Institutional statement

Social rights: Bridging the gap from policy to people

19 March 2026 Chișinău, Republic of Moldova

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...

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Speech

Human rights oversight of artificial intelligence

30/01/2025 Paris

Speech delivered at the Embassy of Ireland in Paris. Monsieur l’Ambassadeur, Excellences, Mesdames et Messieurs, Chers amis, Many years ago, I was sitting on a hotel terrace, looking across the lawn. As I sat there, I became aware of a little machine going up and down the grass, cutting as it...

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Speech

Commissioner’s video message to the National Forum on the Implementation of the Roma Strategy

30/01/2025 Kyiv

Video message delivered to the ‘National Forum on the Implementation of the Roma Strategy. Valuing Diversity’, organised by the NGO Voice of Romni, Kyiv, 30 January 2025: Dear friends, thank you so much for inviting me to participate in this conference. I'm sorry that I cannot be with you in...

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Speech

Social Rights are Human Rights!

04/07/2024 Vilnius, Lithuania

Introductory speech at the opening session of the High-Level Conference on the European Social Charter, organised in Vilnius, under the auspices of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Committee of Minister, as part of the follow-up to the 4th Summit of the Council of Europe Ministers, Excellencies,...

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Speech

How standing up for social rights can help counter Russia's war on human rights in Ukraine

03/07/2024 Vilnius, Lithuania

Opening remarks at the side event “Protecting social rights in times of war in Ukraine” on the occasion of the High-Level Conference on the European Social Charter, organised in Vilnius, under the auspices of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Committee of Minister, as part of the follow-up to the...

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Speech

Meeting of the Parties of the Aarhus Convention

21/10/2021 Strasbourg

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Chair, Thank you for inviting me to speak. As Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, I am committed to raising awareness about the link between environment and human rights in its forty-seven member States. Environmental harm, pollution...

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Speech

60th Anniversary of the European Social Charter

18/10/2021 Strasbourg

High-level panel discussion, opening statement by Dunja Mijatović Ladies and Gentlemen, dear Co-panelists, dear Chair, I am very pleased and honoured to address you today to mark the 60th anniversary of the opening for signature of the European Social Charter. The European Social Charter and the...

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Speech

Exchange of views with the European Committee of Social Rights

17/05/2021 Strasbourg

Good afternoon to you all and thank you very much for the invitation to this exchange of views! This is the first time that we meet, and the timing is certainly good. Even though there are signs of relief now, at least in Europe, the Covid-19 pandemic has been much more than just a health crisis:...

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Speech

Upholding the human rights of persons with disabilities in Armenia

19/09/2018 Yerevan

The Commissioner delivered a keynote speech today at the closing conference “Social Rights of Persons with Disabilities” organised in Yerevan, Armenia. Download the speech CommDH/Speech(2018)6 (Pdf) Watch the video (Facebook) Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a real pleasure to be here...

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"Human Rights Education Means Empowering Yourself and Others"

"Human Rights Education Means Empowering Yourself and Others". Address by Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. Conference on the impact of the Council of Europe Charter on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education. Strasbourg, 30 November 2012...

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