(ANSA) - BELGRADE - Croatia took over from Denmark the chairmanship of the Council of Europe for the first time in 22 years of membership. The country joined the Council in 1996. The Croatian Foreign minister, Marija Pejcinovic Buric, said that among the priorities in the semester of presidency will be the promotion of the Istanbul Convention against women violence, the fight against corruption and the protection of minorities and of the most vulnerable groups and of the cultural heritage. In 2011, Croatia was among the 45 countries which signed the Istanbul Convention. Zagreb ratified the Convention last month, among criticism and demonstrations of conservative and right wing organizations against the ratification.

The Council of Europe was founded in 1949 and it is the continent's leading human rights organisation. (ANSA).