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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...
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Neither innovative nor smart: externalisation as a migration policy path of human rights risk
Introductory remarks on Externalised asylum and migration policies at European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) event in Brussels (Belgium) on the 24 February 2026 Chairperson, Honourable Members, Thank you for the invitation to engage with you today. Migration is a phenomenon as...
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Migration: facts and law; securing the European human rights system – Commissioner O’Flaherty to Justice Ministers
Transcript of the speech delivered at the Informal Conference of Ministers of Justice at the Council of Europe. President, Ministers, Excellencies. You are embarked on an extremely consequential pathway in terms of the well-being of Europe’s human rights protection system. In doing so, I would...
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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...
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Externalised migration policies, Roma and Travellers and pressure on civil society discussed with the Committee of Ministers
The Commissioner held an exchange of views with the Committee of Ministers on Wednesday 3 September. Below is the published version of his introductory remarks: Dear President, dear ambassadors, It is a great pleasure to be back with you. I look forward to meeting those of you who are new to your...
Third party intervention
Oral intervention before the Grand Chamber in the case of C.O.C.G. and Others v. Lithuania
Mr President, Distinguished members of the Court, Today’s cases are of particular importance to me as they will have significant implications for the protection of the rights of individuals as well as for the system of human rights protection more broadly. Summary returns are widespread and...
Third party intervention
Oral intervention before the Grand Chamber in the case of H.M.M. and Others v. Latvia
Mr President, Distinguished members of the Court, Today’s cases are of particular importance for me as they will have significant implications for the protection of the rights of individuals as well as for the system of human rights protection more broadly. Summary returns are widespread and...
Third party intervention
Oral intervention before the Grand Chamber in the case of R.A. and Others v. Poland
Mr President, Distinguished members of the Court, Today’s cases are of particular importance for me as they will have significant implications for the protection of the rights of individuals as well as for the system of human rights protection more broadly. Summary returns are widespread and...
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...
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Human rights and migration: 5 key elements
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 at the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
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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Speech at the 2nd International Conference on Migrant Smuggling
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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Introductory remarks at the exchange of views with PACE Standing Committee
Dear PACE members, It is a pleasure to meet with you today, although only from cyberspace. I would have preferred to get together with you last April at your plenary session to discuss my annual report. Regrettably, the pandemic made it impossible and I was only able to circulate my report...
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Protecting refugees in Europe: the ECHR and beyond
Video speech given on the occasion of the 20th Berlin Conference on refugee Rights "Europe, Coronavirus and Human Rights - The Significance of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) for the Protection of Refugees" Ladies and gentlemen, Over the past 70 years, the European Convention on...
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PACE urgent debate on International obligations concerning the repatriation of children from war and conflict zones
Mr President, Mr. Rapporteur, Ladies and gentlemen, Allow me first to thank the Parliamentary Assembly for giving me the opportunity to address its plenary on this very important and sensitive issue. I would also like to congratulate Mr. Schennach on his report, which perfectly highlights the...
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At GANNHRI's Annual Meeting, Commissioner Mijatović underlines the role of NHRIs in protecting the human rights of migrants
The Commissioner delivered a speech today at GANNHRI's Annual Conference on "Ensuring human rights-based and gender-responsive implementation, follow-up and review of the Global Compact for Migration: The role of National Human Rights Institutions". Download the speech CommDH/Speech(2019)2 (Pdf)...
Third party intervention
Commissioner Mijatović intervenes before the European Court of Human Rights on migration cases concerning Spain
Today the Commissioner took part in the hearing before the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of N.D. and N.T. v. Spain in relation to two complaints concerning alleged summary returns of migrants from the Spanish city of Melilla to Morocco. Commissioner Mijatović...
1164th Plenary Meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council
1164th Plenary Meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, address by Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights - 16 November 2017, Vienna. Read the speech: CommDH/Speech(2017)7
Immigration detention of Children: Coming to a Close?
Immigration detention of Children: Coming to a Close? Keynote speech by Nils Muižnieks, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Conference hosted by the Czech Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe - 25 September 2017, Prague Read the speech:...