Asset Publisher
Statement
Human rights violations in Belarus must stop immediately
More than a month after the beginning of mass protests following the presidential elections in Belarus, the human rights situation in the country remains extremely worrying. Thousands of peaceful protesters have been arrested, and several individuals have been reported missing. Yet, non-violent...
Third Party Intervention
Commissioner publishes observations on the absence of legal recognition of same-sex relationships in Romania
Today the Commissioner published her written observations to the European Court of Human Rights concerning the case of Florin Buhuceanu and Victor Ciobotaru v. Romania and 12 other cases, which relate to the absence of a legal framework for the recognition of stable same-sex relationships....
Speech
M100 Media Award - Laudatory speech for Szabolcs Dull
Journalism is about choosing the right side. When you work in this field, you choose to take the side of those who seek out and tell the truth. You choose to think and act with independence, freedom and objectivity. You choose to serve the public good. This is part of the appeal of journalism,...
Letter
Commissioner calls on the authorities of San Marino to refrain from actions jeopardising the independence of the judiciary
In a letter addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of San Marino, the Commissioner raises a number of concerns relating to recent developments concerning the judiciary in San Marino. Referring to the communications she has received from representatives of the Sammarinese judiciary in...
Statement
The authorities of the Russian Federation must ensure the safety of Salman Tepsurkaev abducted and subjected to torture in Chechnya
The abduction of Salman Tepsurkaev in Krasnodar Krai in the Russian Federation on September 5 is a serious human rights violation that cannot go unpunished. I call on the Russian authorities to take immediate action to ensure his safety. Mr Tepsurkaev (19) is a chat moderator on 1ADAT, a news...
Letter
Commissioner urges the Slovak Parliament to reject bill which would further restrict women’s access to their sexual and reproductive health and rights
Today the Commissioner published a letter in which she raises concerns about a draft law currently under discussion in the National Council of the Slovak Republic which would introduce restrictions on access to safe and legal abortion services. The letter was sent on 7 September to the Speaker of...
Statement
Commissioner calls on the Greek authorities to provide adequate support to all those affected by the fire in Moria
“The fire that destroyed most of the Registration and Identification Centre of Moria and the informal settlements surrounding it, on the Greek island of Lesvos on Tuesday night has dramatically worsened the living conditions of more than 12 000 asylum seekers and migrants, including more than...
Statement
Bulgaria must investigate police violence against journalists
“I am concerned at numerous reports of police violence against journalists covering demonstrations in Sofia”, said today the Commissioner. “Several journalists were reportedly beaten up and pepper sprayed when riot police clashed with demonstrators yesterday in Sofia. One journalist was...
Letter
Spain’s authorities must find alternatives to accommodating migrants, including asylum seekers, in substandard conditions in Melilla
In a letter addressed to the Ministers of Home Affairs and for Inclusion, Social Security and Migration of Spain, published today, the Commissioner raises concerns about the situation of the migrants, including asylum seekers, who are accommodated in the bullring of Melilla, following the...
Statement
Commissioner reiterates her call to restore and uphold the role of lawyers as human rights defenders in Turkey in the aftermath of the death of lawyer Ebru Timtik
I am deeply saddened by the death of lawyer Ebru Timtik, who died in a hospital in Turkey after 238 days of hunger strike, during which her demand for a fair trial remained unmet by the Turkish justice system. I express my sincere condolences to her family. Ms Timtik was one of the lawyers of the...
Statement
European states must no longer procrastinate on the duty to establish the truth concerning missing persons
“The lack of truth and justice for thousands of missing persons remains a serious human rights issue in Europe. So many families of missing persons in Council of Europe member states, including in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other countries in the Balkans, Cyprus, Georgia,...
Statement
Commissioner calls for prompt investigations into Alexei Navalny’s case
"Alexei Navalny’s condition remains serious a week after he fell into a coma. I express my sympathy to him, his family and friends, and I hope he will fully recover soon", said today Commissioner Mijatović. "Mr Navalny is a prominent Russian anti-corruption activist, blogger and public figure....
Rule 9
Commissioner Mijatović highlights the need to strengthen the fight against domestic violence in Romania
The Commissioner published today her submission to the Committee of Ministers in the context of the supervision of the execution of the judgment delivered by the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Bălșan v. Romania in 2017. The Court found a violation of the prohibition of torture and...
Statement
Commemoration of the Roma Holocaust: it is imperative to act relentlessly to combat anti-Gypsyism
Remembering the victims of the Roma Holocaust on 2 August is a crucial moment every year. It plays a key role in the fight against racism and discrimination which targets them. I welcome the fact that more and more actors across Europe are involved in exposing the tragic chapters of Roma history...
Statement
The Commissioner urges President of Poland to veto the amendments to the Medical Professions Act
“I regret that the amendments to Poland’s Medical Professions Act adopted on 16 July by the lower house of the Polish parliament, the Sejm, fail to explicitly oblige healthcare providers to refer patients to an alternative and willing provider in the event of the refusal of a medical service on...
Statement
Commissioner calls on Russian authorities to drop charges against human rights defender Semyen Simonov
“Today’s indictment of Semyen Simonov, a Russian human rights defender in Sochi, for not complying with the legislation on non-commercial organisations is alarming and will have a massive chilling effect on the entire human rights community in Russia”, said today Commissioner Mijatović. “Mr...
Statement
Srebrenica genocide victims' long fight for justice
The Srebrenica genocide marked one of the darkest pages of European history. If we want to write a brighter future, we must remember what happened and promote awareness and education about the Srebrenica genocide, and fight against genocide denial or distortion or falsification of that part of...
Statement
Commissioner calls for effective investigations into cases of police violence in Belgrade
“The violent dispersal of demonstrators by the Serbian police in Belgrade yesterday raises serious human rights concerns”, said today the Commissioner. “Police violence or disproportionate use of force must never be tolerated, even when operations aimed at maintaining public order during...
Statement
The Russian authorities should remedy the long-standing problem of undue restrictions to freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and press freedom
“The detention of 19 people, including journalists, in Moscow and Pskov on Friday and the verdict against journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva today reflect once again the urgency to overhaul legislation governing freedom of assembly and of expression, as well as anti-terrorism and anti-extremism...
Rule 9
The Turkish authorities should release Osman Kavala and take far-reaching measures to prevent the misuse of detentions on remand
The Commissioner published today her submission to the Committee of Ministers in the context of the supervision of the execution of the judgment handed down by the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Kavala v. Turkey on 10 December 2019. This case relates to the detention of the...
Statement
Commissioner’s concerns about proposed changes affecting the legal profession in Turkey
“I have taken note with concern of a bill recently submitted to the Turkish Parliament containing amendments to the Turkish Law No. 1136, which affect lawyers and their professional associations. The proposed changes would notably allow for a plurality of bar associations in provinces with large...
Speech
How to advance the human rights of intersex people: lessons learned from Finland
Webinar organised by the Permanent Representation of Finland to the Council of Europe and the Council of Europe Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Unit I would like to start with a heartfelt thank you to Finland for taking the initiative of this webinar and for its expressed commitment to...
Speech
Human rights and Business - Prosperity Through Diversity
Virtual conference under the auspices of the Greek Chairmanship of the Council of Europe Excellencies, dear participants, dear friends, The human rights responsibilities of business are not a new topic, but I think that the way in which we see them is evolving, and so are our expectations. For a...
Country visit report
The Republic of Moldova should ratify the Istanbul Convention, improve its response to hate speech and advance access to quality healthcare, affordable housing and social inclusion for all
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published today a report on her visit to the Republic of Moldova in March this year – which included travel to Comrat (Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia) and Tiraspol - with recommendations on violence against women and...
Statement
Commissioner calls on Russian authorities to overhaul legislation and practice governing freedom of assembly and of expression
“The arrest of more than 100 people in Moscow and St Petersburg yesterday is yet another illustration of the intolerance of the Russian authorities towards people expressing their opinions peacefully. I stressed on several occasions that the sanitary restrictions introduced to fight the COVID-19...
Speech
Protecting refugees in Europe: the ECHR and beyond
Video speech given on the occasion of the 20th Berlin Conference on refugee Rights "Europe, Coronavirus and Human Rights - The Significance of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) for the Protection of Refugees" Ladies and gentlemen, Over the past 70 years, the European Convention on...
Statement
Pushbacks and border violence against refugees must end
“On 20 June, World Refugee Day will spotlight the hardship that refugees endure. I pay tribute to the resilience of refugees and reiterate the call to protect them and uphold their rights”, said today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, ahead of World Refugee Day. “All too often,...
Speech
Commissioner Mijatović intervenes before the European Court of Human Rights in a case concerning family reunification in Denmark
Today the Commissioner took part in the hearing before the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of M.A. v. Denmark concerning the refusal to grant family reunification to a Syrian national with temporary protection status, because he had not yet held a residence permit...
Statement
Immediate action needed to disembark migrants held on ships off Malta’s coast
“The situation of more than 400 persons kept on private ships just outside Malta’s territorial waters is unsustainable and requires immediate action”, said today Dunja Mijatović, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. Since Malta closed its ports in response to the Covid-19 crisis,...
Speech
States must give a renewed impetus to realising human rights for all
The Commissioner participated today in the exchange of views organised by the Greek Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. She delivered the following speech: Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, The...
Statement
25th anniversary of Tuzla massacre: Ensuring justice for past crimes must be one of the top political priorities in the region
Today we commemorate the 25th anniversary of the massacre of Tuzla, where a grenade fired by the Army of the Republika Srpska killed 71 people and injured more than 130. It is important to commemorate the victims and survivors of that atrocious crime and remember the suffering of their families....
Statement
Lessons to be drawn from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic in long-term care facilities
After the initial scramble to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Europe and as the situation slowly improves in the countries hardest hit by the pandemic, Council of Europe member states have to reckon with the grim reality that a substantial number of deaths, up to half according to...
Statement
Statement of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights concerning the Bleiburg commemoration
"The mass planned in Sarajevo on 16 May with the intention of commemorating soldiers and civilians who died in Bleiburg, in the aftermath of the Second World War, risks becoming a glorification of those who supported the Nazi-allied fascist Ustasha regime, complicit in the death of hundreds of...
Joint statement
COVID-19: The suffering and resilience of LGBT persons must be visible and inform the actions of States
Statement by human rights experts on the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia 17 May 2020 Geneva/Washington D.C./Strasbourg, 14 May 2020 On the eve of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) on 17 May 2020, a group of United Nations...
International Day
Hate mongering against LGBTI people has no place in today’s Europe
As we prepare to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, I call on all member states of the Council of Europe to take firm action against hate speech targeting LGBTI people, which is dangerously spreading across Europe. Hateful and prejudiced statements,...
Letter
Swiss lawmakers should review draft legislation on police counterterrorism measures to ensure respect for human rights
In a letter addressed to the Chair and members of the National Council Committee on Security Policy, made public today, the Commissioner invites parliamentarians to review the draft Federal Law on Police Counterterrorism Measures in order to ensure that all human rights standards are respected....
Letter
Commissioner urges Malta to meet its obligations to save lives at sea, ensure prompt and safe disembarkation, and investigate allegations of delay or non-response to situations of distress
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Malta, Robert Abela, published today, the Commissioner urges the Maltese government to fully meet its human rights obligations towards migrants, including asylum seekers and refugees, who cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe. “In accordance with...
Statement
COVID-19: Ensure women’s access to sexual and reproductive health and rights
It is already clear that the pandemic will deepen existing gender inequalities, given women’s over-representation in professions (and other unpaid activities) which expose them to a high risk of infection and in low-paid and precarious jobs which will be particularly badly affected by the ensuing...
Statement
Support a free, independent and safe press
“Free and quality journalism is an asset of democracy. The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us of the essential role that journalists and media professionals play by providing reliable information, countering disinformation that may cause panic and keeping decision-makers accountable to the...
Statement
Commissioner welcomes the first joint commemoration in the former extermination camp in Jasenovac since 2014
75 years ago, today, the Jasenovac extermination camp in Croatia was dismantled. In that camp, more than 80 000 persons were brutally killed by the fascist Ustasha regime. As we honour the memory of the victims today, I warmly welcome the first joint commemoration in Jasenovac since 2014...
Annual activity report
Challenges to human rights have intensified in Europe
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published today her annual activity report covering 2019. The report provides an overall picture of the main problems, challenges and opportunities that European countries are facing in the field of human rights. “The image I...
Statement
States should ensure rescue at sea and allow safe disembarkation during the COVID-19 crisis
“Despite the unprecedented challenges European countries face due to COVID-19, saving lives at sea and disembarking survivors in a safe port must continue”, stated today Dunja Mijatović, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. The Commissioner calls on Council of Europe member states...
Statement
Commissioner urges Poland’s Parliament to reject bills that restrict women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights and children’s right to sexuality education
“It is with dismay that I have learned that Poland’s Parliament’s lower house plans to resume this week the examination of two citizens’ bills that aim to restrict women’s access to safe and legal abortion care and children’s right to sexuality education. I urge the Parliament to reject both...
Statement
Governments must ensure equal protection and care for Roma and Travellers during the COVID-19 crisis
Every year, on the occasion of International Roma Day, governments are reminded of the need to improve the living conditions of the many impoverished and marginalised Roma in Europe and step up measures to combat the discrimination they face. This call should resonate even more loudly this year,...
Statement
COVID-19 pandemic: urgent steps are needed to protect the rights of prisoners in Europe
I call on Council of Europe member states to safeguard the rights and health of all persons in prison during the COVID-19 pandemic. Convicted prisoners and persons on remand are among those most vulnerable to viral contagion as they are held in a high-risk environment: in general, detention...
Statement
Press freedom must not be undermined by measures to counter disinformation about COVID-19
“The global health problems caused by COVID-19 require effective measures to protect people’s health and lives. This includes combating disinformation that may cause panic and social unrest. Regrettably some governments are using this imperative as a pretext to introduce disproportionate...
Statement
Persons with disabilities must not be left behind in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic
As governments in Europe react to the rapid spread of the coronavirus through wide-reaching measures, they must not forget that a large proportion of their population is living with disabilities. Persons with disabilities are not only often at increased risk of serious health complications, but...
Доклад за посещение на държава
Необходим е по-силен ангажимент за противодействие на расизма, борба със стереотипите, свързани с пола, и увеличаване на медийната свобода в България
Днес комисарят на Съвета на Европа по правата на човека Дуня Миятович публикува доклад от посещението си в България през ноември 2019 г. Докладът поставя акцент върху расизма, нетолерантността и дискриминацията; насилието над жени и домашното насилие; и свободата на медиите. Комисарят смята, че...
Statement
Commissioner calls for release of immigration detainees while Covid-19 crisis continues
I call on all Council of Europe member states to review the situation of rejected asylum seekers and irregular migrants in immigration detention, and to release them to the maximum extent possible. In the face of the global Covid-19 pandemic, many member states have had to suspend forced returns...
Statement
Older persons need more support than ever in the age of the Covid-19 pandemic
The ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is especially dangerous for older persons and has a disproportionately negative impact on their right to health and other human rights. The European countries which put confinement measures into place in their fight against the virus have often asked...