Newsletter - May-July 2020
Family reunification, alternatives to immigration detention and response to the Covid-19 pandemic
On 2 July 2020, the Special Representative on Migration and Refugees Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek, launched the handbook “Family reunification for refugee and migrant children - standards and promising practices”. The handbook focuses on the reunification of families with children, in particular...
Grand Chamber hearing on family reunification and judgments on asylum-seekers’ rights
On 2 July 2020, the European Court of Human Rights delivered a Chamber judgment in the case of N.H. and Others v. France (application nos. 28820/13, 75547/13 and 13114/15). The case concerned asylum-seekers who were unable to receive the support to which they were entitled under the law and had...
Commissioner: treatment of migrants at sea, family reunification, pushbacks, ECHR protection for refugees and UK immigration bill
On 11 May 2020, the Commissioner published her letter to the Prime Minister of Malta, in which she urged the government to fully meet its human rights obligations towards refugees and migrants at sea. She called for an effective response to any situation of distress at sea and for investigations...
Execution department launches thematic factsheets and CM examined cases through written procedure
On 12 May 2020, the Execution Department launched a new series of thematic factsheets. They aim to present an overview of selected legislative and case-law developments in member states, following judgments of the European Court whose execution has been supervised and concluded by the Committee...
Statement on racism in policing and other areas and webinar on inclusive education in times of Covid-19
On 6 July 2020, the Council of Europe’s anti-racism commission, ECRI, published a statement to warn against racial profiling and systemic racism and inequalities in Europe. ECRI called upon governments to send strong messages and take determined action to expressly prohibit racial profiling and...
World Refugee Day: Trafficked people must be protected from dangers back home
On 19 June 2020, ahead of the annual World Reufugee Day (20 June), the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) issued a Guidance Note on the entitlement of victims of trafficking, and persons at risk of being trafficked, to international...
Exchanges of views and adoption of reports on guardianship and investment migration
On 3 July 2020, Parliamentary Assembly´s (PACE) Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons adopted a report on “Effective guardianship for unaccompanied and separated migrant children”, rapporteur Rósa Björk Brynjólfsdóttir, (Iceland, UEL) during its meeting via videoconference. The...
HELP annual conference and new course on alternatives to immigration detention
On 8-9 July 2020, the Council of Europe Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) Programme held its Annual Network Conference “Marking 70 years of the ECHR in critical times”, for the first time in a fully online format. Primarily aimed at Judiciary Schools and Bar Associations...
World Refugee Day: New video featuring European Qualifications Passport for Refugees
On 23 June 2020, to mark the World Refugee Day, the Council of Europe, in co-operation with the UNHCR and the City of Strasbourg, launched a video entitled "Everyone can make a difference - Every action counts". In the video, the Council of Europe´s European Qualifications Passport for Refugees...
Opinion on Greek NGO law and webinar on lessons learned for the post-pandemic time
On 6 July 2020, the Expert Council on NGO Law published its opinion on the recently adopted and planned measures that affect NGOs working in Greece on asylum, migration, and social inclusion. The Expert Council found the measures to be an excessive interference with the legitimate activities of...