Newsletter March 2025
Council of Europe participates in UK-led Border Security Summit
The Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law (DGI) of the Council of Europe, Gianluca Esposito, addressed the Border Security Summit in London, reaffirming the importance of tackling migrant smuggling while safeguarding fundamental human rights. Held at Lancaster House, the Summit -...
Council of Europe reference documents on migration and refugees now online
The Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) has published a comprehensive list of key Council of Europe treaties, recommendations, and other reference documents addressing migration and refugees on its website. It offers a structured overview of the Organisation’s legal and policy framework,...
PACE Migration Committee welcomes creation of Division on Migration and Refugees
At its meeting in Paris on 11 March, the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) welcomed the creation of the Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) at the Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law (DG1)....
PACE rapporteur on migration management challenges visits UK
PACE rapporteur Sandra Zampa (Italy, SOC), a member of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons, carried out a fact-finding visit to the United Kingdom from 24 to 26 March 2025 as part of the preparation of her report on “The challenges and needs of public and private actors in...
ECtHR rules in three migration-related cases Involving Belgium, Greece and Serbia
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) found violations of the European Convention on Human Rights in migration-related cases brought against Belgium, Greece and Serbia. F.B. v. Belgium (Application No. 47836/21) In a unanimous judgment, the Court held that Belgium violated Article 8 (right...
CPT publishes report on Guadeloupe and French Guiana
On 12 March, the CPT published a report on its 2023 visit to Guadeloupe and French Guiana in which it highlighted significant concerns regarding the living conditions in immigration detention centres in France. The CPT found that the conditions in the two centres visited, namely the Centre de...
Meeting of inter-secretariat Coordination Group on Migration focuses on border control standards
The 20th meeting of the Council of Europe inter-secretariat Coordination Group on Migration (CGM) organised by the Division on Migration and Refugees highlighted the Council of Europe’s action and standards concerning border controls and migration procedures. Gianluca Esposito, Director General...
Division on Migration and Refugees takes part in UN biannual exchange on child rights pledges
On 6 March, the Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) participated in the 2nd Biannual Exchange of Friends of the Child Rights Pledge: From Commitments to Action on Child Rights, organised by the United Nations Initiative for Child Rights in the Global Compacts. The meeting provided a platform...
Council of Europe and UNHCR collaborate on Nansen Refugee Award selection
The Council of Europe’s Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) plays an active part in the selection process for the prestigious UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award by contributing its expertise in human rights and refugee protection to help identify outstanding individuals and organisations making a...
Exchange with FRA Migration and Asylum Sector
On 5 March, the Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) held an online meeting with representatives of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) Migration and Asylum Sector. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss ongoing and future projects of common interest and explore...
Safe Third Countries: Division on Migration and Refugees attends first meeting of Steering Committee for Human Rights
The Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) participated in the inaugural meeting of the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) Drafting Group on the Safe Third Country Concept (CDDH-PTS), held in Strasbourg from 4 to 6 March. In line with the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers'...
Children's rights in focus
The recently appointed Special Envoy of the Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir, conducted her first fact-finding mission to Ukraine (19-20 March), during which she met with a broad range of key partners, both at the high and working...
Council of Europe field offices continue migration-related capacity building activities
Yerevan A workshop on 11 March explored refugee rights under the European Convention on Human Rights, focusing on legal safeguards and the role of the European Court of Human Rights. Representatives from state institutions, civil society, and international organisations discussed key issues such...