Message of Michael O'Flaherty on the occasion of the Human Rights Day 2024
Today is International Human Rights Day 2024. This is a day for me to look back over the past nine months during which I have taken up the mandate of Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner. During that period, we marked the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the position of Commissioner, and the voices of my four predecessors came together to reflect on what they achieved.
And I must show the deepest of respect and appreciation for all that they have done over that quarter century in terms of the quiet achievements and also those that have been more widely acknowledged and seen. It's my job now to carry forward the work of the Commissioner. I've been preoccupied with a certain number of key issues during the past nine months.
First, there is, of course, the Russian aggression against Ukraine and everything that means in terms of the violation of the human rights of the people of that country, whether they be the people on its territory or transported to Russia. And never forget the children who have been taken to that country.
I'm thinking about the situation on our borders, the increased securitisation of our borders. And our states have a right to keep borders secure, but they must do so in full compliance with international law. I think of the situation of the 12 million Roma across our member states, Roma and travellers. I have spent a lot of time over the past months visiting Roma communities, meeting with them, listening, learning to see how they and we together can do a better job of standing up for their human rights.
I will bring these issues into 2025 together with all of the other challenges that are put before me. I will work during the next year in close partnership with all of our colleagues, human rights actors. At the national level, I will work with national human rights institutions, with equality bodies, with civil society.
And keep in mind, civil society is under too much pressure in too many places. I will work with the other international organisations, the regional and the global ones. And here in the Council of Europe, I will work very closely with the entire system.
It's only by working together that we will bring about that future which reflects the world dreamt of in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And we must go forward with hope. As I said recently, for us, hope is not an option, it is a duty.
Thank you.