Andorra is a member of the Council of Europe since 10 November 1994. The member States of this organisation hold the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers on a rota basis for a six-month period. The Committee of Ministers is the executive body of the organisation. The Andorran Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers started on 9th November 2012 and will come to an end on 16th May 2013.

It should be stated that Andorra is part of a troika with the Chairmanships of Armenia and Austria.

The common priorities of the troika are:

Human Rights

To follow up on the decisions contained in the Interlaken, Izmir and Brighton Declarations and Plans of Action with the aim of guaranteeing the efficiency of the European Convention on Human Rights.

To give visibility to the Convention and the work of the Council of Europe.

Democracy

Education and training in democratic citizenship and the promotion of local and regional democracy.

Rule of law

To promote democracy through law, the efficiency of justice, the fight against human trafficking.

To help the States with the introduction of the legal instruments of the Council of Europe.

Andorra priorities are:

Each member State holding the Cahirmanship must choose an issue. The priority of the Andorran Chairmanship will be focused on the education area.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs works closely with the Ministry of Education and Youth in the implementation of the priorities into practice.

Education in democratic citizenship and Human Rights

Education as a necessary tool for acquiring common cultural features that are essential to be able to live together in harmony in democratic societies which are culturally diverse, respecting Human Rights and the rule of law.

Promoting the European Convention on Human Rights

Use of social networks and new technologies such as Facebook or Twitter and the participation of well-known personalities to promote several articles of the Convention.

Youth

The activities designed to promote the values of the Council of Europe among young people are major ones, for example, training young people from areas in conflict or creating awareness among the Andorran youth regarding the Council of Europe activities.

Servei Fotogràfic del Govern d'Andorra