Newsletter - September 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.
Statement on the new EU Pact on migration and informal visit in Strasbourg
On 23 September 2020, the Special Representative on Migration and Refugees Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek, together with the Regional Representative for Europe of the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), Birgit Van Hout, welcomed the presentation of the European Commission’s new Pact on Migration and...
Judgments on a temporary camp of asylum-seekers in France and Poland’s return of people from Chechnya to Belarus
On 10 September 2020, in a Chamber judgment delivered at the European Court of Human Rights in the case of B.G and Others v. France, the Court held that there had been no violation of Article 3 (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment) of the European Convention on Human Rights concerning...
Statement following the fire in Moria camp and letter to Spanish authorities on living conditions in Melilla
On 9 September 2020, in a statement, the Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, called on the Greek authorities to provide adequate support to all those affected by the fire in Moria. “The prompt intervention of the local authorities and firefighters helped avoid a tragedy. However, the...
CPT carried out rapid reaction visits to Malta and Croatia to examine treatment of migrants
From 17 to 22 September 2020, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) conducted a six-day rapid reaction visit to Malta to examine the treatment of detained migrants. The CPT’s delegation examined the conditions of detention for, and treatment of, migrants deprived...
Compendium of good practices addressing trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation
On 18 September 2020, the Council of Europe´s expert group against human trafficking (GRETA) issued a new publication entitled Compendium of good practices in addressing trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation, based on its country evaluation reports. Trafficking in...
Upcoming Webinar on the importance of migrants’ remittances in times of crises
On 5 October 2020, the Committee is organising a Webinar on the importance of migrants' remittances in times of crises. The webinar addresses the importance of remittances sent by migrants to their families and which is representing a vitally important source of income for households to survive...
Congress Rapporteur calls for solidarity with local authorities after Moria fires
On 28 September 2020, Against the background of the devastating fires in the “Moria Reception and Identification Centre” on the Greek island of Lesbos, Yoomi Renström (Sweden, SOC/G/PD), Rapporteur of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe deplored the lack of...
The European Qualifications Passport for Refugees moves forward
On 8 September 2020, the European Qualification Passport for Refugees (EQPR) Project Coordination Group met online to discuss the current status of activities and the way forward. The meeting was opened by Mr Henrik Asheim, Minister of Higher Education and Research of Norway, who recognised the...
Launch of training for legal professionals on refugee and migrant children in Turkey
On 29 September 2020, the Councıl of Europe Programme on Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) will launch a national version of the Online course on Refugee and Migrant Children in Ankara, Turkey. The course is launched for social workers at the courthouses under the Department...
Council of Europe adopts Action Plan on Smuggling of Migrants
On 27 August 2020, the European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC) finalised and approved the text of the Council of Europe Action Plan on Fostering International Co-operation and Investigative Strategies in Fighting the Smuggling of Migrants. The aim of the Action Plan is to help member states...