Commissioner O’Flaherty at the Università degli studi di Roma Tre

📢 Commissioner O’Flaherty at the Università degli Studi Roma Tre speaking about protecting the integrity of the ECHR

The recent speech by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights at Roma Tre University serves as a powerful wake-up call. Despite the historic achievements of the post-war era, we are seeing a gradual “dissolving” of the global order based on democracy and human rights.

The Commissioner highlighted a deeply concerning trend:
•    Surging violence: combat-related deaths in cross-border conflicts have jumped from an average of 15,000 (1989-2014) to 100,000 per year today.
•    Rule of law in retreat: for the eighth consecutive year, the World Justice Project reports a global decline. In Europe, 22 member states score below 7/10.
•    An “à la carte” approach: we are moving from the denial of violations to an outright repudiation of protection systems, where binding treaties are treated as optional.
•    The Threat to the ECHR: A recent declaration by 27 states (led by Denmark and Italy) seeks to weaken the protections of the European Convention on Human Rights, particularly concerning migration.

👁️‍🗨️ O’Flaherty pointed out that, contrary to the narrative of an escalating crisis, Frontex reported a 25% decrease in irregular migration to the EU during the first 11 months of 2025. Furthermore, he dismantled the common claim that it is ‘impossible’ to deport foreign criminals—a justification often used to seek a reduction in human rights protections. In reality, data from the Oxford Bonavero Institute shows that a mere 0.73% of foreign nationals convicted of crimes actually appealed their deportation orders.

To halt this decline, the Commissioner outlined three strategic pillars:
1.    Evidence-based policy: States must return to facts rather than fear-based rhetoric. The principle of non-refoulement and judicial independence are non-negotiable foundations of a healthy democracy.
2.    Rights as an investment: human rights are not just ideals; they are economic drivers. Investing in social services and reducing inequality makes our societies safer and more prosperous.
3.    The “power of the people”: we must move away from “merit-based” hierarchies of rights. If we allow authorities to designate which groups “deserve” protection, we enter a dangerous, slippery slope.

🙌 As the Commissioner noted, referring to Holocaust survivors like Josef Veselsky and Eva Schloss, the post-war institutions we now take for granted once seemed “unthinkable” amidst the ruins of 1945. If they found the hope to build, we must find the courage to preserve.