• Afghanistan
• Arms control
• Climate change
• The Commonwealth
• Conference on Somalia
• Conflict minerals
• Council of Europe
• Counter proliferation
• Counter terrorism
• Conference on Cyberspace
• European Union
• Growth and prosperity
• Human rights
• London 2012 Olympics
• Middle East and North Africa
• NATO
• Peacekeeping
• Piracy
• Polar Regions
• United Nations
• US - UK relations
• Women, peace & security

UK Chairmanship of the Council of Europe

On 7 November 2011 the UK assumed the Chairmanship of the Council of Europe. The UK Chairmanship will run for 6 months until 14 May 2012. The Foreign Secretary attended an official Ceremony in Strasbourg to mark the handover of the Chairmanship from Ukraine and made a speech to representatives from each State in the Council of Europe. 

The Council of Europe is an international organisation dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights, the rule of law and democracy across 47 countries and 800m citizens. The UK was a founder member in 1949, and was the first country to ratify the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the Council of Europe’s best-known instrument. The ECHR was developed in post-war Europe to offer people basic liberties such as freedom of speech & the right to a fair trial.

The Chairmanship is a rare opportunity for the UK to play a leading role in the vital work of the Council of Europe in promoting human rights, democracy and rule of law across the continent. The overarching theme of the Chairmanship will be the protection and promotion of human rights. In particular, the UK will look to drive forwards the ongoing programme of reform of the European Court of Human Rights, promote the rule of law and freedom of expression on the internet, and work to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. The UK also aims to make progress on organisational reform of the Council of Europe, and will work towards a more effective and efficient role for the Council of Europe in supporting local and regional democracy.

UK Delegation to the Council of Europe

You can read more about the latest news and developments of the Chairmanship on the UK Delegation to the Council of Europe website

Council of Europe

The Council of Europe now covers virtually the entire European continent with its 47 member countries

UK priorities

Read Foreign Secretary William Hague's speech announcing UK priorities for their Chairmanship of the Council of Europe

   

See also

Useful links

• Council of Europe
• UK Delegation