October 7, 2020

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Speaking Notes of the Secretary General to the 1385th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (7 October 2020)

1. 13ème Forum européen sur les droits de l’enfant « Produire des résultats pour les enfants : vers la stratégie européenne sur les droits de l’enfant », 29 septembre (en ligne)

Mardi dernier, j’ai participé à la session de haut niveau du 13ème Forum européen sur les droits de l’enfant, une conférence annuelle organisée par la Commission européenne. La future stratégie de l’Union européenne sur les droits de l’enfant a été au cœur de ce Forum qui s’est tenu pour la première fois en ligne.

Dans le cadre de la session de haut niveau introduite par la vice-présidente de la Commission chargée de la Démocratie et de la Démographie, Madame Dubravka Šuica, j’ai eu l’occasion de présenter les résultats de la troisième stratégie du Conseil de l’Europe sur les droits de l’enfant (2016-2021), notamment l’élaboration de normes concernant des questions complexes, telles que les enfants migrants ou réfugiés non accompagnés, les enfants dont les parents sont en prison ou la violence sexuelle en ligne.

Je suis convaincue que notre coopération avec l’Union européenne se renforcera dans le cadre de sa future stratégie qui coïncidera avec notre nouvelle stratégie 2022-2027 en préparation et qu’ensemble nous parviendrons plus efficacement à ce que le contexte actuel difficile, y compris économique, ne fasse pas reculer les grands progrès réalisés ces dernières années en faveur des enfants.

2. Athens Democracy Forum 2020 "The New Abnormal: Reimagining Democracy", Athens, 30 September

On 30 September, on the occasion of my participation in the Athens Democracy Forum, I had the opportunity to meet with the highest officials of the Hellenic Republic: Ms Katerina Sakellaropoulou, President; Mr Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister; Mr Kostas Tsiaras, Minister of Justice; and Mr Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Alternate Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers.

We discussed the Council of Europe’s activities and the challenges that lie ahead for our Organisation and member states in a number of important areas, including the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and migration and refugees, with a particular emphasis on the protection of unaccompanied minors.

The meetings were also an opportunity to exchange views, and take stock of the implementation of the programme and activities of the Greek Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers. We agreed on the importance of holding the forthcoming Session of the Committee of Ministers on 4 November, in particular as it will coincide with the 70th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights, the cornerstone of our action in the human rights field.

I expressed appreciation for the work and results achieved so far in the framework of the Greek Chairmanship, not least given the difficult environment created by COVID-19. The Athens Declaration, to be adopted at the forthcoming Ministerial Session, will represent an important guideline for our future actions.

In addition to my meetings, I gave a keynote speech at the Athens Democracy Forum, in association with the New York Times. The speech outlined the role of the European Convention on Human Rights as the “Compass of Europe”. The Council of Europe was also represented on two panels – one dealing with migration and the other with the environmental dimension of human rights. These further contributed to our visibility at this international event. I would like to thank the President of the Ministers’ Deputies, Permanent Representative of Greece, Ambassador Panos Beglitis, and his team for the excellent preparation and organisation of this visit.

3. Conférence internationale de haut niveau sur les droits de l’homme et la protection de l’environnement « Droits de l’homme pour la planète », 5 octobre

Lundi matin, j’ai participé à l’ouverture de la Conférence « Droits de l’homme pour la planète », organisée en format hybride à la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme, avec la participation de nombreux intervenants, dont la Haute-Commissaire des Nations Unies aux droits de l'homme, Michelle Bachelet.

Cet événement est en quelque sorte un prolongement de la présidence géorgienne de votre Comité et il était tout à fait complémentaire de la Conférence de haut-niveau du mois de février. Il s’agissait cette fois d’examiner plus en profondeur, avec d’éminents spécialistes, les questions juridiques spécifiques touchant à l’examen de griefs environnementaux par les juges, et notamment la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme. Le rôle que joue la Cour constitue l’une des réponses pertinentes que notre Organisation peut apporter aux défis environnementaux et je salue donc cette initiative.

4. Secretary General’s Special Representative on antisemitic and anti-Muslim hatred and hate crimes

On Friday it will be one year since the deadly antisemitic attack on a Synagogue in Halle, Germany, on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. In February this year, in Hanau, a far-right extremist killed 10 people, several of whom were Muslim. These are no longer isolated events. We are witnessing an alarming increase of antisemitic and anti-Muslim attacks in many parts of Europe today.

The fight against discrimination, including on grounds of religion or belief, has been at the core of the Council of Europe’s mission from the outset. Various parts of the Organisation, including ECRI, have developed invaluable expertise in this field. We also maintain a long-standing tradition of Holocaust remembrance.

The concern over multiple incidents of antisemitic and anti-Muslim hatred is shared by our member states who have in recent years set up specialist bodies, or appointed special representatives, as a reaction to the growing threat.

Since we are faced with an emerging European phenomenon, often aggravated by hate speech online, it is vital to enhance the Council of Europe’s action in co-operation with its member states. Indeed, many governments, NGOs, media and large parts of the general public expect the Organisation to be strong and vocal in its response. I have therefore decided to appoint our Director of Communications, Daniel Höltgen, as Special Representative on Antisemitic and Anti-Muslim Hatred and Hate Crimes. He will liaise with counterparts in the member states, exchange information and best practice and enhance co-operation with a view to ensuring effective counter strategies at the European level. Communication will be a key activity of the role. My Special Representative will work with all relevant structures within the Organisation, including CDADI, and ensure that the collective expertise of the Council of Europe is put to full use in our common effort to prevent antisemitic and anti-Muslim acts. Daniel Höltgen will start his new function on 1st November and maintain his position as Director of Communications. The mandate will be distributed with the written version of my communication and will be published on the website.

5. Nagorno-Karabakh

I remain gravely concerned about the continuous escalation of military hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone and, in particular, about the deaths of so many people, including civilians – children, women, and the elderly among them. As I have said before, nothing can justify this suffering and I have called for an immediate stop to the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure. Safeguarding human lives is an obligation of this Organisation’s member states under the European Convention on Human Rights and I take this opportunity to reiterate my call to the parties to the conflict to cease hostilities as well as to all member states to implement and respect the interim measures decided by the European Court of Human Rights.

When they joined the Council of Europe, Armenia and Azerbaijan undertook a joint commitment to solve the conflict by exclusively peaceful means. This commitment stands and remains important. In this respect, I reiterate the Council of Europe’s support for the efforts and mandate of the OSCE Minsk group Co-chairs for finding a peaceful solution to the conflict.

6. Bureau du Conseil de l'Europe à Kyiv

Je souhaiterais attirer votre attention sur le poste de Chef de Bureau encore vacant à Kyiv. Cette fonction pourrait être remplie par le détachement d'un fonctionnaire d'un État membre, et je serais heureuse de recevoir des propositions de candidatures appropriées. La description du poste vacant sera annexée à ma communication écrite.

7. Registrar of the European Court of Human Rights

I wish to inform you that the European Court of Human Rights elected Ms Marialena Tsirli as its new Registrar, at its 167th plenary administrative session on 7 September 2020. Ms Tsirli, who will succeed the current Registrar, Mr Roderick Liddell, will begin her term of office on 1 December 2020.