On 1-2 June 2023, the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees (SRSG), Leyla Kayacik, chaired the 7th meeting of the Network of Focal Points on Migration (NFPM), which gathered participants from ministries dealing with migration issues from more than 40 member states.
In line with the Council of Europe Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons in the Context of Asylum and Migration in Europe (2021-2025), the meeting placed a special focus on the needs of children from Ukraine who found refuge in the Council of Europe member states.
The Handbook on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse in crisis and emergency situations as well as the Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)22 of the Committee of Ministers on human rights principles and guidelines on age assessment in the context of migration were presented to the Network.
The participants also held exchanges on:
- The execution of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgments and decisions relating to migration and refugees;
- The parts of the 32nd General Report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) concerning the prevention of ill-treatment of foreign nationals deprived of their liberty in the context of forced removals at borders;
- The resolution and recommendation on the notion of “Safe Third Countries for Asylum Seekers” adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
“The issue of migration and asylum, with all its complexities and implications, requires collaboration and it is more important than ever to come together and to listen to one another” the Special Representative concluded.
