Letter
Commissioner urges Scotland’s government to increase the age of criminal responsibility
In a letter addressed to Scotland’s Minister for Children and Young People, Maree Todd MSP, published today, the Commissioner calls for an increase in the age of criminal responsibility and stronger safeguards in the treatment of children who come into conflict with the law. “Children who come...
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...
Statement
Commissioner calls on Hungary’s President to return to the Parliament the legislative package on administrative courts
“On 12 December 2018, the Hungarian Parliament adopted a legislative package establishing a system of administrative courts. The new administrative courts are expected to be operational in January 2020. I am concerned by the strong powers this reform of the judiciary confers on the Minister of...
Human Rights Day
Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and Cartooning for Peace present a preview of the exhibition
On the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Cartooning for Peace, an international network of newspaper cartoonists, has joined with the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to stage a...
Statement
Commissioner calls upon the Russian authorities to release Lev Ponomarev
I was greatly dismayed to learn that Lev Ponomarev, a senior figure in the Russian human rights movement, has been arrested and sentenced to 25 days of administrative detention yesterday. Mr Ponomarev’s work for the defence of human rights spans many decades and he is a long-standing partner of...
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...
Human Rights Comment
Misuse of anti-terror legislation threatens freedom of expression
When terrorism spreads, states are often tempted to restrict fundamental freedoms for the sake of fighting it and preventing further attacks. Terrorism constitutes a serious threat to human rights and democracy and action by states is necessary to prevent and effectively sanction terrorist acts....
Letter
Commissioner urges Spain to ensure that the Law on Citizens’ Safety upholds the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly
In a letter addressed to the Presidents of the Congress and the Senate of Spain published today, Commissioner Mijatović urges the Parliament to ensure that the review of the Law on Citizens’ Safety eliminates possibilities of disproportionate interference with the rights to freedom of expression...
Statement
Fulfil the promise of a comprehensive response to violence against women
“All women and girls have the right to live free from violence. Unfortunately, this is not the reality. One in three women has experienced physical or sexual violence – 22% at the hands of their partner. More than half of all women have been sexually harassed with 20% of young women reporting...
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,...
Country visit
Romania should improve the protection of persons with disabilities, combat violence against women, safeguard press freedom and maintain the independence of the judiciary
“Romania needs to strengthen its institutional framework to better protect the rights of persons with disabilities, and should step up the efforts to combat violence against women,” said today Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, at the end of her five-day visit to...
Country visit report
Greece should safeguard social rights for all and improve the reception and integration of migrants
“Greece should take urgent steps and adopt long-term policies to improve the reception and integration of migrants and to reverse the adverse effects of austerity measures on access to health care and education”, says Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, publishing...
Opinion Article
Learning the right lessons
Times of Malta, 16/10/2018 A year ago, today, Daphne Caruana Galizia was brutally killed when a powerful explosive device blew up her car. Twelve months later, her family is still waiting for justice – and her colleagues for better protection. So far, the investigations the Maltese authorities...
Human Rights Comment
Open minds are needed to improve the protection of LGBTI asylum seekers in Europe
In many states around the world, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons face serious violations of their human rights on account of their sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics. These include killings, violence, the criminalisation of same-sex...
Statement
Commissioner's statement on the murder of Bulgarian journalist Victoria Marinova
"I am appalled by the murder of journalist Victoria Marinova in Bulgaria. I call on the authorities to urgently and fully investigate this horrendous crime and ensure that those responsible, including the masterminds, are held accountable. The fact that her latest reporting work was related to...
Statement
Achieving justice for Anna Politkovskaya must become a political priority
“On 7 October we will mark twelve years since Anna Politkovskaya was assassinated in front of the elevator of her apartment building in Moscow. After several arrests, releases and retrials over eight years, five people have been jailed for her murder. However, it has still not been established...
Letter
Commissioner calls on Croatia to investigate allegations of collective expulsions of migrants and of violence by law enforcement officers
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Croatia published today, Commissioner Mijatović raises concerns about allegations of collective expulsions of 2500 migrants since the beginning of 2018 and reported violence and other crimes allegedly committed by law enforcement officers. “The...
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...
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...
Third party intervention
Commissioner Mijatović intervenes before the European Court of Human Rights on migration cases concerning Spain
Today the Commissioner took part in the hearing before the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of N.D. and N.T. v. Spain in relation to two complaints concerning alleged summary returns of migrants from the Spanish city of Melilla to Morocco. Commissioner Mijatović...
Speech
Commissioner’s message for the Fundamental Rights Forum 2018
The Commissioner addressed the Fundamental Rights Forum #RightsForum18 in Vienna, Austria today via video message. Download the speech CommDH/Speech(2018)7 as pdf Watch the video on Youtube Dear participants of the Forum, Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank the Fundamental Rights Agency...
Country visit
Armenia’s new government should place human rights at the centre of its policies
“Armenia’s peaceful transfer of power in May 2018 has been truly remarkable. However, popular expectations are high that there will be tangible improvements to people’s lives, and the government should devote its attention to upholding the long-neglected rights of those who are most vulnerable”,...
Speech
Upholding the human rights of persons with disabilities in Armenia
The Commissioner delivered a keynote speech today at the closing conference “Social Rights of Persons with Disabilities” organised in Yerevan, Armenia. Download the speech CommDH/Speech(2018)6 (Pdf) Watch the video (Facebook) Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a real pleasure to be here...
Speech
Commissioner’s message for the Pride Forum Serbia 2018
The Commissioner addressed the Pride Forum Serbia 2018 in Belgrade today via video message. Download the speech CommDH/Speech(2018)8_EN as pdf Watch the video on Youtube Dear friends, It is a pleasure for me to participate in the opening of your event through this video. The protection and...
Country visit report
Albania should continue improving child protection and inclusion of persons with disabilities
“The protection of children and inclusion of persons with disabilities has improved in Albania, but the authorities still have to address remaining shortcomings”, said today Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, while releasing the report on her visit to the country...
Letter
Commissioner urges the UK to initiate an independent, judge-led inquiry into counterterrorism abuses
Today the Commissioner published a letter she addressed to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Theresa May, in which she urges the UK Government to initiate a judge-led inquiry on detainee mistreatment and rendition following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. The letter follows up...
Letter
The Commissioner asks for urgent measures to address the situation of several prisoners and detainees in Russia and Ukraine
Today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published letters addressed, respectively, to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Pavlo Klimkin, concerning the situation of several...
Speech
Commemoration of the Roma Holocaust: our duty to remember, and to combat persisting anti-Gypsyism in today’s Europe
Today, Commissioner Mijatović is participating, in Auschwitz-Birkenau, in the ceremony of commemoration of the Roma Holocaust during the Second World War. In her speech she pays respect to the survivors of the genocide, stresses the duty to remember and the crucial importance of combating...
Human Rights Comment
Keeping the promise: ending poverty and inequality
Poverty and inequality are closely interlinked. People living in poverty are much more likely to be relegated to low-income work, poor housing, and inadequate health care, as well as to experience unemployment and face barriers to lifelong learning. Being born into a low-income household often...
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...
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