Newsletter - October 2019
Effective alternatives to immigration detention conference report published and Action plan implementation
On 30 September 2019, the Council of Europe published a report summarising discussions and key messages from the Conference “Effective Alternatives to the Detention of Migrants”, organised jointly by the Council of Europe, the European Commission and the European Migration Network on 4 April...
Judgments concerning expulsion from Denmark and the protection of unaccompanied minors in Greece
On 1 October 2019, the European Court of Human Rights handed down a Chamber judgment in the case of Savran v. Denmark (application no. 57467/15) concerning the applicant’s complaint that owing to his mental health his rights would be violated if he were to be returned to Turkey. The Court held,...
Commissioner calls for bolder measures to protect the human rights and dignity of all migrants in the Mediterranean
On 7 October 2019, the Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published a statement ahead of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting, saying that they should not miss the chance to steer migration policy on to a more humane and human rights compliant path. The Commissioner...
CPT publishes report on Albania, including Karreç Detention Centre for Foreigners
On 17 September 2019, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) published the report on its most recent visit to Albania, together with the response of the Albanian authorities. In November 2018, the CPT’s delegation...
PACE autumn session and regional conference in Jordan on the economic potential of diasporas
On 30 September-4 October 2019, during the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) autumn session, parliamentarians decided to hold an urgent debate on “Saving lives in the Mediterranean Sea: the need for an urgent response”. Echoing the June 2018 urgent debate on the same subject,...
Protection of migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees while in administrative/immigration detention in Romania
On 26 September 2019 in Bucharest, the Council of Europe organised, together with UNHCR, a seminar entitled “ECtHR mechanisms to protect migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees while in administrative/immigration detention - Overview of the current migration and asylum context in Romania– main...
Access to social and economic rights and integration related services for refugees*and stateless persons in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia
On 10 October 2019 in Tbilisi, Georgia, the Secretariat of the European Social Charter and the Legal Co-operation Division participated in a regional round table on Access to integration related services for refugees and stateless persons in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The round table was...
Responding to drug-related challenges for refugees, migrants and IDPs
On 08-11 October 2019, in Athens, Council of Europe´s drug policy cooperation group, the Pompidou Group, organised an international capacity building seminar jointly with the Office of the National Drug Coordinator of Greece in Athens. The aim of the seminar was to provide examples of practices...
European Qualifications Passport for Refugees presented as good practice during UN General Assembly side event
On 26 September 2019, in New York, the Council of Europe-led European Qualifications Passport for Refugees (EQPR) was presented as an example of good practice during a UN General Assembly side event organised by UNESCO in co-operation with the Institute of International Education (IIE). Anwar...
CEB to finance projects in Germany, Spain and the Netherlands to the benefit of migrants and refugees
On 27 September 2019, in Paris, the Administrative Council of the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) approved seven new projects and one additional loan request for a total of €695.2 million at its 314th meeting. The approved loans will support social projects in the areas of Education,...
- 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