Council of Europe human rights commissionerMichael O’Flaherty, marked the institution’s 25th anniversary with a speech in which he emphasized the urgent need for a collective re-commitment to human rights amid escalating global challenges.

“This time of crisis for human rights is exactly when they are most needed,” said Commissioner O’Flaherty. He identified six critical challenges that threaten human rights: the decline of historical memory, political disavowal, the weakening of protection mechanisms, populism, intellectual skepticism, and the growing need for rights in the face of global crises.

The Commissioner called for closer cooperation between international institutions, stressing the importance of rekindling society’s passion for human rights and breaking down institutional silos. He further called on States to renew their commitment to protecting the most marginalized, maintaining high standards of governance and embedding human rights at the heart of their work.

Concluding with a message of resilience and optimism, Commissioner O’Flaherty reminded the audience of their shared responsibility: “For those of us in leadership roles in human rights, hope is not an option, it is a duty.”

Speech by the Commissioner for Human Rights