Human Rights; Failures and Successes in Europe

When discussing human rights in Europe, all European countries are included; for over sixty years, human rights have been the domain of the Council of Europe, an institution which includes all member states but White Russia. Although the European Court for Human Rights, located in Strasbourg, is the Council’s most influential institution, other European institutions and the EU in itself are increasingly involved in the promotion of human rights; superfluous competition or a valuable addition?

Increasing integration of countries into the EU sheds light on internal differences within the Union. As an example, while in the Netherlands the placement of two prisoners in one cell is an inducement for national debate, in Poland it is not uncommon for ten people to share one cell. How does this situation influence prisoner exchange between the two countries, does a state have the right or obligation to extradite a person when this will lead to a violation of his or her rights? Another discrepancy in policy can be found when looking at treatment of asylum seekers; how it is possible that Greece hardly approves any requests for asylum when similar procedures are followed in other European countries with a much higher number of migrants?

If the EU strives for unity regarding human rights, much remains to be done.

Speaker: Rick Lawson