Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Latest news

29/05/2026 - Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee denounces silencing of critical voices in Azerbaijan
28/05/2026 - Legal Affairs and Human Rights PACE committee condemns ‘transnational repression’ and urges new laws to stop it
27/05/2026 - Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee concerned about the situation of ICC judges and prosecutors, who are subject to repressive measures
22/05/2026 - Standing Committee 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’
29/04/2026 - Legal Affairs and Human Rights PACE rapporteur calls for the immediate release of Anar Mammadli

(Twitter) (@PACE_LEGALHR)

Useful links

Special web page
PACE, a champion of the European Convention on Human Rights

ACTIVITIES

Presentation
A summary of the activities of the committee

Agenda
All items due for discussion and decision

Reports under preparation
List of reports under preparation in the committee

Documents and declarations
The committee's public documents and declarations

Decisions
Details of decisions taken by the committee at each meeting (synopses)

Election of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights by the Parliamentary Assembly 2024

Information note
Memorandum on the election procedure prepared by the Secretariat of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights

DID YOU KNOW?

The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights promotes the rule of law and defends human rights. It is also responsible for a whole variety of activities that make it, de facto, the Assembly's legal adviser.

In January 2026, Eerik-Niiles KROSS (Estonia, ALDE) was elected as Chairperson of the Committee.

Handbook on "National parliaments as guarantors of human rights in Europe"

A handbook for parliamentarians from all over Europe published in October 2018 by the Assembly sets out ways and means to protect and implement human rights, within a democracy underpinned by the rule of law.

This handbook is intended to equip parliamentarians to fulfil their responsibilities by reviewing institutional structures, working methods and examples of best practices drawn from a number of parliaments in Europe, which enable them to verify most effectively the compatibility of national legislation and practices with European human rights standards.

Handbook available in several languages.