Press conference
Europe is failing Syrian refugees
Berlin, 19/12/2013 - , In a press conference in Berlin concluding a 5-day visit to Turkey, Bulgaria and Germany on the Syrian refugee crisis, the Commissioner urged European countries to step up their efforts in providing protection to the more than one million Syrian refugees in Europe. "Turkey...
Letter to the Prime Minister of Serbia
Serbia should end degrading reception conditions for asylum seekers
"Serbia needs to strengthen its asylum system and reception capacities in order to cope with the ever increasing number of arrivals, in particular from war-torn Syria. I could witness signs of the current strains on the Serbian asylum system during my November visit in the reception centre of...
Letter to the Mayor of Rome
The municipality of Rome should step up its support to Roma and refugees
"The situation of Roma and refugees in Italy is a long-standing concern. Local authorities, including in Rome, have an important role to play in improving the living conditions of these people," said today Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, while releasing a letter...
Video message
Restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly still serious human rights concerns in Azerbaijan
In a video message to the Azerbaijan's Human Rights Forum, organized by the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS), in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Commissioner expressed his serious concern at the apparent intensification of the practice of unjustified or selective criminal prosecution of...
Freedom of assembly
Commissioner concerned about the situation in Ukraine
"I have been following with great concern the recent events in Ukraine. Freedom of assembly is a fundamental human right and as such must be always upheld by the authorities. Several cases of excessive use of force were reported, both against the demonstrators and the journalists covering the...
Country visit report
Police misconduct in Turkey raises serious human rights concerns
"The police's handling of demonstrations in Turkey exposes once again the long-standing, serious human rights problem of the misconduct of law enforcement officials in the country. It is time for the Turkish police to improve their record of compliance with human rights standards", said today...
Visit to Denmark
Children’s rights should be better respected in migration and asylum
"More systematic consideration should be given to the best interests of the child in migration and asylum policies and procedures" said Nils Muižnieks, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, after a three-day visit to Copenhagen (19-22 November 2013). The Commissioner is concerned...
Statement
Commissioner's reaction to racist attacks on French Minister of Justice Taubira
The racist attacks on Ms Christiane Taubira, the French Minister of Justice, over the last few months give serious cause for concern. Racist speech and, more broadly speaking, the rejection of diversity, seriously undermine human rights, human dignity and the values on which today's Europe is...
Report on visit to the Russian Federation (2013)
Russia must strengthen the independence and the impartiality of the judiciary
"Substantial reforms should continue in order to remedy the systemic deficiencies in the administration of justice and strengthen the independence and impartiality of the judiciary in the Russian Federation", said today Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, releasing a...
Freedom of expression and democracy in the digital age - Opportunities, rights, responsibilities
In his keynote speech at the Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Media and Information Society today, the Commissioner highlighted restrictions to media freedom on grounds of national security as particularly serious ones, following the recent disclosure of the US and UK...
EU border control policies negatively affect human rights
"The EU externalisation of border control policies has a deleterious effect on human rights, in particular the right to leave a country, which is a prerequisite to the enjoyment of other rights – most importantly, the right to seek asylum", said today Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe...
Visit to France
On-site visit to detention centre of Geispolsheim
On 29 October the Commissioner made an on-site visit to Strasbourg and its area focused on the rights of migrants and asylum seekers. After having met local lawyers and NGOs expert in this field, he visited the migrant detention centre of Geispolsheim, where he held discussions with the staff and...
Legal recognition of LGBTI families
In a video message at the ILGA-Europe Annual Conference "Family matters! Reaching out to hearts and minds" in Zagreb, Croatia, the Commissioner urged all European countries to give equal legal recognition to LGBTI couples and families. The European Court of Human Rights has clearly recognised...
Irresponsible media reporting on Roma propagates negative myths
[Strasbourg, 24/10/2013 09:30] – "The long-standing problem of negative media reporting on minorities has vehemently re-emerged with the cases of the children found in Roma families in Greece and Ireland. Most news reports, not only in Europe but all over the world, have insisted on the ethnicity...
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...
Commissioner warns the UK about the consequences of non-compliance with judgments of the European Court of Human Rights
[Strasbourg, 17/10/2013 17:00] – In a Memorandum published today, the Commissioner underscores the obligation for member States to execute judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and the importance that such compliance has for the European system of human rights protection. He also warns...
France: Off-site hearings raise human rights concerns
[Strasbourg, 17/10/2013] – In a letter sent to the Minister of Justice, Ms Christiane Taubira, on 2 October 2013 and published today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, expresses concern about respect for the human rights of the migrants required to appear at...
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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