Council of Europe Human Rights Prize

Doc. 9216

21 September 2001

Council of Europe Human Rights Prize

Recommendation 1462 (2000)

Reply from the Committee of Ministers

adopted at the 765^th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (19 September 2001)

The Committee of Ministers has carefully considered the points raised in Assembly Recommendation 1462 (2000) and takes the view that the Prize is an important instrument for ensuring the visibility of the Organisation in relation to its central aim, and provides an opportunity to associate it with those who have contributed significantly to the defence of human rights.

The Committee of Ministers sees in principle much merit in some of the proposals contained in the recommendation, including that of a modest cash award.

In the light of the foregoing, the Committee has decided that a revised resolution should be drawn up to be adopted in place of Resolution (80) 1 as the legal basis for the awarding of a new-style prize. It has accordingly invited the Secretary General to present a draft. It notes that the Secretary General will explore the possibilities for attaching a certain amount of money to the prize.