Human rights, democracy and the rule of law depend on the institutions that give them form. But for populists, who invoke the proclaimed “will of the people”, these institutional checks and balances on power are often seen as an obstacle that should be subverted. This is the fifth annual report of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the state of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe. As with previous reports, the five chapters look at the key building blocks of democratic security: efficient, impartial and independent judiciaries; freedom of expression; freedom of assembly and freedom of association; democratic institutions; and inclusive societies.

The origins of these Manuals lie in the increasing interest and importance of questions concerning the manner in which the freedom of religion and belief is to be enjoyed in Europe today, and how freedom of expression can be reconciled with other rights in a multi-cultural society. These volumes, written by human rights experts and commissioned by the Council of Europe, offer an overview of two contentious topics - the wearing of religious symbols in public areas and the issue of hate speech - and supply insight into key concepts in the jurisprudence of the Court, the role and responsibilities of the state and individuals, key definitions and essential questions for policy makers. This title is published in two parts, one in English and one in French. This publication is only available as a set.

This publication presents the work carried out in 2015 by the different bodies and sectors of the Council of Europe, highlighting its particular strengths and achievements. The Council of Europe is the continent’s leading human rights organisation. It comprises 47 member states, 28 of which are members of the European Union. All Council of Europe member states have signed up to the European Convention on Human Rights, a treaty designed to protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The European Court of Human Rights oversees the implementation of the Convention in the member states.

This collection of studies intends to honour Heinrich Klebes, who both as a distinguished international civil servant and as a scholar and analyst has made and continues to make an important contribution to the development of European cooperation in general and within the Council of Europe in particular. At the same time, it offers a unique and stimulating analysis of the development of a common body of law in the wider Europe. The twenty-nine articles contained in this volume are grouped together under five headings: - commitment to democratic standards; - protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms; - the Council of Europe in context; - the common legal space; - common problems of democracy and transatlantic relations.

Democratic security is an old idea, based on the argument that democracies rarely, if ever, go to war with each other. Democratic practices equally protect states from internal strife. Democratic security is a responsibility which all nations share. This second annual report on the state of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe assesses the capacities of the member states to guarantee and enhance democratic security within their borders and, collectively, across the continent. It measures the extent to which the Council of Europe’s 47 member states are able to make the five pillars of democratic security a reality, namely: an efficient and independent judiciary, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association, the functioning of democratic institutions, and inclusive society and democratic citizenship. The report also draws on the Council of Europe’s capacity to monitor and evaluate performance in terms of democracy, human rights and rule of law and to identify remedies for shortcomings and provide assistance in their implementation.

"Proceedings, international seminar, Strasbourg, 13-14 June 1996."--T.p.