The Commissioner's Human Rights Comments
Human rights Comment
The right of older persons to dignity and autonomy in care
Older persons have exactly the same rights as everyone else, but when it comes to the implementation of these rights, they face a number of specific challenges. For example, they often face age discrimination, particular forms of social exclusion, economic marginalisation due to inadequate...
Human Rights Comment
Reconciliation Stalled in the Western Balkans
In March 2012 I travelled to Sarajevo with my predecessor for the launch of an Issue Paper on post-war justice and durable peace in the former Yugoslavia, followed by vivid discussions with political leaders and civil society representatives in Sarajevo, Zagreb, Belgrade and Ljubljana. This...
Human Rights Comment
Ending restrictions on family reunification: good for refugees, good for host societies
Many refugees have to leave family members behind when they flee their homes. This adds more hardship to the trauma of exile. Once they have found safety in Europe, being reunited with their family members is often the first priority of refugees. It takes little imagination to realise how...
Human Rights Comment
Arbitrary Internet blocking jeopardises freedom of expression
Internet blocking is a widespread phenomenon in Council of Europe member states. Its impact on freedom of expression was highlighted already in 2011, when the former UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, outlined in...
Human Rights Comment
The long march against homophobia and transphobia
Summer is the time of Pride marches. The numerous marches in Europe are a testament to the ground-breaking progress toward acceptance of the equal rights of lesbians, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons. In the vast majority of European countries, and elsewhere in the world,...
Recent posts
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The right of older persons to dignity and autonomy in care
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Reconciliation Stalled in the Western Balkans
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Ending restrictions on family reunification: good for refugees, good for host societies
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Arbitrary Internet blocking jeopardises freedom of expression
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The long march against homophobia and transphobia