Newsletter - November 2021
Mandat
La Division des migrations et des réfugiés (DMR) a été créée le 1er février 2025 au sein de la Direction Générale Droits humains et Etat de droit (DG1) pour assurer le suivi de l'action de l'ancien Représentant spécial du Secrétaire général sur les migrations et les réfugiés. Son mandat consiste notamment à proposer une assistance et un soutien aux Etats membres, en particulier par le biais du Réseau de correspondants sur les migrations, à rechercher, collecter et analyser des informations sur la situation des droits de l'homme des migrants et des réfugiés, ainsi qu'à compléter et coordonner les activités d'autres organes compétents du Conseil de l'Europe et notre action avec d'autres partenaires internationaux, notamment le HCR, l'OIM, l'UE et ses agences spécialisées, et d'autres parties prenantes nationales, régionales et internationales, y compris des organisations de la société civile. La DMR représente le Conseil de l'Europe au sein du Comité de sélection du Prix Nansen pour les réfugiés du HCR, ainsi que dans les Forums consultatifs de Frontex et de l'EUAA.
Statement on new Lipa camp, study visit of FRONTEX, and financial contribution for the Action plan on vulnerable migrants
On 19 November 2021, the Special Representative on Migration and Refugees, Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek, welcomed the opening of new Temporary Reception Centre LIPA in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The centre can host up to 1,500 migrants, including families with children as well as unaccompanied...
Recent migration-related court judgments and decisions
On 18 November 2021, the European Court of Human Rights held down a Chamber judgement in the case of M.H. and Others v. Croatia (applications nos. 15670/18 and 43115/18). The case concerned the death of a six-year-old Afghan child, MAD.H., who was hit by a train after allegedly having been denied...
Implementing ECtHR judgments: New factsheet on migration and asylum
On 9 November 2021, the Council of Europe’s Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights published a new thematic factsheet on cases related to migration and asylum. The factsheet summarises measures reported by 23 member states to protect and further strengthen...
Poland’s border with Belarus: Commissioner calls for immediate access of international and national human rights actors and media
On 19 November 2021, following her 4-day mission to Poland, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, said that “The humanitarian and human rights situation along Poland’s border with Belarus is alarming. Urgent action is needed to protect the lives of people stranded...
Call on States to support UN and CoE initiatives for the protection of refugees and asylum seekers
On 25-26 November 2021, the Parliamentary Assembly´s (PACE) Standing Committee met in Rome as Italy took up the six-month Presidency of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers. Concerned about the frequency of expulsions and pushbacks of refugees and asylum seekers at Europe's borders, the...
Congress: “The stand-off on the Poland-Belarus border puts the lives of migrants in danger”
On 23 November 2021, the Chair of the Congress Current Affairs Committee, Thomas Andersson (Sweden, ILDG), published a statement about the situation at the Poland-Belarus border. “The stand-off on the Poland-Belarus border puts the lives of migrants in danger and the local populations and their...
Adoption of draft Recommendation on protecting the rights of migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls
From 23 to 25 November 2021, the Gender Equality Commission (GEC) held its 20th meeting online and in Strasbourg. After two-years of preparations and negations within the Drafting Committee on Migrant Women (GEC-MIG), the GEC discussed a draft Recommendation on protecting the rights of migrant,...