "in particular the prohibition of torture under Art3 ECHR, in the context of migration, pushbacks and violence at borders"
www.echrblog.com/2026/03/work...

A number of concrete steps announced this week by @coe.int member states on applicability of Eur Soc Charter.

Congrats to @fidh-official.bsky.social and allies on their campaign to get coverage for France's oversea territories.

Continued efforts needed towards full acceptance by all CoE states!

Our Campaign welcomes that momentum is building among member States of the @coe.int to make concrete progress towards negotiations of a binding instrument on the right to a healthy environment!

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🧵on priorities of civil society participants in policy development by @coe.int's Steering Committee on the Environment (CDENV), meeting for the first time next week, incl civic presence at conferences such as COP31, climate disinformation, legal protection of the right to a healthy environment

Outraged at the surge in antisemitic attacks on synagogues and Jewish community buildings across Europe, I condemn them unreservedly. 1/2

ON Forum: Commissioner O’Flaherty calls on NHRIs and Ombudspersons to be national ambassadors for the Convention and the Court - Commissioner for Human Rights - www.coe.int Strasbourg 13 March 2026

National Human Rights Institutions & Ombudspersons should assist their governments to ensure that the political declaration expected in May will not do harm and, at best, will constitute a timely affirmation of the importance of the Convention and of the work of the Court.
#NHRIs #ECHR #HumanRights

Check out this new News Roundup by @commissionerhr.coe.int of the @coe.int
The twofold focus of the Human Rights Commissioner is very much in line with CURE's spring 2025 appeal (still collecting signatures), cure-campaign.org/appeal

The ECHR’s Procrustean bed: A final call for perspective in the Chișinău process By Alice Donald and Andrew Forde In Greek mythology, Procrustes made visitors fit his bed by either stretching them or cutting off their leg...

law-based rather than driven by political considerations, factual and evidence-based, firm on the principles of universality of human rights and the @echr.coe.int's independence, and transparent, four criteria introduced by @commissionerhr.coe.int (2/2)

www.echrblog.com/2026/03/the-...

Very much needed blog post by @alicedonald.bsky.social and @drandrewforde.bsky.social on the 'Chisinau process' of the @coe.int on the application of the Eur Convention on Human Rights to asylum seekers/migrants. They see serious problems when looking at whether the process is (1/2)

Democracy and human rights protection are key areas of work of civil society. Good therefore that @coe.int leadership touches base with them on country visits.

... and the presentation covers a wide range of other observations, incl #transnationalrepression, conditions for journalists forced into exile, #statecapture of media, #SLAPPs, use of #spyware against journalists (with recent conviction of company executives in Greece). Recommended viewing/reading!

Now happening!, presentation of Europe Press Freedom Report. Imprisonment of journalists highlighted, featuring #Russia (incl occupied territories of #Ukraine), #Belarus, #Azerbaijan, #Georgia. Upcoming: speakers from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hungary, Serbia

"States must exercise extreme caution. Migration debates require evidence-based policy, strong legal frameworks, and a genuine commitment to listening to the stories of people seeking protection."

Speaking at a United Nations Human Rights Council side event organised by the Platform of Independent Experts on Refugee Rights (PIERR), I emphasised that strong int'l cooperation is essential to resist a critical trend: the erosion of safeguards for asylum seekers. #HumanRights #asylum #HRC61 1/3

Very worthwhile reading/watching, this call by the @coe.int's Commissioner for Human Rights on member states to reconsider steps to twist the interpretation of the European Convention on human Rights, and to affect the independence of the @echr.coe.int

I welcome the release of Mikola Statkevich and Natallia Levaya for medical recasons. However, none of the political prisoners in #Belarus should have been in prison in the first place. They should be all released immediately.

Launch of annual report of the @coe.int's Platform to Promote the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists, highlighting major developments affecting media freedom in Europe and pointing to ways to better protect journalists.

Broadcast 3 March 10h00 CET on www.youtube.com/BrusselsPres...

bsky.app/profile/endr...