This week, twenty-seven European countries demanded a rethink of human rights laws set after the Second World War. They said these laws block their ability to manage migration effectively. Amnesty International called this move “a moral retreat.” Michael O’Flaherty, Europe’s top human rights official, warned that this could create a "hierarchy of people," where some get more protection than others. The dispute began in May when nine EU countries, including Denmark, Italy, and Poland, argued that the European Convention on Human Rights stops them from controlling their borders and deporting criminals. Their letter said, “We have to restore the right balance.” However, France, Spain, and Germany did not sign this letter, showing a split among nations. O’Flaherty criticized politicians for using "lazy language" that wrongly links migration with crime. He said, "This doesn’t correspond with reality," but fear drives calls for tighter migration rules. He blamed many politicians for spreading misinformation. He pointed to the UK, where cases involving human rights rules and deportation get a lot of attention, but in reality, such cases are few and manageable. A University of Oxford report confirmed that UK media often misreport the convention’s effect on immigration. The European Convention on Human Rights was created by 46 countries after World War II to protect fundamental rights. O’Flaherty said the convention does not need to change and warned that revising it won’t stop migration or smuggling. He said the European court only acts after national courts have tried, and its judges represent all member states. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Danish leader Mette Frederiksen called for updates to fight populist right movements. O’Flaherty rejected this idea and said weakening human rights would help populists and create dangerous inequalities. He reminded readers that the convention was built to prevent horrors like those in World War II, where some people were seen as less worthy. He urged caution about changing these rights, saying, "We have to be very cautious and careful about the ultimate consequences, albeit unintended, of the paths we might embark on."