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Opening remarks
ON Forum: Commissioner O’Flaherty calls on NHRIs and Ombudspersons to be national ambassadors for the Convention and the Court
Opening remarks by michael O'Flaherty at the Council of Europe ON Forum: High-level conference with Ombudsperson institutions and National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs). President of the Court, Honourable Judges, Distinguished leaders and representatives of ombuds and national human rights...
Letter
Council of Europe Commissioner asks Italy to establish a National Human Rights Institution
In a letter to the Presidents of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies of Italy published today, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty encouraged the Italian Parliament to establish a fully independent National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) with a broad mandate. While...
Speech
Member states should protect and strengthen NHRIs and Ombudsperson institutions
Transcript of Michael O'Flaherty's speech delivered on the occasion of the Workshop on Ombudsperson Institutions and National Human Rights Institutions: Implementation of Committee of Ministers Recommendations and Other International Standards at the 103rd meeting of Steering Committee for Human...
Speech
Commissioner reaffirms support and cooperation to NHRIs
Today the Commissioner participated in the “High-level conference for Ombudsperson Institutions and National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI)” co-organised by the Council of Europe and the Luxembourg Presidency of the Committee of Ministers on the current challenges related to the rule of law,...
Speech
Uphold the Rule of Law – Resist the Push Back
Michael O’Flaherty delivered the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission Annual Human Rights Lecture in Belfast. Lady Chief Justice, Dear Chief Commissioner, Former Chief Commissioners, Commissioners, Chair of the Bar Council, Dear friends, Thank you very much for inviting me to deliver the...
Speech
Ombuds Institutions / NHRIs amid Turbulent Times: Resilience and Challenges
Online speech by Michael O’Flaherty on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia at the Conference “Ombuds Institutions / NHRIs amid Turbulent Times: Resilience and Challenges” Good morning. Your Excellencies, Madame Human Rights Defender, distinguished...
Statement
Partnership with national human rights and equality bodies key to advance common human rights goals
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty convened today representatives of over 35 Equality Bodies from across Europe to initiate his dialogue and close partnership with national human rights structures at the beginning of his 6-year mandate. “Effective co-operation with...
Country visit
Montenegro: Seize the moment to strengthen protection of human rights
“Montenegro should take advantage of the opportunities offered by the prospects of further European integration to enhance its legal framework governing human rights and to ensure its full implementation”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, following her...
Country visit report
Germany: Follow through with human rights commitments and improve access to social rights
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published today the report following her visit to Germany from 27 November to 1 December 2023, with recommendations regarding the available structures and legal frameworks to protect human rights, and on access to social rights, in...
Speech
ENNHRI at 10: strengthening national human rights institutions
Opening remarks by Dunja Mijatović at ENNHRI's 10th anniversary conference: "Advancing human rights, democracy and rule of law at a critical time in Europe: the role of NHRIs and ENNHRI". "Dear all, dear friends, I am sorry that I cannot be with you in person to celebrate the 10th anniversary of...
Statement
National human rights structures play a key role in addressing the impacts of artificial intelligence on human rights
“Effective and independent national human rights structures are guardians of human rights at the national level in the member states and key partners for me. They play a crucial role in the prevention, mitigation, and oversight of the human rights impacts of AI systems”, said the Commissioner at...
Observations
Council of Europe Summit 2023: Commissioner calls on member states to recommit to human rights for all
The Commissioner published today her observations on the 4th Summit of the Council of Europe, which will take place in Reykjavik, Iceland, on 16-17 May 2023. The Commissioner underlines the importance of the Summit as an opportunity to reaffirm member states' commitment to the values 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...
Country visit report
Georgia should ensure effective implementation of the anti-discrimination legislation and improve protection of human rights in the fields of labour and the environment
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published today the report following her visit to Georgia in February 2022, with recommendations on combating discrimination against LGBTI people and those belonging to religious minorities, as well as protecting human rights...
Statement
Georgian politicians should fully respect the independent mandate of the Public Defender
Public attacks by members of the Georgian Parliament against the Public Defender of Georgia, in connection with her and her Office’s work related to the imprisonment of the former President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, and his hunger strike, are unacceptable. I commend the Public Defender and...
Speech
ECRI 2021 annual seminar with Equality Bodies
Joining Forces to Promote and Protect the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons. Opening statement by Dunja Mijatović. Dear all, dear friends, It is a real pleasure for me to be here this morning with you for this seminar organised by ECRI, an essential partner in the fight against all forms of...
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...
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...
Country visit report
Stronger commitment needed to combat racism, fight gender stereotypes and increase media freedom in Bulgaria
Today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published a report on the visit to Bulgaria she carried out in November 2019. The report focuses on racism, intolerance and discrimination; violence against women and domestic violence; and media freedom. The Commissioner...
Speech
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)...
Human Rights Comment
Paris Principles at 25: Strong National Human Rights Institutions Needed More Than Ever
25 years after the international community first formally embraced the idea of creating national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights through the endorsement of the Paris Principles, it is obvious that independent and effective national human rights institutions are every...
Country visit report
Estonia should adopt more human rights oriented policies to improve the protection of women and the inclusion of older persons
“To build a more cohesive society, the Estonian authorities should strengthen the protection of women from violence, close the gender pay gap and uphold the rights of older people”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, while releasing today the report on her...
Conclusions
Commissioner Muižnieks examines impact of national human rights action plans
The Commissioner for Human Rights published today the conclusions of a workshop he convened in Strasbourg on 2 June 2017 on national human rights action plans. The workshop gathered participants from public administration, national human rights institutions and civil society from a number of...
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...
Letter
Commissioner Muižnieks calls on Swedish Parliament to be ambitious in plans to establish a national human rights institution
In a letter addressed to the Parliament of Sweden published today, Commissioner Muižnieks welcomes the current discussions in the Committee on the Constitution to establish a national human rights institution, and urges parliamentarians to ensure that the new body is adequately funded,...
Country visit report
Switzerland should reinforce its human rights protection framework and better respond to the needs of vulnerable migrants
Reinforcing the institutional and legal framework for safeguarding and promoting human rights and enhancing the protection of migrants and asylum seekers are the key recommendations addressed to the Swiss authorities by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, in a...
Human Rights Comment
National human rights structures: protecting human rights while countering terrorism
A series of terrorist attacks has deeply traumatised Europe. In Brussels, Paris, Copenhagen, Ankara and beyond, shock was followed by fear of further attacks and a sense of urgency about preventing them. Preventing and combating terrorism is a clear duty of all states, which must respect and...
Human Rights Comment
Tapping the full potential of Equality Bodies for a fairer Europe
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), the Equality Body covering England, Scotland and Wales, recently launched an inquiry into statistical evidence showing that COVID-19 had a disproportionate effect on people of Black, Asian and other ethnic minority background, and whether this...
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