Annual Lecture 2023
Healing Our Broken Societies: Tackling the Scourge of Racism
On 31 October 2023, the Human Rights Law Centre was delighted to have our Annual Lecture delivered by Professor Michael O'Flaherty, Director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).
The evening before the launch of the FRA's latest survey on 'Being Black in the EU', Professor O'Flaherty drew upon his experience and the work of the Fundamental Rights Agency to suggest potential avenues and initiatives for combating the racism that is so deeply ingrained on the European continent. He discussed the extent and diverse forms of racism in our societies, as well as the related human rights abuses brought about by pervasive and relentless racism.
Read the full speech
About the Speaker
Michael O’Flaherty is Director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights since 2015. He is a former Professor of Human Rights at the University of Nottingham and the National University of Ireland, Galway. From 2004 to 2012 he was a member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee, latterly as Vice-Chair. O’Flaherty has held a variety of other positions at the United Nations, both at headquarters and in the field, in which connection he witnessed, reported on, and sought to mitigate human rights abuses in such places as Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sierra Leone.
He has also served as Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, as Chairperson of the Irish Penal Reform Trust, and as Vice-Chair of the Universal Rights Group. A solicitor of the Irish Courts, O’Flaherty received the Higher Doctorate of Laws from the National University of Ireland and also holds degrees in international relations, philosophy, and theology.
You can view a recording of the event here: