The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, will mark the 25th anniversary of the institution with a high-level event on 21 November in Strasbourg.
This event is part of the Presidency of Luxembourg of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and will be attended by Their Royal Highnesses Henri and Maria Teresa, Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg.
Other speakers will include Yuriko Backes, Minister for Gender Equality and Diversity, Minister of Defence, and Minister for Mobility and Public Works of Luxembourg, Yuriko Backes, Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset, Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Pierre-Alain Fridez, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Marc Cools and the President of the European Court of Human Rights Marko Bošnjak.
The event will begin by highlighting the impact of the Commissioner's office during the past 25 years, with reflections from former Commissioners Álvaro Gil-Robles, Nils Muižnieks, and Dunja Mijatović, and a message from Thomas Hammarberg.
The focus will then turn to cooperation between international organisations to address pressing human rights challenges. It will feature the European Union (EU) Representative for Human Rights Olof Skoog, the Director of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency Sirpa Rautio, the Director Alternate, Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Tea Jaliashvili and the Director of the Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures, and Right to Development Division, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Peggy Hicks.
"We are living in one of the most pivotal moments for human rights since World War II. Now is the time to rally around the progress achieved so far and confront the future with courage and confidence," said Commissioner O'Flaherty.
The event will be streamed live.
