Keynote address
The Artist as Defender of Human Rights
Keynote address 'The Artist as Defender of Human Rights', by Michael O’Flaherty, delivered at the Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin, Ireland, at the Special Evening Lecture organised as part of the exhibition La Grande Illusion by artist Brian Maguire on 9 October 2024. When I was a child of eight or...
Speech
A Commissioner’s call to action for civil society
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...
Speech
Exchange of views with the Committee of Ministers
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...
Discours
Ministérielle 2024 : une vision pour un mandat de commissaire agile et flexible
Discours à la 133e Session du Comité des Ministres du Conseil de l'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 Conseil...
Speech
Le Commissaire s’engage à donner la priorité à la défense de la société civile
Discours prononcé à l'échange de vue avec la Conférence des organisations internationales non gouvernementales (CINGO) du Conseil de l'Europe : “Dear friends, Thank you for inviting me to this exchange of views with the Council of Europe’s Conference of International non-Governmental...
Speech
Commissioner addresses the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe
Speech at the 46th Session of the Congress of the Council of Europe Dear Mr President, distinguished members of the Congress, I am grateful for the opportunity to address this assembly today. As my mandate comes to an end in the coming days, this moment offers a valued space to reflect with you...
Speech
Presentation of the 2023 Annual Activity Report of the Commissioner for Human Rights to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly
Dear Mr. President, esteemed members of PACE, As I stand before you today to present my final annual report as Commissioner for Human Rights, I feel a profound sense of honour and responsibility. It has been, and it is still, a privilege to serve at the helm of this Institution, championing the...
Speech
Reconquering Lost Ground: A Reflection on 75 Years of the UDHR in Europe
Speech (delivered online) at the Conference organised by the Université Paris Nanterre to mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, by Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Excellencies, Dear participants, It is a great honour for me to be...
Speech
The resilience of the Ukrainian people stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit of freedom
Speech by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović (delivered via video message) for the International conference "Freedom or Fear" dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, organised by the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for...
Discours
L’Europe 75 ans après la Déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme : un parcours fait de progrès, de revers et de persévérance
Discours de la Commissaire aux droits de l'homme du Conseil de l'Europe, Dunja Mijatović, lors de l'événement organisé par l'Institut allemand des droits de l'homme (Deutsches Institute für Menschenrechte) et l'Académie évangélique de Berlin (Evangelische Akademie zu Berlin) pour marquer le 75e...
Speech
ENNHRI at 10: strengthening national human rights institutions
Opening remarks by Dunja Mijatović at ENNHRI's 10th anniversary conference: "Advancing human rights, democracy and rule of law at a critical time in Europe: the role of NHRIs and ENNHRI". "Dear all, dear friends, I am sorry that I cannot be with you in person to celebrate the 10th anniversary of...
Discours
Discours au 4e Sommet du Conseil de l'Europe
Allocution de la Commissaire aux droits de l'homme, Dunja Mijatović, au 4e Sommet du Conseil de l'Europe à Reykjavik, Islande Mesdames et Messieurs, La guerre menée par la Russie contre l'Ukraine est la négation de toutes les valeurs que notre Organisation défend. C’est aussi le tragique épilogue...
Speech
Presentation of the 2022 Annual Activity Report of the Commissioner for Human Rights to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly
Mr President, honourable members of PACE, dear colleagues, 2022 will be remembered as the year of mass atrocities on European soil. Exactly fourteen months ago today, the people of Ukraine woke up to the sound of explosions and shelling. For more than 400 days now, Russian forces have been...
Discours
La Commissaire souligne l'importance de la solidarité avec et entre les défenseurs des droits humains
« Les défenseurs de droits humains ont besoin de plus de solidarité de la part des États membres, de leurs citoyens et de la société civile, ainsi que de solidarité entre eux », a déclaré la Commissaire aux droits de l'homme du Conseil de l'Europe, Dunja Mijatović, lors d'une conférence organisée...
Speech
Alarm and Hope. 21st Century International Conference On the Centenary of the Birth of Dr Andrei Sakharov
Alarm and Hope. 21st Century International Conference On the Centenary of the Birth of Dr Andrei Sakharov - Plenary session Peace, progress and human rights are about choosing the right side. When you decide to defend and promote them, you choose to take the side of those who seek freedom. You...
Speech
The impact of COVID-19 on human rights and how to move forward
2020 has been a disastrous year for human rights in Europe. While, increasingly, commitment to upholding human rights standards has been faltering all over the continent for several years, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the erosion of the democratic fabric of our society, on which...
Speech
Human rights and Business - Prosperity Through Diversity
Virtual conference under the auspices of the Greek Chairmanship of the Council of Europe Excellencies, dear participants, dear friends, The human rights responsibilities of business are not a new topic, but I think that the way in which we see them is evolving, and so are our expectations. For a...
Speech
States must give a renewed impetus to realising human rights for all
The Commissioner participated today in the exchange of views organised by the Greek Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. She delivered the following speech: Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, The...