EN FR

Speech

It is time to rally to defend human rights, says Commissioner O’Flaherty

22/11/2024 Strasbourg

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, marked the 25th anniversary of the Institution with a speech in which he emphasised the urgent need for a collective recommitment to human rights amid escalating global challenges. “This moment of crisis for human rights is...

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EN FR

Statement

Commissioner O’Flaherty calls for collective action to defend human rights

22/11/2024 Strasbourg

Michael O’Flaherty, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, hosted a high-level event yesterday to mark the Institution’s 25th anniversary. Part of the activities of Luxembourg’s Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the event was honored by the participation...

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Speech

Exchange of views with the Committee of Ministers

19/11/2024 Strasbourg

Ambassadors, good morning. By now you will have seen my report covering the period 1 April to 31 August. You will observe that I have built it around my four priority work areas, and it addresses my engagement with states in the form of visits and otherwise, as well as my thematic focus of...

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EN FR

Letter

Azerbaijan: Commissioner asks for release of human rights defenders, journalists and civil society activists

18/11/2024 Strasbourg

Commissioner O’Flaherty published today a letter he addressed to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in which he asks the authorities for the immediate release of all human rights defenders, journalists and civil society activists who are imprisoned for their legitimate work or for...

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EN FR

Statement

25th Anniversary of the Commissioner for Human Rights: Facing the future with confidence, building on a quarter century of experience

15/11/2024 Strasbourg

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, will mark the 25th anniversary of the Institution with a high-level event on 21 November at the Hemicycle of the Palais de l’Europe in Strasbourg. This event is part of the activities of the Presidency of Luxembourg of the...

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EN FR

Statement

Member states must act to end impunity for crimes against journalists

01/11/2024 Strasbourg

“The lack of justice for murdered journalists across Europe is a troubling sign of the dangers facing the press,” said Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty, ahead of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. “Far too many journalists have...

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Speech

Exchange of view with the Steering Committee on Democracy (CDDEM)

31/10/2024 Strasbourg

Transcript of remarks by Michael O’Flaherty given at the exchange of view with the Steering Committee on Democracy (CDDEM) Chairperson, dear colleagues, it's a great pleasure to be with you today. I think that the work of CDDEM is of enormous significance, and I want you to count on my support as...

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EN FR

Letter

Cyprus: Commissioner O’Flaherty expresses concern about the situation of migrant and asylum-seeking people stranded in the buffer zone and allegations of summary returns at sea

31/10/2024 Strasbourg

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, published today a letter sent on 23 October to the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nikos Christodoulides. The Commissioner highlighted the situation of some 35 individuals who have been stranded in the buffer zone...

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Speech

Remarks by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, on receiving the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Star for Services to the Republic of Austria

28/10/2024 Dublin, Ireland

What can I say, dear Ambassador, Excellencies, so many friends, colleagues in this room. I want to thank you very much. I want to thank you for the great honour that you have done me. I accept the honour, but I accept it, and I'm very clear on this, not just for myself, but for all those who work...

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EN FR

Third party intervention

Commissioner O’Flaherty intervenes in three cases concerning summary returns of asylum seekers from Lithuania, Latvia and Poland to Belarus

22/10/2024 Strasbourg

Commissioner O’Flaherty has published today his written comments to the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in the cases of C.O.C.G. and Others v. Lithuania, H.M.M. and Others v. Latvia, and R.A. and Others v. Poland.* The cases relate to the alleged summary returns of asylum...

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Speech

Ombuds Institutions / NHRIs amid Turbulent Times: Resilience and Challenges

Online speech by Michael O’Flaherty on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia at the Conference “Ombuds Institutions / NHRIs amid Turbulent Times: Resilience and Challenges” Good morning. Your Excellencies, Madame Human Rights Defender, distinguished...

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EN FR

Speech

Speech at ECRI's annual seminar with Equality Bodies

17/10/2024 Strasbourg

Edited transcript of the speech by Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O'Flaherty, delivered at the annual seminar with Equality Bodies of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) “Exposing racism, intolerance, and inequalities – Commemorating 30 years of...

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Statement

Partnership with national human rights and equality bodies key to advance common human rights goals

17/10/2024 Strasbourg

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty convened today representatives of over 35 Equality Bodies from across Europe to initiate his dialogue and close partnership with national human rights structures at the beginning of his 6-year mandate. “Effective co-operation with...

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EN FR

Country visit

Ireland: the situation of Travellers, Roma and asylum seekers requires more attention

15/10/2024 Strasbourg

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, encourages further steps in Ireland in the field of combating racism and discrimination and addressing prejudice against Travellers, Roma and migrants. He welcomes the progress made in policy development, stressing the need...

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Keynote address

The Artist as Defender of Human Rights

11/10/2024 Dublin, Ireland

Keynote address 'The Artist as Defender of Human Rights', by Michael O’Flaherty, delivered at the Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin, Ireland, at the Special Evening Lecture organised as part of the exhibition La Grande Illusion by artist Brian Maguire on 9 October 2024. When I was a child of eight or...

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Speech

Human rights and migration: 5 key elements

02/10/2024 Strasbourg

Speech by Michael O'Flaherty, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, delivered at the Joint debate of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on “Missing migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers – A call to clarify their fate”and “A shared European approach to address migrant...

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Speech

Speech at the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

01/10/2024 Strasbourg

Speech by Michael O'Flaherty, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, delivered at the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. (A shorter version of this speech was delivered at the joint debate on “Missing migrants,...

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EN FR

Country visit

Finland should strengthen the protection of Roma and migrants

27/09/2024 Strasbourg

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, has called on Finland to continue to honour its strong track record of promoting and defending human rights, following a visit to the country from 23 to 26 September, which focused on the situation of Roma and issues related...

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EN FR

Mission to Poland

Poland needs to respect its international human rights obligations on the Belarusian border, says Commissioner O’Flaherty

23/09/2024 Strasbourg

Commissioner O’Flaherty visited Poland from 16 to 18 September 2024 for a mission focusing on the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border and the human rights of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. The Commissioner’s mission was prompted by longstanding reports about incidents on the...

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EN FR

Speech

Commissioner’s video message to the Berlin Process Ministerial meeting on Roma integration within the EU enlargement process

18/09/2024 Strasbourg

Video message delivered to the Ministerial meeting on Roma integration within the EU enlargement process, organised in the context of the Berlin Process Meetings 2024, Berlin, 18 September 2024: Hello, and thank you so much for inviting me to this important meeting. I apologize that I can only...

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EN FR

Statement

Commissioner O’Flaherty held a consultation meeting on the human rights of Roma and Travellers in the Council of Europe area

11/09/2024 Strasbourg

On 9 and 10 September in Strasbourg, Commissioner O’Flaherty convened a consultation meeting with experts working on the human rights of Roma and Travellers. The discussions addressed how to best advance the protection of the human rights of Roma and Travellers across Europe. The Commissioner...

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EN FR

Letter

Georgian Parliament should not adopt anti-LGBTI law and should refrain from using stigmatising rhetoric

10/09/2024 Strasbourg

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, published today a letter sent to the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia in which he asks members of the Parliament to refrain from adopting the draft law “On protecting family values and minors” passed in second reading...

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EN FR

Speech

Speech at the 2nd International Conference on Migrant Smuggling

10/09/2024 Strasbourg

Speech by Michael O'Flaherty, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, at the 2nd International Conference on Migrant Smuggling, organised by the Council of Europe European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC), in collaboration with the Office of the Special Representative on Migration and...

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EN FR

Third party intervention

Commissioner O’Flaherty intervenes in a case concerning freedom of expression and association in Hungary

06/09/2024 Strasbourg

Commissioner O’Flaherty has published today his written observations in the case of Hungarian Helsinki Committee v. Hungary which is currently pending before the European Court of Human Rights. The case relates to the introduction of Article 353/A of the Hungarian Criminal Code in June 2018 and...

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Speech

Speech at Informal Conference of the Ministers of Justice of the Council of Europe on accountability in Ukraine

05/09/2024 Vilnius, Lithuania

Speech by Michael O’Flaherty at the Informal Conference of the Ministers of Justice of the Council of Europe “Towards Accountability for International Crimes Committed in Ukraine” in Vilnius, Lithuania:   Chairperson, Ministers, Secretary-General, Excellencies, dear colleagues, Thank you for the...

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EN FR

International Day

Victims of enforced disappearances require urgent responses and concerted action: Forthcoming World Congress offers unique opportunity, experts say

29/08/2024 Geneva

To mark the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the Committee on Enforced Disappearances, the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Council of Europe...

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EN FR

Statement

Remembering the Roma Holocaust is also recognising the increasing levels of antigypsyism today

01/08/2024 Strasbourg

Ahead of the European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day on 2 August, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, delivered the following video message at the international conference “My testimony is for young people - Passing on Memory for the Future of Holocaust...

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EN FR

Letter

Poland: all laws and practices related to the situation on the border with Belarus should comply with human rights standards

23/07/2024 Strasbourg

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, published today two letters sent on 17 July to the Prime Minister and the Marshal of the Senate of Poland concerning the human rights situation on the border with Belarus. In his letter to the Prime Minister, the...

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EN FR RU

Country visit

Slovak Republic: urgent need to address human rights of Roma and adopt an intergenerational approach

15/07/2024 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, calls for emergency interventions to address the dreadful housing conditions of thousands of Roma, following his visit to the Slovak Republic from 8 to 12 July. The Commissioner engaged extensively with Roma communities to...

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EN RU

Statement

Srebrenica Genocide: Remember, honour and act

10/07/2024 Strasbourg

This year is the first time that 11 July is marked as International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica, following the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of a resolution designating the day. In his message published ahead of that day, the Council of...

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