Speech

Human rights and migration: 5 key elements

02/10/2024 Strasbourg

Speech by Michael O'Flaherty, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, delivered at the Joint debate of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on “Missing migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers – A call to clarify their fate”and “A shared European approach to address migrant...

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Speech

Speech at the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

01/10/2024 Strasbourg

Speech by Michael O'Flaherty, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, delivered at the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. (A shorter version of this speech was delivered at the joint debate on “Missing migrants,...

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Country visit

Finland should strengthen the protection of Roma and migrants

27/09/2024 Strasbourg

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...

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Mission to Poland

Poland needs to respect its international human rights obligations on the Belarusian border, says Commissioner O’Flaherty

23/09/2024 Strasbourg

Commissioner O’Flaherty visited Poland from 16 to 18 September 2024 for a mission focusing on the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border and the human rights of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. The Commissioner’s mission was prompted by longstanding reports about incidents on the...

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Speech

Commissioner’s video message to the Berlin Process Ministerial meeting on Roma integration within the EU enlargement process

18/09/2024 Strasbourg

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...

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EN FR

Statement

Commissioner O’Flaherty held a consultation meeting on the human rights of Roma and Travellers in the Council of Europe area

11/09/2024 Strasbourg

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...

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Letter

Georgian Parliament should not adopt anti-LGBTI law and should refrain from using stigmatising rhetoric

10/09/2024 Strasbourg

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...

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Speech

Speech at the 2nd International Conference on Migrant Smuggling

10/09/2024 Strasbourg

Speech by Michael O'Flaherty, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, at the 2nd International Conference on Migrant Smuggling, organised by the Council of Europe European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC), in collaboration with the Office of the Special Representative on Migration and...

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Third party intervention

Commissioner O’Flaherty intervenes in a case concerning freedom of expression and association in Hungary

06/09/2024 Strasbourg

Commissioner O’Flaherty has published today his written observations in the case of Hungarian Helsinki Committee v. Hungary which is currently pending before the European Court of Human Rights. The case relates to the introduction of Article 353/A of the Hungarian Criminal Code in June 2018 and...

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Speech

Speech at Informal Conference of the Ministers of Justice of the Council of Europe on accountability in Ukraine

05/09/2024 Vilnius, Lithuania

Speech by Michael O’Flaherty at the Informal Conference of the Ministers of Justice of the Council of Europe “Towards Accountability for International Crimes Committed in Ukraine” in Vilnius, Lithuania:   Chairperson, Ministers, Secretary-General, Excellencies, dear colleagues, Thank you for the...

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EN FR

International Day

Victims of enforced disappearances require urgent responses and concerted action: Forthcoming World Congress offers unique opportunity, experts say

29/08/2024 Geneva

To mark the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the Committee on Enforced Disappearances, the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Council of Europe...

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Statement

Remembering the Roma Holocaust is also recognising the increasing levels of antigypsyism today

01/08/2024 Strasbourg

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...

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Letter

Poland: all laws and practices related to the situation on the border with Belarus should comply with human rights standards

23/07/2024 Strasbourg

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, published today two letters sent on 17 July to the Prime Minister and the Marshal of the Senate of Poland concerning the human rights situation on the border with Belarus. In his letter to the Prime Minister, the...

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Country visit

Slovak Republic: urgent need to address human rights of Roma and adopt an intergenerational approach

15/07/2024 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

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...

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Statement

Srebrenica Genocide: Remember, honour and act

10/07/2024 Strasbourg

This year is the first time that 11 July is marked as International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica, following the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of a resolution designating the day. In his message published ahead of that day, the Council of...

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Statement

Commissioner O’Flaherty condemns deadly missile attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine

09/07/2024 Strasbourg

“Russia's deadly missile attacks on civilian infrastructure in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities yesterday are yet another glaring example of the brutality of Russian forces and their leadership. The bombing of Kyiv's Okhmatdyt hospital, a sanctuary for children and the country’s largest pediatric...

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Speech

Social Rights are Human Rights!

04/07/2024 Vilnius, Lithuania

Introductory speech at the opening session of the High-Level Conference on the European Social Charter, organised in Vilnius, under the auspices of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Committee of Minister, as part of the follow-up to the 4th Summit of the Council of Europe Ministers, Excellencies,...

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Speech

How standing up for social rights can help counter Russia's war on human rights in Ukraine

03/07/2024 Vilnius, Lithuania

Opening remarks at the side event “Protecting social rights in times of war in Ukraine” on the occasion of the High-Level Conference on the European Social Charter, organised in Vilnius, under the auspices of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Committee of Minister, as part of the follow-up to the...

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End of mission

Commissioner O’Flaherty raises alarm on LGBTI rights, pledges to partner with Roma

02/07/2024 Strasbourg

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...

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Speech

Europride2024: Proud and concerned

28/06/2024 Thessaloniki, Greece

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...

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Speech

5 priorities to stand up for the human rights of the people of Ukraine

26/06/2024 Strasbourg

Speech delivered at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) joint debate on the legal and human rights aspects of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine President, thank you, Honourable members, it's a great pleasure and an honour to be here. Thank you for the trust you have...

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Speech

A Commissioner’s call to action for civil society

24/06/2024 Helsinki, Finland

Speech delivered by Michael O’Flaherty at the 100th session of the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH), Conference on the Protection and the Promotion of Civil Society Space in Europe. Chairperson Oinonen, distinguished members of the steering committee, Friends, I apologise for not being...

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Statement

Paris 2024: Commissioner O’Flaherty engages with the host city and civil society actors about the human rights impact of the Olympic Games

21/06/2024 Paris

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, visited Paris today to meet with the City of Paris, the French National Consultative Human Rights Commission (CNCDH) and civil society actors to discuss ways to ensure that the Games will strengthen human rights protection...

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Speech

Exchange of views with the Committee of Ministers

19/06/2024 Strasbourg

Speech by Michael O’Flaherty at the Exchange of view with the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe President, distinguished Ambassadors, Thank you for the invitation to engage in dialogue with you today. I have been in office for ten weeks. During that time, I have engaged the human...

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EN RU

Speech

Journalism Excellence Awards 2024: the media is a key ally in defending the human rights of Roma

18/06/2024 Strasbourg

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. ...

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Letter

Finland should reject the draft law on instrumentalisation of migration, protect access to asylum and prevent summary expulsions

17/06/2024 Strasbourg

In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the Parliament of Finland and several Committee chairpersons, published today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, expresses concern about the human rights compatibility of the draft law to curb instrumentalised...

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Speech

Ministerial 2024: a vision for an agile and flexible Commissioner's mandate

17/05/2024 Strasbourg

Address at the 133rd Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe Mesdames et Messieurs les Ministres, Monsieur le Président, Excellences, Il y a un an, à Reykjavik, les chefs d’État et de gouvernement ont décidé de renforcer l’institution du Commissaire aux droits de l’homme du...

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Speech

IDAHOT+ Forum 2024, not a time for business as usual: wake up!

15/05/2024 The Hague, The Netherlands

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...

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Letter

Slovak Republic: new draft laws risk having a chilling effect on civil society and interfering with independence of public service media

14/05/2024 Strasbourg

In a letter addressed to the Deputy Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic (Parliament) and several Committee chairpersons, published today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, expresses concerns about the compatibility of two draft laws...

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World Press Freedom Day

Commissioner O'Flaherty calls for greater efforts to protect press freedom

02/05/2024 Strasbourg

Ahead of World Press Freedom Day 2024, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, issued the following statement: “Despite a growing awareness of the importance of the press for democracy and of the threats it faces, journalists across Europe face increasing challenges....

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