Official talks started today on the European Union's accession to the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR). Thorbjørn Jagland, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission, marked the beginning of this joint process at a meeting in Strasbourg. They discussed how to move the process forward so that citizens can swiftly benefit from stronger and more coherent fundamental rights protection in Europe.

“Today is a truly historic moment. We are now putting in place the missing link in Europe's system of fundamental rights protection, guaranteeing coherence between the approaches of the Council of Europe and the European Union," said Vice-President Viviane Reding, the EU's Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. "The EU has an importa. (more)

The Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse comes into force today.

It is the first international instrument to tackle all forms of sexual violence against children, including abuse perpetrated within the family environment. Apart from sexual abuse, child prostitution and pornography and coercing children into participating in pornographic performances, the convention also deals with grooming and sex tourism.
For Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, "Sexual violence against children is a crime against childhood. Eradicating it will take more than words and promises. We shall need definite actions to prevent, condemn and p. (more)

 
Description: Aimed at strengthening professional training on the European Convention on Human Rights, the European Programme for Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (the “so-called” HELP II programme) will be launched in the presence of representatives from 12 beneficiary countries (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, Russian Federation and Ukraine).
 
This follow up project, financed by the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Trust Fund, with a total budget of 1.5 million Euros, will be implemented by the Council of Europe.
 
The project’s aim is to strengthen the capacity of national training institutions for judges and prosecutors in 12 beneficiary countries and to fully integrate th. (more)

PACE President Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu will make a visit to Armenia on 12-13 May, during which he will meet the President of the Republic Serzh Sargsyan, the President of the National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandyan, members of different political factions represented in the National Assembly, and the extra-parliamentary opposition.
 
He will also meet Davit Harutyunyan, Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the Assembly on State and Legal Affairs, responsible for the monitoring of implementation of the recommendations proposed by the ad hoc Committee of the Assembly to inquire into the events of 1-2 March 2008. Talks are also scheduled with the Ombudsman, and with members of the diplomatic community and civil society.
 
Mr Çavuşoğlu will give a press conference on Thursday 13 May at 5.30 p.m. (plac. (more)

The Yerevan School of Political Studies (YSPS) is accepting applications for the academic year 2010-2011. Participants of political courses will take part in three seminars (each of them will last for up to one week) on various political topics organized in Armenia (the seminars will be organized in different months). The best participants will be invited to a concluding seminar in Strasbourg and will receive graduate certificates from the YSPS.

The mission of the YSPS is to help the younger generation of Armenian politicians broaden their outlook and to promote a democratic culture in the country. The YSPS is a full-fledged member of the community of similar European schools.

Among eligible applicants are members of parliament, individuals holding positions in the presidential, government and parliamentary staffs, the law-enforcement agencies, the judiciary, local governm. (more)