Asset Publisher
Statement
Russian civil society needs support of Council of Europe member states
During her mission to the Czech Republic carried out as part of her work on the humanitarian and human rights consequences of the war in Ukraine, the Commissioner also met with a large number of civil society actors, including Russian and Belarusian human rights defenders and journalists who had...
Statement
The liquidation of Memorial NGOs is a harsh blow to human rights protection in Russia
"The Russian courts decisions yesterday and today to shut down two prominent human rights groups - International Memorial and Human Rights Centre Memorial – on the grounds of the so-called “foreign agents” law is a deplorable move that will have significant negative consequences for human rights...
Report
Human rights of LGBTI people in Europe: current threats to equal rights, challenges faced by defenders, and the way forward
“LGBTI human rights defenders are facing an increasingly hostile environment in many European countries. Member states of the Council of Europe must do more to protect them”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, upon releasing the report of an online...
Letter
Commissioner urges the Russian General Prosecutor to discontinue the liquidation proceedings of Memorial human rights NGOs
In a letter to the General Prosecutor of the Russian Federation published today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, expresses her concerns over the liquidation proceedings against two prominent Russian human rights groups - International Memorial and Human...
Letter
Commissioner seeks clarification over criminal proceedings against Armenian human rights defender Sashik Sultanyan
In a letter to the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Armenia published today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, requests information with regards to the ongoing criminal proceedings against human rights defender Sashik Sultanyan, Head of the Yezidi Center...
Statement
The Russian authorities should discontinue the liquidation of Memorial and repeal the “foreign agents” law as a matter of priority
The Russian authorities' move towards liquidating the NGOs International Memorial and Human Rights Centre Memorial for non-compliance with the so-called “foreign agents” law is deeply disturbing. Memorial is one of the most senior and prominent human rights groups in Russia and a symbol of the...
Statement
Reprisals against Belarusian civil society must stop
Today’s verdict against two members of the Belarusian human rights centre Vyasna - Leanid Sudalenka and Tatsiana Lasitsa – sentenced respectively to three and to two and a half years of imprisonment in a colony, is another illustration of the reprisals against human rights defenders taking place...
Statement
Turkey: prolongation of detention of Osman Kavala displays contempt for human rights and the rule of law
Yesterday’s decision of the Istanbul 13th Assize Court to prolong the detention of Mr Osman Kavala perpetuates the violation of both his human rights and of Turkey’s obligation to abide by a final judgment of the European Court of Human Rights. Mr Kavala has been in detention for 46 months...
Speech
Alarm and Hope. 21st Century International Conference On the Centenary of the Birth of Dr Andrei Sakharov
Alarm and Hope. 21st Century International Conference On the Centenary of the Birth of Dr Andrei Sakharov - Plenary session Peace, progress and human rights are about choosing the right side. When you decide to defend and promote them, you choose to take the side of those who seek freedom. You...
Event
Alarm and Hope. 21st century International Conference
online conference dedicated to the centenary of Andrei Sakharov
Report
Environmental Rights Activism and Advocacy in Europe: Issues, Threats, Opportunities
“Environmental protection is a critical pillar in ensuring that everyone in Europe can fully enjoy human rights,” the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, said today upon the release of a report on a round-table with environmental human rights defenders from across...
Report
European countries should lift the taboo on Afrophobia and start addressing this phenomenon
“Racism and racial discrimination against people of African descent remain a widespread yet unacknowledged problem in Europe. It is time to recognise it and take measures to combat Afrophobia more effectively”, said today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović,...
Statement
Commissioner for Human Rights calls on the State Duma to refrain from adopting legislation which violates the rights of NGOs and civil society activists
“I have been following closely recent discussions concerning a number of new bills related to NGOs and, in particular, I note that Russian civil society has expressed criticism of these bills. Based on all the information received, I call on the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian...
Statement
Commissioner urges Hungary’s Parliament to postpone the vote on draft bills that, if adopted, will have far-reaching adverse effects on human rights in the country
“The Hungarian Government bills submitted to Parliament last week comprising proposals to amend the Constitution and other legislative instruments may have serious adverse effects on human rights in the country”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović today. “I...
Letter
Polish authorities should ensure the continuity, independence and effectiveness of the Ombudsman institution
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, made public today, the Commissioner raises her concerns about risks to the continuity and the effective functioning of the Polish Ombudsman institution. A constitutional challenge to the legal provision allowing the current...
Statement
The Russian authorities should end continuous judicial harassment of human rights defenders
Yesterday’s judgment against Yuri Dmitriev, a Russian historian and human rights defender sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment in a high-security prison having been acquitted earlier on the same charges, raises serious doubts as to the credibility of his prosecution. Mr Dmitriev is widely known in...
Statement
Human rights violations in Belarus must stop immediately
More than a month after the beginning of mass protests following the presidential elections in Belarus, the human rights situation in the country remains extremely worrying. Thousands of peaceful protesters have been arrested, and several individuals have been reported missing. Yet, non-violent...
Statement
Commissioner reiterates her call to restore and uphold the role of lawyers as human rights defenders in Turkey in the aftermath of the death of lawyer Ebru Timtik
I am deeply saddened by the death of lawyer Ebru Timtik, who died in a hospital in Turkey after 238 days of hunger strike, during which her demand for a fair trial remained unmet by the Turkish justice system. I express my sincere condolences to her family. Ms Timtik was one of the lawyers of the...
Statement
Commissioner calls on Russian authorities to drop charges against human rights defender Semyen Simonov
“Today’s indictment of Semyen Simonov, a Russian human rights defender in Sochi, for not complying with the legislation on non-commercial organisations is alarming and will have a massive chilling effect on the entire human rights community in Russia”, said today Commissioner Mijatović. “Mr...
Statement
The Russian authorities should remedy the long-standing problem of undue restrictions to freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and press freedom
“The detention of 19 people, including journalists, in Moscow and Pskov on Friday and the verdict against journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva today reflect once again the urgency to overhaul legislation governing freedom of assembly and of expression, as well as anti-terrorism and anti-extremism...
Rule 9
The Turkish authorities should release Osman Kavala and take far-reaching measures to prevent the misuse of detentions on remand
The Commissioner published today her submission to the Committee of Ministers in the context of the supervision of the execution of the judgment handed down by the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Kavala v. Turkey on 10 December 2019. This case relates to the detention of the...
Statement
Julian Assange should not be extradited due to potential impact on press freedom and concerns about ill-treatment
I have been following with great attention the developments concerning Julian Assange’s case, in particular the charges against him and the extradition request submitted by the United States government to the United Kingdom. In addition to my own monitoring and analysis, I have received...
Statement
The reaction of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights to the re-arrest of Osman Kavala
The re-arrest of Osman Kavala after his acquittal in the Gezi trial yesterday, under separate charges concerning the coup attempt of 15 July 2016, is a perfect illustration of the acute problems of the Turkish judiciary and the situation of Turkish human rights defenders that I have examined in a...
Country visit report
Turkish authorities must restore judicial independence and stop targeting and silencing human rights defenders
In a report published today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, calls on the Turkish authorities to restore judicial independence and stop the practice of targeting human rights defenders, lawyers and journalists and silencing them by using administrative and...
Statement
Commissioner calls on the Russian authorities to investigate assaults against journalist Elena Milashina and lawyer Marina Dubrovina in Chechnya
The physical assaults against journalist Elena Milashina and lawyer Marina Dubrovina in the entrance hall of a hotel in Grozny yesterday evening is the latest of a series of worrying attacks on human rights defenders and critics in the Chechen Republic. The climate of hostility against...
Speech
Human Rights in Europe: Forward and back? How we can regain the ground in polarising times
Anna Lindh Lecture, Lund University I can hardly see a better occasion than today’s lecture to hold a conversation on human rights in Europe in this particular period of time. I would like to thank the University of Lund, the Raoul Wallenberg Institute and the Anna Lindh Foundation for giving me...
Statement
Commissioner calls on the State Duma of the Russian Federation to refrain from adopting the new bill on foreign agents
I call on the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to refrain from adopting the draft law currently under examination that would significantly extend the definition and scope of a “foreign agent”. Such a law would allow the authorities to designate as a “foreign agent” any...
Statement
The Commissioner urges the authorities of the Russian Federation to discontinue the liquidation proceedings against the All-Russia Movement for Human Rights
“It has come to my attention that a judicial action to dissolve the non-governmental organisation “All-Russia Movement for Human Rights” has been initiated by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation. This NGO, which is led by the well-known human rights defender Lev Ponomarev, has been...
Speech
From hostility to reconnection: how to make human rights relevant for all
Peter Baehr Lecture, Utrecht University A big problem with human rights is that people often take them for granted. If you are wondering how I know this, it is because I was one of those persons. I was born in Sarajevo, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and until 1992 I barely understood the importance...
Statement
The Commissioner calls on Russian authorities to establish the truth about the murder of Natalia Estemirova
“Ten years ago today in Grozny, Chechnya, unknown men abducted Natalia Estemirova in front of her apartment building, forcing her into a car. Some hours later, her lifeless body, displaying several gunshot wounds, was found in the neighbouring Republic of Ingushetia. Natalia was a courageous and...
Country visit
Azerbaijan should ease the pressure on free speech, improve the situation of lawyers and continue to work towards better livelihood opportunities for IDPs
“Freedom of expression in Azerbaijan continues to be under threat” said Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, at the end of a four-day visit to Azerbaijan. Recalling the European Court of Human Rights’ judgments stressing a troubling pattern of arbitrary arrest and...
Country visit
Turkey needs to put an end to arbitrariness in the judiciary and to protect human rights defenders
“Turkey must take urgent and necessary measures to re-establish trust in its judiciary and repair the damage inflicted on the rule of law during the state of emergency and its aftermath”, said Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, at the end of a five-day visit to...
Recommendation
Council of Europe member states must assume more responsibility for rescuing migrants at sea and protecting their rights
“European states’ approach to migration in the Mediterranean Sea has become much too focused on preventing refugees and migrants from reaching European shores, and too little on the humanitarian and human rights aspects. This approach is having tragic consequences”, said Dunja Mijatović, Council...
Country visit report
Hungary should address interconnected human rights issues in refugee protection, civil society space, independence of the judiciary and gender equality
“Human rights violations in Hungary have a negative effect on the whole protection system and the rule of law. They must be addressed as a matter of urgency,” says Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, in a report published today on her visit to Hungary in February...
Statement
Let’s defend LGBTI defenders
Ahead of International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, Commissioner Mijatović issued the following statement today. “As we mark International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, I want to pay tribute to the defenders across Europe who stand up for the rights of...
Speech
Presentation of the Annual activity report 2018
Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished parliamentarians, ladies and gentlemen, I am honoured to have this unique opportunity to present my first annual activity report. You have all received the report, so I will not repeat what is in it; I would rather focus on my general assessment of the...
Statement
Commissioner calls for more rescue capacity in the Mediterranean
I take note of the decision taken by the EU's Political and Security Committee with regards to Operation Sophia. I regret that this will lead to even fewer naval assets in the Mediterranean, which could assist the rescue of persons in distress at sea. Lives are continuing to be lost in the...
Statement
Commissioner Mijatovic dismayed at verdict sentencing Oyub Titiev to 4 years of deprivation of liberty
I am dismayed by the verdict of the court in Shali sentencing Oyub Titiev to four years of deprivation of liberty in a colony. Mr Titiev, the head of the Chechen office of the Russian Human Rights Centre Memorial, is renowned for his courageous and important human rights work in the region over...
Country visit
Hungary should address many interconnected human rights protection challenges including civil society space, gender equality, refugee protection and independence of the judiciary
“Hungary faces many interconnected human rights challenges,” said today Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, after her five-day visit to Hungary last week. “The space for the work of NGOs, human rights defenders and journalists critical of the government has become...
Third party intervention
Commissioner Mijatovič intervenes before the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Mehmet Osman Kavala v. Turkey
Today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights published her written observations submitted to the European Court of Human Rights in connection with the case of Mehmet Osman Kavala v. Turkey. This case concerns the arrest and detention of a civil society activist and human rights...
Statement
Commissioner calls on the authorities of Azerbaijan to drop charges against Mehman Huseynov
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, discussed today on the phone with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mahmud Mammad-Guliyev, the case of Mehman Huseynov, an anti-corruption blogger and Chairman of the Institute for Reporters’...
Joint statement
20 years on from the adoption of the UN Declaration on Defenders: The protection of human rights defenders is non-negotiable
On the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, the universal and regional protection mechanisms call on the international community to renew its commitment to support and protect human rights defenders. There can be no realisation of rights without the...
Human Rights Day
States’ duty to protect human rights defenders
Ahead of Human Rights Day, Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, calls on member states to halt the attacks against human rights defenders and improve their safety and working environment. “In spite of an international declaration and clear standards protecting the...
Statement
Commissioner’s statement on developments affecting the work of human rights defenders and civil society in Turkey
Mr Osman Kavala was arrested on 18 October 2017 by the Turkish authorities and has been deprived of his liberty ever since, without an indictment. I have been following this case very closely as Mr Kavala is a long-standing partner of my Office, a prominent human rights defender, philanthropist,...
Third Party Intervention
Commissioner Mijatović intervenes before the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Emin Huseynov v. Azerbaijan
Today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published written observations submitted to the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Emin Huseynov against Azerbaijan, relating to the deprivation of nationality of the applicant, who subsequently became...
Letter
The Commissioner requests decisive measures to safeguard Oyub Titiev’s rights
Today the Commissioner published a letter she sent to the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation, Mr Yury Chaika, concerning the situation of Mr Oyub Titiev, the leading member of the Human Rights Centre Memorial who is being prosecuted in the Chechen Republic. In the letter, the...
Statement
European states must put human rights at the centre of their migration policies
“European states’ current approach to the arrivals of refugees and migrants has transformed a manageable issue into an extremely divisive topic, in particular within EU member states. And it has caused immense suffering and hardship to thousands of people who sought our protection. It is time...
Statement
Ukrainian authorities should step up their efforts to stop attacks against Roma and human rights defenders
On Saturday night, a group of masked men attacked a Roma camp in western Ukraine, killing one young person and injuring four others, including a child. I wish to express my condolences to the family of the person killed and I hope that the injured will soon recover. I urge the Ukrainian...
World refugee day
Commissioner calls on member states to cooperate with NGOs assisting migrants
Ahead of World Refugee Day, Commissioner Mijatović has issued the following statement today: “I want to pay tribute to the individuals and non-governmental organisations that are standing up for the human rights of asylum seekers and refugees. All across Europe, committed individuals and...
Statement
Hungary: Commissioner concerned at further planned barriers to the work of NGOs assisting migrants
“The draft legislation (Bill No. T/333) recently submitted by the Hungarian government to the Parliament, which provides for criminal law sentences, including imprisonment, for those ‘facilitating illegal immigration’ constitutes a worrying human rights development”, said today Commissioner...