Country visit
Romania: Reforming long-term care to safeguard rights and dignity of older persons
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, conducted a visit to Romania from 26 to 29 May 2026, focusing on the human rights situation of older persons living in long-term care facilities. The visit forms part of the Commissioner’s broader engagement on this issue...
Memorandum
Armenia: more progress needed to combat violence against women
Violence against women remains a serious issue in Armenia, according to a memorandum released today by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights following his visit to the country in February 2026. While welcoming the authorities' willingness to address violence against women (VAW), the...
Memorandum
Türkiye: Council of Europe Commissioner calls for reforms to protect freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and judicial independence
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, released a memorandum today addressing freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and aspects of the administration of justice in Türkiye, following his visit to the country in December 2025. Ensuring freedom of...
Opinion article
After Chisinau: Europe, wake up!
Translation of an original Opinion article published in French on lemonde.fr on 25/06/2026 The ink on the Chișinău Political Declaration is barely dry and already the political spin has begun. We have emerged from a bruising few months for the protection of human rights - a period capped by...
Country visit
Serbia: Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights observes deteriorating human rights situation
Following his visit to Serbia from 18-21 May 2026, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, issued the following end-of-visit statement, which should be considered in conjunction with his previous interventions: The Commissioner’s visit to Serbia focused on issues...
Speech
The fragility of human rights and the necessary strength of our determination
Statement at 135th Session of the Committee of Ministers in Chişinău, Republic of Moldova President, Ministers, I join in condemning, without equivocation, the atrocities that continue to be perpetrated by the Russian Federation against the people of Ukraine. I join in insisting that all those...
Commissioner's Shout Out
Safeguarding Ukrainians displaced across Europe
Over four years ago, at the start of Russia’s full-scale aggression, while leading an EU agency, I deployed a team to Ukraine’s borders. The extraordinary solidarity shown by the people of Europe’s villages and towns was striking. Host countries provided Ukrainians with the right to stay and...
Speech
Exchange with the Committee of Ministers: facing the hard winds to deliver human rights for all
Commissioner's introductory remarks at the exchange of views with the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers Deputies Merci Madame la Présidente, dear Ambassadors, Thank you, I appreciate the opportunity to be with you this afternoon to present my annual report for 2025. I hope you've all had a...
Honoring the past, shaping the present: the vital role of remembrance for Roma and Travellers
Thank you. It is a great pleasure to be here. I would like to greet everyone. I am very honoured that we are meeting in the presence of Mr Pfeil; it is a privilege for us all. I wish to echo what has already been said regarding the work of the Parliamentary Assembly in this area. I greatly...
Speech
A change of era: Commissioner O’Flaherty urges vigilance for the Convention system at a fragile moment
Presentation of the Commissioner's annual activity report 2025 at the Spring plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Madam President, thank you very much. Honourable members of the Assembly, it's a great pleasure to be back with you in this capacity to present you...
Annual activity report
In the midst of a "change of era," Council of Europe Commissioner urges action to reclaim the treasure of human rights that we risk losing
Presenting his 2025 Annual Activity Report to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, warned that Europe, and the rest of the world, is no longer merely in an "era of change" but is experiencing a profound...
Speech
Political leadership, adequate resources: implementing a human rights approach for Europe’s Roma and Travellers
Speech delivered online at the EU Roma Week – EU MFF Event: “Roma Equality and Social Investment in the Next EU Budget, organised by the European Roma Grassroots Organisations Network (ERGO Network). Good morning. It's a great pleasure. Apologies for not being with you physically. This is the...
Country visit
Georgia: Commissioner O’Flaherty calls for law enforcement accountability, repeal of restrictive ‘foreign influence’ laws and sustained support for the human rights of internally displaced persons
Following his visit to Georgia from 14 to 15 April 2026, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, issued the following end-of-visit statement, which should be considered in conjunction with his previous interventions: The Commissioner’s visit to Georgia focused on...
Memorandum
Germany: Commissioner calls for protection of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly
Commissioner O’Flaherty released a memorandum today addressing freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, as well as efforts to combat racism and discrimination, with a focus on antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred. This follows his visit to Germany in October 2025. While acknowledging the...
Letter
Poland: Commissioner concerned over suspension of asylum and removal practices
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Interior of Poland, published today, Michael O’Flaherty expresses concern that the Polish authorities are applying legislation which provides for the temporarily suspension of access to asylum at the Poland-Belarus border in every case in which border...
Letter
Armenia should adopt a robust anti-discrimination framework
In a letter to the Prime Minister of Armenia published today, Michael O’Flaherty recommends that Armenia adopts a comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation. The Commissioner welcomed Armenia’s progress, including the new sectoral legislation and guarantees in the Criminal Code, as well as the...
Statement
International Roma Day 2026: Honouring narratives reclaimed with pride
Ahead of International Roma Day, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, issued the following statement: On International Roma Day, and every day, I stand in solidarity with Roma and Travellers across Europe. I pay tribute to their rich cultures and their...
Speech
Building back better in Ukraine: a human rights-centred path to reconstruction and recovery
Speech by Michael O'Flaherty, delivered at the 50th Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities: "Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine: A Strategic Approach to Supporting the Recovery and Reconstruction of Ukraine at Local and Regional Levels" President Members of...
Oral intervention
Hearing of the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Osman Kavala v Türkiye (no.2)
Thank you, Mr President, Distinguished members of the Court, This case, of course, concerns the rights of Mr Kavala as an individual. At the same time, it points to the ongoing structural challenges facing human rights defenders in Türkiye. I address the Court to share insight from my own work...
Third party intervention
Commissioner O’Flaherty intervenes in the ECtHR case of Osman Kavala v Türkiye (no.2)
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty participated today in the Grand Chamber Hearing of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Osman Kavala v Türkiye (no.2). This case concerns the detention of Mr. Kavala after the judgment of the Court delivered on 10...
Statement
The suffering of people in Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories should not be ignored in peace talks
As the United Nations publishes today a report documenting Russia’s violations of human rights and humanitarian law and discriminatory policies that force Ukrainians to leave the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, I reiterate my position that peace negotiations, notably when addressing...
Speech
What would a human rights-based response to disinformation and information manipulation look like?
Speech dlivered at the High-Level Conference on Media Literacy and Information Integrity: Building Resilience to Disinformation and FIMI in Europe. Dear Friends, There have been three notable occurrences this week that I consider to be deeply relevant to our topic. The first is the death of...
Institutional statement
Social rights: Bridging the gap from policy to people
Institutional statement to the High-Level Conference on Social Rights, Chișinău, Republic of Moldova Madam President, Secretary General, Excellencies, good morning. In the course of my work, it is my distinct privilege to be welcomed into homes and community centres across the continent. In that...
Speech
Protecting human rights in the digitalisation of social welfare systems
Speech delivered on the occasion of the Side event: "Digitalisation of social protection systems in Europe -The promise of efficiency versus the reality of exclusion" of the High level Conference on Social Rights, Chișinău, Republic of Moldova This week, we are going to focus attention on the...
Joint statement
Social Rights: An Essential Component of the Fight Against Poverty
Joint Statement of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights on the occasion of the Council of Europe High-Level Conference on Social Rights As representatives of the Council of Europe Member States gather...
Chair’s Notes
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights warns against AI deregulation
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, has issued his Chair’s Notes on AI governance following a consultation with civil society organisations. During the consultation, held on 6 and 7 November 2025, participants sounded the alarm on the simplification of AI...
Opening remarks
ON Forum: Commissioner O’Flaherty calls on NHRIs and Ombudspersons to be national ambassadors for the Convention and the Court
Opening remarks by michael O'Flaherty at the Council of Europe ON Forum: High-level conference with Ombudsperson institutions and National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs). President of the Court, Honourable Judges, Distinguished leaders and representatives of ombuds and national human rights...
Commissioner's Shout Out
Climate action and accountability for survival
Across the world, the sirens of the climate crisis have shifted from distant warnings to devastating realities. We are not only driving our planet to its breaking point, but are also witnessing serious impacts on human rights. We see the evidence every day: lives are lost, health is at risk, and...
Letter
Council of Europe Commissioner asks Italy to establish a National Human Rights Institution
In a letter to the Presidents of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies of Italy published today, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty encouraged the Italian Parliament to establish a fully independent National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) with a broad mandate. While...
Observations
Council of Europe Commissioner alerts to human rights risks in upcoming EU Returns Regulation
As the European Union moves toward adopting a new Regulation on the return of third-country nationals staying irregularly in the EU, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, says that the proposed framework risks undermining the human rights of migrants and asylum...