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Ending the trade in instruments of torture

12/12/2017 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

“A frightening arsenal of instruments of torture are still being manufactured, sold and marketed in a number of Council of Europe member States,” Vusal Huseynov told the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights today in Paris.

A European convention to offer greater protection for the profession of lawyer

12/12/2017 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, on the basis of a report by Sabine Lahaye-Battheu, unanimously voted in favour of drafting a European convention on the profession of lawyer.

Call for renewed commitment to the European Convention on Human Rights

08/12/2017 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

To mark Human Rights Day 2017, Olena Sotnyk, Chairperson of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, has called for Council of Europe member States to renew their commitment to the organisation’s basic standards.

‘Failed’ execution in Ohio: a barbaric and unacceptable act of torture

16/11/2017 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Yves Cruchten, General Rapporteur on the abolition of the death penalty, has expressed outrage at the ‘failed’ execution in Ohio of 69-year-old convicted murderer, Alva Campbell, who suffers with serious breathing difficulties.

The Convention on the Protection of Personal Data needs to be modernised

13/11/2017 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

In response to developments in information technologies, the committee considers it urgent to modernise the Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data.

Derogating from the European Convention on Human Rights during an emergency: rapporteur to visit Turkey

31/10/2017 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Raphaël Comte, who is preparing a report on “State of emergency: proportionality issues concerning derogations under Article 15 of the European Convention on Human Rights”, is to make a fact-finding visit to Turkey.

Rapporteur on Interpol Abuses, concerned about 'Red Notice' arrests in Ukraine

20/10/2017 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Bernd Fabritius has expressed his deep concern about new reports on arrests of journalists and persons who have received political asylum on the basis of Red Notices issued by Interpol.

Call for stronger protection for rights of staff in international organisations

18/10/2017 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

“The jurisdictional immunity of international organisations should not be allowed to cover abuses of the European Convention on Human Rights”, pointed out Volker Ullrich, in his report adopted by the Legal Affairs Committee.

World Day against the Death Penalty: 'fight to secure the universal abolition of this inhumane punishment'

10/10/2017 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

On the occasion of the 15th World Day against the Death Penalty (10 October 2017), the Committee reaffirmed its commitment to the right to life and reiterated that capital punishment is cruel, inhuman and degrading.

Pichugin and Navalnyy cases: failings highlighted by ECHR still not remedied by Russian authorities

27/09/2017 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Pierre-Yves Le Borgn’, rapporteur on the implementation of judgments of the ECHR, expressed concern over the situation of Alexei Pichugin and Alexei Navalnyy, applicants in two cases lodged with the Court against the Russian Federation.

Rapporteur on banning trade in torture goods encourages pan-European support for EU initiative

19/09/2017 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Vusal Huseynov, rapporteur on strengthening international regulations against trade in goods used for torture and the death penalty, welcomed the launch at the United Nations of the ‘Alliance for Torture-Free Trade’.

Committee concerned about threats to rule of law in Bulgaria, Poland, the Republic of Moldova, Romania and...

06/09/2017 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights

The committee expressed concern about some recent developments which put at risk respect for the rule of law, in particular, the independence of the judiciary and the principle of the separation of powers in five member States.