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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...
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
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...
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...
Statement
Peace talks should bring immediate relief for Ukrainian civilians
Ahead of the announced peace talks to be held in coming days between Ukraine, Russia and the United States, I issue an urgent appeal: bring tangible and immediate relief to Ukrainian civilians who are enduring appalling suffering before our very eyes. A relentless campaign of attacks In recent...
Statement
The Commissioner condemns the attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and appeals for urgent humanitarian support
The following statement was issued by Commissioner O'Flaherty: "In recent weeks and days, the Russian Federation has intensified its attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, particularly energy infrastructure. Following large-scale strikes in Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv and Lviv last week,...
Report
Commissioner calls for a shift from a transactional to a "people-centred" approach to peace-making in Ukraine
Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, has released his report following a high-level, closed-door meeting in Warsaw on 13 –14 November 2025. The report asserts that human rights must underpin all peace-making efforts for Ukraine, shifting the focus from...
Statement
Peace for Ukraine must be anchored in human rights
"While it is encouraging to see diplomatic efforts intensify around the world to lay foundations for peace in Ukraine, particularly following the recent plan presented by the US President, I reiterate a critical message: a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace can only be achieved if it is...
Speech
Exchange with the Committee of Ministers: human-centred pathways to peace in Ukraine, AI oversight and defending the ECHR
The Commissioner held an exchange of views with the Committee of Ministers on Tuesday 18 November. Below is the published version of his introductory remarks: Thank you very much, Madam President, and my warm congratulations and best wishes to you as you take up the presidency. I walked past the...
Statement
Warsaw meeting: Council of Europe Commissioner and experts chart human-rights centred pathways to peace and recovery in Ukraine
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights concluded a two-day high-level meeting in Warsaw today. The closed-door meeting focused on embedding human rights and dignity at the very heart of pathways to a just and sustainable peace for Ukraine. The Commissioner convened senior experts...
Statement
Commissioner O’Flaherty, ahead of Alaska talks about Ukraine, calls for anchoring peace negotiations in human rights
News reports around the planned meeting between the US and Russian presidents in Alaska this week have so far been dominated by discourse about security and territory. While the international community’s continuing commitment to ending the war in Ukraine is encouraging, it is crucial that human...
Statement
Human rights must be at the heart of Ukraine’s recovery
Speaking at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, underscored the urgent need to place human rights at the centre of Ukraine’s reconstruction and the return of displaced people. Opening with a firm condemnation of ongoing...
Memorandum
Commissioner O'Flaherty calls for putting human rights at the heart of discussions around peace in Ukraine
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, published today a memorandum on human rights elements for peace in Ukraine, following his visit to the country in March 2025. While the prospects of peace in Ukraine currently remain uncertain, the Commissioner notes that a...
Statement
The Commissioner reiterates his call for accountability after new deadly Russian attack on Kyiv
"I am shocked by Russia’s attack on Kyiv last night, which killed at least 15 and injured 114 civilians. We need to step up efforts to hold Russia accountable and provide redress for the victims", said the Commissioner today.
Statement
Russia’s intensified attacks across Ukraine are outrageous violations of international law
"Russia’s intensified attacks against and across Ukraine in these days are blatant and outrageous violations of international law. I stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and express my deepest respect for their extraordinary courage and resilience", said the Commissioner today.
Speech
The Commissioner focuses on democratic security and human rights based peace in Ukraine at Council of Europe Ministerial session
In his address at the 134th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the Commissioner delivered two key messages. First, full adherence to human rights obligations in the field of democracy, including protection of civil society and freedoms of assembly, association and...
Statement
New Russian attacks on Kyiv highlight urgent need for human rights protection and justice
“Deadly Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and elsewhere in Ukraine last night are another tragic reminder of the urgency of helping Ukraine protect the human rights of its people and ensuring that no violations of human rights resulting from Russian aggression ever go unpunished”, said...
Statement
Commissioner O’Flaherty condemns Russian drone strike in Ukraine that killed nine civilians and injured dozens more today
“I am deeply shocked by the horrific Russian drone strike on a bus in the Ukrainian city of Marhanets,” Commissioner O’Flaherty said. “My thoughts are with the victims and their families. I stand by Ukraine. Perpetrators must be held accountable, and victims must receive redress.”
Country visit
Make human rights central to any peace process, says Commissioner O’Flaherty after visit to Ukraine
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, conducted a visit to Ukraine from 17 to 21 March 2025, during which he focused principally on placing human rights at the heart of the discussions towards peace. During his visit, the Commissioner expressed concern at the...
Commissioner's Shout-out
Human rights should be an integral part of any peace talks on Ukraine
Amidst tectonic geopolitical shifts and the retreat of multilateralism, we are witnessing how human rights are being sidelined. A stark illustration of this are the current discussions about peace negotiations over Russia’s war against Ukraine. Every day since the start of Russia’s full-scale...
Speech
Standing up for the human rights of the people of Ukraine
Speech delivered by Michael O’Flaherty at the conference “The Role of the Council of Europe in the Pursuit of Peace, Justice and Accountability in Ukraine” organized by the Dublin European Law Institute in Dublin. Good afternoon, thank you for that very warm introduction. Thank you and well done...
Speech
Exchange of views with the Committee of Ministers
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...
Speech
Speech at Informal Conference of the Ministers of Justice of the Council of Europe on accountability in Ukraine
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...
Statement
Commissioner O’Flaherty condemns deadly missile attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine
“Russia's deadly missile attacks on civilian infrastructure in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities yesterday are yet another glaring example of the brutality of Russian forces and their leadership. The bombing of Kyiv's Okhmatdyt hospital, a sanctuary for children and the country’s largest pediatric...
Speech
How standing up for social rights can help counter Russia's war on human rights in Ukraine
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...
Speech
5 priorities to stand up for the human rights of the people of Ukraine
Speech delivered at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) joint debate on the legal and human rights aspects of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine President, thank you, Honourable members, it's a great pleasure and an honour to be here. Thank you for the trust you have...
Country visit
Human Rights Commissioner O’Flaherty calls for stronger support to Ukraine
From 23 to 25 April 2024, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty carried out a visit to Ukraine (Kyiv). This was his first visit to a member state since taking up his post on 1 April. With the current human rights landscape in Europe being dominated by Russia’s war...
Statement
Russia’s full-scale attack on Ukraine, 2 years on: our common struggle in defence of Ukrainian people’s human rights
Tomorrow marks two years since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, and two years of immense suffering for the Ukrainian people. The war rages on, and serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law continue to be committed. Each new...
Speech
Let us keep doing our utmost to bring all Ukrainian children back home
Speech (delivered via video message) by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović for the Conference “Joint Steps to Bring Kids Back UA”, organised by the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights in Kyiv on 8 December 2023 Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,...
Speech
The resilience of the Ukrainian people stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit of freedom
Speech by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović (delivered via video message) for the International conference "Freedom or Fear" dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, organised by the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for...