27 European Countries Urge Rethink of Post-WWII Human Rights Laws, Sparking Debate
Twenty-seven European countries have called for a reconsideration of post-World War II human rights laws, arguing that these laws hinder migration control efforts. Amnesty International criticized this move as a moral retreat.
The call for change originates from a letter published in May by nine EU states, including Denmark, Italy, and Poland, which claimed that the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) restricts national sovereignty and deportation practices. Notably, France, Spain, and Germany did not sign the latest appeal.
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty warned against conflating migration with crime, stating that such views do not reflect reality and risk creating a hierarchy among people. He also cautioned that efforts to modernize the convention could empower populists and undermine universal rights established in response to the atrocities of World War II.
The ECHR, signed by 46 countries including the UK—the first signer 75 years ago—protects rights across various domains such as workplaces, hospitals, care homes, and safeguards for victims of domestic violence and modern slavery. An Oxford University report found that UK media coverage on the convention's impact on immigration control is often inaccurate.
Applicants must exhaust domestic remedies before appealing to the European Court, which includes judges from member states. Political leaders including UK Labour leader Keir Starmer and Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen have advocated updating the convention to counter the rising populist right. However, O’Flaherty maintains that modernization is unnecessary and risks damaging the foundational universal rights framework.
