STRASBOURG, 4 November – The President of the Republic of Malta, H.E. Myriam Spiteri Debono, was invited by the President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) to deliver an address at the Solemn Ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights.
In her keynote speech, President Spiteri Debono reflected on the Court’s enduring legacy and the transformative impact of its jurisprudence across Europe, including in Malta. She emphasised that for seventy-five years the Convention has served as “Europe’s legal and moral compass” and “the backbone of our collective conscience.”
The President highlighted the shared responsibility of all State Parties to safeguard the Convention and to reinforce the essential relationship between the Convention and the Court. “We cannot jeopardise the synergy that exists between the Court and the Convention,” she stated, stressing that the continued strength of both institutions is vital to ensuring that “law replaces violence, rights prevail over terror, and dignity for one signifies dignity for all.”
The ceremony also featured addresses by Mr Mattias Guyomar, President of the ECtHR; Mr Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe; and Mr Theodoros Rousopoulos, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
During her visit, President Spiteri Debono held bilateral meetings with Secretary General Berset and President Guyomar, during which she reaffirmed Malta’s steadfast commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights across the continent.