Convention is ‘Europe’s democratic compass’
The secretary general of the Council of Europe (CoE) has emphasised the enduring importance of the European Convention on Human Rights as a “democratic compass” for the continent.
Alain Berset was speaking at a ceremony at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg to mark the 75th anniversary of launch of the convention.
Berset cited the document’s role in protecting the weak, calling the powerful to account, and supporting courts across the continent.
“It is Europe’s democratic compass. And for as long as it remains part of our lives … then Europe will still be with us,” he stated.
‘Opening up’
The secretary general stressed that the world was changing, with new challenges that included artificial intelligence, climate change, and migration.
“The convention must embrace this century as it did the last – not by turning inward, but by opening up to the future,” he said.
Berset told CoE member countries that upholding the convention was a shared responsibility, notably when it came to the duty to implement the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.
Independence
He added that ongoing dialogue with countries was vital to the proper functioning of the system, as was upholding the independence of the court.
The CoE secretary general also underlined the need to reaffirm the principles of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in the face of growing threats.
“The European Convention on Human Rights is one of those rare texts that does not say what the world is – but what is should become. In the face of the upheavals of our times, we must keep it alive and strong,” Berset concluded.