#IstanbulConventionSavesLives: Zero-tolerance treaty turns 10
11 May Justice

#IstanbulConventionSavesLives: Zero-tolerance treaty turns 10

On the tenth anniversary of the groundbreaking Istanbul Convention, MEPs are calling for intensified EU action tackling gender-based violence as cases skyrocket against the backdrop of the COVID-19 lockdowns.
by Lorna Hutchinson
The glass ceiling: Cracked, but not broken
04 May Justice
The glass ceiling: Cracked, but not broken
New Council of Europe report warns of democratic backsliding across continent
12 May Justice
New Council of Europe report warns of democratic backsliding across continent
Time to address the decline of independent media in Hungary
04 May Justice
Time to address the decline of independent media in Hungary
EU marks World Press Freedom Day
04 May Justice
EU marks World Press Freedom Day
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell calls Press freedom a fundamental EU value.
Time for Europe to close the health inequities gap
30 Apr Justice
Time for Europe to close the health inequities gap
The link between health and social determinants is indisputable; this is why we must act to close the societal inequalities that persist in Europe, urges Sara Cerdas
MEPs call for killers of Daphne Caruana Galizia to be brought to justice
29 Apr Justice
MEPs call for killers of Daphne Caruana Galizia to be brought to justice
In a resolution, deputies also hailed recent improvements to the rule of law in Malta.
MEPs rally to support leading Spanish politicians in the wake of death threats
29 Apr Justice
MEPs rally to support leading Spanish politicians in the wake of death threats
Several senior political figures in Spain have been targeted in recent days, including former MEP Pablo Iglesias, along with María Gámez, Reyes Maroto and Fernando Grande-Marlaska.
Katalin Cseh interview: Generation Europe
27 Apr Justice
Katalin Cseh interview: Generation Europe
Katalin Cseh was drawn to politics having witnessed the deterioration of rule of law in her native Hungary. She talks to Lorna Hutchinson about what it means to be European, the power of sanctions on China and that SofaGate incident.
MEPs to debate Maltese government’s links to murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia
27 Apr Justice
MEPs to debate Maltese government’s links to murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia
European Parliament concerned that Maltese Government is obstructing ‘path to justice’ for assassinated investigative journalist.
Hungarian MEP raises questions over his country’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan
23 Apr Justice
Hungarian MEP raises questions over his country’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan
István Ujhelyi says there’s been no meaningful consultation on the plan by Viktor Orbán’s government.
EU commissioners welcome campaign to end caged farming
22 Apr Justice
EU commissioners welcome campaign to end caged farming
The three commissioners were speaking in a public hearing on the European Citizens’ Initiative, ‘End the Cage Age’, which has now been signed by 1.4 million people across all Member States.
EU Parliamentarians welcome guilty verdict in George Floyd murder trial
21 Apr Justice
EU Parliamentarians welcome guilty verdict in George Floyd murder trial
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of 46-year-old George Floyd.
Angela Merkel urges Turkey to rethink withdrawal from Istanbul Convention
21 Apr Justice
Angela Merkel urges Turkey to rethink withdrawal from Istanbul Convention
Merkel used a speech to the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe to pile pressure on Turkish President Recep Erdoğan to reconsider his decision.
Eradicating the legacy of slavery
16 Apr Justice
Eradicating the legacy of slavery
Declarations marking slavery as a crime are important as a symbol of progress, but we need more than words; we must ensure the legacy of slavery is eliminated, writes Younous Omarjee.
Jourová says Commission following ‘with concern’ Polish Ombudsman removal
15 Apr Justice
Jourová says Commission following ‘with concern’ Polish Ombudsman removal
Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal has removed human rights watchdog Adam Bodnar from his position, eliminating one of the last vestiges of independent scrutiny of the PiS government.
Europol voices concern over rise in online child abuse during pandemic
15 Apr Justice
Europol voices concern over rise in online child abuse during pandemic
The issue is one of several “disturbing” new trends noted by the agency in a new report.
Campaigners to step up efforts to ban use of cages for farmed animals
14 Apr Justice
Campaigners to step up efforts to ban use of cages for farmed animals
Renewed calls for a ban will come when Parliament holds a hearing on the ‘End the Cage Age’ European Citizens’ Initiative.
Hungary and Belgium face criticism in Amnesty International report
13 Apr Justice
Hungary and Belgium face criticism in Amnesty International report
In its 2020 annual report on the state of human rights around the world, the charity says the health pandemic has thrown into stark relief, and sometimes aggravated, existing inequalities and patterns of abuse.
International Romani Day: Time to take off the blinkers
08 Apr Justice
International Romani Day: Time to take off the blinkers
Despite some positive steps towards the inclusion of Roma in the EU, the Coronavirus crisis has laid bare the stark reality of life for Roma people and this must be urgently addressed, writes Peter Pollák.
The snail's pace progress of EU justice
02 Apr Justice
The snail's pace progress of EU justice
Despite European Commission pilot proceedings against Italy, the snail’s pace progress of EU justice in tackling discrimination against non-national teaching staff in Italian universities means the case is unlikely to be resolved any time soon, explains Henry Rodgers.
MEPs welcome Commission’s decision to refer Poland to Court of Justice
01 Apr Justice
MEPs welcome Commission’s decision to refer Poland to Court of Justice
The Commission said it will launch an infringement procedure against Poland over the “muzzle law”, which allows the government to penalise Polish judges for their rulings.
Racism kills in Europe too
01 Apr Justice
Racism kills in Europe too
The death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in the United States sparked widespread anti-racism protests, but racism is a worldwide issue and we are far from blame-free in Europe, argues Hilde Vautmans. 
Political groups accused of waging ‘political witch-hunt’ against certain Member States
31 Mar Justice
Political groups accused of waging ‘political witch-hunt’ against certain Member States
The row surrounds the EU’s new rule of law conditionality mechanism, recently adopted by the European Commission.
Peace in Yemen is a real possibility PM+
30 Mar Justice
Peace in Yemen is a real possibility
Saudi Arabia is leading international efforts to stabilise the country and bring an end to the war, writes HE Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the European Union, Saad Bin Mohammed Alarify.
MEPs to hold emergency debate on rule of law in Malta
24 Mar Justice
MEPs to hold emergency debate on rule of law in Malta
On Thursday, Parliament will discuss the rule of law in the tiny Mediterranean island and recent developments in the investigation of the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Five MEPs ‘blacklisted’ by China as Beijing retaliates against fresh EU sanctions
23 Mar Justice
Five MEPs ‘blacklisted’ by China as Beijing retaliates against fresh EU sanctions
The new EU sanctions were imposed on Monday over alleged human rights abuses by China.
EU leaders and MEPs condemn Turkey’s decision to withdraw from Istanbul Convention
22 Mar Justice
EU leaders and MEPs condemn Turkey’s decision to withdraw from Istanbul Convention
The controversial move to withdraw from the international treaty, designed to combat violence against women, sparked immediate protests from world leaders and campaigners.