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Third party intervention
Commissioner publishes observations on the human rights of persons with psychosocial disabilities
Today the Commissioner published her written observations submitted to the European Court of Human Rights concerning the case of Clipea and Iapara v. the Republic of Moldova, which relates to alleged human rights violations committed in connection with the applicants’ stay in a psychiatric...
Speech
Exchange of views with the European Committee of Social Rights
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:...
Letter
Romania: the appointment of the new leadership of the CRPD Monitoring Council should be an opportunity to strengthen the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities
In a letter to the President of the Senate of Romania and the Chairperson of its Human Rights Committee, made public today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights invites the Senate to use the appointment of the new leadership of the CRPD Monitoring Council to strengthen the...
Speech
PACE Hearing on deinstitutionalisation of persons with disabilities
Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development Parliamentary Assembly "About two years ago, I had the privilege of addressing the Parliamentary Assembly on the issue of ending coercion in psychiatry and witnessed the unanimous adoption of its Resolution on this question. This...
Statement
States should deliver on their commitments to persons with disabilities
This year, we mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at a time when the COVID19 pandemic is still raging in Europe. The pandemic has disproportionately affected persons with disabilities and exposed all the pre-existing failings in Council of Europe member states. Among many...
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
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...
Letter
Commissioner encourages the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to adopt measures to move forward on deinstitutionalisation of children with disabilities
The Commissioner published today a letter she addressed to the Chairman of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr Mirsad Zaimović. The Commissioner calls on the Parliament to use an upcoming debate on the situation in several public...
Statement
Commissioner urges authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to investigate abuses in the Pazaric institution for children with disabilities
The revelations of abuse in the Pazarić institution for children and youth with intellectual and psycho-social disabilities are profoundly shocking. I call upon the authorities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to initiate, as a matter of urgency, an effective investigation into the...
Speech
It is time to end coercion in mental health
Addressing the Parliamentary Assembly’s debate on “Ending coercion in mental health: the need for a human rights-based approach”, the Commissioner delivered the following statement today: Download the speech CommDH/Speech(2019)7 (Pdf) It is a great pleasure to address the Parliamentary Assembly...
Country visit report
Romania should improve the implementation of laws and ensure funding to effectively protect the rights of persons with disabilities and protect women from violence
“There are systemic obstacles which seriously hinder the effective protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in Romania”, said today Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, publishing the report on her visit to the country in November 2018. The report focuses...
Country visit report
Report on Armenia recommends measures to improve women’s rights, protection of disadvantaged or vulnerable groups, and establishing accountability for past human rights violations
Today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published the report of her visit to Armenia carried out in September 2018. The report focuses on women’s rights, gender equality and domestic violence; the human rights of disadvantaged or vulnerable groups; and...
Letter
Commissioner calls on the Czech Republic to ensure legislative changes do not harm inclusive education efforts
In a letter to the Czech Republic’s Prime Minister, Andrej Babiš, and Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Robert Plaga, published today, the Commissioner addresses proposed changes to Decree 27/2016 Coll. on the education of pupils with special education needs. The Commissioner expresses her...
Country visit
Romania should improve the protection of persons with disabilities, combat violence against women, safeguard press freedom and maintain the independence of the judiciary
“Romania needs to strengthen its institutional framework to better protect the rights of persons with disabilities, and should step up the efforts to combat violence against women,” said today Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, at the end of her five-day visit to...
Country visit
Armenia’s new government should place human rights at the centre of its policies
“Armenia’s peaceful transfer of power in May 2018 has been truly remarkable. However, popular expectations are high that there will be tangible improvements to people’s lives, and the government should devote its attention to upholding the long-neglected rights of those who are most vulnerable”,...
Speech
Upholding the human rights of persons with disabilities in Armenia
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...
Country visit report
Albania should continue improving child protection and inclusion of persons with disabilities
“The protection of children and inclusion of persons with disabilities has improved in Albania, but the authorities still have to address remaining shortcomings”, said today Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, while releasing the report on her visit to the country...
Third party intervention
Commissioner Mijatović intervenes before the Strasbourg Court on the right to vote of persons with disabilities
“No one should be deprived of their right to vote because of their disabilities. Persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities are no exception”, said today Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, while publishing her written observations submitted to the...
Country visit
Albania should step up protection of children and inclusion of persons with disabilities
Today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, concluded her five-day visit to Albania which focused on children’s rights, the rights of persons with disabilities, and access to free legal aid. Concerning children’s rights, the Commissioner welcomes the authorities’...
Country visit report
Sweden should enhance protection of asylum seekers and persons with disabilities
“Sweden’s renewed commitment to participate in the relocation of asylum seekers and to increase resettlement are positive signals, but it’s time to lift the restrictions imposed on asylum seekers at the height of the 2015 migration crisis”, says the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human...
Country visit
Liechtenstein should improve gender equality and the rights of persons with disabilities
The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, welcomed the solid legal and institutional framework for the protection and promotion of human rights in Liechtenstein, which has been strengthened by the establishment in January 2017 of the Association for Human Rights...
Third party intervention
Commissioner Muižnieks intervenes before the Strasbourg Court on equal access to education for children with disabilities
“Equal access to education for children with disabilities is still hampered by serious shortcomings in law and in practice in the majority of member states” said today Commissioner Muižnieks while publishing his written observations submitted to the European Court of Human Rights on a case...
Letter
Romania: NGO expertise still vital for monitoring institutions for persons with disabilities
In a letter addressed to Ms Lia-Olguța Vasilescu, Minister of Labour and Social Justice of Romania, published today, the Commissioner recommends that the government renew its co-operation with expert non-governmental organisations in order to enhance monitoring of institutions providing care to...
Position paper
School segregation still deprives many children of quality education
“The right to education is a fundamental human right. Yet, many European countries still deny thousands of children, including children with disabilities, Roma children and refugee or migrant children, equal access to it by keeping them in segregated schools. This is a violation of children’s...
Letter
Romania should improve the protection of persons with disabilities
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Romania published today, Commissioner Muižnieks urges the authorities to increase protection of persons with disabilities. The Commissioner calls for a thorough investigation of allegations concerning serious human rights violations, such as...
Country visit report
Lithuania should strengthen the protection of women and children against violence and build a more inclusive society for persons with disabilities
“While considerable progress has been achieved in protecting human rights in recent years, the Lithuanian authorities still have to address some remaining shortcomings, in particular as regards the protection of women, children and persons with disabilities” said Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe...
Country visit
Monaco must consolidate the progress achieved in protecting the rights of children, people with disabilities and LGBTI persons
“Monaco has made significant progress in recent years in the protection of human rights. However, this progress must be consolidated by further improving protection of the rights of the most vulnerable, such as children, people with disabilities and LGBTI persons, and by strengthening the...
Visit to Lithuania
Lithuania: ensure better protection for persons with disabilities, children and victims of domestic violence
“I welcome the commitment expressed by the authorities to move away from the practice of placing children without parental care and people with disabilities in institutions. However, many persons continue to live in an institutional environment. The authorities should intensify their efforts to...
Letter
Exchange of letters with the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic on the human rights of Roma and persons with disabilities
Today Commissioner Muižnieks published a letter he addressed to Mr Bohuslav Sobotka, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, focusing on certain issues pertaining to the human rights of Roma and of persons with disabilities. In his letter the Commissioner notably reiterates his recommendation to...
Letter
Greece urged to protect the human rights of persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities and de-institutionalise them
Today the Commissioner published a letter he addressed to the Greek government noting with interest the efforts made by Greece since the mid-1980s in order to end institutionalisation of persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities and to develop community care services. However, he...
Country visit
Iceland: ratify the Disabilities Convention and strengthen the human rights protection system
“Iceland should ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and align its legislation and practice with international standards and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights. Abolishing full deprivation of legal capacity and plenary guardianship of persons...
Country visit report
Belgium should speed up the social inclusion of persons with disabilities
Read the report “Belgium is failing to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities to live independently and be included in the community. Planned measures to improve the situation should be implemented as a matter of priority” said today Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for...
Country visit report
San Marino: media freedom and gender equality should be improved
Read the report “San Marino has made progress in promoting human rights in recent years. More sustained action is now needed to ensure media freedom and increase gender equality” said today Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, releasing a report based on his visit to...
Country visit report
Slovakia: Roma, LGBTI persons, and persons with disabilities need more protection
“Slovakia has to step up its efforts aimed at combating and eradicating discrimination in law and practice, and take effective measures to improve the protection of Roma, persons with disabilities and LGBTI persons,” said today Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights,...
Country visit report
Germany's efforts to protect refugees are remarkable. Now it has to boost integration and improve fight against racism
“Germany’s considerable efforts in helping asylum-seekers and refugees, in particular Syrians, is commendable and the support of the vast majority of the population is heartening. However, progress is needed to improve reception conditions, speed up fair asylum procedures and accelerate refugee...
Visit to Belgium
Belgium: accelerate reception of asylum-seekers and improve inclusive education
"The overwhelmingly positive response of Belgian society to the arrivals of refugees and the decision of the authorities to increase the quota of Syrian refugees they accept for resettlement are encouraging signs. They suggest that Belgium is ready to play its part to ensure that Europe meets the...
Country visit report
Serbia: Impunity for war crimes, discrimination and lack of media freedom hamper human rights progress
Read the report “Serbia has to show more resolve in addressing the legacy of the past, to improve the fight against discrimination and to establish a safer media environment” said Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, while releasing the report based on his visit to the...
Country visit report
Progress on human rights protection remains slow in Bulgaria
Read the report “Bulgaria has made some progress in strengthening human rights protection, but this remains slow and fragile, in particular as regard the rights of persons placed in institutions, the human rights of migrants and media freedom,” said today Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe...
Visit to Slovak Republic
Slovakia should set ambitious targets for the social inclusion of Roma and persons with disabilities
“Although Slovakia has taken important measures to advance its human rights agenda, much more ambitious targets need to be set for eradicating the social exclusion and marginalisation of Roma and persons with disabilities. Also much more should be done to reinforce the effectiveness of the...
Country visit report
Norway: people with disabilities and Roma need more attention
Read the report “Norway has a strong human rights architecture, but more attention should be given to the empowerment of people with disabilities and the full inclusion of Roma” said today Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, while publishing a report based on his...
Visit to Serbia
Serbia urged to safeguard the human rights of persons with disabilities and displaced Roma
«Serbia needs to take immediate steps to address serious issues relating to the right to legal capacity of persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities and their de-institutionalisation in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by which Serbia is bound»...
Visit report
France: persistent discrimination endangers human rights
Read the report “Despite advances in legislation and measures to combat intolerance and racism, discrimination and hate speech not only persist in France but are on the rise. There is an urgent need to combat this in a sustained and systematic manner,” Nils Muižnieks, the Council of Europe...
Country visit report
Migrants’ and children’s rights need better protection in the Netherlands
“The Netherlands has a solid human rights protection system, but in practice there are shortcomings, in particular as concerns migrants and children, that need to be addressed” said today Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, while releasing the report on his visit to...
Visit to France
France must keep its promises concerning equality
“Despite efforts to implement the principle of equality in France, many forms of discrimination remain and show that a number of the Republic’s major undertakings are still to be honoured in this vital area for social cohesion and human rights”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human...
Visit to Hungary
Hungary should do more for the human rights of Roma, migrants and persons with disabilities
"The impact of recent changes in the legal framework in Hungary on human rights has attracted considerable international criticism. While some of the issues raised in that context have been addressed, the situation of vulnerable groups in the country remains of serious concern” said today Nils...