The new Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights will pay his first visit to Ukraine
Kyiv • UNN
The new Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, plans to make overcoming the consequences of Russia's invasion of Ukraine a priority of his six-year mandate.
The new Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, began his six-year mandate today. He intends to make his first visit to Ukraine as Commissioner. This was reported by UNN with reference to the press service of the Council of Europe.
I can't imagine anything more urgent than overcoming the consequences of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has caused terrible human suffering and destruction
The Commissioner also identified other areas in which stronger protection of human rights is urgently needed, including the climate crisis, the management of artificial intelligence, freedom of expression, migration and the rise of hate speech, including anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim attacks.
The Commissioner also emphasized his intention to focus on youth issues, socio-economic rights and human rights defenders, as well as to use his mandate to promote the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights judgments.
For reference
Michael O'Flaherty was elected by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in January 2024. He became the fifth Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, succeeding Dunja Mijatović (2018-2024). The mandate of the Commissioner lasts for six years.
An Irish human rights lawyer, O'Flaherty previously served as Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (2015-2023), organizing work in conflict-affected countries such as Sierra Leone and Bosnia and Herzegovina.