Round table on possible improvements of the legal framework with regard to lawyers’ status, procedural position and rights in defence of their clients.
Taking into consideration the current priorities of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Moldova in regard to reformation of the legal profession and improvement of national procedural legislation, including guarantees of a fair trial, Joint Programme between the Council of Europe and the European Commission on increased independence, transparency and efficiency of the justice system of the Republic of Moldova is organising on 17-18 May 2010 a Round table on possible improvements of the legal framework with regard to lawyers’ status, procedural position and rights in defence of their clients. This activity is a follow up of the Expert assessment of Moldovan legislation in order to bring lawyers’ status and rights in the exercise of their clients defence in line with European standards and best practices, by Council of Europe experts Ms Ivana Roagna, lawyer (Italy) and Paul Garlick, barrister (United Kingdom).
Media freedom in focus in European law student competition
Freedom of speech and the media and human rights protection in our day-to-day lives are the central themes of a competition open to all European law students, run by the Council of Europe and the European Law Students Association (ELSA, www.elsa.org).
Entrants in the ‘'Our Rights, Our Freedoms’’ competition may choose between an essay appraising the role of freedom of speech in a democratic society and its limits or a photo report illustrating the impact of the Strasbourg human rights protection system on European citizens’ day-to-day lives. Their work is to be submitted by the end of June on the competition website www.ourrightsourfreedoms.org.
On offer are three individual prizes in the essay category and three group prizes in the photo report category, which will be presented at a commemorative ceremony in Strasbourg in autumn.
The project is intended to mark the 60th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Last Updated on Friday, 07 May 2010 13:38
5 May– Council of Europe Day
Today, the Council of Europe is celebrating its 61st anniversary, a day when 800 million Europeans celebrate peace and unity in Europe.
Political organization set up in 1949, the Council of Europe has 57 member states, covering virtually the entire continent of Europe.
The Council of Europe primary goals are to achieve a greater unity between its 47 member state in safeguarding individual freedom, political liberty and the rule of law – principles which form the basis of all genuine democracy and which touch the lives of all Europeans in many different ways- and to develop common democratic and legal principles based on the European Convention on Human Rights and other reference texts on protection of individuals.
Implementation of Court judgments in Moldova: good intentions not enough
Christos Pourgourides (Cyprus, EPP/CD), rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on the implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, has ended a two-day visit to Chisinau (3-4 May 2010) with a call to the Moldovan authorities to increase their efforts to solve several structural problems revealed in these judgments. “Good intentions to rectify the various deficiencies pointed to by the Court are just not enough,” said Mr Pourgourides, who chairs the Assembly’s Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights.
He also called on the authorities to ensure a greater transparency and involvement of civil society, and to make greater use of the Council of Europe’s legal expertise, in particular that of the Venice Commission. The rapporteur also invited the Moldovan Parliament to monitor the implementation of judgments of the Court and was assured that it will continue to do so.
The range of activities dedicated to the Europe Day in the Republic of Moldova start on the 5th May with the celebration of the Council of Europe Day. The Office of the Council of Europe in Moldova and Chisinau City Hall organise an INFOBUS EUROPA under the slogan “Europe is more than you think” travelling on the bus route No 3 in Chisinau.
The INFOBUS was decorated with posters, banners and informative materials promoting the priorities and domains of activity of the Council of Europe.
All passengers of INFOBUS EUROPA will receive information materials, leaflets and brochures which will be disseminated by a group of young volunteers.
Transportation on INFOBUS EUROPA will be free of charge on the 5th of May.
The aim of this activity, organised jointly by the Council of Europe Office in Moldova and Chisinau City Hall is to raise the awareness of citizens on European values and principles.