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Memorandum
United Kingdom: Council of Europe Commissioner welcomes recent policies to address child poverty, urges their full implementation
"The UK government’s new strategy has the potential to deliver a sea change in addressing child poverty," says the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty in a memorandum following his visit to the United Kingdom from 30 June to 4 July 2025. The memorandum acknowledges...
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
Serious human rights concerns about United Kingdom’s Rwanda Bill
“The adoption of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill by the UK Parliament raises major issues about the human rights of asylum seekers and the rule of law more generally”, said Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. “The United Kingdom government...
Statement
United Kingdom: adopting Northern Ireland Legacy Bill will undermine justice for victims, truth seeking and reconciliation
“The UK government’s ongoing attempt to pass the Northern Ireland Legacy Bill, including its recent introduction of amendments, ignores the many warnings that this legislation would violate the UK’s international obligations and put victims’ rights at risk”, said the Council of Europe...
Letter
Parliamentarians should uphold the United Kingdom’s international obligations when scrutinising the “Illegal Migration Bill”
“It is essential that parliamentarians prevent legislation that is incompatible with the United Kingdom’s international obligations being passed”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, in her letter to the House of Commons and the House of Lords about 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...
Rule 9
Proposed United Kingdom legislation on the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland raises human rights concerns
The Commissioner published today her submission to the Committee of Ministers in the context of the supervision of the execution of the McKerr group of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. This group of judgments relates to several shortcomings in the investigation of deaths during...
Country visit
United Kingdom: backsliding on human rights must be prevented
“Legal reforms should not weaken human rights protections in the United Kingdom”, said today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, following a five-day visit to the country (27 June to 1 July), which focused on the system for human rights protection, the situation...
Letter
Commissioner calls on UK government not to extradite Julian Assange
In a letter, published today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, called on UK Home Secretary Priti Patel not to extradite Julian Assange. Writing in view of the impending decision on Mr Assange’s extradition, the Commissioner noted that the wider human rights...
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1 On 16 March 2022, the Committee of Ministers adopted a decision by which the Russian Federation ceased to be a member of the Council of Europe, after 26 years of membership.