- 2h ago
Hungary to ratify Istanbul Convention and scrap abortion heartbeat rule under Magyar
Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced on Thursday, 12 November, that Hungary will ratify the Istanbul Convention and abolish a 2022 rule requiring women to hear a fetal heartbeat before an abortion.
- Nov 2
Russia leaves European anti-torture convention, ending independent prison monitoring
Russia's withdrawal from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture took effect on Sunday, 1 November, the Council of Europe said. The exit ends independent international inspections of Russian places of detention.
- Oct 3
French prison population reaches 90,020 inmates as overcrowding rises to 142%
Official figures show French prisons held 90,020 inmates on 1 September 2026, pushing national prison density to 142.1% and leaving 8,347 detainees sleeping on floor mattresses.
- Oct 1
United States exits Council of Europe anti-corruption watchdog GRECO
The United States has formally withdrawn from the Council of Europe's anti-corruption watchdog GRECO, citing annual membership costs and a policy pivot toward unilateral enforcement tools.
- Sep 30
PACE adopts Resolution 2674 evaluating Greek democracy, noting economic progress and rule of law concerns
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted Resolution 2674 in Strasbourg on 29 September 2026, commending post-crisis economic recovery while demanding independent investigations into Predator wiretapping and the Tempi railway tragedy.
- Sep 28
Council of Europe awards 2026 Václav Havel Prize to Iranian lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe honoured Iranian attorney Nasrin Sotoudeh with the 60,000-euro Václav Havel Human Rights Prize for her advocacy against capital punishment and mandatory veil laws.
