Council of Europe – Human Rights Treaties
The Council of Europe was founded on 5 May 1949 by ten countries by the signature of the Statute of the Council of Europe. The Council seeks to develop common and democratic principles throughout Europe based on the protection of individual rights.
All treaties of the Council of Europe are prepared and negotiated within its institutional framework. Negotiations lead to a decision of the Committee of Ministers to adopt the final text of the proposed treaty. The treaty is then opened for signature by member States of the Council. The treaties owe their legal existence to the consent of those member States that sign and ratify them, they are not statutory acts of the Council of Europe.
The following Conventions and Treaties are the most important human rights instruments within the Council of Europe’s remit:
- European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms - Additional Protocols to the ECHR
- European Social Charter and revised European Social Charter
- Prevention of Torture
European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment - Minority Protection
Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities/European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages - Children's Rights
European Convention on the Exercise of Children's Rights - Sexual Exploitation of Children
Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse - Human Rights and Biomedicine
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine - Conventions in the Realm of Migration
European Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers/Convention on the Participation of Foreigners in Public Life at Local Level/European Convention on Nationality - Trafficking in Human Beings
Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings - Violence against women
Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence
