Newsletter - February 2019
Handbook on standards and good practices on family reunification and HELP training Conference
On 6 February 2019 in Strasbourg, the Office of the Special Representative organised a working group meeting with experts currently preparing a handbook on standards and good practices to restore family links and reunify families. “After the high arrivals of refugees and migrants in Europe, many...
ECHR grants an interim measure in case concerning the SeaWatch 3 vessel
On 29 January 2019, a chamber of the European Court of Human Rights decided, by a majority, to grant an interim measure concerning the vessel SeaWatch 3, which had 47 migrants on board and was anchored outside of Syracuse, Sicily. The ship had not been allowed to enter the harbour and the...
The Commissioner calls on Italy to uphold the human rights of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants
On 7 February 2019, the Commissioner for Human Rights published a letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Italy, Giuseppe Conte. The Commissioner requested the Italian government to clarify the measures it intends to take to ensure the continuity of essential services for asylum seekers and...
Missions to Melilla and Berlin, statement on Sea Watch and conference on alternatives to immigration detention
On 12-13 February 2019, in the framework of her report on violence against migrant children, Ms Rósa Björk Brynjólfsdóttir (Iceland, UEL), will carry out a fact-finding mission to Madrid and Melilla in Spain. On 20 February 2019, Ms Daphné Dumery (Belgium, NR) will carry out a mission to Berlin...
Handbook including the right to non-discrimination against refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants
On 27 February 2019, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities will organise a Conference in Kyiv (Ukraine) on “Voting Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Local Level” in the framework of activities aiming to strengthen local integration of IDPs in Ukraine. The event will bring...
GRETA publishes second report on Italy
On 25 January 2019, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) published a new report on Italy. According to the report, Italy has taken additional measures to combat trafficking in human beings, but a number of issues continue to give rise to...
CPT publishes report on Norway, including on a visit to Trandum Police Immigration Detention Centre
On 17 January 2019, the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) published a report on a visit to Norway carried out in spring 2018. The visit to Trandum Police Immigration Detention Centre confirmed previous positive...
GRECO started to monitor risks of corruption of border police in the migration context
Council of Europe´s anti-corruption group (GRECO) has started to issue recommendations in their 5th evaluation round relating to Police and Border Guards, which are relevant also in the context of migration and the risks of corruption therein. GRECO is emphasizing that the four-eyes principle...
Save the Date - Conference on Effective Alternatives to the Detention of Migrants
On 4 April 2019, the Council of Europe, the European Commission and the European Migration Network will hold a joint Conference on “Effective Alternatives to the Detention of Migrants” at the premises of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The Conference aims to support States in implementing...
Between insecurity and hope - Reflections on youth work with young refugees
In January 2019, the partnership between the European Commission and the Council of Europe in the field of youth has launched a Youth Knowledge book presenting theories and practices on how young refugees reconcile personal hope with the tensions within their host societies. The book “Between...
- 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