Oak processionary Oak processionary The oak processionary "(Thaumetopoea processionea)" is a moth whose caterpillars can be found in oak forests. They are a human irritant because of their venomous setae (hairs), which can cause skin irritation and asthma. The moths are widely distributed in central and southern Europe, and are occasionally found as far north as Sweden. In the southern countries of Europe the populations are controlled by natural predators, but these predators do not exist in northern Europe. Their range is expanding northward, possibly or partly as a result of global warming. The moth now has an established population in the
Human rights in Europe ratified by 47 states (including Belarus, a non Council of Europe state), with Russia being the only state not to have ratified (nor signed). Amnesty International has called on European states to sign and ratify the convention as part of the fight against human trafficking. The Council of Europe is responsible for both the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights. These institutions bind the Council's members to a code of human rights which, though strict, are more lenient than those of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Council also promotes the European Charter