The Council of Europe was established shortly after the Second World War to promote human rights, the rule of law and democracy. Almost all European countries are now members, forty-six in total.

The Council of Europe has established a large number of conventions, the most important of which is the European Convention on Human Rights. The main organs of the organization are the Committee of Ministers, the Parliamentary Assembly, the European Court of Human Rights and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. In addition, there are important bodies of oversight and assistance, such as the Commissioner for Human Rights, the Venice Commission, the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and many others. See here for more information about the Council of Europe. 

Human rights, the rule of law and democracy are cornerstones of Dutch domestic and foreign policy. The Council of Europe is therefore a valuable organization for the Netherlands, especially at a time when those cornerstones are no longer self-evident. The Permanent Representation in Strasbourg consists of a small but committed team that actively promotes these values as part of the Dutch interest.

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