'Democratic backsliding has accelerated': Council of Europe chief Pejcinovic Buric

Council of Europe chief Pejcinovic Buric says there has been a clear trend of democratic backsliding over the last ten years at least, but that there are also some positive stories such as the adoption of the Istanbul Convention against domestic violence.

"We can see over the last decade at least, that democratic backsliding in parts of Europe has accelerated," Pejcinovic Buric says. She goes on: "If you read this year's report on the State of Democracy, which I issued in May, you can see that there are some good stories, such on the Istanbul Convention against domestic violence and violence against women, or on child issues, and some others. However, there are places in Europe where backsliding is happening. We've seen increasing attacks on journalists, for example. Not only because of the war in Ukraine, where around a dozen journalists have lost their lives, but also in other parts of Europe. Were also seeing backsliding on the rule of law, as well as an increasingly polarised political life that is overheated with hate speech, both online and offline."

On Ukraine, which Pejcinovic Buric says was "front and centre" at the recent Reykjavík summit of Council of Europe heads of state and government, she states that "the tangible deliverable is the register of damages that we put together. We have 45 state parties participating, not only from the Council of Europe but also beyond. We have the G7 participating, and the EU as an entity. I'm convening the next meeting on June 27. The register is meant to give accountability. It's the first legally binding document on accountability, which should provide a place for victims who have moral or material damage to be deposited. This is the first step in the overall