Media Library

Speech at the launch of the Human Rights Defenders Memorial

On Thursday, 24 November, President Michael D. Higgins inaugurated the first global memorial to murdered human rights defenders.

The Human Rights Defenders Memorial celebrates the lives and achievements of people who have been killed because they worked peacefully for the rights of others. The aim is to gather the names of the estimated 3,500 human rights defenders who have been killed since the adoption of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders in 1998.

Throughout his life, President Michael D. Higgins has been a passionate campaigner for human rights and the promotion of peace and democracy in Ireland and many other parts of the world. Since his inauguration as the ninth President of Ireland, he has continued to focus his work on the themes of human rights, equality, and independent and creative thought.

In his speech at the launch of the Memorial, the President reflected on the threats to human rights and on the specific roles of human rights activists.

Speech by President Higgins during a visit to Brú na bhFiann Smithfield, Dublin

Speech by President Higgins during a visit to Brú na bhFiann
Smithfield, Dublin
Wednesday, 23 November 2016

Speech At The 250th Anniversary Of Presentation Primary School

Speech by President Michael D Higgins

250th Anniversary of Presentation Primary School,

George’s Hill, Halston Street, Dublin 7

Wednesday 23rd November, 2016.