Commissioner for Human Rights

Following my visit to #Norway, I encourage authorities to further safeguard the dignity and #HumanRights of older people in care homes. 🧵

On the environment, I encourage #Norway to further strengthen its role in combatting climate change and better align its #ClimateAction with #HumanRights.

coe.intNorway encouraged to improve long-term care for older persons and better align climate action with human rights - Commissioner for Human Rights - www.coe.intStrasbourg 27 October 2026

Read my statement following my visit to #Norway focusing on the human rights of older people in residential care, as well as issues related to the environment and #HumanRights. ⬇️ www.coe.int/en/web/commi...

Following my visit to #Norway, I encourage authorities to further safeguard the dignity and #HumanRights of older people in care homes. 🧵

Key priorities to further safeguard the dignity and #humanrights of older persons in care homes include timely access to appropriate care, adequate staffing, rights-compliant use of technology, stronger oversight, and culturally competent services, including for the Sámi people.

As protests continue across Europe, with young people and students playing a prominent role, I call on member states to protect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and ensure human rights-compliant policing. #FreedomOfAssembly #RighttoProtest #RuleOfLaw #ChildRights

Furthermore, the use of military personnel to police demonstrations may be problematic from a human rights point of view. #FreedomOfAssembly #RighttoProtest #RuleOfLaw #ChildRights

Protecting peaceful assembly is a democratic obligation. Responses to protests must always be guided by human rights and the rule of law. #FreedomOfAssembly #RighttoProtest #RuleOfLaw #ChildRights

🔹No arbitrary detention: Deprivation of liberty must have a lawful basis and never be used to intimidate or deter peaceful protest. #FreedomOfAssembly #RighttoProtest #RuleOfLaw #ChildRights

🔹Safeguards for children: Policing must take due account of children’s age and vulnerability. Detention must be a measure of last resort, with access to legal assistance. #FreedomOfAssembly #RighttoProtest #RuleOfLaw #ChildRights

Law enforcement must prioritise dialogue and de-escalation.While it is legitimate for police to respond to looting and rioting and to keep people safe, the use of force and deprivation of liberty must be governed by strict standards:⬇️ #FreedomOfAssembly #RighttoProtest #RuleOfLaw #ChildRights

🔹Lawful and proportionate use of force: Any use of force must be strictly necessary, and all allegations of excess must be promptly investigated. #FreedomOfAssembly #RighttoProtest #RuleOfLaw #ChildRights

Violence by some individuals or groups does not justify arbitrary restrictions, blanket bans or the dispersal of an entire assembly. Those engaging in violence must be distinguished from peaceful participants. #FreedomOfAssembly #RighttoProtest #RuleOfLaw #ChildRights

I welcome the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize award to the ICC and its officials. This is a powerful show of solidarity with an essential institution in the fight against impunity and for justice for victims of atrocity crimes. #SakharovPrize @europarl.europa.eu @coe.int

International institutions that uphold the rule of law and protect human dignity must be protected.

Wrapping up my visit to Norway focusing on the human rights of older persons in residential care and issues related to the environment, climate change and human rights.

Today I had constructive meetings with the Minister of Climate & Environment & the State Secretaries from the Ministries of Health & Care Services, Local Government & Regional Development, Foreign Affairs, & Justice & Public Security. I also exchanged with members of the Norwegian PACE delegation.

Norway visit Day #2: Valuable meeting with NHRI, representatives of Parliamentary Ombud, and Oslo & Akershus Patient, and User Ombud. I had a very informative visit to Lørenskog Nursing Home. Rounded off the day with a memorable exchange with students & guests at Norwegian Centre for Human Rights.

Norway visit Day#1: Very informative meetings with the President of the Sami Parliament, civil society on the #HumanRights situation of older persons in residential care & issues related to the environment, climate change & human rights. I was warmly welcomed at Carpe Diem Dementia Village in Bærum

coe.intCommissioner calls for action against hateful and discriminatory narratives at ECRI Annual SeminarStrasbourg 15 October 2026

At last week's ECRI Annual Seminar with Equality Bodies, I called for action to address hateful and discriminatory narratives, including antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred. Watch my video message www.coe.int/en/web/commi... @coe.int

At my regular meeting with the Council of Europe’s Advisory Council on Youth today, my top agenda item was the waves of protest on Europe’s streets in these days.

I committed to doing what I can to help to rebuild the trust within our societies which is essential for the respect of human rights.

This includes working with the authorities to ensure that young people’s right to protest is respected, including when acts of violence obscure the message of peaceful protesters.

At my regular meeting with the Council of Europe’s Advisory Council on Youth today, my top agenda item was the waves of protest on Europe’s streets in these days.

I particularly wanted to hear their views on bridging the gap between young people’s demands, including on education, inequality, housing or the environment, and public policy responses to meet them.

Off to Norway for a three-day visit, focusing on the human rights of older people in residential care, as well as issues related to the environment and human rights.

An excellent exchange with Frontex Executive Director and the Consultative Forum on the rights and dignity of refugees and migrants, including in border control, returns and cooperation with non-EU countries. @frontex.bsky.social @coe.int

At the OSCE Human Dimension Conference roundtable with the High Commissioner on National Minorities, Christophe Kamp, last week, I focused on the need to learn the lessons from years of engaging directly with Roma and Traveller communities to drive real change: 1/4

Delivering change requires more than reports, it demands building trust, mutual learning and accountability to the concerned communities. 3/4

The Conference also provided the opportunity to sit down with Maria Telalian, the Director of ODIHR and discuss key human rights challenges in Europe. #WHDC2026 #HumanRights #minorities #RomaRights #Equality @odihr.pl @coe.int 4/4

1️⃣ Acknowledge and name the racism in our societies and institutions instead of treating it as an abstraction. 2️⃣Get out of the office to listen, learn, and partner with communities where they live. 3️⃣Respect communities and their agency 4️⃣Invest in women as vectors of change driving solutions. 2/4

Just because multilateralism is on its knees does not mean we should give up on it. We risk forgetting where it comes from. It was ‘Never again’ to prevent genocides and atrocity crimes that led to the development of regional and international systems. @coe.int @warsawforum.bsky.social

There is no plan B: if we lose multilateralism, we will have no alternative in terms of decent relationship between states or support for our human rights as individuals. @coe.int @warsawforum.bsky.social

The idea of any amnesties for international crimes in any negotiation of peace agreements for Ukraine is unthinkable. It is a violation of international law, and it is not right. #WSF2026 #StandWithUkraine #UnitedWeStand @coe.int @warsawforum.bsky.social

We’re moving towards establishing a tribunal to prosecute #Russia’s crime of aggression against #Ukraine. Countries around the world should indicate their support for this tribunal, which is established by the Council of Europe. #WSF2026 #StandWithUkraine #UnitedWeStand @warsawforum.bsky.social

States must also show their support for the International Criminal Court. #WSF2026 #StandWithUkraine #UnitedWeStand

Given current challenges facing the Int'l Criminal Court, due to pushback from the United States and others, the importance of this institution has never been more evident. The Court must be able to deliver justice, incl. for the people of #Ukraine. #WSF2026 #StandWithUkraine #UnitedWeStand

Insightful morning at #WSF2026. First, a very useful catch-up with Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir, the Council of Europe Secretary General's Special Envoy for Ukrainian children, following her return from Ukraine. #WSF2026 #UnitedWeStand #StandWithUkraine 1/3

I also sat down with Bronwen Maddox of Chatham House to raise the defence of international law&multilateralism, and the importance of keeping human rights&justice at the heart of Europe’s response to geopolitical challenges, from Russia's war against Ukraine to AI regulation&migration policies. 2/3

I look forward to continuing these exchanges. #WSF2026 #UnitedWeStand #StandWithUkraine 3/3 @coe.int @thordiskolbrun.bsky.social @chathamhouse.org @warsawforum.bsky.social

Ukraine is the front line of a war against Europe. A front line of the war against our values, our human rights, our commitments to democracy and to stable, fair societies. #WSF2026 #StandWithUkraine #UnitedWeStand @warsawforum.bsky.social @coe.int

Excellent first meeting today with #Poland’s newly appointed Commissioner for #HumanRights, Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram. I look forward to continued dialogue and cooperation over the next week years. #Ombuds

The attribution of personal responsibility for atrocities must continue to be a focus of our efforts. Ignoring human rights during conflict only guarantees the next war. #WSF2026 #StandWithUkraine #UnitedWeStand #Ukraine @warsawforum.bsky.social @coe.int

We are at a pivotal moment where AI’s rapid strides, affecting everything from justice systems to global geopolitics, demand that we tame the technology and firmly anchor it in human rights. 1/3

Read my full remarks👇 [link in comments] #ArtificialIntelligence #AIGovernance #FutureOfJustice #RuleOfLaw #MagnificaHumanitas @mszrp.bsky.social @coe.int @ox.ac.uk @fra.europa.eu 3/3

coe.intTaming the technology: AI, human rights, and the future of justice - Commissioner for Human Rights - www.coe.int

Read my full remarks👇 www.coe.int/en/web/commi...

We are at a pivotal moment where AI’s rapid strides, affecting everything from justice systems to global geopolitics, demand that we tame the technology and firmly anchor it in human rights. 1/3

It was an honour to close the 17th Warsaw Human Rights Seminar by reflecting on what a human rights approach to digitalising justice would entail. I focused on the need for transparency, and why a humanist vision remains our best roadmap to ensure AI serves human flourishing. 2/3

Following my visit to Bulgaria, I encourage action to improve long-term care for older persons including better integrating health & social care and strengthening independent monitoring in residential facilities. Legal safeguards against evictions are needed to address the housing situation of Roma.

coe.intBulgaria: Commissioner O'Flaherty recommends stronger protection for older persons in care homes and Roma - Commissioner for Human Rights - www.coe.intStrasbourg 13 October 2026

Read my exchange of letters with the Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Nataliya Efremova ⬇️ www.coe.int/en/web/commi...

At the Warsaw Security Forum, I met with Truth Hounds. They briefed me on their crucial work documenting #Russia’s violations of international law, which include ‘double-tap’ attacks against first responders as they come to the aid of victims. #WSF2026 #StandWithUkraine #UnitedWeStand