Council of Europe

International Organizations

Council Of Europe

Briefing History

• Council Of Europe idea firstly was expressed by the Winston Churchill in the second world war.In 1946 Winston Churchill repeated that idea in University of Zurich

• Main goal was prevent tragedy which had been in second world war

• The Council Of Europe is an intergovernmental organization of a pan European character

• It was established 5 may 1949 by the Treaty of London

• They have 47 members and 28 of them which

are member of European Union

Member States

• Their headquarters are in Strasbourg France

• Founders are :Belgium,Denmark,Luxembourg,Sweden ,Ireland ,Italy,Netherlands,Norway,Italy and UK.Turkey and Greece joined just three months later

• Observer states :Usa,Canada ,Japan,Mexico,Vatican

• Council Of Europe, on the other hand , is more of a governing body similar to UN.EU and Council Of Europe share same anthem and flag since 1980s cause of they are working for European integration

• Unlike the European Union ,Council of Europe cannot make binding laws

• All Council Of Europe member states signed up to the European Convention on Human Rights which is leading democracy and rule of law

• Greece withdrew from Council Of Europe in Greek military Junta 1967-1974

• It is not European Union body at all

• All European states are member of Council of Europe except Kazakhstan,Vatican city and Belarus

To be part of Council of Europe ,state must have good democracy and human rights

The Council of Europes most famous achievement is European Convention On Human Rights which is created by European Court Of Human Rights in Strasbourg

Main Goals of Council Of Europe

• Prevention of torture • Fight against racism • Protection of social rights• Protection of minorities • Fight against corruption• Fight against money laundering

Main Organs Of Council Of Europe

• European Court of Human Rights• Committee Of Ministers• Committee of Ministers’ Deputies • Parliamentary Assembly • Congress of local and Regional Authotrities• Conference Of International Non-Govermental

Organization• Secretary General

European Court Of Human Rights

• It is best known body of Council Of Europe• European Court Of Human Rights is an

international court set up in 1959 • In almost 50 years court delivered more than

10,000 judgments• Court is based in Strasbourg • Not to be confused with :Court of the Justice Of

European Union ,International Court Of Justice

European Court Of Human Rights

Convention On Human Rights

• It try to protect human rights and fundamental freedom of Europe

• It entered force in 1953 • Convention Articles :Respecting

rights,life,torture,liberty and security ,privacy ,fair trial ,conscience and religion

Convention Secures In Particular

• The right to life • Freedom of expression • Freedom of thought ,religion and conscience • The protection of property• The right to respect for family and private life

Convention Prohibits in Particular

• Torture or inhuman punishment and treatment

• Slavery and forced labour• Death penalty• Arbitrary and unlawful detention• Discrimination

Secretary General

• Organ responsible for the daily work of Council Of Europe

• Mr. Thorbjørn Jagland is the 13th Secretary General of the Council of Europe.Firstly he was elected in 2009 and in 2014 he was elected again for second term

• Although secretary general’s power isnot clear defined ,in practice the holder has overall responsibilty for the strategic management ,work programme and budget

Secretary GeneralThorbjørn Jagland

Turkey ‘s problem which can be solved in Council Of Europe

• Turkey joined Council Of Europe in 1949 but still needs some important reforms.For example free and independent media , freedom of expression ,rewiew of anti-terorist law

• Turkey has to take initiative to have dialogue with Greece,Armenia and Southern Cyprus

• Turkey has also problem with Cyprus ,which is supposed to be solved by the Council of Europe’s assist

Crises

• First crises came in 1967 when greek colonel installed authoritarian regime and 1969 Greece withdrew from Council of Europe Greece didn’t return until 5 years later,1974 after the fall of dictatorship

• A new crisis arose in 1981 when the Parliamentary Assembly withdrew the Turkish parliamentary delegation’s right to their seats in response to the military coup d’état a few weeks earlier.in 1984 Turkish delegation resumed after free elections

Council Of Europe Nowadays

• When the Russia became member in 1996 ,Council of Europe finally become Pan-Europe character

• Council activities adapted environment that is not only wider and more diverse that is also more complex and less stable

• New priorities are emerging like migration,corruption minorities

CRITICISM

• In the recent years Council Of Europe has been criticised by Human Rights Watch .In September 2014 that Azerbaijans systematic crackdown on human right defenders and other perceived government critics show sheer contempt for its commitments to the Council Of Europe .