Council of Europe
Aim
Advocate freedom of expression and of the media, freedom of assembly, equality, and the protection of minorities; help member states fight corruption and terrorism and undertake necessary judicial reforms; promote human rights through international conventions; monitor member states' progress in these areas and make recommendations through independent expert monitoring bodies.
History
Foundation in 1949 in London (UK) on signature of Statute of the Council of Europe by government representatives of Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
IRD Activities
- Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue - Defence of Cultural Diversity
Following the adoption in 2008 of its "White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue", the CE started several programmes on teacher training, the protection of minorities and social cohesion, including an annual dialogue with religious communities and representatives of non-religious beliefs. A network of Intercultural Cities helps its member cities to manage cultural diversity and fosters mixing and interaction between heterogeneous groups in public places in order to promote cohesion.
Main Focus Countries of Activities
Albania - Andorra - Armenia - Austria - Azerbaijan - Belgium - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Bulgaria - Croatia - Cyprus - Czechia - Denmark - Estonia - Finland - France - Georgia - Germany - Greece - Hungary - Iceland - Ireland - Italy - Latvia - Liechtenstein - Lithuania - Luxembourg - Malta - Moldova - Monaco - Montenegro - Netherlands - Norway - Poland - Portugal - Romania - Russian Federation - San Marino - Serbia - Slovakia - Slovenia - Spain - Sweden - Switzerland - Macedonia - Turkey - Ukraine - UK