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 national human rights structures is not just part of my mandate, it is also a glaringly obvious necessity to bring about change at the national level,” the Commissioner said. “In an ever-challenging environment, our institutions need to support each other and stick together to stand up for the human rights of those we serve.”
The discussions focused on two key areas: firstly, exchanging on respective priorities and strengthening co-operation between the Commissioner and Equality Bodies, and secondly ensuring that these institutions are accessible and that they effectively reach out to the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in society.
By fostering dialogue and co-operation with national human rights and equality bodies, the Commissioner aims to explore ways in which he can support their work, and establish partnerships to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their background, have equal opportunities to enjoy their rights.