Human Rights Comment
Human rights at risk when secret surveillance spreads
The fear of terrorism, technology that is developing at the speed of light, private companies and state security agencies compiling personal information – this topical mix has become a severe threat to the right to privacy. Despite the intentions, secret surveillance to counter terrorism can...
Human Rights Comment
Decisions concerning migrant children must always be based on their best interests
Migrant children are particularly vulnerable – especially if they are unaccompanied, travelling without parents or relatives. Many have been traumatised and abused before arriving in Europe. They must be met with care and with respect for their rights. Yet, there are many accounts of harsh...
Human Rights Comment
Time for accountability in CIA torture cases
Twelve years ago, almost three thousand people were killed by the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Commemorative events provide an occasion to pay respects to the innocent victims, but also to reflect on the anti-terrorist response adopted by the USA and Europe. By allowing unlawful...
Human Rights Comment
Child labour in Europe: a persisting challenge
Many observers thought that child labour was a thing of the past in Europe. However, there are strong indications that child labour remains a serious problem and that it might be growing in the wake of the economic crisis. Governments need to monitor this situation and to use the UN Convention on...
Human Rights Comment
Justice and reconciliation long overdue in the Balkans
More than 20 years after the first war in connection with the dissolution of Yugoslavia the legacy of the violence still lingers across the region. 12 200 persons are still missing, 423 000 refugees and displaced persons still cannot return to their homes, about 20 000 persons remain stateless or...
Human Rights Comment
Europe must combat racist extremism and uphold human rights
Europe has been experiencing a worrying intensification of activities of racist extremist organisations, including political parties. According to some commentators, the upsurge has even reached the point of “an early form of far right terror”. It worries me deeply that the European community and...
Human Rights Comment
Press freedom in the digital age: new threats, new challenges
As growing portions of journalistic activity take place on the Internet, Europe has not become a safer place for those expressing critical opinions. Clearly, people reporting can reach out faster and to a broader audience than before. But old and new threats await them when they decide to do so:...
Human Rights Comment
Belarusian Human Rights Defenders Need Support
Belarus is not a member state of the Council of Europe and should not even be considered a candidate until it releases all human rights defenders and opposition activists imprisoned for political motives, abolishes the death penalty and carries out far-reaching democratic reforms. This means that...
Human Rights Comment
Valdībām būtu jārīkojas bērnu - bezvalstnieku interesēs
Pilsonību mēdz saukt par „tiesību uz tiesībām”. Bez pilsonības indivīds nevar baudīt ne svarīgas politiskās tiesības, ne arī virkni sociālo un ekonomisko tiesību. Simboliskā plāksnē pilsonība norāda uz pilntiesīgu piederību valstiskai kopienai, un daži pat apgalvo, ka tā norāda uz piederību...
- Artificial intelligence
- Children's rights
- Counter terrorism
- Covid-19
- Discrimination
- Economic crisis
- Education
- Freedom of assembly
- Freedom of expression
- Gender equality
- Human rights defenders
- Justice system
- Lgbti
- Media freedom
- Migration
- Persons with disabilities
- Racism
- Roma
- Statelessness
- Terrorism
- Torture
- Transitional justice
- Violence
- Women's rights
Human Rights Comment
Syrian refugees: a neglected human rights crisis in Europe
One of the world’s biggest refugee crises of recent times is unfolding on Europe’s doorstep, but most European governments have reacted with complete indifference. Close to 4 million people are internally displaced in Syria and almost 3 million have left the country since the beginning of the...
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