The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission welcomes the appointment of Professor Michael O’Flaherty as the new Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe, by the organisation’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) at its plenary session in Strasbourg yesterday.
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 in the 46 Council of Europe member States; identify possible shortcomings in the law and practice concerning human rights; and facilitate the activities of national ombudsperson institutions and other human rights structures.
Professor O’Flaherty has served as Director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, and previously as Professor of Human Rights Law and Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the National University of Ireland, as Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and as a member of the UN Human Rights Committee.
Commission Director Deirdre Malone said:
“We would like to offer heartfelt congratulations to Professor O’Flaherty on his appointment – particularly as he is the first Irish person to become Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe.
“We wish him the best in his new role which he takes it up in April, and look forward to working with him on furthering fundamental human rights here and in Europe.”
END/
For further information, please contact:
Sarah Clarkin, IHREC Communications Manager,
01 8592641 / 087 4687760
Follow us on twitter @_IHREC
Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is an independent public body, appointed by the President and directly accountable to the Oireachtas. The Commission has a statutory remit set out under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act (2014) to protect and promote human rights and equality in Ireland, and build a culture of respect for human rights, equality and intercultural understanding in the State.
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is Ireland’s national human rights institution and is recognised as such by the United Nations. The Commission is also Ireland’s national equality body for the purpose of a range of EU anti-discrimination measures