The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees (SRSG), Leyla Kayacik, represented the Council of Europe at the Global Refugee Forum (GRF), which took place from 13 to 15 December 2023 in Geneva.
In her speech, she highlighted Council of Europe´s work focusing on the protection of the people in vulnerable situations, in particular women and children in line with its Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable people in the context of Migration and Asylum in Europe (2021-2025) and its strengthened co-operation with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR.
The Special Representative announced the following new pledges:
- Addressing the statelessness of children and their access to nationality;
- Ensuring gender equality and protection from gender-based violence;
- Achieving inclusion in national health systems and fostering mental health and psychosocial wellbeing.
- Promoting localisation - cities - a call to local action for migrants and refugees.
She expressed the Council of Europe’s commitment to continue contributing towards the objectives set out in the Global Compact on Refugees.
As one of the members of the Nansen Award Selection Committee, the Special Representative also attended the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award ceremony.
Held every four years, the GRF is the world’s largest international gathering on refugees. It is designed to support the practical implementation of the objectives set out in the Global Compact on Refugees: Ease pressures on host countries, enhance refugee self-reliance, increase access to third-country solutions and improve conditions in countries of origin.
On the International Migrants Day, 18 December, the Council of Europe and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) published a new joint guidance note outlining the relevant human rights standards at Europe’s borders that apply to children.
The note, entitled: ‘Children in migration: Fundamental rights at European borders’ summarises the main safeguards of European law as they apply to migrant children at the external borders of the EU and of the Council of Europe. It covers the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and EU law.
Council of Europe and EU Member States have the right to control the entry of non-nationals into their territory. However, in exercising border control, States need to protect the fundamental rights of everyone, regardless of their nationality, status, or age in accordance with their obligations under international and EU law. Children require extra protection, as they are particularly vulnerable with special needs.
“There is an increased need to protect children arriving at our borders, including unaccompanied or separated children, and those victims of war related crimes, violence and abuse. This third joint guidance note aims at supporting authorities, including border police to conduct their activities in full respect of our standards to effectively uphold and protect the rights of migrant and refugee children the very moment they arrive in our member States,” said the Council of Europe’s SRSG on Migration and Refugees Leyla Kayacik.
“Authorities and border officials have a legal duty to meet the needs of all migrant and refugee children arriving at our borders. This practical guide should raise awareness and provide much-needed support to ensure children are well protected and officials have a better understanding of how they can best safeguard children’s rights,” stated outgoing FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty, whose term expired on 15 December 2023.
The new publication builds on the previous joint notes: Fundamental rights of refugees, asylum applicants and migrants at the European borders (March 2020); and European standards on legal remedies, complaints mechanisms and effective investigations at borders (July 2021).
On 1 December 2023, the Network of Focal Points on Migration (NFPM) completed its 8th meeting in Strasbourg.
It brought together participants from ministries dealing with migration issues from more than 40 member states, who were provided with a comprehensive overview of the activities of the SRSG Office and the implementation of the Council of Europe Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons in the Context of Asylum and Migration in Europe (2021-2025).
They also received an update on the situation of people who have fled Ukraine, followed by a presentation of the online Survival Relief Platform, by an expert from the office of the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine on European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
The Guide for practitioners on administrative detention of migrants and two new modules from the European Human Rights Training Programme for Legal Professionals (HELP) – on LGBTI Persons in Asylum Procedures and Transition to Adulthood were presented to the FPNM members.
Participants also held exchanges on:
- The issue of migrant smuggling, in the context of the Declaration of the Heads of State and Government meeting in Reykjavík on 16 and 17 May 2023. It calls upon the Council of Europe and its member states to intensify their efforts to promote and improve international co-operation against smuggling of migrants and trafficking in human beings, while continuing to protect victims and respect the human rights of migrants and refugees.
- The 2022 Annual Report and other recent tools of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), presented by ECRI Chair Maria Daniella Marouda.
- The report of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe "Addressing the specific challenges faced by the Belarusians in exile", prepared by Mr Paul Galles (Luxembourg).
The 8th NFPM meeting also featured the inauguration of the exhibition "Beyond borders: Ukraine’s untold stories" by Council of Europe photographer Sandro Weltin, who accompanied the Special Representative on several fact-finding missions to some of the member States most affected by the largest human displacement since the Second World War. Through his lens, Weltin captured the resilience, strength, and unwavering hope of those facing the harsh realities of displacement in the aftermath of Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine.
