Letter
The French Senate should amend the General Security Bill to make it compatible with human rights
In a letter to the Chair and members of the Law Committee of the French Senate, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, urges the senators to make substantial amendments to the General Security Bill to make it more human rights-compliant. The Commissioner invites the...
Statement
Albanian authorities must prevent further police violence and uphold the right to freedom of peaceful assembly
The Albanian authorities must show restraint in policing demonstrations and ensure thorough, independent and effective investigations into all allegations of excessive use of force,” said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović in a statement today, expressing concern...
Letter
Bosnia and Herzegovina must urgently improve its migrant reception capacities, improve access to asylum and protect unaccompanied migrant children
In a letter published today, the Commissioner calls on the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to address the persistent shortcomings in their handling of migrants and asylum seekers. The letter was addressed to Mr Zoran Tegeltija, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina,...
Letter
Commissioner calls on Slovenia’s Prime Minister to ensure that the decision to suspend public funding for the country’s Press Agency be reversed
In a letter published today, the Commissioner calls on Slovenia's Prime Minister, Mr Janez Janša, to ensure that the government’s decision to suspend public funding for the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) be reversed. "The suspension of public funding may seriously hamper STA's work, possibly even...
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...
Statement
Commissioner for Human Rights calls on the State Duma to refrain from adopting legislation which violates the rights of NGOs and civil society activists
“I have been following closely recent discussions concerning a number of new bills related to NGOs and, in particular, I note that Russian civil society has expressed criticism of these bills. Based on all the information received, I call on the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian...
Memorandum
Poland should stop the stigmatisation of LGBTI people
“Public officials and opinion makers should stop promoting an atmosphere of hate and intolerance vis-à-vis LGBTI people and instead, improve respect for their human rights. Stigmatisation and hate speech carry a real risk of legitimising violence. LGBTI are people, not an ideology”, said the...
Speech
Violence against Women and Girls in France
Conference held by the French National Consultative Commission on Human Rights Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you for inviting me to open this webinar on a topic which has been very high on my agenda since the beginning of my mandate in 2018. Violence against women and domestic violence are human...
Statement
States should deliver on their commitments to persons with disabilities
This year, we mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at a time when the COVID19 pandemic is still raging in Europe. The pandemic has disproportionately affected persons with disabilities and exposed all the pre-existing failings in Council of Europe member states. Among many...
Statement
Stop cyberviolence against women and girls
“Cyberviolence against women is an increasing problem in Europe. It can take many forms, including (sexual) harassment, revenge porn and threats of rape, sexual assault or murder. Perpetrators can be partners or ex-partners, colleagues, schoolmates or, as is often the case, anonymous...
Statement
Commissioner urges Hungary’s Parliament to postpone the vote on draft bills that, if adopted, will have far-reaching adverse effects on human rights in the country
“The Hungarian Government bills submitted to Parliament last week comprising proposals to amend the Constitution and other legislative instruments may have serious adverse effects on human rights in the country”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović today. “I...
Statement
Member states must give renewed impetus to children’s rights
“The COVID-19 pandemic has deepened and widened pre-existing inequalities that undermine children’s ability to enjoy their human rights, including in terms of health, safety, education, and living conditions. There is a clear risk that COVID-19 will have adverse long-term effects on children and...
Letter
The Commissioner calls on the Russian investigating authorities to take urgent action in the case of Mr Salman Tepsurkayev, abducted in September and subjected to torture in Chechnya
Today the Commissioner published a letter she had addressed to the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, Mr Alexander Bastrykin, concerning the case of Mr Salman Tepsurkayev, a 19-year old chat moderator on the 1ADAT news channel on Telegram who was abducted,...
Third party intervention
Commissioner publishes observations on the absence of legal recognition of same-sex relationships in Poland
Today the Commissioner published her written observations to the European Court of Human Rights concerning the cases of Katarzyna Formela and Sylwia Formela v. Poland and 3 other applications, Cecylia Przybyszewska v. Poland and 9 other applications, and Antoni Meszkes v. Poland, all of which...
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...
Letter
UK lawmakers should reject provisions of the Overseas Operations Bill undermining the fight against impunity for serious human rights violations
In a letter addressed to the members of the House of Commons made public today, the Commissioner warns that provisions of the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill currently under discussion give “cause for grave concern about their compliance with the United Kingdom’s...
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...
Human Rights Comment
Time to take action against SLAPPs
Free speech is a cherished right in Europe. But in some countries, certain rich and powerful people use specious lawsuits to censor, harass and ultimately suppress critics. This is a long-standing problem but one that has been increasing in magnitude in recent months. Journalists, activists, and...
Letter
Polish authorities should ensure the continuity, independence and effectiveness of the Ombudsman institution
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, made public today, the Commissioner raises her concerns about risks to the continuity and the effective functioning of the Polish Ombudsman institution. A constitutional challenge to the legal provision allowing the current...
Statement
Croatian authorities must stop pushbacks and border violence, and end impunity
The latest allegations of collective expulsions of migrants, denial of access to asylum, and of extreme violence by Croatian law enforcement officers used in this context are extremely worrying. Numerous human rights organisations and international organisations have been documenting for a long...
Statement
Truth and Justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia
“Another year has passed, and there is still no truth or justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia in sight. Three years after her murder, it has still not been established who ordered it and what the motives behind her brutal assassination were. Daphne Caruana Galizia has become the symbol of a...
Speech
Introductory remarks at the exchange of views with PACE Standing Committee
Dear PACE members, It is a pleasure to meet with you today, although only from cyberspace. I would have preferred to get together with you last April at your plenary session to discuss my annual report. Regrettably, the pandemic made it impossible and I was only able to circulate my report...
Statement
Nagorno-Karabakh: The escalation of the conflict is posing a serious threat to human rights
“I deeply regret the resumption of the military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which has already resulted in many casualties”, said today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović. “I remind both states about their obligation under the European Convention on...
Statement
International day of older persons – reflection and reaction needed in the time of the pandemic
The international day of older persons is an opportunity to celebrate older persons, their achievements and their continuing contribution to our societies. This year, we are marking this day in the exceptional context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exposed serious failings in all the Council...
Statement
The Russian authorities should end continuous judicial harassment of human rights defenders
Yesterday’s judgment against Yuri Dmitriev, a Russian historian and human rights defender sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment in a high-security prison having been acquitted earlier on the same charges, raises serious doubts as to the credibility of his prosecution. Mr Dmitriev is widely known in...
Letter
Czech Republic: The Chamber of Deputies should seize the opportunity to deliver justice to victims of forced sterilisations
In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, made public today, the Commissioner invites parliamentarians to ensure that the consideration of the bill on the compensation of victims of forced and coercive sterilisations extends beyond the first reading...
Statement
Witnesses in proceedings relating to crimes committed during the wars of the 1990s in the former Yugoslavia must be effectively protected and supported
The provision of effective protection and support for witnesses in the context of wartime-related criminal proceedings is instrumental to the fight against impunity for the crimes committed during the wars of the 1990s in the former Yugoslavia. However, over recent days, the name of a protected...
Statement
Human rights violations in Belarus must stop immediately
More than a month after the beginning of mass protests following the presidential elections in Belarus, the human rights situation in the country remains extremely worrying. Thousands of peaceful protesters have been arrested, and several individuals have been reported missing. Yet, non-violent...
Third Party Intervention
Commissioner publishes observations on the absence of legal recognition of same-sex relationships in Romania
Today the Commissioner published her written observations to the European Court of Human Rights concerning the case of Florin Buhuceanu and Victor Ciobotaru v. Romania and 12 other cases, which relate to the absence of a legal framework for the recognition of stable same-sex relationships....
Human Rights Comment
Access to official documents is crucial – let’s make it a reality
People have the right to know what those in power are doing. This was the basis on which the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents was adopted more than ten years ago in Tromsø, Norway. This Convention is the first binding international legal instrument to recognise a...
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