Professor Michael O’Flaherty elected as Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights

The Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin TD, has welcomed the election of Professor Michael O’Flaherty as Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, after a vote by the Council’s Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg this week.

The Commissioner for Human Rights is an independent and impartial non-judicial institution established in 1999 by the Council of Europe to promote awareness of and respect for human rights across the Council’s 46 member states.

Speaking after the announcement of the vote, the Tánaiste said: “I want to congratulate Michael O’Flaherty on his election as Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe.

"Professor O’Flaherty has served with great distinction in several high level positions in the field of human rights and his election as Commissioner is a mark of the high regard in which he is held.

“His extensive human rights expertise, strong record of leadership and demonstrated courage, integrity and resilience, are qualities that will benefit him as he takes up his new role.

"The office of Commissioner is central to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe. Never have these ideals and principles been more important.”

Minister of State for European Affairs, Peter Burke TD said: “The election of Michael O’Flaherty as Commissioner for Human Rights is a recognition by the Council of Europe membership of his high moral character and expertise in the field of human rights.

“His attachment to the values of the Council of Europe are undeniable and Ireland is proud to have supported his candidacy for the position.”

Notes for Editors

• The Council of Europe was founded in 1949 as an international organisation dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights, democracy and the rule of law across Europe. The Council comprises 46 member states, including Ireland as a founding member.

• The Commissioner for Human Rights was established by the Council of Europe in 1999 with a mandate to promote awareness of and respect for human rights across the 46 members states.

• The Commissioner carries out this mandate through a combination of advocacy and dialogue with national authorities and civil society, thematic studies and advice on human rights work, and other awareness-raising activities.

• Previous Commissioners include Dunja Mijatović (2018-2024), Nils Muižnieks (2012-2018), Thomas Hammarberg (2006-2012) and Alvaro Gil-Robles (1999-2006).

• The Commissioner is elected by secret ballot by members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for a 6-year non-renewable term.

• A shortlist of three candidates was prepared by the Council’s Committee of Ministers’ Deputies in November 2023 and transmitted to the Parliamentary Assembly.

• Michael O’Flaherty led the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) from 2015 until December 2023. Previously, Professor O’ Flaherty spent 18 years working with the UN, setting up human rights field operations in conflict-affected conflicts such as Sierra Leone and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as serving as a member of the UN Human Rights Committee.

• At the national level, Professor O’ Flaherty led the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC), a national human rights institution set up under the Good Friday Agreement.

• Professor O’ Flaherty has also held two professorships of human at the Universities of Galway and Nottingham respectively.

• The two other shortlisted candidates for the position were Bulgarian nominee Meglena Kuneva and Austrian nominee Manfred Nowak.

• Professor O’Flaherty will take up the position of Commissioner on 1 April 2024.

Press Office

ENDS

24 January 2023