Secretary General Alain Berset has underlined the enduring importance of the European Convention on Human Rights as a democratic compass for the continent.
Speaking at a ceremony at the European Court of Human Rights to mark the 75th anniversary of launch of the Convention, the Secretary General underlined its role in protecting the weak, calling the powerful to account and supporting courts across the continent.
"The Convention is our compass," he said. "It is Europe's democratic compass. And for as long as it remains part of our lives … then Europe will still be with us."
A thread through history
The Secretary General stressed that the world is changing, with new challenges including 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.
Shared responsibility
Secretary General Berset reminded Council of Europe member countries that upholding the Convention is a shared responsibility, notably when it comes to the duty to implement the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.
He underlined that ongoing dialogue with countries is vital to the proper functioning of the system, as is upholding the independence of the Court.
Democratic security
Looking forward, the Secretary General underlined the need to reaffirm the principles of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in the face of growing threats.
Highlighting the dangers of widespread rearmament at a time of democratic backsliding, he underscored the need for a New Democratic Pact for Europe based on the Convention and dialogue with the Court.
"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," concluded the Secretary General.
Parliamentary Assembly championing the European Convention on Human Rights
Secretary General Alain Berset
