Council of Europe headquarters

Amnesty International recommendations for the future of the Council of Europe

Ahead of the 4th Council of Europe Summit to be held in Reykjavik on 16-17 May 2023, Amnesty International provided recommendations for the future of the Council of Europe, in response to a call for consultations launched by the Icelandic Presidency of the Committee of Ministers.

Amnesty International calls on the leaders of the 46 Council of Europe member states to learn from their complacency with Russia and to curb the human rights backsliding trend across the region. Key recommendations to the Council of Europe and its member states include adopting a new holistic approach to combat shrinking civic space in member states, strengthening the independence and impartiality of national judiciaries, countering gender backlash, increasing the effectiveness of the Council of Europe, and ensuring accountability for Russia’s war in Ukraine.