Newsletter - October 2020
Mandate
The Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) was created at the Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law (DG1) 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. The DMR represents the Council of Europe in the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award Selection Committee, as well as in the Consultative Forums of Frontex and of EUAA.
Address to UNHCR Executive Committee, Athens Democracy Forum, and high-level meetings
On 26 October 2020, the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees, Drahoslav Štefánek, held a virtual meeting with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet. It was an opportunity to exchange views on human rights aspects of the EU Pact on Migration...
Violation of the Convention in the procedure to remove two Pakistani nationals from Romania
On 15 October 2020, in the Grand Chamber judgment in the case of Muhammad and Muhammad v. Romania (application no. 80982/12), the European Court of Human Rights held, by a majority, that there had been a violation concerning the procedural safeguards relating to expulsion of aliens (Article 1 of...
Croatian authorities must stop pushbacks and border violence, and end impunity
On 21 October 2020, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published a statement in connection with the latest allegations of collective expulsions of migrants, denial of access to asylum, and the use of extreme violence by Croatian law enforcement officers....
Parliamentary Assembly: upcoming reports and visit to Greece
On 6 November 2020, the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons of the Parliamentary Assembly, will discuss the following reports and Committee opinions: “Impact of labour migration on left-behind children”, “Role of parliaments in implementing the United Nations global compacts...
First meeting aimed at drafting a recommendation on migrant and refugee women
On 1-2 October 2020, the Council of Europe’s Drafting Committee on Migrant Women (GEC-MIG) held a productive 1st meeting via videoconference. GEC-MIG, supported by the Gender Equality Division, is tasked by the Committee of Ministers to draft a Recommendation on migrant and refugee women. GEC-MIG...
Intercultural cities launched a citizenship test and thematic page on systematic discrimination
On 30 October 2020, the Council of Europe´s Intercultural cities programme (ICC) is launching an Intercultural Citizenship Online test. The test aims to increase knowledge and awareness on human rights, intercultural competence, perceptions of diversity as an advantage, as well as the willingness...