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Statement
Hungary: crackdowns on peaceful assembly must be reversed
I am concerned about the prosecution of Géza Buzás-Hábel, a young teacher and community activist now facing criminal charges and the possibility of imprisonment for organising Pécs Pride in October 2025. His wrongdoing was organising a peaceful march for human rights and equality, and the...
Speech
Hope as a duty: standing up against the storm - Commissioner O’Flaherty at ILGA-Europe 2025
Transcript of Michael O'Flaherty's speech at the ILGA-Europe Annual Conference in Vilnius, Lithuania. Good morning, it is a very great pleasure for me to be here with you. Thank you for the welcome and the introduction. Thank you for the amazing sessions we have been participating in already this...
Letter
Commissioner asks Bulgarian lawmakers to reject amendments that would undermine the human rights of LGBTI people
In a letter to the President of the National Assembly of Bulgaria, published today, Commissioner O’Flaherty asks Bulgarian lawmakers to refrain from adopting proposed amendments to the Child Protection Act and other laws, expressing concern about their compatibility with Council of Europe and...
Letters
United Kingdom: Commissioner addresses human rights issues in policing of protests and the situation of trans people
Today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, published two letters on the United Kingdom. These letters, which expand on his initial observations following a recent visit, address the policing of protests and the situation of trans people. Policing of protests...
Country visit
United Kingdom: tackling poverty is crucial to protect children’s human rights; a number of other areas also call for attention
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, conducted a visit to the United Kingdom from 30 June to 4 July 2025, during which he focused primarily on child poverty. He also addressed certain other human rights issues, including the management of irregular migration,...
Statement
Commissioner calls on Hungary to uphold the human rights of LGBTI people and reverse clampdowns on civic space
“I am here during Budapest Pride week in solidarity with the Hungarian LGBTI communities, in respect for and celebration of their members in all their diversity, but also in repudiation of the violation of their human rights”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael...
Speech
Budapest Pride 30 International Human Rights Conference
Speech at the Budapest Pride 30 International Human Rights Conference in Budapest, Hungary, on the 25 June 2025 Good afternoon. Thank you for the invitation! It is a great pleasure for me to be here. President of Budapest Pride, mayors and deputy mayors, ambassadors, dear friends: I am here: in...
Speech
Attacks against the human rights of LGBTI people are assaults on the rule of law. It is time to push back.
The Commissioner gave today the following speech at the Opening Plenary Session of IDAHOT+ Forum 2025 at Valletta: Prime Minister, Parliamentary Secretary, excellencies, dear friends. Today, there is widespread appreciation of the essential importance of protecting and preserving the rule of law...
Letter
Hungary should reconsider the law on assemblies and refrain from adopting legislative proposals which threaten the human rights of LGBTI people
In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary, Commissioner O’Flaherty asks members of Parliament to reconsider the amendment to the Law on the right to assembly, which effectively bans events like Pride marches. He also urges them to refrain from adopting pending...
Memorandum
Commissioner for Human Rights Calls for Stronger Protection of Human Rights in Georgia
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, published today a memorandum on the human rights situation in Georgia, outlining his concerns and recommendations regarding the rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, the protection of civil society, and...
Country visit
Georgia: Protect freedom of assembly and expression, ensure accountability for human rights violations and end stigmatisation of NGOs and LGBTI people
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, visited Georgia from 21 to 23 January 2025. He expresses his gratitude to the Georgian authorities for their cooperation and for the open discussions. During the visit he engaged extensively with authorities and civil...
Speech
Addressing violence and discrimination against lesbian, bisexual, and queer women in Europe
Keynote speech by Michael O'Flaherty at the Conference "Addressing violence and discrimination against lesbian, bisexual, and queer women in Europe," organised by the Parliamentary Platform for the rights of LGBTI people in Europe of the PACE, in collaboration with the Council of Europe SOGIESC...
Letter
Georgian Parliament should not adopt anti-LGBTI law and should refrain from using stigmatising rhetoric
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, published today a letter sent to the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia in which he asks members of the Parliament to refrain from adopting the draft law “On protecting family values and minors” passed in second reading...
End of mission
Commissioner O’Flaherty raises alarm on LGBTI rights, pledges to partner with Roma
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, travelled to Thessaloniki, Greece, on 28 and 29 June to participate in the EuroPride 2024 Human Rights Conference and engage with local Roma communities who live on the outskirts of the city. At the EuroPride Conference...
Speech
Europride2024: Proud and concerned
Speech delivered at the closing session of the Thessaloniki EuroPride 2024 Human Rights Conference (check against delivery) Dear friends, It's a great pleasure to be here. I want to thank you for the invitation. At the end of today, I'm left both proud and anxious. I am proud from all the...
Speech
IDAHOT+ Forum 2024, not a time for business as usual: wake up!
Speech given at the Opening Plenary Session of IDAHOT+ Forum 2024 at The Hague Minister, Excellencies, Friends, It is a great pleasure to be with you. I'm a 65-year-old gay Irish man, and this means I have lived through significant times of social development. For the first 20 years of my life, I...
Statement
Georgia: political manipulation and harassment of LGBTI people and human rights defenders have no place in a democratic society
“I am concerned about the present political discourse in Georgia, as illustrated by the announcement made by the Georgian Dream Party of their initiative to amend the Constitution and to adopt a new constitutional law on ‘Protection of Family Values and Underaged Persons’. It is reflective of...
Issue Paper
Human rights of trans people: increased visibility and legal recognition contrast with lived experience of discrimination, violence
“Realising the rights of trans people is a matter of applying human rights equally to everyone, and states have the primary responsibility to lift the barriers trans people are facing in exercising their human rights”, said today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja...
Country visit report
Italy should improve legislation and practice on migration and asylum, women’s rights and gender equality
In a report published today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, recommends adopting a number of measures to better uphold the rights of migrants, asylum seekers and women. The Commissioner also raises certain issues concerning journalists and the legal...
Statement
Russia: decision to label the ‘international LGBTI movement’ as extremist is a grave attack against LGBTI people and human rights defenders
“The Russian Supreme Court’s labeling of the 'international LGBTI movement' as extremist is a grave attack on LGBTI people and those who defend their human rights”, said today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatovic. “This stance goes against the fundamental principle...
Rule 9
Georgian authorities should address the underlying reasons behind the discrimination and intolerance towards LGBTI people, and religious and other minority groups
The Commissioner published today her submission to the Committee of Ministers in the context of the supervision of the execution of the Identoba and Others group of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. This group of judgments relates to discrimination and manifestations of intolerance...
Speech
ILGA Europe Annual Conference 2023: the resilience of the movement for LGBTI equality hinges on solidarity
Opening speech by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović at ILGA Europe Annual Conference Ljubljana 2023 “Rising to the moment” - Plenary and panel discussion: The practice of solidarity – Reflections on unity, trust and true connections. Good morning, it is a...
Letter
North Macedonia: Parliament should seize opportunity to protect the human rights of trans people and execute the European Court’s judgment on legal gender recognition
In a letter addressed to the Macedonian Parliament published today, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović strongly encourages ongoing efforts to bring the Macedonian legal framework in line with Council of Europe standards in the field of legal gender recognition for...
Speech
IDAHOT+ Forum 2023: member states should build on momentum to end conversion practices targeting LGBTI people
Address to the European IDAHOT+ Forum 2023, hosted in the framework of Iceland’s Presidency of the Council of Europe in Reykjavik, Iceland Dear Ministers and state representatives, dear activists, dear friends, Each year, the IDAHOT forum is an important opportunity to take stock of progress and...
Letter
Slovak Republic: Parliamentarians should reject a bill undermining trans people’s human rights and ensure equality for LGBTI people
“Parliamentarians in the Slovak Republic should reject a bill that would effectively prevent trans people from having their gender identity legally recognised. This legislation would put the Slovak Republic in conflict with its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights,” said the...
Annual report 2022
Annual Report 2022: Commissioner Mijatović calls for renewed commitment to human rights protection to address numerous systemic problems
“The protection of human rights in Europe has suffered serious setbacks in 2022,” said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, presenting her Annual Report today. “A renewed commitment to human rights is needed to reverse the trend.” The report largely focuses on the...
Statement
High time for the authorities to accept LGBTI people and their rights, the perpetrators of the attack in Banja Luka must be sanctioned
"The violence unleashed against LGBTI people, human rights defenders and journalists in Banja Luka last Saturday is a worrying and dangerous development and violation of the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. The authorities must condemn and investigate the incident, and...
Speech
The human rights challenges faced by intersex people need to be urgently addressed
At the Conference on Advancing the human rights of intersex people. High-Level session: launching the work on the drafting of a new Committee of Ministers Recommendation on equality of rights of intersex people, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, gave the...
Country visit report
United Kingdom: Commissioner warns against regression on human rights, calls for concrete steps to protect children’s rights and to tackle human rights issues in Northern Ireland
“Both the overall system for protecting human rights, and the rights of specific groups, are currently under pressure in the United Kingdom (UK). The authorities should spare no effort to reverse this trend”, warns today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, while...
Human Rights Comment
Nothing to cure: putting an end to so-called “conversion therapies” for LGBTI people
There is nothing therapeutic about so-called conversion therapies. These are the words of a transgender (trans) person and activist who spoke with me at a recent gathering for civil society. This simple sentence reveals the insidious nature of interventions which claim that one can, and should,...
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