Content with tag .
Country visit
Ireland: the situation of Travellers, Roma and asylum seekers requires more attention
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, encourages further steps in Ireland in the field of combating racism and discrimination and addressing prejudice against Travellers, Roma and migrants. He welcomes the progress made in policy development, stressing the need...
Country visit
Finland should strengthen the protection of Roma and migrants
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, has called on Finland to continue to honour its strong track record of promoting and defending human rights, following a visit to the country from 23 to 26 September, which focused on the situation of Roma and issues related...
Speech
Commissioner’s video message to the Berlin Process Ministerial meeting on Roma integration within the EU enlargement process
Video message delivered to the Ministerial meeting on Roma integration within the EU enlargement process, organised in the context of the Berlin Process Meetings 2024, Berlin, 18 September 2024: Hello, and thank you so much for inviting me to this important meeting. I apologize that I can only...
Statement
Commissioner O’Flaherty held a consultation meeting on the human rights of Roma and Travellers in the Council of Europe area
On 9 and 10 September in Strasbourg, Commissioner O’Flaherty convened a consultation meeting with experts working on the human rights of Roma and Travellers. The discussions addressed how to best advance the protection of the human rights of Roma and Travellers across Europe. The Commissioner...
Statement
Remembering the Roma Holocaust is also recognising the increasing levels of antigypsyism today
Ahead of the European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day on 2 August, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, delivered the following video message at the international conference “My testimony is for young people - Passing on Memory for the Future of Holocaust...
Country visit
Slovak Republic: urgent need to address human rights of Roma and adopt an intergenerational approach
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, calls for emergency interventions to address the dreadful housing conditions of thousands of Roma, following his visit to the Slovak Republic from 8 to 12 July. The Commissioner engaged extensively with Roma communities to...
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
Journalism Excellence Awards 2024: the media is a key ally in defending the human rights of Roma
Speech by Michael O’Flaherty on the occasion of the Journalism Excellence Awards Ceremony - “Ethical media reporting on Roma and combating racism and antigypsyism through the media” Good evening, everybody. It is a great pleasure to be here on the occasion of the Journalism Excellence Awards. ...
Speech
The Commissioner calls for an enhanced respect for the dignity of Romani people
Participating in an event to mark International Romani Day in Strasbourg today, the Commissioner delivered the following speech: “Excellencies, esteemed representatives of the city of Strasbourg, distinguished chair of the Council of Europe Committee of Experts on Roma and Traveller Issues,...
Statement
The protection of the human rights of Roma and Travellers must become a top priority in our member states
“The discrimination experienced by Roma and Travellers in Europe and the scale of human rights violations that they face is shocking and calls for firm action”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty today ahead of International Roma Day on 8 April. “There...
Country visit report
Czech Republic: systemic change needed to address long-standing human rights issues for Roma and persons with disabilities
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published today the report following her visit to the Czech Republic in February 2023, with recommendations mainly focusing on the human rights of Roma and of persons with disabilities. The report also addresses the overall...
European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day
Roma Holocaust Memorial Day: let’s keep Roma history alive to shape an inclusive Europe today and tomorrow
Ahead of the European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day on 2 August, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, calls on all states to remember the hundreds of thousands of Roma lives lost during World War II and to ensure that Roma history is kept alive to shape the Europe...
Letter
Slovak Parliament has a historic opportunity to deliver justice to victims of forced sterilisation
Discussions about a compensation mechanism for victims of forced sterilisation in the Slovak Republic offer “a historic opportunity to finally address this long-standing injustice”, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, says in a letter to the Slovak Parliament,...
Speech
CHACHIPEN Project "History, Memory and Justice for #Roma in Europe
Message to the Final Conference, CHACHIPEN Project "History, Memory and Justice for #Roma in Europe Distinguished participants, Dear organisers, dear colleagues, Thank you for your invitation to the final event of the CHACHIPEN Project on "History, Memory and Justice for Roma in Europe". I am...
International Roma Day
Combating discrimination against Roma through history teaching
Ahead of International Roma Day on 8 April, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, calls on all states to ensure that the history of Roma is never forgotten, but instead valued and taught to society at large. “History teaching is one of the most important tools...
Country visit
Breakthrough necessary to ensure the equality and dignity of Roma people and people with disabilities in the Czech Republic
“The Czech Republic should spare no effort to address the long-standing problem of the exclusion of Roma people and people with disabilities, and to ensure that they can live in equality and dignity”, said Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, today, following her...
Statement
Remembering the Holocaust commits us to delivering on genocide prevention
Every year around this day, a commitment is reaffirmed that the Holocaust will forever be a “warning to all people of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice” (UN Resolution) and a promise is renewed that we will not allow genocide to happen again. Our generation and generations to...
Statement
Roma Holocaust Day is both about our duty to remember and the need to tackle persisting discrimination against Roma
Ahead of the European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day on 2 August, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, calls on all states to recognise past and present human rights violations affecting Roma people and to step up efforts to ensure the protection their rights in all...
Statement on International Roma Day
Let us fight discrimination and prejudices against Roma fleeing the war in Ukraine
Ahead of International Roma Day, my thoughts are with Ukrainian Roma who not only suffer from the consequences of the horrific war in Ukraine but also often face discrimination and prejudices in Europe when fleeing Ukraine. In these difficult times, it is even more important to protect Roma and...
Statement
Commemoration of the Roma Holocaust: we should combat antigypsyism and discrimination against Roma at all times
Every year on 2 August, we commemorate the Roma Holocaust perpetrated during the Second World War and pay tribute to the victims of horrendous past human rights violations, including deportation and extermination. Now more than ever, we should all continue to confront the deeply rooted prejudices...
Letter
Slovak Republic: the government should deliver justice to victims of forced sterilisation through a compensation mechanism
In a letter to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice of the Slovak Republic, published today, the Commissioner calls on the government to set up a mechanism to ensure prompt and effective access to reparations for victims of forced or coercive sterilisation. This is a long-standing...
Letter
The Senate of the Czech Republic should adopt the draft law on compensation for victims of forced sterilisation
In a letter to the Senate of the Czech Republic, published today, the Commissioner expresses her support for the adoption of the Proposal for a law for a one-off financial compensation for victims of unlawful sterilisation. In her letter, she follows up on her dialogue with the Czech Chamber of...
Letter
United Kingdom: Parliamentarians should reject restrictions on peaceful demonstration, criminalisation of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities
In a letter to the UK House of Commons and House of Lords, published today, the Commissioner urged parliamentarians to reject restrictions on peaceful demonstrations contained in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. She also urges them to reject a new proposed criminal offence of...
Rule 9
Czech authorities should adopt broader measures to end school segregation of Roma children
The Commissioner published today her submission to the Committee of Ministers in the context of the supervision of the execution of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights of 2007 in the case of D.H. and Others v. the Czech Republic. This case relates to the violation of Article 14 of...
Rule 9
Bulgarian authorities should prevent forced evictions, tackle the stigmatisation and marginalisation of Roma and improve their access to adequate housing, including social housing
The Commissioner published today her submission to the Committee of Ministers in the context of the supervision of the execution of the judgment of 24 April 2012 by the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Yordanova and Others v. Bulgaria. The case concerns the planned eviction of Roma...
Statement
Commemoration of the Roma Holocaust: it is imperative to act relentlessly to combat anti-Gypsyism
Remembering the victims of the Roma Holocaust on 2 August is a crucial moment every year. It plays a key role in the fight against racism and discrimination which targets them. I welcome the fact that more and more actors across Europe are involved in exposing the tragic chapters of Roma history...
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...
Statement
Governments must ensure equal protection and care for Roma and Travellers during the COVID-19 crisis
Every year, on the occasion of International Roma Day, governments are reminded of the need to improve the living conditions of the many impoverished and marginalised Roma in Europe and step up measures to combat the discrimination they face. This call should resonate even more loudly this year,...
Human Rights Comment
Learning from the pandemic to better fulfil the right to health
The COVID-19 pandemic has concentrated minds about the resilience of our health care systems and it is challenging member states’ health policies and their effectiveness. In addition, doctors, medical staff and health care staff are under unprecedented pressure. Do we have sufficient medical...
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