European Convention on Human Rights turns 60

The Council of Europe is holding a ceremony to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights, which was opened for signature by member states on 4 November 1950 in Rome. The Convention today upholds the human rights of 800 million Europeans in 47 states.

Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland will meet with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon before the event.

According to Council of Europe website, the keynote speech will be given by Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations. Statements will be made by Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, Gjorgje Ivanov, President of “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” on behalf of the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, and Jean-Paul Costa, President of the European Court of Human Rights.

After the statements, a short film on the Convention will be screened and there will be a musical performance by Barbara Hendricks.

The opening will be followed by a panel discussion on the future of human rights in Europe, moderated by Jean-Paul Costa, and with the participation of the presidents of Council of Europe bodies that monitor action against trafficking in human beings, racism and intolerance, torture and ill-treatment, social rights, the protection of national minorities and of minority languages.