Greek woman becomes first female Secretary General of the European Court of Human Rights

·

Marialena Tsirlis, a Greek native, is the first woman to be appointed Secretary-General of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Marialena is a graduate of the Ursulines Greek-French School and the Athens Law School, before she continued her postgraduate and doctoral studies in Strasbourg.

In 1994, she began her career as a lawyer at the Secretariat of the European Commission of Human Rights.

After advancing to several executive positions, Marialena’s rich academic and professional career led her to be unanimously elected by the Plenary of forty-seven judges of the ECHR to the position of Secretary-General.

“The role of the Secretariat is ancillary. Our mission is to assist judges in the performance of their duties by preparing case files and providing any legal, administrative and technical assistance,” Marialena said in an interview with APE-MPE after her election. 

“My goal is to perform our duties in the best and most efficient way, utilising the potential and skills of each staff member and ensuring a healthy and enjoyable work environment, where everyone will be able to evolve and progress. 

“I am fortunate to lead an extremely talented, enthusiastic and dedicated team. We know that the Court is called upon to face significant challenges and it is our common ambition to contribute to its success.”

Marialena will serve a five-year term and will commence her duties on December 1st, 2020.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

The man for all jobs: How a Greek migrant turned setbacks into 7-figure success

When Christof Mantzanas stepped off the plane in Melbourne on 10 March 2015, he had just $1,000 in his pocket.

Jimmy’s Kitchen brings authentic Greek hospitality to The Rocks

Sydney diners can now experience the warmth, flavour, and soul of a traditional Greek taverna without the flight to Greece.

Greek Community of Melbourne enhances safety with defibrillator training seminar

The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) took a notable step towards enhancing community safety by organising a defibrillator training seminar.

Wills without the Trojan War

After nearly 15 years in the legal industry, I’ve lost track of how many matters I’ve worked on involving family disputes over estates.

From tech to health: Greek Australians driving innovation in 2025

Australia’s Top 100 Innovators celebrate those who turn setbacks into breakthroughs. This year, three Greek Australians are among them.

You May Also Like

Greece completes early repayment of bailout loans to IMF

Greece has repaid its debts to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) two years ahead of schedule, the Greek Ministry of Finance announced.

Will Kostakis wins $80,000 Prime Minister’s Literary Award

Author Will Kostakis has won the Prime Minister's Literary Award for young adult literature with his novel 'We Could be Something.'

GOCSA President visits monument site for Mati wildfire victims in Greece

On the fifth anniversary of a deadly wildfire in east Attica in 2018, GOCSA President Peter Gardiakos attended a memorial service in Mati.