Newsletter - July 2019
Co-operation with UN and within the Council of Europe through concrete examples
On 10 July 2019, in Strasbourg, the Office of the Special Representative on migration and refugees met representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Health Division, to identify fields of common interest and discuss ways to enhance future co-operation. The meeting focused...
Greece violated human rights of unaccompanied children and Sea Watch 3 interim measure request
On 25 June 2019 the European Court of Human Rights decided not to indicate to the Italian Government the interim measure requested by the applicants – the captain of the ship Sea-Watch 3 and about forty individuals who are nationals of Niger, Guinea, Cameron, Mali, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Burkina...
Commissioner published Recommendation on migration in the Mediterranean
On 18 June 2019, the Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published her Recommendation “Lives saved. Rights protected. Bridging the protection gap for refugees and migrants in the Mediterranean”. Pointing to the tragic consequences of the current European approach to preventing...
CPT Publishes new report on Bulgaria
On 11 July 2019, the Council of Europe’s anti-torture committee (CPT) published a new report on its visit to Bulgaria, together with the response of the Government. CPT praised certain improvements in the conditions and treatment of foreigners detained under aliens legislation in the...
Risk management measures for corruption prone areas: good practice example in Estonia
On 25 June 2019, in its annual report, Council of Europe anti-corruption body (GRECO) reviewed action taken by its 49 member states against corruption in 2018. While the report focused on corruption prevention in respect of MPs, judges and prosecutors, as well as in central governments and law...
Final conference of the Parliamentary Campaign to end detention of migrant children
On 26 June 2019, the PACE Campaign to End Immigration Detention of Children held its final conference, summing up its work since its launch by the Parliamentary Assembly in April 2015. Ms Doris Fiala (Switzerland, ALDE), Chairperson of the Committee on Migration, Mr Pierre-Alain Fridez...
European Qualifications Passport for Refugees: Evaluation sessions in Italy and live debate
On 1-5 July, an evaluation session of the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees (EQPR) was held at the Universities of Palermo and Catania. As a result, 39 EQPRs were issued based on interviews with 49 refugees. 27 interviews were done online. The refugees had their qualifications...
HELP Annual Network Conference celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe
On 4-5 July 2019, the Council of Europe Programme on Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) held its annual Network Conference in Strasbourg, France. The Conference gathered around 200 representatives of national judicial and prosecutorial schools and Bar associations from...
A series of didactic videos launched by the Intercultural Cities programme on how to make diversity an advantage for all
In June 2019, the Intercultural Cities (ICC) programme launched a series of didactic and awareness videos addressing local governments wishing to evolve as intercultural municipalities. The videos give insights on how to adapt cities’ institutions and services to the needs of a diverse population...
- 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