Newsletter - February 2020
Mandate
The Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) was created on 1 February 2025 to follow-up on the action by the former Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees. Its mandate includes suggesting assistance and support to member states, particularly through the Network of Focal Points on Migration, seeking, collecting and analysing information on the human rights situation of migrants and refugees, as well as complementing and co-ordinating activities of other relevant Council of Europe bodies and our action with other international partners, notably the UNHCR, IOM, EU, and its specialised agencies, and other national, regional and international stakeholders, including civil society organisations.
Border protection and the rights of young refugees and children in focus
On 18-19 February 2020, in Warsaw, the Special Representative on Migration and Refugees of the Secretary General (SRSG), Drahoslav Štefánek, participated in the Frontex Consultative Forum on Fundamental Rights. The participants discussed the latest developments and priorities for the year ahead....
Spain did not breach the Convention when returning migrants to Morocco at Melilla border
On 13 February 2020, the European Court of Human Rights delivered a Grand Chamber judgment in the case of N.D. and N.T. v. Spain (applications nos. 8675/15 and 8697/15), concerning the immediate return to Morocco of two nationals of Mali and Côte d’Ivoire who on 13 August 2014 attempted to enter...
PACE to discuss violence and discrimination against religious minorities
On 6 March 2020, the Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly will meet in Paris at the Assemblée Nationale. The agenda includes a debate on violence and discrimination against religious minorities in refugee camps across Europe on the basis of the report prepared by Egidijus Vareikis...
New study on gender-based asylum claims and non-refoulement
On 10 February 2020, the Council of Europe published a new study on Gender-based asylum claims and non-refoulement: Articles 60 and 61 of the Istanbul Convention. The purpose of the publication is to support the implementation of these articles by providing policy makers, border and immigration...
Launch of toolkit on academic integration of refugees into higher education
On 14 February 2020, the Council of Europe´s Education Department launched a toolkit aimed at integrating refugees as teaching staff or visiting experts into higher education institutions. The “CoLAB Toolkit” presents inclusive practices on how to best integrate refugees based on their...
Taking young refugees seriously: key messages from the conference
On 14 February 2020, the conference “Taking Young Refugees Seriously” focused on looking at young refugees as young people, with resources and potential, and not just as refugees in need. “We need to implement what the Council of Europe Recommendation on Protection of Refugees in Transition to...
North-South Prize 2019 honours the efforts to support the integration of migrants
On 11 February 2020, the Council of Europe North-South Prize laureates were announced in Lisbon. The winners are Leoluca Orlando, Mayor of Palermo, Italy, and Nabila Hamza a sociologist, feminist activist and expert specialized in gender issues, social development and good governance from...
- Border protection and the rights of young refugees and children in focus
- Spain did not breach the Convention when returning migrants to Morocco at Melilla border
- PACE to discuss violence and discrimination against religious minorities
- New study on gender-based asylum claims and non-refoulement
- Launch of toolkit on academic integration of refugees into higher education
- Taking young refugees seriously: key messages from the conference
- North-South Prize 2019 honours the efforts to support the integration of migrants