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Update to the Venice Commission’s Rule of Law Checklist: ‘a crucial benchmark for evaluating the health of the rule of law in member states’
©Philippe Fitte

Update to the Venice Commission’s Rule of Law Checklist: ‘a crucial benchmark for evaluating the health of...

22/05/2026 | Standing Committee

The PACE Standing Committee, meeting today in Monaco, welcomed the Venice Commission’s proactive stance in updating the Rule of Law Checklist to reflect the challenges to the rule of law and lessons drawn from developments in its 61 member states. The committee contributed to the update...

Anar Mammadli

PACE rapporteur calls for the immediate release of Anar Mammadli

29/04/2026 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

The General Rapporteur for political prisoners of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Azadeh Rojhan (Sweden, SOC), made the following statement on the second anniversary of Anar Mammadli’s detention in Azerbaijan: “Today marks exactly two years since Anar Mammadli, a...

PACE launches a new network to promote implementation of Strasbourg Court rulings

PACE launches a new network to promote implementation of Strasbourg Court rulings

21/04/2026 | European Convention on Human Rights

The Assembly is creating a new network of its members to encourage states to implement judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. The network will bring together parliamentarians from all the member states to encourage governments to execute judgments and to drive forward the legislative...

The European Court of Human Rights Building
©Council of Europe

Ahead of Chișinău declaration, PACE committee calls on states to preserve the integrity of the ECHR system

21/04/2026 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

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 its 75-year history, the European Convention on Human Rights is an essential part of Europe’s...

Abzas Media
©Abzas Media

PACE rapporteur strongly condemns harsh final sentences against journalists in Azerbaijan

17/04/2026 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Christophe Lacroix (Belgium, SOC), PACE rapporteur for “Threats to life and safety of journalists and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan”, made the following statement today: “I am deeply disappointed by the recent decisions of Azerbaijan’s Supreme Court rejecting the appeals of imprisoned...

PACE rapporteur strongly urges Knesset members to oppose ‘discriminatory’ bill expanding the death penalty in Israel

PACE rapporteur strongly urges Knesset members to oppose ‘discriminatory’ bill expanding the death penalty...

27/03/2026 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Gala Veldhoen (Netherlands, SOC), General Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on the abolition of the death penalty, made the following statement today: “I am deeply concerned about the bill currently under discussion in Israel which would introduce death...

‘The death penalty does not make society safer,’ says General Rapporteur

PACE committee deeply concerned at proposal to expand the death penalty in Israel

18/03/2026 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

A committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has expressed “deep concern” at ongoing legislative proposals before the Israeli Knesset that would expand the death penalty in Israel. Approving a draft resolution based on a report by Gala Veldhoen (Netherlands, SOC...

Riigikogu of Estonia

PACE rapporteur welcomes Estonia’s parliamentary support for a Tribunal to try the crime of aggression...

17/02/2026 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Titus Corlăţean (Romania, SOC), PACE's rapporteur on accountability for the Russian Federation's war of aggression against Ukraine, has issued the following statement on Estonia's approval of the future agreement establishing the Management Committee of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of...

Holding accountable the perpetrators and beneficiaries of the crime identified by Sergei Magnitsky

Holding accountable the perpetrators and beneficiaries of the crime identified by Sergei Magnitsky

13/02/2026 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

PACE’s Committee on Legal Affairs has reiterated its call “for all those responsible for the death of Sergei Magnitsky, as well as the beneficiaries of the fraud he uncovered, to be held accountable”. Mr Magnitsky, a Russian tax adviser and auditor, uncovered a US$230 million fraud perpetrated by...

'Another Russian war crime' - joint statement condemns Russian attacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure

'Another Russian war crime' - joint statement condemns Russian attacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure

29/01/2026 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Eerik-Niiles Kross (Estonia, ALDE), Chair of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, and Titus Corlăţean (Romania, SOC), PACE's rapporteur on accountability for the Russian Federation's war of aggression against Ukraine, have issued the following joint statement: 'We condemn the...

PACE rapporteur welcomes claims commission for Ukraine, urges a compensation fund as the next stage of accountability

PACE rapporteur welcomes claims commission for Ukraine, urges a compensation fund as the next stage

16/12/2025 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Titus Corlăţean (Romania, SOC), PACE's rapporteur on accountability for Russia's aggression against Ukraine, has warmly welcomed yesterday’s major step towards an International Claims Commission for Ukraine, and pledged that the Assembly will do “everything in its power” to support it as well as...

PACE General Rapporteur expresses deep concern over pre-trial detention of Ali Karimli in Azerbaijan
©Ali Karimli

PACE General Rapporteur expresses deep concern over pre-trial detention of Ali Karimli in Azerbaijan

04/12/2025 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

The General Rapporteur for political prisoners of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Azadeh Rojhan (Sweden, SOC), made the following statement regarding the arrest of Ali Karimli, the Chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, on charges of actions aimed at seizing...