Something like thirty years ago, I lived in the city of Sarajevo on and off during its siege.
I saw first-hand the extraordinary suffering that war inflicts on men, women and children.
I never thought I would see anything like it again in Europe – that history was linear – and I was wrong.
Now, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we are all called on to play our part in responding and engaging in a way that upholds human rights.
Here inside the EU, that is about the very generous response to the millions of people who have arrived, but the need to ensure that the welcome stays warm and is not somehow used to create tensions in our societies.
It is also about tackling the shocking disinformation that has been perpetrated and is twisting minds and attitudes to evil effect.
It is only if we all work together, with human rights as our roadmap, that we can make our way towards a peaceful future.
And you can count on the Fundamental Rights Agency, in our way, with our mandate, and our resources, to also play our part.
